After committing the location of the two rowan trees to memory, Kyle didn't linger. He returned to Hagrid, who was standing nearby, awkwardly holding a bundle of branches he'd picked up, all while casting glances back at his cabin.
"Oh… you picked them out that quickly?" Hagrid stammered, turning to face Kyle. "I wasn't thinkin' about the dragon egg, honest! Just saw somethin' runnin' over there a moment ago… might've been a Kneazle."
"There are still Kneazles in the Forbidden Forest?"
"Oh, yeah." Relieved that Kyle seemed to believe him, Hagrid continued, "Actually, there's quite a few Kneazles in the Forest, but they don't usually come out in front of wizards. Even I only catch a glimpse now and then. As you probably know, these Magical Creatures are real sharp and cautious. If they want to stay hidden, no one'll find 'em."
Kyle nodded. Kneazles were indeed highly intelligent. Newt always believed that, like Wampus Cats, they had a natural talent for Legilimency, although their ability didn't fit into any known category of magic. One thing was certain: you couldn't hide your true intentions from a Kneazle, as they could sense what was in your heart.
Kyle's thoughts drifted to his own Kneazle, Tom, who spent most of his days eating, sleeping, and occasionally rolling onto his back in utter laziness. That one, Kyle mused, was certainly an outlier—a bit like a carefree Husky in a pack of clever wolves.
Back at the cabin, Hagrid enthusiastically invited Kyle in once more.
"Maybe next time, Hagrid," Kyle replied, shaking his head. "I need to finish some homework and get these branches ready over the holiday."
He added, "By the way, write to me when the dragon egg hatches. I helped care for baby dragons at Newt's once, so I have a bit of experience."
"That'd be wonderful..." Hagrid started, then cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. "I mean, of course, if you have the time!"
"Don't worry about that. I'm sure I'll have time," Kyle said with a wave, heading back toward the castle.
Hagrid watched him go before turning and heading back inside his cabin. Once he stepped in, he found Harry, Ron, and Hermione waiting anxiously. The moment they saw Hagrid, they hurried over to him, their faces full of questions.
...
"Where's Kyle...?" Harry asked.
"Oh, he had other things to take care of and went back to the castle already," Hagrid replied, setting down the bow and arrow slung over his shoulder and hanging them on the wall. "I think you three should go back and work on your homework, instead of badgering me about Professor Snape. I promise you, he's definitely not planning to steal the Philosopher's Stone."
"But—"
Harry was about to argue, but Hermione cut in first. "Does what Kyle has to do have anything to do with those rowan twigs? And what about that amulet you mentioned earlier?"
"Oh, that…" Hagrid paused to think. "It's a little wooden carving about the size of a Galleon—some kind of, uh… passing charm…? I can't quite remember the name, but it means something like that. Last year it was all the rage at Hogwarts; nearly everyone had one."
"Passing exams..." Harry and Ron's eyes lit up, and they immediately pressed him with questions.
"Does it really help people pass their exams?"
"How much does it cost?"
"You two..." Hermione huffed angrily. "If you want to pass your exams, read more! Don't go relying on some amulet. And use your brains—if it really helped everyone pass, do you think Professor McGonagall would allow it at Hogwarts? That's cheating!"
"Maybe Professor McGonagall doesn't know," Ron retorted.
Harry nodded. "Or maybe the professors don't think it's cheating. Hagrid did say it only started last year, so it's pretty new."
"You… hmph!" Hermione snorted in exasperation, choosing to ignore them. She turned back to Hagrid. "Hagrid, do you honestly think that amulet helps people pass exams?"
"Of course not," Hagrid said with a chuckle. "Even last year, there were plenty of P's (Poor), D's (Dreadful), and T's (Troll). Hermione's right—if you want to pass, you'll have to study. It's the only way."
The hopeful gleam in Harry and Ron's eyes disappeared instantly.
"So Kyle was lying?" Harry asked, sounding disappointed.
"Well… that's not entirely true," Hagrid replied thoughtfully. "Kyle said more than once last year that it was purely symbolic, that it didn't actually do anything."
He furrowed his brow as he continued. "What's odd, though, is that even with that, loads of people still believed it worked. I remember one student saying his Charms grades had always been awful, but he managed to scrape an A (Acceptable) in the final exam."
Hearing this, Harry and Ron's eyes brightened again, while Hermione frowned, lost in thought.
The cabin fell quiet, save for the sound of Hagrid humming to himself as he stacked wood by the fireplace. If Professor Flitwick were there, he'd undoubtedly explain that the student's A had nothing to do with an amulet and was entirely due to hard work. But Flitwick wasn't here; he was likely still enjoying a butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks.
...
On the way back to the castle, Harry and Ron were still buzzing about what they'd heard.
"It helps people pass exams... By Merlin's beard, that's more valuable than the Philosopher's Stone!" Harry said earnestly. "Whatever it costs, I have to get one!"
"Yeah... I want one, too." Ron's mood dimmed as he fished through his pocket, counting a few Sickles and Knuts. He muttered, "Hope it's not too expensive."
"I can… uh, lend you some… or maybe you could ask Fred and George?" Harry said. He'd been about to offer to buy one for Ron but quickly remembered Ron's sensitivity about money and switched gears. "They were involved in that map at the start of term, so maybe they'll be in on this too. They're your brothers, so they'll probably give you a good deal."
"You're right, how could I forget…" Ron looked up, suddenly excited. "They've always been close to Kyle, and they wouldn't let their little brother fail an exam!"
"Hmph!" Hermione suddenly brushed past Ron, bumping into him as she strode ahead.
The two boys stopped laughing immediately, watching her hurry off.