Chapter 810: Luna's Intuition
Chapter 810: Luna's Intuition
Snape's sudden visit served as a wake-up call for Kyle. He had no idea whom Dumbledore had met before his departure or what they had discussed.
If Snape could show up today, then Slughorn might also pay a visit tomorrow regarding some other matter. However, Kyle couldn't guarantee that he would be able to bluff his way through every time.
In fact, it was this unknown factor that posed the greatest challenge.
Kyle's solution to this predicament was simple—he would run.
After Snape had left the Headmaster's office, Kyle had asked the portrait of the Headmaster to call for Professor McGonagall, who had just finished her class. He then relayed the incident to her.
"You mean, Severus came to see you and said things you had no knowledge of?" Professor McGonagall frowned, also looking somewhat surprised.
"He left not long ago," Kyle said. "To be honest, I wasn't even this nervous when I took my N.E.W.T.s."
"It's true that Dumbledore rarely mentioned anything about Severus to us, and I can't help you in this regard," Professor McGonagall said thoughtfully. "It is strange, though, that he didn't mention this in his letter."
"That's the problem," Kyle sighed. "I don't know how many similar situations there might be. If it happens too frequently, I'm bound to be exposed."
"So, what do you plan to do?"
Kyle took a deep breath. "I can't stay here any longer. As long as they can't find Dumbledore, they won't be able to expose me."
"No," Professor McGonagall refused without hesitation.
"I don't think it will make a difference, Professor," Kyle said. "Professor Dumbledore has been away from the school for a long time anyway. Everyone must be used to it by now.
"Besides, I already made an appearance at the start-of-term feast. It shouldn't be a problem if I temporarily leave the school, right?"
Professor McGonagall hesitated, not refusing outright as she had done earlier.
However, after a moment's pause, she still shook her head. "No."
"Why?"
"Because you can't keep disappearing," Professor McGonagall said. "The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters have been active this year. You need to show your presence at the school regularly."
"I can come back when it's necessary," Kyle said. "Professor Dumbledore did the same, didn't he?"
"Then how will you enter and exit the school?" Professor McGonagall asked. "The students have already started their term. If you want to come back, you'll have to go through Hogsmeade, and it's a mixed bag there. Even with the Invisibility Cloak, you can't guarantee that you won't be noticed by everyone.
"If a student who has already graduated suddenly returns to Hogwarts, it will inevitably arouse suspicion. We should try to avoid any potentially exposing situations unless you use Dumbledore's identity every time."
"That's easy; I'll just avoid Hogsmeade," Kyle said with a smile.
The problem that Professor McGonagall was worried about was not a problem at all for him.
"Avoid Hogsmeade? Then how will you—"
Before Professor McGonagall could finish her sentence, she saw Fawkes, who had been perched on a branch, fly over and land on Kyle's shoulder.
"Fawkes?" Professor McGonagall paused, then realized something. "No wonder Dumbledore asked you to impersonate him."
She had never seen Fawkes being so intimate with anyone other than Dumbledore... This was a well-known fact in the wizarding world.
Almost every wizard knew that Dumbledore had a phoenix by his side. In a sense, it was a symbol of his identity. If one saw an elderly man with a phoenix, there was no doubt that it was Dumbledore.
This was something that others couldn't imitate, even if they drank Polyjuice Potion.
Previously, she had been wondering why Dumbledore had been so confident in letting Kyle impersonate him. Now, she finally understood.
With Fawkes' cooperation, Kyle didn't even need Polyjuice Potion. Even with the most basic Human Transfiguration, people would easily believe his identity.
"That's fine, then," Professor McGonagall immediately nodded. She glanced at Kyle and said, "Take advantage of the Polyjuice Potion's effect while it's still working, and make another appearance. After that, you can leave.
"As for the next time... How about Halloween? In any case, Dumbledore always needs to be present during important feasts at the school."
"Alright," Kyle nodded.
Subsequently, he changed into a less formal silver-gray robe and left the Headmaster's office with Professor McGonagall.
"What do I need to do?" Kyle asked.
"You don't need to do anything special. Just act as you normally would," Professor McGonagall said. "Think about what Dumbledore would do when he was at the school, and don't do anything out of the ordinary."
"I can't really think of anything. In recent years, he hasn't even been at the school. Every time I saw him, it was in the Headmaster's office."
"Then think further back. You must have seen him when you were in your first year."
