https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-807-The-First-Decision-at-the-Opening-Banquet/13013200/
Chapter 806: The Opening Banquet
Chapter 806: The Opening Banquet
From morning till dusk, the Hogwarts Express traveled at a speed that was completely at odds with its name.
As they neared Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick headed to the Prefect's compartment to discuss some matters, while Professor Sprout stayed behind to trim the excess branches of her crab claw orchid.
Kyle sat there, gazing out the window in a daze.
Before this, he had indeed been concerned about how the opening banquet at Hogwarts would be held.
If the most important part of this event in the past was the sorting of new students, then this year, it would undoubtedly be Dumbledore's speech.
It's not that the sorting of new students this year wasn't important; it's just that everyone was less concerned about it, especially under the current circumstances. Most people seemed to be more interested in seeing Dumbledore.
He didn't need to do anything; just his presence would reassure everyone.
Perhaps this was also the reason why Dumbledore had Kyle impersonate him in advance, to give everyone peace of mind.
If Dumbledore didn't show up at the opening banquet, it might lead to some unpleasant thoughts, including possible probes targeting the school from the Death Eaters.
However, once he appeared, these concerns would naturally be put to rest.
A week before the start of school, Kyle had already been wondering when Dumbledore would return.
To be honest, the time he had been gone was indeed quite long, and the closer it got to the start of school, the more worried Kyle became.
First of all, time travel was not safe, and it was filled with uncertainties. Normally, there shouldn't be two Dumbledores in the same time period. If they saw each other, there was a possibility of accidentally killing the past or future 'self.'
For example, if the past Dumbledore killed the 'Dumbledore' who had returned using the Time Turner, then in that time period, he would truly be dead and naturally wouldn't be able to return.
If the returned Dumbledore killed his past self, the situation would only get worse. As for what exactly would happen... no one knew because those who had experienced it left no information at all.
Although Kyle believed that Dumbledore wouldn't make such a common-sense mistake, when it came to Ariana, he couldn't be so sure.
Even the most clear-headed person might lose their calm when facing something they deeply cared about, and this was no exception, not even for Dumbledore.
If he got carried away and wanted to save Ariana, he would inevitably intersect with his past self, and at that time, anything could happen.
There was another important point, which was the issue of his return.
If Dumbledore used the Time Turner like a normal wizard, he would live a hundred years in the past, until August of this year, and then return to Bathilda's house in Godric's Hollow, completing the time loop.
In other words, he would return at the time he used the Time Turner.
But this situation did not occur, and a month had already passed.
One of the reasons was the issue with the Time Turner. According to Nicolas, because it was repaired, it might cause a special deviation in the time Dumbledore was in.
In other words, the system was lagging, and his image was frozen, but the outside world was functioning normally.
Nicolas also said that even if this happened, it would only be for a few days, not an entire month.
Additionally, to avoid this risk, Nicolas gave a second option, which was to use the Time Turner to return.
This was also the reason why Kyle decided to create another Philosopher's Stone, as the magic provided by the Stone was sufficient to support two-time travels.
But Dumbledore didn't seem to choose this method; he just disappeared into thin air.
Before today, Kyle had also considered the possibility that Dumbledore might have died of old age during this hundred-year period. If that were the case, he wouldn't be able to appear.
However, he dismissed this thought.
The lifespan of wizards was generally quite long. For example, the previous headmaster of Hogwarts, Armando Dippet, lived for over three hundred years and was still lively, and Bathilda was also over a hundred years old.
Even the witch selling snacks on the train could live to nearly two hundred years, let alone Dumbledore, who had profound magical power. As long as he didn't do anything reckless, living for two hundred years was not a problem at all.
But why hadn't he returned yet? Kyle couldn't understand.
Another whistle sounded, bringing Kyle back to his senses.
A commotion could be heard outside the compartment. The Hogwarts Express had arrived at the station.
Kyle stood up subconsciously.
"You don't need to rush," Professor Sprout said, "It's best if the other students don't know you've come to Hogwarts."
Her meaning was simple—she wanted Kyle to wait before going out. Kyle understood and nodded, then sat down again.
After that, Professor Sprout also left the compartment, guiding the students down from the train.
Kyle remained seated, watching the bustling crowd outside.
He also spotted a huge figure; Hagrid, as always, was holding that lamp, which had been used for who knows how many years, to guide the new students across the river.
