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Chapter 806: The Start-of-Term Feast
Chapter 806: The Start-of-Term Feast
From morning to dusk, the Hogwarts Express rumbled along at a speed that was entirely unbefitting of its name.
As the train approached Hogwarts, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick left to attend to matters in the prefects' compartment, while Professor Sprout remained behind, tending to a potted crabbe's claw plant and trimming away its excess leaves.
Kyle sat lost in thought, gazing out the window.
Prior to this, he had indeed been concerned about how the start-of-term feast at Hogwarts would unfold.
If the most important part of this event in previous years was the Sorting of new students, then this year it would undoubtedly be Albus Dumbledore's speech.
Not that the Sorting wasn't important this year, but people weren't as concerned about it, especially given the current situation. Most students were evidently more eager to see Dumbledore.
He didn't need to do anything special; his mere presence would be enough to reassure everyone.
Perhaps this was also the reason why Dumbledore had prepared in advance and asked Kyle to impersonate him.
If he didn't show up at the start-of-term feast, it might give rise to unpleasant speculation, including possible probes and tests from the Death Eaters directed at the school.
Of course, if he made an appearance, such worries would be unnecessary.
Ever since a week before the start of term, Kyle had been wondering when Dumbledore would return.
To be honest, he had been gone for quite some time, and as the start of term drew nearer, Kyle grew increasingly worried.
First of all, time travel was not without its risks and was fraught with uncertainties. Normally, there should not be two Dumbledores in the same time period. If they were to see each other, there was a possibility of one killing the other, either the past or future self.
For example, if the past Dumbledore killed the 'Dumbledore' who had gone back using a Time-Turner, then he would have truly died at that point in time and naturally wouldn't be able to return.
If the Dumbledore who went back killed his past self, then the situation would only get worse. As for what would happen specifically... no one knew because those who had experienced it left behind no information at all.
Although Kyle believed that Dumbledore would definitely not make such a common-sense mistake, when it came to Ariana, he wasn't so sure anymore.
Even the most level-headed person could lose their calm when facing something they cared deeply about, and Dumbledore was no exception.
What if he got carried away and wanted to save Ariana? Then he would inevitably intersect with his past self, and anything could happen at that point.
Another important point was his return.
If Dumbledore had used the Time-Turner in the typical way a wizard would, he would have lived for a hundred years in the past, until August of this year, and then returned to the Burrow in Godric's Hollow, completing the time loop.
In other words, he would return to the moment he had left using the Time-Turner.
But this situation had not occurred, and it had already been a month. He still hadn't shown up.
One of the reasons for this was the issue with the Time-Turner. According to Nicolas, because it had been repaired, it might cause the time point Dumbledore was in to enter a special state of deviation.
In other words, it was like a system freeze—his image would be frozen, but the outside world would continue as normal.
However, Nicolas also said that even if this situation occurred, it wouldn't last for more than a few days, let alone an entire month.
Additionally, to avoid this risk, Nicolas had provided a second option—to use the Time-Turner to come back.
This was also the reason why he chose to create another Philosopher's Stone and use it as the core of the Time-Turner—the magical power provided by the stone would be sufficient to support two-time travels.
But Dumbledore didn't seem to have chosen this method either. He had just disappeared into thin air.
Before today, Kyle had also wondered if Dumbledore, being so old, had died of old age at some point during that hundred-year period. If that were the case, he really wouldn't be able to appear.
But he had just dismissed that idea.
Wizards generally had long lifespans. For example, Hogwarts' previous headmaster, Armando Dippet, had lived to be over three hundred years old, and he was still going strong. Bathilda Bagshot was also over a hundred years old.
Even the witch selling snacks on the train could live to be almost two hundred years old, let alone Dumbledore, who possessed profound magical power. As long as he didn't do something foolish, living to be two hundred years old was absolutely no problem at all.
But why hadn't he returned yet? Kyle couldn't figure it out.
The sound of the train whistle brought Kyle back to his senses once more.
Noisy voices could be heard outside the compartment... The Hogwarts Express had arrived at its destination.
Kyle stood up instinctively.
"You don't have to rush," Professor Sprout said. "It's best if the others don't know you're coming to Hogwarts."
Her meaning was simple—she wanted Kyle to wait a while before getting off the train. Kyle understood and nodded, sitting back down again.
