Chapter 631: Dumbledore's Secret Force
Chapter 631: Dumbledore's Secret Force
When Kyle arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, there was not a soul in sight.
He knocked on the door.
"Come in," Umbridge's voice called out from within.
Pushing the door open, Kyle entered.
The office was much the same as the last time he had visited, adorned with various exquisite handicrafts, though the number of cat plates on the walls seemed to have increased considerably.
"I am disappointed..."
As the office door closed, Umbridge, who had been smiling, immediately replaced her expression with a strange look that was indiscernible as either disappointment or smug satisfaction as she turned to face Kyle.
"I waited here in this office all day yesterday, expecting you to come and tell me something interesting, but you never showed up.
"This may prove that you are not as loyal as you claimed and are still siding with Dumbledore."
"I don't understand what you're implying, Professor," Kyle said in surprise. "Am I supposed to know something?"
"Oh?" Umbridge chuckled. "Well, let me give you a little reminder, then.
"As far as I know, several dozen people went to the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade yesterday. Care to tell me what they were up to?"
"Is that so?" Kyle exclaimed. "I had no idea."
"Liar!" Umbridge's voice turned cold. "I happen to know that quite a few of your friends were among them. How could you not know about it? Perhaps you were there as well."
"Impossible," Kyle shook his head. "I've never been to the Hog's Head, and I know nothing of any gathering there."
"It seems you're not willing to be truthful." Umbridge's fake smile returned, and she said in a sickly sweet voice, "How about another week of detention for lying to a professor? I'm sure you'll be more forthcoming by then."
"I'm telling the truth," Kyle said, his expression unchanged. "After arriving in Hogsmeade yesterday, I went straight to Twilfit and Tatting's, the wizarding clothing shop. Miss Daphne Greengrass from Slytherin can vouch for me as she was there too."
"And after that?" Umbridge pressed. "I recall the gathering wasn't exactly early in the day. You could have easily gone there afterward."
"I stayed at the Three Broomsticks the entire time and didn't go anywhere else," Kyle stated.
Umbridge eyed him suspiciously. "Anyone who can corroborate that?"
"Anyone who was at the Three Broomsticks," Kyle replied. "I was sitting right across from the door. Plenty of people must have seen me."
Umbridge paused, seemingly taken aback by Kyle's response.
"You're not lying?"
"Of course not," Kyle said. "And Madam Rosmerta can confirm that I didn't leave until well after midday.
"Or you could ask any of the people who were at the Hog's Head yesterday if I was there or not."
Umbridge remained silent for a moment.
When she finally looked up, her smile was even more forced and uncomfortable to behold.
"No need," she said in a strange tone. "I'm sure I believe you. But it seems your so-called friends don't feel the same."
"Ah, yes." Kyle struggled to keep himself from punching her. "I'm also disappointed that they would keep so many things from me. Truly disappointing."
"Well then, I need you to help the Ministry investigate this matter.
"Absolutely not!" Umbridge stated confidently. "I don't believe in such coincidences. Those people must be Dumbledore's secret force among the students."
Kyle remained silent, partly because he didn't know what to say... It was rare for him to tell the truth, and yet Umbridge didn't believe him.
Dumbledore had chosen the Hog's Head because he felt it was a safe place filled with his allies. Cedric and his group had chosen it simply because there were fewer people and less chance of being overheard.
So it really was just a coincidence, nothing more.
And as for Dumbledore developing a student secret force?
It had to be said that Umbridge and Rita Skeeter would probably get along well, considering their shared propensity for outlandish and incomprehensible ideas.
However, seeing Umbridge's unwavering conviction, Kyle simply nodded and said, "Leave this to me, Professor. I'll definitely get to the bottom of it."
"Then it's up to you," Umbridge said. "Don't disappoint me."
"I'll get to the bottom of this," Kyle assured her. "For the Ministry."
Umbridge's expression immediately turned serious.
"For the Ministry!"
...
"So, you're going to report us?"
Fred asked in the changing room during the afternoon Quidditch practice.
This was Hufflepuff's changing room, and technically, a Gryffindor shouldn't have been there. But since they were the only ones present, it didn't really matter.
"Theoretically, yes, I should," Kyle said as he wiped his broom. "I could hand you over to Umbridge in exchange for House points."
"Tell Umbridge about our plan, and she'll probably give you quite a few points," Fred added.
"I don't know how many, but it definitely won't be less than fifty," George chimed in.
"So little?" George scoffed, apparently finding Umbridge stingy. "We're Dumbledore's secret force, and we're only worth fifty points? I thought it would be at least a hundred."
"No wonder you didn't go to the Hog's Head that day," Fred said. "You must've known this would happen."
"Not exactly," Kyle shook his head. "I only remembered after arriving in Hogsmeade."
"Ha! She'll never find out the truth now." George couldn't help but laugh. "She tasked you with investigating our gathering."
"But I still don't understand," Cedric said. "Why did Umbridge come to you, and why do you seem obligated to help her? And what did you mean yesterday when you said you'd stand against Professor Dumbledore?"
"It's part of the plan," Kyle explained. "It's difficult to explain in a sentence or two. Just remember that for now, we're supposed to be opposing each other... or at least make Umbridge believe that we are."
George's eyes darted back and forth. "So... can we beat you up in here, like we did when we faced Slytherin?"
"You're right about that," Fred said with a sinister smile. "It's three against one now. You don't stand a chance."
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