As they spoke, they passed by the Fat Lady's portrait and encountered a group of students heading to the Great Hall for lunch as they walked by the Gryffindor common room.
"Good afternoon, Professor McGonagall, Headmaster Dumbledore..." The student at the front, Seamus Finnigan, said excitedly, "Headmaster, were you telling the truth about what you said before?
"First of all, the two hundred points are a given, as long as you win the championship." Kyle replied with a smile. "As for the second question, you'll find out later."
"Can't you tell us now?"
"I have to leave some element of surprise." Kyle winked. "Now, off you go to lunch. We're having pepper steak today."
"Alright then..." Although Seamus wasn't entirely satisfied with the answer, he left out of respect for the headmaster.
"I'm curious about that too. What criteria will be used to decide the winner?" Professor McGonagall asked after the students had left. "At first, I thought it might be based on the number of points scored, but now that I think about it, that would give an unfair advantage to the Seekers over the other players."
"Then let's go with what Seamus suggested and put it to a vote." Kyle said nonchalantly.
"But that would favor students who are more popular." Professor McGonagall pointed out. "And voting is too unpredictable. We might end up with a situation where someone who didn't contribute much to the game wins the most votes."
"This is the first, and possibly the last, time a gold medal for Quidditch will be awarded at Hogwarts. I think it's best to solely consider performance and disregard any other factors."
"I agree." Kyle said.
"So, what are your thoughts?"
"My thoughts?" Kyle continued walking forward. "I don't have any."
Professor McGonagall halted in her tracks. "You didn't consider anything when you made this suggestion?"
"Nope." Kyle nodded matter-of-factly. "Didn't I say yesterday that it was a spur-of-the-moment idea? I couldn't have possibly thought everything through in such a short time."
"What about after that?" Professor McGonagall's voice rose in volume. "The two hundred points are one thing, but what criteria will we use to award the gold medal after the match?"
"That's not my concern." Kyle shrugged. "I'm just filling in temporarily; I can't be expected to do this for an entire school year. Dumbledore will definitely be back by then, so let him worry about it."
Professor McGonagall felt her temples throbbing.
She had assumed that Kyle's words yesterday were just a joke, but it turned out he was serious. He truly hadn't considered anything and had made that decision on a whim.
And Dumbledore, disappearing without a word and dumping all these responsibilities on her!
She had thought that Kyle's arrival would bring some help, but he had only made things worse...
These two were truly something else.
Professor McGonagall couldn't help but rub her forehead. She was doing the work of three people for one salary. This was unfair, even for a professor, let alone a ghost.
Looking at Kyle walking ahead of her, her years of being a professor barely kept her anger in check.
She felt like hitting someone.
And now that Kyle was disguised as Dumbledore, hitting him would be like hitting two birds with one stone. It was a tempting proposition.
More importantly, Kyle's status was different from Dumbledore's, which made it more convenient to hit him.
This had nothing to do with strength.
Kyle was her student, and his parents had been her students as well. Even if she hit him, he wouldn't hit back.
It was like when Professor Quirrell scolded Dumbledore. Even though he was the headmaster and the greatest white wizard in the wizarding world, he could only stand there and take it, then offer a cup of tea.
This was a rare opportunity, but should she...
"Professor McGonagall, Headmaster Dumbledore..."
A voice suddenly called out from behind, bringing her back to her senses.
"Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall said. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm on my way to lunch." Hermione said. "Sorry, Professor, but I wanted to know if you've given any thought to what I asked you earlier."
"I have no objections. You can submit your paper to me at any time." Professor McGonagall said. "But Miss Granger, I must remind you that 'Today's Transfiguration' has its own criteria for evaluating papers, and my opinion can only serve as a reference.
"Moreover, their publication cycle is quite long, and only students are eligible for the Most Promising Newcomer Award. You're already in your seventh year."
"That's alright. I just want to give it a try." Hermione said. "I'll be content just to have my paper accepted. If I don't win the Most Promising Newcomer Award...while it would be a bit disappointing, it can't be helped. After all, the knowledge I accumulated last year isn't enough."
"It's not a sure thing that it won't work." Professor McGonagall said. "It's still early in the school year, and if all goes well, there shouldn't be a problem."
"He...Miss Granger, are you going to submit an article to 'Today's Transfiguration'?" Kyle asked from the side.
