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After Kyle left the hospital, he noticed that the morning classes had ended. Instead of heading to the Charms classroom, he made his way directly to the library. Dumbledore had recommended two books that would aid him in mastering basic spells. Kyle thought they would be perfect for a new wizard like him and planned to borrow them.
The library was located on the second floor, just one staircase away. Upon arriving, Kyle approached Madam Pince, the stern librarian. Holding a feather duster, she scrutinized him. When Kyle asked to borrow two books, she sharply responded, "Unless you have a note from a professor, you may only borrow one book at a time."
Kyle didn't argue. "Then I'll borrow Hanging with Ghouls," he said quickly.
Unexpectedly, Madam Pince's face twisted in disgust at the mention of the title. "Another Lockhart book," she muttered under her breath. Her disdain for Gilderoy Lockhart was palpable. She found his works excessively self-centered and lacking in substance. While some biographies were grandiose, Lockhart's seemed particularly off to her. His books, though not unreadable, left her feeling uneasy. Something about them always felt incomplete and disjointed.
After a moment, she informed Kyle, "Hanging with Ghouls has been borrowed. If you register now, you can get it back in about two years."
"Two years?" Kyle shook his head. "Forget it then. How about The Bard in the Wind?"
Madam Pince's demeanor softened. "Yes," she said. She walked over to the nearby shelves, leaving Kyle waiting.
As she retrieved the book, Kyle observed her with curiosity. Madam Pince was thin and elderly, resembling a malnourished vulture. Wherever she moved, students seemed to cower, not even daring to sneeze.
After a few moments, she returned with the thick book and a stern warning: "You must return this within a week. If it's late or damaged, you'll never be allowed to borrow from here again."
Kyle nodded, taking the book carefully.
After leaving the library, Kyle decided to return to the Hufflepuff common room, where he could read in comfort. However, as soon as he passed through the entrance, he was met by a crowd of first-year students. They had gathered, anxiously awaiting news about Mikel, their classmate who had suffered an accident during Charms class.
Ryan, the first to approach, asked, "How's Mikel? We tried to visit him, but Madam Pomfrey kicked us out."
Kyle reassured him with a smile. "Mikel's fine. Professor Dumbledore checked on him. He'll be out of the hospital tomorrow."
The collective sigh of relief was palpable. Ryan, still concerned, asked, "Is there anything Mikel wants to eat? We can prepare something and give it to him when he's out."
The Hufflepuffs immediately began offering up their cherished treats. One had raspberry preserves, another had fudge, and someone else had cookies from home. Even licorice was mentioned.
Moved by their thoughtfulness, Kyle knew what to say next. "While snacks are nice, what Mikel really wants right now is not to fall behind in his studies!"
Ryan looked confused. "His studies?"
"Yes," Kyle continued. "Mikel is strong. His accident happened because he was anxious about completing the spell, right?"
Ryan nodded in agreement, though he hadn't noticed exactly how the blinding light had occurred during the lesson. He trusted Kyle's explanation.
"So," Kyle said, "what he needs most is to stay caught up. He wouldn't want to fall behind just because he missed a couple of classes."
The room went silent as the young Hufflepuffs processed this. Kyle's reasoning made sense. They had all seen how determined Mikel was during lessons. It wasn't hard to believe that Mikel cared more about his studies than snacks.
Kyle's suggestion sparked action. The students quickly organized themselves. Some would take detailed notes during the afternoon's Transfiguration class and tomorrow's History of Magic class. Others would ensure those notes were neatly arranged for Mikel when he returned.
For those who weren't fast enough to claim a task, a new idea emerged: they would handle Mikel's homework. Hogwarts assignments were essential, and Mikel wouldn't want to be left behind. They would tell the professors about Mikel's dedication to his studies, making sure he didn't miss a single task.
(End of Chapter)
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