"In that case, it's kind of a good thing."
George blinked at Ron's words. "Maybe you'll even get a nice report card at the end of the school year."
"Don't gloat," Ron yawned.
"What are you two talking about?"
Just then, Harry had come out of the dormitory, and Fred and George quickly changed the subject. Teasing Ron was all well and good, but they'd never do it in front of Harry.
Harry walked over, greeting everyone with a grin. "Merry Christmas, Fred, George... Kyle? Wait—Kyle? What are you doing here?"
He seemed a bit surprised to see Kyle lounging in the Gryffindor common room.
"Just arrived a few minutes ago," Kyle chuckled.
Ron finally noticed the extra presence in the room. "Sorry, I didn't see you earlier... Thanks for the wizard chess set, by the way. I really like it."
"And the model Quidditch ball you gave me," Harry added. "It's fantastic!"
"I'm glad you both like them," Kyle replied with a smile.
After Fred and George had shown him to the Gryffindor common room, Kyle decided not to head to the Room of Requirement and instead spent the morning playing wizard chess and Exploding Snap with them. Ginny and Percy had joined as well, and everyone was warm and welcoming.
Well, except Percy, who was a bit too formal, shaking Kyle's hand like he was greeting a visiting Hufflepuff delegation. Kyle felt slightly self-conscious about his casual attire... If he'd known, he would have worn his socks with the Phoenix design.
In the afternoon, after Hermione dragged Harry and Ron off to the library to finish their homework, Kyle joined Fred and George on a secret trip to Hogsmeade. The village shops were beautifully decorated, and each one had Christmas gifts set out for visitors: Zonko's had magical fireworks that bloomed when they touched water, and Honeydukes had candy canes...
The gifts were hung on the Christmas trees by the doorways, well within reach, and if you forgot, the shopkeepers would gladly remind you. The only downside? None of them offered a service to "protect Hogwarts students from getting caught."
Kyle had barely taken a few sips of Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks when the door beside him swung open. To his shock, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid... even Professor Sinistra from Astronomy—seven or eight professors in total—walked in, one after another.
They spotted Kyle and the twins right away. Professor McGonagall paused, then walked by as if she hadn't seen anything.
"Madam Rosmerta, three pints of mead, a Cherry Syrup Soda..."
Kyle and the twins instinctively quickened their sips, hoping to finish their drinks and escape unnoticed. But just as they reached for their coins to pay, Madam Rosmerta, the bar owner, shook her head.
"No need; Minerva's already covered your drinks. Anything else you'd like?"
"No, no, that's fine!" they replied in unison, keeping their heads low as they hurried out of The Three Broomsticks.
Not only had they been caught sneaking out of school, but they'd also been treated by the professor... Talk about embarrassing.
The three lost their appetite for further adventures and headed back to the castle.
"Oh, right... It's Christmas," Fred muttered, scratching his head as they exited the secret passage. "Obviously the professors aren't going to stay cooped up in their offices grading papers."
"We should've avoided The Three Broomsticks!"
"Good thing Professor McGonagall didn't say anything..."
Kyle couldn't help feeling a twinge of regret. If he'd known the professors were treating, he would've ordered something pricier—like The Three Broomsticks' signature drink, Ogden's Old Firewhisky, which ran ten Galleons a glass. He'd always wondered what that tasted like.
Everyone at the Christmas dinner at Hogwarts seemed to be enjoying themselves. With so few people staying at school this year, the hall would have felt empty if they sat separately, so only one large table was set up in the Great Hall, where students and professors dined together.
Dumbledore led the group in a few of his favorite Christmas carols, and Hagrid's voice grew louder and louder with each glass of eggnog he downed, until by the end, his voice was the only one echoing in the Great Hall.
Fred, sitting next to Kyle, was pointing at Percy's Prefect badge and laughing. Somehow, the badge's inscription had changed to read "Idiot," though Percy hadn't noticed and kept asking everyone around him why they were laughing.
Malfoy, who hadn't gone home this year either, was sitting across from Harry, sneering and making crude comments about Harry's new sweater. Surprisingly, Harry didn't respond.
The meal was fantastic, especially the Christmas Pudding, which the House-elves had prepared with a twist this year. Each bite had a different flavor, like Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
After the pudding, Professor McGonagall was the first to leave the table, followed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Kyle also wanted to leave, but Dumbledore stopped him.
"If you have a moment, would you come with me to my office?"
"Of course, Professor," Kyle nodded, though he was a bit puzzled.
They left the Great Hall together, chatting as they made their way toward the Headmaster's Office. Kyle hadn't been able to get Dumbledore the latest edition of Five Hundred Ways to Knit Woolen Socks this year, so he had given him a large bundle of high-quality wool instead. Dumbledore had been delighted and even asked Kyle where he had found such fine wool.
"It's from a flock of sheep, Professor," Kyle explained. "Mr. Scamander has a small flock in his suitcase. I collected some when I visited in August."
"Newt has some?" Dumbledore asked, surprised. "Is there much of it?"
"About thirty sheep or so," Kyle replied.
Dumbledore seemed even more pleased to hear that.
When they reached the eighth floor, the Stone Gargoyle moved aside as they approached, and Dumbledore led Kyle into his office. The room looked mostly the same as before, except for a large ball of wool on the desk.
In one corner, near the Mirror of Erised, there were several wool sweaters and a half-knitted scarf. It appeared that the Headmaster's knitting interests had expanded well beyond socks and gloves. Kyle guessed that the sweater Dumbledore wore under his robes was likely his own handiwork.
"What can I do for you, Professor?" Kyle asked.
"It's not me—Fawkes is the one who has something for you." Dumbledore sighed. "He's really taken a liking to the Lady's Mantle and Nightshade you sent him."
"Fawkes?" Kyle looked over to the perch by the door.
A scraggly little bird stood on it, with light red bristles just beginning to grow back... It looked rather pitiful.
"Did you undergo rebirth?" Kyle asked, walking over.
Fawkes gave a small nod and picked up a small bottle, placing it in Kyle's hand.
"What is this...?" Kyle asked, inspecting the bottle to find it contained a small pile of dark powder.
"The ashes of a Phoenix post-rebirth," Dumbledore explained. "And Fawkes' Christmas gift to you." His voice held a touch of bitterness.
He hadn't realized that Fawkes could hold such a grudge... All because he'd left Fawkes' favorite herbs locked away over the holidays, and it seemed the Phoenix had remembered it. Not a single pinch of these valuable ashes for him!
It would have been one thing if Snape had received the ashes, but Kyle was only thirteen—how could he even appreciate this "high-end" gift? What a waste.
Dumbledore sighed again.