Kyle looked in the direction Cedric pointed and saw Kanna sitting opposite him, cutting a steak. Yet, each time she made a cut, she glanced up at Kyle, as if she were slicing him instead of the steak.
The scene made Kyle uneasy.
"Why does it feel like her stare isn't very friendly? She wasn't like this on the train," Cedric remarked curiously. "You were with the freshmen before the sorting, right? Did something happen between you two?"
"Yeah, that's on me," Kyle admitted, giving a quick account of what had happened in the train cabin.
Cedric was stunned.
"Sorting with the Killing Curse? Who even thinks like that?" he asked cautiously.
"She believed it?" Cedric continued, astonished.
"What do you think?" Kyle replied, looking exasperated. "Why else would she be glaring at me like that?"
Cedric shook his head, looking back and forth between Kanna and Kyle before giving a smirk and saying, "Honestly, Kyle, you two are like a perfect match."
"She's only eleven. Why are you so eager to send me to Azkaban?" Kyle retorted. "And I'd be careful with those comments. If Professor Snape hears about it, you're done for."
"She knows Snape?" Cedric asked, surprised.
Kyle nodded. "I'm not certain, but I think they know each other."
Cedric's expression changed instantly. He stared at Kyle with a disappointed look and said, "That's just wrong. How could you pull such a bad joke on a new student? If I were a prefect, I'd definitely dock points from you."
Kyle couldn't believe it. Cedric's sudden shift in attitude was lightning fast, all because of Snape's possible connection. Was this really the same Cedric he knew?
But Cedric met Kyle's disbelief with a blank expression, even scooting further away from him as if to distance himself. Kyle could only respond by raising his middle finger in frustration.
His friend's attitude was unbelievable—so shameless after just a short time apart!
Given the awkwardness, Kyle decided he couldn't eat comfortably. He put down his knife and fork, choosing instead to stare back at Kanna.
She didn't shy away, meeting his gaze head-on. Her cheeks puffed slightly, and Kyle couldn't tell if she was angry or just focused on chewing her food.
Neither spoke, locked in a silent staring contest, as if the first one to look away would lose.
However, Kanna underestimated herself.
Soon, her focus wavered, and a blush crept up her face. Her eyes started to dart around, and her breathing quickened. Her face flushed red, and after a few more seconds, she dropped her gaze, trying to hide her embarrassment by pressing her face close to her plate, with only her red ears visible.
...
Kanna's personality hadn't changed; she was still as shy and socially awkward as before. Her anger had only surfaced because she felt humiliated after realizing she had been tricked. It was like a quiet girl lashing out after losing in a game she loved.
In addition, since Kyle had been avoiding her, she hadn't found a way to release her anger, and it had built up until now.
Once the anger faded, she reverted to being the shy and anxious young witch she usually was.
For her, meeting Kyle's gaze was a small way to vent her frustration. Eye contact may not be as effective as a confrontation, but it was still a form of release.
Kyle hadn't expected her to calm down so quickly. It only took a few minutes for her to settle down. She was too kind-hearted, he thought.
Even Ginny Weasley, known for her mild temperament, would argue with Kyle face-to-face for at least half an hour when upset.
By comparison, Kanna's softness made her vulnerable, which could be dangerous in the wizarding world.
Within the safety of Hogwarts, surrounded by the well-meaning Hufflepuffs, she would be fine. But if she remained this naive after graduating, she could find herself in serious trouble without even realizing it.
A well-known Minister of Magic, Grogan Stump, once remarked that Hogwarts was a fairy tale for the wizarding world. Beyond its gates lay a world that could be as merciless as an abyss.
To dark wizards seeking easy prey, a shy, introverted witch from a pure-blood family would seem like a walking treasure trove. They would descend upon her like vultures, leaving nothing behind.
Kyle wasn't exaggerating. There were real examples, like the fate of certain pure-blood families that had vanished.
After Voldemort's defeat, the Death Eaters, without their leader, became fugitives. With the Ministry's Aurors hunting them, they were forced into hiding.
During this turmoil, pure-blood families across the British wizarding world fell into disarray.
Seizing this opportunity, dark figures emerged from the shadows, targeting these vulnerable families.
They attacked directly or tortured for information with curses, viewing every isolated pure-blood wizard as prey.
They didn't care about the family's status, power, or potential retaliation. As long as there was profit, and no formidable figure like Dumbledore or Voldemort involved, they would strike.
During that chaotic time, many pure-blood wizards perished, leading to the decline and disappearance of several families.
This persisted until the remaining Death Eaters were apprehended and the Ministry's focus shifted back to these rogue elements.
It was a harsh reality then, and little had changed now.
Kyle glanced at Kanna, who was still pretending to hide, and after a moment of contemplation, he picked up the black pepper, sprinkled it on his potatoes, and took a bite.
"Forget it," he thought. "I'm just in my first year. Graduation is still far away. No point worrying about these things now. Better to focus on finishing this meal."
(End of this chapter