Twenty minutes later, the last group of students rode in carriages towards the castle, and the area returned to its quiet state. Kyle also stepped outside, looking up at the castle hidden in the night sky.
"How does it feel to be back in a different identity?" Professor McGonagall, who was in charge of escorting the students, turned back and walked over to Kyle.
"I don't know how to describe it," Kyle shrugged, "but if I had a choice, I really wouldn't want to be here. I doubt many graduates would want to come back."
"I understand," Professor McGonagall said with a smile, "but Dumbledore must attend the opening banquet."
"I understand that, or else I would have run away earlier," Kyle said, "By the way, Professor McGonagall, how much is the Headmaster's salary?"
"Salary?" Professor McGonagall felt a bit lost in Kyle's train of thought. They were just talking about the school, and suddenly the topic shifted to salary.
However, she thought for a moment, "It shouldn't be less than two hundred Galleons."
Her monthly salary was two hundred Galleons, so the Headmaster's salary should be higher.
"Is this money for me?" Kyle asked, "After all, I'm taking Dumbledore's place at work, so it's reasonable to receive his salary."
"It's very reasonable," Professor McGonagall couldn't help but rub her forehead, "Alright, we should go too. As I said earlier, Dumbledore must attend the opening banquet."
"Alright," Kyle sighed and walked into the castle gate with mixed feelings.
However, they didn't rush to the banquet but headed to the Headmaster's office on the eighth floor first.
Inside were several robes prepared in advance.
"These are all styles Dumbledore likes. Pick one," Professor McGonagall said, "Hurry up."
Kyle took a look.
Wow, purple-red... light purple... light purple stripes, dark purple trim, this pile of robes, not a single one matched Kyle's aesthetic.
Professor McGonagall, standing beside him, urged him impatiently. Kyle had no choice but to pick a relatively tolerable blue robe from the pile and then put Dumbledore's hair into the Polyjuice Potion, tilting his head back the potion.
The Polyjuice Potion was a magical potion with an incredibly foul taste, but when hair was added, it transformed into a different flavor unique to each person, somewhat like... Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
As for the bottle Kyle drank... It was as if all the sugar Dumbledore added to his tea had accumulated in Kyle's mouth, tasting like a syrup mixed with honey.
It was so sweet it made Kyle feel nauseous.
...
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall.
With Professor McGonagall absent, Professor Flitwick was hosting the Sorting ceremony for the new students, but few students paid attention to the Sorting Hat.
They all stared in the direction of the staff table and the side entrance next to it.
"Dumbledore isn't here," Ron whispered, "What's he busy with that he doesn't even attend the Sorting ceremony?"
"I don't know, and no one knows where he is," Harry said with concern, "Is Hogwarts really safe without Dumbledore?"
"Don't worry, this castle isn't just protected by Dumbledore," Hermione, standing beside them, wasn't as worried, "It has existed for a thousand years with various protective spells, and Death Eaters dare not intrude."
"Let's hope so," Harry said.
He still felt Hermione's idea was a bit too optimistic.
Without Dumbledore, the protective spells in the castle might not be able to withstand Voldemort.
He wasn't alone in this thought; many others shared it. From the arrival of the new students until now, students whispering to each other could be seen all around the Great Hall, and it had been noisy.
"Oh, look over there!"
Just as Harry was lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone push him hard.
Ron was excitedly patting his shoulder, pointing towards the side entrance.
"Look, Dumbledore's here!"
Harry looked up and indeed saw Dumbledore, wearing a blue robe, walking in and talking to Professor McGonagall.
"They must have been held up by something," Ron's voice was noticeably more relaxed than before, "Remember? After we boarded the carriage, Professor McGonagall left in a hurry. I guess she was going to find Dumbledore at that time."
"That's obvious," Hermione said, looking at Dumbledore with a puzzled frown, "Strange, I feel like the Headmaster seems a bit tense."
"Impossible," Ron said nonchalantly, "It's just a Sorting ceremony; he doesn't even know how many times he's attended. How could he be nervous?"
"That's true, maybe I'm just seeing things," Hermione didn't seem concerned either.
"Walk slowly," Professor McGonagall said quietly, her face stern but her lips barely moving, "You're the Headmaster; there's no need to walk so fast."
"I know, but I have no experience," Dumbledore... no, it should be Kyle who drank the Polyjuice Potion, said quietly.
