Only at this moment did everyone in the auditorium come to their senses.
What did they just hear... an out-of-control werewolf?
Even new students, after a year of study, are well aware of how terrifying a werewolf can be.
It was mentioned in the study of werewolf behavioral codes that they are a 5X level threat. When transformed, werewolves are ferocious, agile, and extremely strong, posing a deadly threat to wizards.
Even many adult wizards and even Ministry of Magic Beaters can't handle werewolves; it's always been the job of Aurors.
They really couldn't imagine how Kael managed to do it...
At the Gryffindor table, Ron and Harry were already wide-eyed.
Ever since the truth came out, they've maintained this expression.
They were still memorizing the werewolf behavioral codes, yet Kael could already tear apart a werewolf. The gap was just too big.
Hermione was somewhat better; she had thought earlier that the person receiving the medal might be Kael, so she wasn't too surprised.
No matter what others thought, at the main guest seat, Dumbledore had already taken and opened the box handed to him by Dugald McPhail at this moment.
Inside was a delicate gold medal and a purple ribbon.
Different grades of the Merlin Order Medals have different ribbon colors: green for Order One, purple for Order Two, and white for Order Three.
It's just that this thing seemed to be standard-sized, and it looked a bit large on Kael, hanging almost from his left shoulder down to his calf.
If it were red... that would be too festive.
Dumbledore lightly moved his fingers, instantly adjusting it to the right size.
"Thank you for everything you've done, child." Dumbledore solemnly handed the gold medal to Kael.
"Thank you for your guidance, Professor." Kael extended his hand and shook Dumbledore's lightly.
...
If anyone were standing outside the auditorium at the moment, they might think an explosion had happened inside.
The cheers from the four Houses rose to a crescendo, with Mikel and Ryan standing on the Hufflepuff table and cheering loudly, wishing they could tell everyone that Kael was their roommate.
Even the usually composed Cedric and Conna were jumping up and down excitedly by the table.
Dumbledore didn't interrupt them this time either.
It wasn't until everyone's hands were numb and their voices hoarse that the deafening cheers gradually subsided.
"As Headmaster of Hogwarts..." At this point, Dumbledore continued, "I award two hundred points to Hufflepuff House, and Kael will also receive the Special Contribution to the School Award again."
The crowd, which had just quieted, became noisy again.
The decorations inside the auditorium returned to their previous state, but few in Gryffindor felt regret.
Just like when Harry and the others earned one hundred and fifty points for Gryffindor, there was no issue with Kael's points this time.
Some even thought two hundred points were too few; after all, it was a Merlin Order Medal, and a second-class one at that... it should have at least added five hundred points.
Headmaster Dumbledore was being too frugal.
At the end of the ceremony, Dumbledore also let Kael stand at his position to give a speech.
Kael cleared his throat,
"I'll keep it brief then..."
Because he was eager to eat, Kael didn't pull out any long-winded speech, just talked about some methods to improve learning efficiency and suggestions on developing Hogwarts into a harmonious campus.
However, most students weren't interested in this, with only a handful listening attentively to the end.
Like Hermione, who not only listened carefully but also took down every word.
And Neville... he wanted to take notes too, but after writing the first sentence, he forgot all the content that followed.
At the end of his speech, Kael made a small wish.
He hoped that Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor wouldn't suffer any mishaps next year and could live to the end of the academic year lively.
Everyone burst into knowing laughter, even the visiting wizards couldn't help but shake their heads with amusement.
It's no longer a secret in the Magic Realm that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts gets into trouble every year; they knew, of course.
At this time every year, it's the period when Dumbledore is least popular.
He was like a mountain troll emitting a stench, unsavory and unwelcome, getting shut out everywhere he went.
Some people, to avoid Dumbledore visiting, would even flee to other countries before Hogwarts was on summer break, and they wouldn't return until school resumed in September.
"Oh, looks like we better hurry back later, it would be troublesome if he gets hold of us."
McPhail chuckled and half-jokingly said to Cecily beside him, "I'm getting old; helping to present the medal is fine, but being a professor is out of the question."
"Indeed, this job is too dangerous."
Cecily also covered her mouth and laughed lightly, "We even thought of preparing a separate area for those Defense professors."
Beside them, Dumbledore blushed and glared at Kael exasperatedly.
This little rascal, what was he saying!
Once Kael finished speaking, the long-delayed feast began.
Returning to the Hufflepuff table, Kael became the center of attention, with young wizards constantly coming over to congratulate him on receiving the Merlin Order Medal.
So much so that Kael barely ate but was nearly full from drinking pumpkin juice.
"You even kept it from us..."
After a long time, the crowd offering congratulations gradually dispersed. Cedric, with a straight face, said, "Before this, we didn't even know you went to St Mungo's!"
"I didn't even know I could really get the Merlin Medal," Kael explained. "Besides, everything was over; mentioning it would only make you worry unnecessarily."
"That's not right; we're friends," Conna wrinkled her nose and said, "Isn't it normal to worry for friends?"
"Exactly, so even if you say that, I can't forgive you," Cedric said coldly, "Unless you promise not to hide things from us when you encounter danger in the future!"
"You're being unreasonable," Kael looked at him crossly, "As if I frequently get into danger."
"Hmm... isn't that the case?" Cedric raised an eyebrow:
"Besides St Mungo's... events with the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors these past two years were related to you, and every time there's a Quidditch match, you disappear, and..."
"Okay, okay, I promise you!" Kael quickly interrupted him, decisively saying, "I swear on Dumbledore's beard!"
Only then did Cedric smile again.
"That's more like it... congratulations on getting the Merlin Medal." He raised a goblet of pumpkin juice.
"Congratulations!" Conna also lifted her cup.
Seeing the cups in their hands, which were noticeably larger than those of others, and filled to the brim with pumpkin juice, Kael's face turned green, and he felt his stomach churning.
"You did this on purpose!"
"Hahaha!"
Cedric burst into hearty laughter, "That's what you get for keeping it from us; it's your punishment."
Conna also laughed, "But since you helped us win back the House Cup, we'll allow you to drink later."
"Ha ha..." Kael rubbed his belly:
"Thank you so much!"