After that, Professor Sprout also left the compartment to guide the other students off the train.
Kyle remained in the carriage, watching the bustling crowd outside.
He also spotted a huge figure—Hagrid, who, as per tradition, was holding that old lantern of his and waiting to ferry the first-years across the lake to the castle.
Twenty minutes later, the last group of students boarded the carriages to head towards the castle, and the surroundings returned to quiet once more. Kyle stepped out and looked up at the castle shrouded in the night.
"That's understandable." Professor McGonagall said with a smile, "But Dumbledore must make an appearance at the start-of-term feast."
"I understand, or else I would have run away already." Kyle said, "By the way, Professor McGonagall, how much is the salary for the headmaster position?"
"Salary?" Professor McGonagall felt a bit lost trying to keep up with Kyle's train of thought. They were just talking about the school, and now he suddenly brought up the topic of salary.
However, she thought about it and said, "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 that money for me?" Kyle asked, "After all, I'm filling in for Dumbledore, so it's reasonable for me to receive his salary, right?"
"That's very reasonable." Professor McGonagall couldn't help but rub her temples, "Alright, we should get going now. As I said before, Dumbledore must be present at the start-of-term feast."
"Alright." Kyle sighed and walked towards the castle gate with a complicated mood.
However, they did not rush to the castle but first went to the Headmaster's office on the eighth floor.
Inside were several robes that had been prepared in advance.
"These are Dumbledore's favorite styles. Pick one," said Professor McGonagall, "Hurry up."
Kyle took a glance.
Wow, purple-red... light purple... light purple stripes with dark purple trim. This pile of robes didn't have a single one that fit his aesthetic taste.
As Professor McGonagall urged him in a hurry, Kyle had no choice but to pick out a relatively decent blue robe. Then, he put Dumbledore's hair into the Polyjuice Potion and drank it.
Polyjuice Potion was a magical potion with an originally disgusting taste, but after adding hair from another person, it transformed into a different taste unique to that individual, somewhat similar to Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
As for the bottle that Kyle drank... perhaps due to all the sugar Dumbledore added to his tea, it tasted like a mixture of honey and syrup.
It was so sweet that Kyle almost vomited.
...
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall.
With Professor McGonagall absent, Professor Flitwick was in charge of the Sorting Ceremony for the new students. However, very few students paid attention to the Sorting Hat.
Instead, their gazes were fixed on the staff table and the side door entrance.
"Where's Dumbledore?" Ron whispered, "What's keeping him so busy that he's not even attending the Sorting Ceremony?"
"I don't know, and no one knows where he is." Harry said worriedly, "Is Hogwarts really safe without Dumbledore?"
"Don't worry, this castle has more than just Headmaster Dumbledore. There are also Professors McGonagall and the others." Hermione, who was sitting beside them, was less concerned, "Moreover, this castle has existed for a millennium and is protected by various enchantments. The Death Eaters wouldn't dare to intrude."
"I hope so." Harry said.
He still felt that Hermione's idea was a bit too optimistic.
Without Dumbledore, he wasn't sure if the protective enchantments in the castle could really keep Voldemort out.
And he wasn't the only one with such thoughts. Many others shared similar concerns. From the time the new students entered the hall to the present, students could be seen whispering and huddling together in various corners of the Great Hall, creating a chaotic atmosphere.
As time passed, the voices grew louder.
"Oh, look over there!"
Just as Harry's thoughts were running wild, he suddenly felt someone pushing him hard.
Ron excitedly patted his shoulder, pointing towards the side door.
"Look, Dumbledore's here!"
Harry looked up and indeed saw Dumbledore, who had just walked in, wearing a blue robe and talking to Professor McGonagall beside him.
"They must have been delayed by something." Ron's voice sounded noticeably more relaxed, "Remember? Professor McGonagall left in a hurry after seeing us off in the carriage. I guess she must have gone to look for Dumbledore at that time."
"That's obvious." Hermione said as she looked at Dumbledore, knitting her brows in confusion, "Strange, I feel like the headmaster looks a bit nervous."
"How's that possible." Ron said casually, "It's just the Sorting Ceremony, and he's attended countless of these. How could he possibly be nervous?"
"You're right, maybe I'm just seeing things." Hermione didn't pay it much mind either.
"Slow down."