Who had ever been the Headmaster before? How would he know what pace was normal?
"Don't talk, follow me!" Professor McGonagall said again, then walked to the staff table and pulled out the chair in the middle.
This was a hint to Kyle about where he should sit.
"Oh, Albus, why are you so late?"
Professor Flitwick, seated next to Kyle, raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's going on?"
Kyle took a deep breath, recalling Dumbledore's previous behavior, "I hope I didn't miss the Sorting Ceremony."
"Then you should have come ten minutes earlier," Professor Sprout remarked.
Her demeanor was much better than Professor Flitwick's, as if she was genuinely speaking with Dumbledore.
This was their plan—to initiate conversations and prevent other professors and the Headmaster from chatting.
As 'Dumbledore' arrived, the Great Hall gradually quieted down, finally allowing them to hear the Sorting Hat's voice clearly.
"Gryffindor!"
A new student was sorted, and Kyle joined the other professors in applauding.
He wished the Sorting could slow down, preferably until the end.
During the Sorting, all he had to do was sit and clap, nothing more.
But this thought was obviously impossible.
When the last student was sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick left with the Sorting Hat and the three-legged stool.
Kyle felt a kick under the table, and it was Professor McGonagall.
He also remembered that, according to the procedure, Dumbledore was supposed to give a speech at this time.
Then he stood up.
Hundreds of eyes in the hall turned to him, and Kyle felt a surge of nervousness.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, and before the feast begins, I'll say a few words," he said subconsciously, then quickly realized his mistake.
"That's it, eat up."
Kyle sat down, and the hall erupted in applause.
Golden plates were instantly filled with sumptuous food, leaving the new students in awe.
Harry, perhaps due to his age, looked at their astonished expressions and, in a daze, thought of himself when he first entered Hogwarts.
He was like this too, amazed by the delicious food appearing from the plates.
"What does he mean by that?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.
"Who knows, isn't Dumbledore always like this? Crazy and eccentric, always saying things that no one understands," said Ron, already hungry, grabbing a chicken leg, "But he's right about one thing."
"What?" Harry asked.
"He did, indeed, say a few words."
At the Ravenclaw table next to them, Luna Lovegood looked at Dumbledore on the teacher's table, tilted her head, then looked at the person next to her.
"Can you become the Headmaster right after graduating from Hogwarts?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" the person asked, slightly annoyed.
She glanced at the carrot in Luna's ear, couldn't help but move away, leaving a large gap.
She didn't want to talk to Luna, and even less did she want others to mistake her for being friends with this famous lunatic.
But Luna didn't mind her attitude; she never cared about others' opinions of her, whether it was disdain or annoyance, it didn't matter to her.
Luna looked at Dumbledore on the stage again, whispering, "Isn't it possible? How strange."
But with no one around her, no one heard her words.
As the students began to eat, the professors also started their meal.
Kyle had already set his sights on a fragrant roast beef, cooked to a light brown and paired with garlic, it must be delicious.
But before he could take it, Professor McGonagall took it, and quietly moved a plate with a raspberry tart next to it.
Kyle finally realized.
He was Dumbledore now, an identity that had to be kept secret from both students and most professors.
And Dumbledore didn't like roast beef; he only ate sweets.
Kyle looked at the tart, its thick layer of frosting... If he took a bite, his throat would probably be coated in it.
At this moment, he truly regretted his decision.
Whether it was Voldemort or the robes that didn't suit his aesthetic, they only made Kyle hesitate. But now, he truly regretted taking this job.
Clothes could be compromised, but favorite tastes... Sorry, as a Hufflepuff, this was something he couldn't compromise on.
Kyle smiled and quietly put down his cutlery.
"Albus, what's wrong?" Professor Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher, couldn't help but ask, "Don't you feel like eating?"
Professor McGonagall also looked over, her eyes filled with worry.
"No, I was just thinking that I shouldn't have visited Newt this afternoon."
"Newt Scamander?" Professor Sinistra asked.
"Yes, his wife Tina loves making cookies. I ate them all afternoon, and at the time, I thought they were pretty good. But now, it seems like a mistake."
Kyle sighed, looking at the frosted tart with a reluctant gaze, "If I took it with me, wouldn't it be a bit rude?"
"Of course not," Professor Sinistra said without hesitation, "To be honest, only you would like this."
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
