It was ridiculously loud out here in the stands, with all the talking and cheering and hustling and bustling, and though the noise was not quite as bad for his head as the light, Kyle found himself getting more and more frustrated with it. The pounding in his head was making him feel more and more nauseous, which was not how he intended to finish the challenge.

When Professor Williams approached, Kyle responded automatically, slipping into French as he sometimes did when he was frustrated or in pain and therefore more likely to snap. "My head is killing me. I feel like it's going to explode..." As he felt another ripple of pain that was not unlike brain freeze, he swore to himself again in French, hissing the words through his teeth. Then, a clarification, in English this time. "Bad reaction."

The Healer? ... That might be a good idea, actually. Even a simple headache draught to keep a migraine at bay would be beneficial, until they had the scores and he could go and sleep it off.

Was this likely to cost him points? Reacting badly to the daydream potion? Kyle privately hoped not; he desperately wanted that scholarship.