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Chapter 760: Battle Within the Castle, Death Eaters Overflowing with Confidence
Chapter 760: Battle Within the Castle, Death Eaters Overflowing with Confidence
"Merlin's beard, Fenrir Greyback!"
As Professor McGonagall approached, she immediately spotted the werewolf pinned to the wall, writhing in agony.
"Did you do this?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"No, it was Kyle," Cedric quickly interjected. "He saved me as well."
"Well done, you've taken care of a great nuisance for the wizarding world." A slight smile touched Professor McGonagall's tense face. She had rushed over upon hearing that Greyback was in the castle.
Fenrir Greyback was perhaps the most feared and despised werewolf. He took delight in biting young children and condemning them to grow up in isolation, fostering hatred for their fellow wizards.
For most wizards, even encountering a werewolf in its human form during childhood was extremely dangerous. Even if the child's parents were accepting, other wizards would never embrace a young werewolf into their midst.
As a result, when these bitten children grew up, they would willingly join Greyback in his crusade against the wizarding world that had rejected them.
Greyback believed that if there were enough werewolves, they would one day conquer all wizards, and he worked tirelessly towards that goal.
Remus Lupin, for instance, had fallen victim to Greyback's bite when he was a child.
Normally, Lupin would have been confined to a cramped space—an attic or a basement—unable to go out, make friends, or attend school. He would have grown up in solitude.
However, he was fortunate to encounter Dumbledore, a professor confident enough to accept a young werewolf under his wing.
Later, he also met James Potter and Sirius Black.
Regardless of their personalities, when it came to Lupin, they did their best and successfully pulled a young werewolf back from the brink.
Unfortunately, not all bitten children were as lucky as Lupin.
"Professor McGonagall, what should we do with him?" Kyle asked, gesturing at the unconscious Greyback.
"We should hand him over to the Ministry," Professor McGonagall was about to say, but after a moment's hesitation, she changed her mind.
"There's a secluded village in Cornwall where children bitten by Greyback and other werewolves live with their families.
"As it happens, some of them were my former students. I'll write to them when I have the time."
Kyle blinked, as if meeting Professor McGonagall for the first time.
So, this was the true Head of Gryffindor House? Kyle had to admit that he couldn't think of a better solution himself.
"Alright, Kyle, you should head back to your common room now. We'll take care of things here," Professor McGonagall said. She pointed her wand at Greyback, rendering him unconscious with a sharp jab, then transformed him back into a ferret with another quick motion.
With a flick of her wand, she turned the spear into a cage to hold him, and turned to leave.
"Wait, Professor," Kyle hurried after her. "What exactly is going on here, Professor Dumbledore?"
"I don't know," Professor McGonagall admitted. "You should get ba…"
"I can help," Kyle interrupted, a hint of frustration in his voice, as he glanced at the cage.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't graduated yet, but both Professor McGonagall and the members of the Order of the Phoenix tended to treat him as someone who needed protection.
Upon hearing Kyle's reminder, Professor McGonagall finally realized that he had single-handedly dealt with Fenrir Greyback, and from Cedric's account, the battle seemed to have been quite effortless.
"Alright..." After a moment's thought, Professor McGonagall stopped trying to shoo Kyle away.
"The Death Eaters have breached the castle," she said hastily. "When Sirius first told me the news, I thought he was playing a cruel joke. But then I received a message from Headmaster Armando.
"How dare those Death Eaters!" Professor McGonagall's voice shook with anger.
However, one could argue that this was exactly what Death Eaters would do.
But that wasn't what concerned Kyle.
"Professor, you mean to tell me the Death Eaters just walked right in?" Kyle pressed. "Didn't Phineas Black inform you about the Vanishing Cabinet?"
"How do you know about the Vanishing Cabinet?" Professor McGonagall asked, taken aback.
"Because I'm the one who gave it to Draco Malfoy," Kyle replied.
This statement, however, sent Professor McGonagall's mind into a whirl.
She stumbled, nearly losing her footing, and Kyle had to steady her.
"Are you saying that Draco Malfoy is the one who helped the Death Eaters enter the school?" Professor McGonagall's voice rose in surprise. "And what's more, you gave him the Vanishing Cabinet?"
"It's a long story, and I can't explain it in a sentence or two," Kyle said. "In any case, Professor Dumbledore is also aware of this, and we had planned to use the Vanishing Cabinet to capture any Death Eaters who infiltrated Hogwarts."
"But now..." Kyle paused, listening to the continuous explosions echoing through the castle. He spread his hands helplessly and continued, "It seems that things have taken an unexpected turn."
He hadn't anticipated that not only would the Death Eaters avoid being captured, but they would actually breach the school. This wasn't at all how he had envisioned Dumbledore's plan.
Although Professor McGonagall didn't fully understand what Kyle meant, as long as Professor Dumbledore was in the know, she felt reassured.