Professor McGonagall, with a stern expression, whispered, "You're the headmaster, no need to walk so quickly."
"I know, but I also lack experience." Dumbledore... no, it should be said that it was Kyle, who had drunk the Polyjuice Potion, who whispered back.
Who had ever been the headmaster before? How would he know what a normal walking speed was supposed to be?
"Don't talk, just follow me!" Professor McGonagall said again, then walked to the staff table and pulled out the chair in the center.
This was to remind Kyle which seat he should take.
"Oh, Albus, why are you so late?"
"Then you should've come ten minutes earlier," Professor Sprout said.
Her performance was much better than Professor Flitwick's, as she sounded just like she was talking to Dumbledore himself.
This was something they had planned beforehand—to take the initiative to speak and prevent other professors from chatting with the headmaster.
As 'Dumbledore' arrived, the Great Hall gradually quieted down, and they could finally hear the Sorting Hat's voice.
"Gryffindor!"
A new student had been sorted, and Kyle joined the other professors in applauding.
He wished the Sorting would go slower, preferably lasting until the end.
During the Sorting, all he needed to do was sit there and clap; he didn't have to do anything else.
But such a thought was obviously impossible.
When the last new student was sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick took the Sorting Hat and stool and left.
Kyle felt someone kicking him under the table; it was Professor McGonagall.
At the same time, he also remembered that, according to the process, Dumbledore was supposed to give a speech at this time.
So he stood up.
Several hundred pairs of eyes turned to him, and Kyle felt a surge of nervousness for no reason.
"Welcome everyone to Hogwarts," he said subconsciously, then quickly reacted. "That's it, let's eat."
Kyle sat down, and the surrounding students burst into applause.
The golden empty plates were instantly filled with delicious food, leaving the newcomers stunned.
Perhaps due to his old age, as he watched their astonished expressions, Harry couldn't help but reminisce about his own first day at Hogwarts, when he had been equally amazed by the food appearing on the plates.
"What does he mean by that?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.
"Who knows?" Ron replied, grabbing a chicken leg as he had been hungry for a while. "But he's right about one thing."
"What?" Harry asked.
"He really did keep it short."
Meanwhile, on the Ravenclaw table next to them, Luna Lovegood looked at 'Dumbledore' on the staff table, tilting her head, then glanced at the person next to her.
"Can you become the headmaster of Hogwarts right after graduating?"
"What nonsense are you spouting now?" The person she addressed seemed rather annoyed.
She glanced at the carrot earrings on Luna's ears and subconsciously shifted away, leaving a large gap between them.
She didn't want to talk to Luna, nor did she want others to mistake her for a friend of the infamous eccentric girl.
However, Luna didn't mind her actions at all. She never paid attention to how others treated her, be it aversion or disdain. What did that have to do with her?
Luna glanced at 'Dumbledore' on the staff table again and whispered, "Isn't that allowed? How strange."
But since there was no one around her, no one heard what she said.
As the students began to eat, the professors also started their meal.
Kyle had his eyes on a fragrant roast beef that was grilled to a light brown color and paired with garlic. It must be delicious.
However, before he could make a move, the roast beef was taken by Professor McGonagall, who also quietly slid over a plate filled with sugar-glazed raspberry pies.
It was then that Kyle realized his mistake.
Yes, he was currently Dumbledore, and this identity had to be kept secret not only from the students but also from most of the professors.
And Dumbledore didn't like to eat beef; he only liked sweets.
Kyle looked at the thick layer of sugar on the pie... If he ate that, his throat would probably be coated with sugar.
At this moment, he truly regretted his decision.
Whether it was Voldemort or the unappealing robes, they had only made Kyle hesitant, but now, he genuinely regretted taking on this task.
He could compromise on the clothing, but not on his taste preferences... Sorry, as a Hufflepuff, he just couldn't bring himself to eat that.
With a smile on his face, Kyle quietly put down his cutlery.
"Albus, what's wrong?" asked Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy professor, who had been observing him. "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, has taken a liking to baking cookies. I spent the entire afternoon eating them, and while they tasted fine at the time, I now realize it was a mistake."
Sighing, Kyle gazed longingly at the sugar-glazed pie. "Would it be rude if I took it with me?"
"Of course not," Professor Sinistra replied without hesitation. "To be honest, only you would like that."
...
(End of Chapter)
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