Chapter 795: Fox's Resting Branch
Chapter 795: Fox's Resting Branch
The discussion lasted late into the night.
The ideal candidate to go to Hogsmeade was Nymphadora Tonks; as a Metamorphmagus, she could easily deceive everyone and perfectly conceal herself.
Mondungus wasn't a bad choice either; being well-versed in the art of disguise from his shady dealings, he was also capable of hiding effectively.
However, after much insistence from Sirius, the group finally agreed to let him undertake the task of protecting Harry.
The only requirement was that he must consistently take the Polyjuice Potion and maintain a different appearance when around others.
Sirius readily agreed.
This wasn't a difficult task; there was a Muggle village located ten miles from Hogsmeade, and he would just need to wait until nightfall to find a suitably hairy Muggle.
Harry was also pleased with this decision.
Compared to the other two, he obviously preferred to be with his godfather, even if they had to pretend not to know each other during normal circumstances. Being close by was definitely preferable.
Afterward, those who had rushed back from the Ministry stood up to leave.
Kingsley, in particular, had received a message from Scrimgeour via special Auror means—they were short on hands in Godric's Hollow, and they needed to rush over immediately.
The others were needed to help as well.
Kyle had wanted to take this opportunity to return to St. Kachibor Village; it had been a long time since he last stayed there, and as he passed by his home earlier, he missed the old cat-leopard.
However, just as Kyle was about to leave with Chris, he was pushed back inside.
"You'll be staying here from now on," Chris said, turning to face him.
"Why?" Kyle asked, confused. "I still need to go to the Ministry tomorrow, and it would be more convenient if I stayed at home."
"It's safer here than in St. Kachibor Village," Chris said, looking at him.
While others might not understand the situation, he was very clear about the contents of Kyle's boxes.
Fire dragons, venomous leopards, cat-leopards, basilisks, and three-headed dogs... Even among the 5X-level magical beasts, these were considered some of the most troublesome creatures.
Every time he thought about Kyle traveling around with that dangerous box, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
In terms of quantity, Kyle's box might not compare to Newt's, but in terms of quality and danger, both were equally lethal.
So, Chris was well aware that if utilized properly, these magical beasts could help Kyle eliminate a large number of Death Eaters in a short period.
Just the basilisk alone was enough to cause significant damage.
The basilisk was a species created by humans; to be precise, it wasn't a magical beast but a product of ancient dark magic, created solely for the purpose of killing.
The eyes of a basilisk were the physical embodiment of the Killing Curse—no incantation or wand movement was needed, just a simple gaze was enough, making it incredibly deadly.
Coupled with scales that rivaled those of a fire dragon, the basilisk could ignore most magical attacks, making it a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
In the face of such a creature, numbers meant little; only a powerful wizard like Dumbledore or Voldemort stood a chance against it.
Of course, Chris kept these thoughts to himself, choosing to maintain secrecy even among those he trusted.
"Have you let it out?" Chris asked quietly, taking advantage of a moment when Kingsley and Moody were talking.
"Yes," Kyle readily admitted, knowing exactly what Chris was referring to.
"That's why," Chris shook his head. "I don't know what you've been up to, but one thing's for sure—your actions have angered the mysterious man. In this situation, St. Kachibor Village is no longer safe.
"It's better to stay here to prevent him from taking revenge on you."
"Yes, you should stay here," Mrs. Weasley added, walking over to them.
She didn't quite understand what Chris was talking about, but she caught the last part about safety, and right now, there was no safer place than here.
As the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore had cast countless protective spells on this place. The Fidelius Charm was just the most basic; there were also Anti-Tracking Charms, Unbreakable Charms, Permanent Sticking Charms, and more—she knew of at least seven different protective measures.
It could be said that even if Voldemort himself learned of the location of 12 Grimmauld Place and came here in person, it would take him a long time to break through all the defenses.
In a sense, this place was even safer than Hogwarts without Dumbledore.
Naturally, she wanted Kyle to stay here.
"Then... alright," Kyle said, glancing at Chris' calm expression. "I'll stay here."
"Good," Chris nodded. "Also, don't go to the Ministry for now. Stay here and lie low for a while. I'll handle things with Amelia."
"Okay," Kyle nodded again.