"Headmaster Black did mention the Vanishing Cabinet," she said. "However, he told us too late. By the time we had escorted the students back to their common rooms, the Death Eaters were already inside the school, and we had no time to stop them."
This caused Kyle to furrow his brow once more.
Was this the extent of the plan he had spent so long contemplating?
Even though they had managed to get the students back to their common rooms, Kyle still felt a nagging sense of dissatisfaction, as he had been aiming for the Death Eaters from the very beginning.
Never mind.
Kyle sighed, feeling that the changes in the Room of Requirement had come at the most inopportune time. If only he had gotten out a day earlier, or even an hour sooner, the Death Eaters would never have set foot inside the castle.
"Where's Professor Dumbledore?" Kyle asked again.
"I don't know," Professor McGonagall shook her head. "He might not be back yet, or he could be somewhere else. I haven't seen him."
As they spoke, another figure clad in a black hooded robe appeared around the corner of the corridor in front of them, unmistakably a Death Eater.
Professor McGonagall raised her wand...
But Kyle was faster. A streak of red light flew past Professor McGonagall's ear and hit the Death Eater directly.
Before the Death Eater could even react, he was sent flying and crashed into the wall, motionless.
"Looks like keeping you here was the right choice." Professor McGonagall's tense expression eased slightly.
It was undeniable that Kyle's reflexes were superior to that of a wizard her age.
Kyle smiled but remained silent.
The two parted ways at the corner, with Professor McGonagall heading down the corridor to the right, while Kyle went left.
As for Cedric, he had to stay put. This spot was the only passage from the tower into the castle, and someone had to guard it.
Along the way, Kyle encountered two more Death Eaters, but he dispatched them with ease, though it was clear they were lackeys and not among the core Death Eaters.
"Sheesh, how many of them are there?" Kyle frowned, too lazy to continue searching. Instead, he took out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Kyle tapped the map with his wand, and the ink lines immediately filled the once-blank parchment.
As Kyle focused on the map, a Death Eater sneaked up behind him.
Kyle seemed oblivious, continuing to study the parchment in his hands.
The Death Eater's face beneath the mask twisted with madness as he pointed his wand at Kyle.
He had seen Kyle's portrait and knew that Voldemort specifically wanted this student dead. Killing him would earn him immense favor, elevating him to the inner circle of Death Eaters.
His excitement caused his heart to race faster and faster.
But just then, a sweet scent wafted towards him, a complex aroma as if someone had shoved a blood-flavored lollipop from Honeydukes right under his nose.
Strange, why would there be a blood-flavored lollipop here? Did some greedy student drop it? What a lack of manners!
The Death Eater felt his head growing heavier and heavier, and the wand in his hand became increasingly cumbersome. The next second, he toppled to the ground, unconscious.
Kyle still didn't turn around, merely saying indifferently, "Remember to clean it up. Don't let the poisonous mist spread elsewhere."
From the shadows behind him, a black creature that resembled a panther slowly emerged.
Hearing Kyle's words, the Venomous Panther snorted unhappily but still lifted its head, its neck puffing up like an irritated pufferfish.
Soon, the sweet scent in the air dissipated.
Kyle continued studying the Marauder's Map in his hand. He had momentarily forgotten about this useful item.
By now, the ink had spread across the entire map, and every Death Eater's name was clearly visible, along with their precise locations.
With this map, Kyle didn't need to search blindly anymore.
His gaze fell on the name Goyle, the closest Death Eater to his location, but soon he noticed another area.
To the north, in the nearby tower, there was a high concentration of people aside from the four common rooms.
Dumbledore, Harry, Malfoy, Snape, Alecto Carrow, Antonin Dolohov, Thorfinn Rowle, and...Morciso Mulciber.
All familiar faces.
Kyle paused at the last name, slightly taken aback.
"Long time no see, Professor Mulciber," he murmured.
It had been so long that he had almost forgotten about this Defense Against the Dark Arts professor from his first year, who had taught him a lot. So, he had finally become a Death Eater?
Kyle put away the map, took a deep breath, and strode towards the tower.
He encountered no obstructions from Death Eaters along the way and soon reached the base of the tower.
The spiral staircase leading upwards was blocked by a thick wall of earth, likely created by the Death Eaters. Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie were frantically waving their wands at it.
"Reducto!"
"Reducto!"
However, their efforts were yielding little result. The wall of earth was sturdy, and their spells only managed to create a small dent, not nearly enough for someone to squeeze through.
Mr. Weasley noticed Kyle approaching from behind.
"Kyle, how did you...?"
"We'll catch up later," Kyle interrupted, waving his wand. A burst of crimson flames crashed into the wall, resembling a fiery log tossed into a snowy field. In the blink of an eye, the wall was incinerated.
Kyle didn't linger but proceeded through the opening. The three Weasleys were left staring at each other.
"Is that...the Blasting Curse?"
"An instant Blasting Curse?"
Bill and Charlie looked at their father simultaneously.
Mr. Weasley grimaced and reluctantly nodded.