"Yes, Headmaster." Hermione said. "They say it's the most authoritative magazine on Transfiguration, and I want to try."
"Alright, follow me then." She turned to Hermione and said, "I have a few books that should be helpful to you."
With that, she began walking towards her office with Hermione in tow, calling out to Kyle, "Don't forget the timing."
"Will do," Kyle replied.
He understood that Professor McGonagall was reminding him to be mindful of the Polyjuice Potion's duration and not to transform back in front of everyone, which would be embarrassing.
Kyle certainly wouldn't forget about that.
After Professor McGonagall and Hermione had left, he continued on his way towards the Great Hall.
If he was going to make an appearance, he might as well do it where there were a lot of people, and currently, the Great Hall would be packed during lunch.
Along the way, he didn't encounter any other students until he reached the second floor, where someone blocked his path.
It wasn't exactly blocking his way, as she was squatting at the corner of the stairs, which also happened to be the direction leading to the Great Hall.
"Miss Lovegood," Kyle greeted her casually, "What are you looking at?"
"A Hookreel."
"Where?" Kyle looked in the direction she was facing but saw only the floor tiles and a group of tiny insects attracted by cookie crumbs.
"It got scared off, but it was here just now," Luna said as she stood up, the cork pendant on her ear swinging back and forth.
"Hello, Kyle," she greeted him. "Why are you back at Hogwarts?"
"You... must be mistaken. I'm the Headmaster," Kyle said.
"Oh? In that case, congratulations." Luna replied cheerfully.
"I... well, how did you figure it out?"
"Because I know you, is that strange?" Luna said with a smile.
She still wore the same eccentric assortment of accessories and colorful glasses.
Kyle had to admit that the magical world always produced some inexplicable people or events, like Tonk's innate metamorphmagus ability and now, Luna.
Was she an innate Legilimens? No, not quite.
While his mental shielding technique might not be the most perfect, it was still quite accomplished. Even Dumbledore and Voldemort should not be able to see through his thoughts.
The Panther Cat was also an innate Legilimens, but its abilities would still be suppressed by mental shielding.
As for Luna, she recognized his identity at a glance and without a shred of doubt, which wasn't something that Legilimency alone could achieve.
After some thought, Kyle could only attribute it to a kind of extraordinarily powerful intuition.
In simpler terms... I think you are someone, then you must be that person. She didn't believe what her eyes were seeing; she only trusted the first idea that popped into her mind.
This ability was even more unreasonable than innate Legilimency because it was unaffected by any external factors, even perfect disguises.
...
"Kyle, how does it feel to be the Headmaster? Is it better than being a student?" Luna asked curiously.
"It's so-so, not that great. Being a student is more comfortable," Kyle said. "But Luna, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure," Luna agreed without hesitation, not even bothering to ask what the favor was before giving her consent.
"Don't worry, it's not a big deal," Kyle said. "It's just that... can you keep it a secret that you saw me here at school?"
"Why would I tell anyone?" Luna asked, tilting her head in confusion, as if Kyle had asked a very silly question.
"Um..." Kyle was momentarily lost for words, feeling like he couldn't quite keep up with Luna's train of thought.
"Okay, I promise. Kyle didn't come to Hogwarts," Luna said calmly. "Then, goodbye, Headmaster Dumbledore... but I have to say, you don't look as good as you used to."
Luna continued swinging the cork pendant on her ear as she skipped down the stairs.
Kyle stood there, watching her until she turned the corner and disappeared into the Great Hall.
Magic was like that, always bringing unexpected surprises or shocks.
Kyle guessed that even if Tonks transformed into someone with not a single resemblance to herself, Luna would still see through it instantly.
Kyle felt a sense of relief.
Thankfully, it was Luna... and it could only be Luna.
This extraordinarily powerful intuition, while very unreasonable and unrelated to magic, wouldn't have the same effect if it appeared in someone else.
Take Hermione, for example. When she doubted something, her first instinct wasn't to believe it but to think about whether it made logical sense. If the facts before her contradicted her intuition, she would subconsciously deny her intuition.
Take his impersonation of Dumbledore, for instance.
The moment Luna laid eyes on him, she knew he was an imposter, even if everyone and the facts told her that the person before her was indeed Dumbledore; she wouldn't believe it.
If it were Hermione, a single word from Professor McGonagall would be enough to clear his name.
...
(End of Chapter)
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