It seemed that Chris had been thinking about this ever since their earlier conversation.
While Kyle wasn't particularly fond of staying cooped up in the house, he had just used a basilisk to kill dozens of Death Eaters, and such a casualty rate was rare, even in times of war.
Seeing Kyle's agreement, Chris finally breathed a sigh of relief, shooting a displeased glare at Kyle.
In truth, he didn't want Kyle to develop a habit of killing. Thinking carefully, over the past few years, almost every Death Eater who had encountered Kyle was left with a few less lives.
It started with the Triwizard Tournament when Kyle first used the Blasting Curse to kill a Death Eater. Then, during the cleanup of the Dementors with Cedric, he killed two more.
There were also the Death Eaters in the Hogwarts towers, the werewolves in the Dark Forest, and right up to the events in Godric's Hollow... It could be said that the survival rate of Death Eaters when they encountered Dumbledore was higher than when they faced Kyle.
Chris was deeply concerned that if this continued, Kyle would be corrupted by the negative emotions that came with killing, eventually becoming a Dark Wizard like Voldemort.
Yet, he couldn't say anything.
Even after killing so many Death Eaters, Kyle's magical power remained pristine and untainted. This situation rendered Chris's concerns unfounded.
This left Chris in an awkward position. He looked at Kyle, shook his head helplessly, and then left the square with Kingsley and the others.
Inside the house, Ron was celebrating with the Weasley brothers, setting off the remaining colored ribbons and party poppers from the wedding in the dining room.
They didn't need to consider as much as the others, and their thoughts were simple: as long as the Death Eaters suffered, they were happy, and the greater the casualties, the more worthy the celebration.
Although they didn't know what had happened in Godric's Hollow, it didn't matter. What was important was that the Death Eaters had suffered heavy losses, and that was a big victory for the Order of the Phoenix.
If not for the circumstances, they would have even wanted to hold a grand celebration.
"Fred, George!" Mrs. Weasley glared at the room full of colorful ribbons, her temples throbbing.
"Can you two be a little quieter?" she shouted. "I only left for a while, and you've turned the whole dining room into a mess!"
"It's just a few ribbons, it's not as exaggerated as you make it sound," Fred said, waving his wand. The ribbons in the room were instantly swept away by a gust of wind.
"Look, it's all clean now."
"What I mean is, you two should be more mature. Even if you can't set a good example for your younger siblings, at least don't lead them astray."
"Us? Lead Ron astray?" Fred pointed to himself and George, then turned to look at Ron. "I think he's more excited than we are."
"Yeah." George nodded. "He set off more party poppers by himself than all of us combined."
"I remember he set off five."
"We each set off two."
"Ginny did one..."
"So, half of the ribbons in this room were set off by him."
Fred and George bantered back and forth, leaving Ron red-faced and speechless.
"The ribbons I set off were all given to me by you guys, weren't they?" Ron asked.
"We just asked you to help hold them. When did we ever say you could set them off?" George retorted.
Ron was left dumbfounded. He stammered, unable to come up with a response. He looked to Hermione for help, but she had disagreed with the celebration from the start, so she naturally wouldn't speak up for him now.
"Enough!" Mrs. Weasley interrupted the bickering Fred and George. "Now, go back to your rooms and sleep."
Ron immediately ran out.
The Weasley brothers also reluctantly closed their mouths and went back to their rooms, grumbling under their breath as they walked away... probably complaining that Mrs. Weasley was unfair, only scolding the two of them.
Mrs. Weasley turned a deaf ear to their complaints. Although she didn't know the truth, she knew Fred and George well enough to know that they deserved a good scolding.
"As for you two, it's time for bed as well," she said to the remaining people in the room. "Kyle, do you need me to make an extra perch for your phoenix? We only have firewood here, though."
"Ah, no need," Kyle shook his head.
Just as people are accustomed to sleeping in beds, phoenixes prefer to rest on perches. Moreover, the rarer the wood, the more comfortable it is for them, like the golden perch in Dumbledore's office.
Kyle recalled that the perch was naturally golden, not decorated as such. Under the sunlight, it shimmered like solidified Felix Felicis.
Although Kyle didn't have anything that luxurious, he had an entire forest in his box, which would surely be much more comfortable for Fox than standing on a single branch...