Though he found it hard to believe, the flames dancing before him, full of life and twisting like serpents, could only be the Blasting Curse.
Moreover, it was an advanced version of the spell to be able to melt the Death Eaters' earthen barrier so swiftly.
"Should we...go in and help?" Charlie asked tentatively.
The earthen wall was gone, but what lay ahead was even more formidable.
Whether intentional or not, a portion of the blazing fire remained, encircling the area where the wall had been, creating a fiery hoop that anyone wanting to enter the tower would have to pass through.
"But there are a lot of Death Eaters in the tower, and Kyle..."
"Hey, Charlie, do you think Kyle is little Ron, in need of our protection?" Bill raised an eyebrow.
"Alright!" Charlie forced a laugh. "Although it's not very nice to say about Ron, it's true."
As they were talking, a dark shadow suddenly shot past them, swiftly moving through the "ring of fire" and disappearing up the spiral staircase.
"What was that just now?" Bill asked, rubbing his eyes.
"It looks like... a panther," Charlie said uncertainly. The speed was too fast for him to see clearly.
"What's a panther doing in Hogwarts!"
"How should I know? Maybe it came from the Forbidden Forest. Why don't you go and take a look?"
"Hmm... I think Kyle and Professor Dumbledore can handle a panther, even if it's black."
...
On the other side, Kyle made his way up the tower. By the time he reached the top, he could clearly hear the voices coming from above.
"Dumbledore's been backed into a corner, and he's dropped his wand too. Good job, Draco, you're even more impressive than we imagined." A hoarse voice said.
"Now's our chance. Dumbledore's alone and surrounded. Finish him off, Draco." Another person urged.
Surround Dumbledore?
Kyle almost laughed out loud. He quickened his pace, eager to see just how foolish these people were to be spouting such lame jokes.
If numbers could make up for the gap in strength, Voldemort would have been mobbed a long time ago.
"Good evening, Gibbon," said Dumbledore in a calm tone, as if inviting the person to tea. "If you're in a hurry, why don't you come here yourself? I'm right here, no need to trouble a child."
"No, we have our orders. Draco has to do it himself." A dull voice said, "Come on, Draco, hurry up. Think of Lucius and Narcissa. They're waiting for your good news."
The threat in the last sentence was unmistakable.
"Look at you, Dumbledore. You can't even hold your wand steady." The hoarse voice continued, "I really don't understand why the Dark Lord is so concerned about you."
"Ah, my body's getting old and weak, and my reflexes are slow." Dumbledore's voice carried a hint of helplessness. "I'm over a hundred years old, and I'm past my prime. But one day... you'll end up like this too, Gibbon... if you're lucky..."
"What do you mean by that? What are you trying to say?" The Death Eater's voice turned sharp. "Come on, Draco, kill him already!"
"Relax, don't rush. Let's give the young man some encouragement." A lazy voice piped in: "By the way, has anyone seen Fenrir yet?"
"He's probably running amok in the school, that brainless beast." Another Death Eater spoke with disgust.
"Fenrir Greyback?" Dumbledore's voice turned grave.
"Yeah, a werewolf, and one who loves biting children." The lazy voice continued, "Want to take a guess at how many students will turn into werewolves by the end of tonight?"
"It's a shame the moon isn't particularly full tonight."
"Sorry, I forgot." Oren said, "But Dumbledore, Greyback is far more cruel than you imagine. He doesn't care if it's the full moon or not."
"It's fine. I trust the professors at the school... just like I once trusted you."
"What an honor." Oren said.
"Enough chit-chat!" A woman's shrill voice cut in, "Draco, get on with it, or move aside!"
Kyle didn't hear Malfoy speak, and similarly, he noticed that no one mentioned Harry.
He remembered that Harry's name had been on the Marauder's Map just now. As the savior and bane of Voldemort, the Death Eaters had no reason to ignore him.
But it didn't matter anymore.
At that moment, Kyle had reached the top of the tower and pushed open the slightly ajar door.
Dumbledore was leaning against a wall, facing a trembling Draco Malfoy. The segmented wand lay on the floor between them.
Had Dumbledore been disarmed?
Kyle's lips twitched as he felt Dumbledore's acting was a bit over the top. He wasn't injured, so how could he be disarmed by a student... yet these people seemed to believe it.
At the same time, the sound of the opening door quickly drew everyone's attention, and they looked over instinctively.
When they saw it was Kyle, Dumbledore's eyes widened in disbelief, with a hint of annoyance and panic.
On the other hand, the Death Eaters were delighted, almost cheering.
"It's you!" The witch among them glared at Kyle with bitter hatred. "We were just thinking about how to find you, and here you come, right into our arms."
"Yes, I'm here." Kyle said, "So what?"
"He's mine. I want to kill him with my own hands! No, I want to torture him with the Cruciatus Curse!"
"No, he should be mine." Antonin Dolohov said.
The two glared at each other, neither willing to back down.
...
(End of Chapter)
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