However, Mrs. Weasley's words reminded Kyle that if he came across suitable materials, he could try to make a perch for Fox.
Kyle pondered this as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Kyle."
As he reached the staircase, Kyle suddenly heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see Hermione waiting for him there.
"Hold on a second," Kyle interrupted. "Actually, I probably won't be going to the Ministry tomorrow."
"You're not?" Hermione frowned. "Why not?"
"Because of the mysterious man," Kyle explained. "After what happened this afternoon, the group thinks he might take his anger out on me. So, I've been restricted from going anywhere for a while."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Hermione quickly apologized. "I must have missed that. I guess I was lost in thought."
"It's fine, it's not your fault," Kyle said. "They told me about it just now when you weren't around."
"Alright then," Hermione said. "I should head back."
"Wait a moment," Kyle called out, stopping her. "If you really want to make some changes, why don't you give it a try yourself?"
"Me?" Hermione was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Go and learn more about the Ministry," Kyle suggested. "To be honest, you don't really understand the current situation at the Ministry, and a lot of your perceptions are wrong."
"Where am I wrong?" Hermione asked, her face serious.
"In many ways," Kyle said. "For example, you tend to apply the same rules and expectations from school to the Ministry. But in reality, they are completely different. The Ministry isn't just an extension of Hogwarts."
"Every new bill and regulation is carefully considered before being enacted. It's not as simple as someone making a suggestion and everything changing overnight."
"Also, regarding the Muggle-Wizard Relations Department that you mentioned earlier, it's difficult to assess an employee's performance and competence solely based on written exams, as you might do in school."
"But I really haven't seen any evidence of their work," Hermione argued.
"That's because you don't have a need for it," Kyle said calmly. "Being a Muggle-born witch, both you and your parents know how to interact with Muggles. So, when conflicts arise, you don't need the Ministry's assistance."
Hermione didn't refute this time.
"Here's an idea," Kyle suggested after a moment's thought. "If you're free this month, why don't you volunteer at the Ministry? You can get a head start on familiarizing yourself with the place, and they're short-staffed at the moment anyway."
Volunteer...
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Do you think I could really do that?"
"You can't do it on your own, but I can put in a good word for you," Kyle offered. "I know quite a few people at the Ministry, so getting you in as an assistant shouldn't be a problem. But I have to be upfront—you won't be paid for this. If that's an issue, then forget about it."
"No, I agree," Hermione said immediately. "I plan to work at the Ministry after I graduate next year, so I'd love to get a feel for the work environment there."
"Great," Kyle nodded. "Then go ahead and head back. I'll take you there tomorrow."
"Okay," Hermione started walking upstairs but stopped after a couple of steps. "Wait, Kyle, didn't you say they won't let you leave here?"
"That's true," Kyle shrugged. "But as long as I don't go out, it should be fine, right?"
"How will you get there, though? You can't use magic within these walls, and the fireplace isn't connected to the Floo Network."
"You haven't forgotten how you left Godric's Hollow, have you?" Kyle smiled.
Hermione's eyes widened as she realized what he meant. "If I have to ride a phoenix there, I'd rather not go to the Ministry!"
"The mysterious man is after me, not you," Kyle said casually. "You can just use regular transportation and meet me near the magical fountain in the atrium."
"Okay," Hermione agreed.
As their conversation drew to a close, Kyle's gaze landed on the large painting hanging nearby.
It was the portrait of Phineas Black.
The painting itself wasn't anything special—Kyle had seen enough of Phineas' face during his time at school. What caught his attention was the frame.
An ancient pure-blood family, and a former Hogwarts headmaster—Phineas' portrait frame was surely no ordinary piece. The wood used in its construction...
Kyle's eyes narrowed as an idea formed. He reached out and ran his hand along the frame.
The wood was indeed exceptional; despite its age, there wasn't a single crack, and it felt smooth to the touch, like polished jade.
Now, this was a fine piece.
Kyle's eyes lit up as he imagined using the frame to create a resting branch for Fox.
But then he shook his head... No, it wouldn't be right to just dismantle Sirius' great-grandfather's portrait, especially here in the Black family mansion. It would be rude.
...
(End of Chapter)
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