Chapter 883: I'm Here to Watch the Show
Chapter 883: I'm Here to Watch the Show
Kyle apparated into Hogsmeade and quickly made his way towards the school.
The school gates were wide open, and Kyle walked into the castle without encountering Filch or Mrs. Norris, the cat.
Following his memory, Kyle made his way to a corridor on the eighth floor.
"Hey, Kyle, is that you?"
As he climbed the stairs, he heard someone whispering his name. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were hiding around the corner, waving at him.
Kyle calculated the time. At this moment, his other self should have already used the Time-Turner to go back, so he didn't hesitate to walk over.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"We should be the ones asking that question," Ron muttered. "Shouldn't you have graduated already? What are you doing back at school?"
"I'm here to watch the show," Kyle replied matter-of-factly, glancing behind the trio.
There were over a dozen people crammed into the small corner, and those who arrived late didn't even have room to poke their heads out.
With so many people sneaking over to eavesdrop, Gryffindor sure isn't afraid of getting detention...
As for how Kyle knew they were Gryffindors, it was, of course, due to the scarlet and gold scarves around their necks—a clear identifier.
"What a coincidence, so are we," Ron drawled.
"So, what's the scoop?"
"Nothing," Harry shook his head. "We only know that Professor McGonagall and Minister Bones were arguing for a long time, so we rushed over as soon as class ended."
"We only got here a few minutes before you."
"Well, that's a relief. Off you go, then." Kyle wasn't in the mood to chat with them.
"Are you really here just to watch the show?" Hermione eyed him skeptically, not entirely convinced.
She found it odd that someone would travel all the way back to Hogwarts just to watch a spectacle.
"What else would it be? I certainly didn't come back to visit you guys," Kyle said over his shoulder as he walked away.
Although Hermione found it strange, the class bell suddenly rang at that moment.
"Oh no, we're going to be late!" A group of students scampered off in a panic.
The trio, naturally, was among them.
They were so engrossed in their eavesdropping that they forgot about class time. No wonder Gryffindor was in last place for the House Cup.
As he passed by the Great Hall earlier, he had glanced at the hourglasses. Gryffindor had the fewest gems, and after this collective tardiness, their last-place position was probably secured.
However, Kyle didn't need to attend classes.
He was still some distance away from Professor McGonagall and the others, and although he could hear their voices, they were intermittent and not very clear.
Kyle walked a little further, getting closer.
Now he could hear more clearly.
"Minerva, I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want to see Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Yes, we need to know what he's thinking."
"Albus definitely has his reasons."
"Yes, we should trust him."
"At least let's find a different place to talk. This is a school, and it wouldn't be good if the students saw us."
...
The corridor was in an uproar.
In addition to Professor McGonagall and Minister Bones, there were quite a few others present, including Scrimgeour, who had rushed over after the funeral, and some of the older members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Everyone was speaking at once, and no one was willing to back down. Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed into a thin line, and Minister Bones' face was grim.
Fortunately, she finally remembered that they were in a school.
"Alright, Minerva," Minister Bones lowered her voice. "You know that I've always respected Headmaster Dumbledore, but I must say that I find it hard to understand why he has remained so calm in the face of recent events."
"The Death Eaters are stirring up dark wizards in Diagon Alley to rebel against the Ministry, conducting wizard-catching experiments in Brighton, recruiting vagrant wizards in Cornwall, attempting to release the war machine dragon in the Hebrides, and planning a large-scale attack on Gringotts..."
"In every one of these incidents, he has not shown himself. Do you know how many Aurors and Hit Wizards we've lost trying to deal with these problems? Even Alastor Moody is dead!"
As he listened to Minister Bones, Kyle unconsciously came to a stop.
He suddenly realized that while Moody's funeral may have been the spark that lit the fuse, the powder keg had likely been building up for a while.
Additionally, the rows of newly dug graves he had seen in the cemetery suggested that more had been happening in the wizarding world than he had been aware of.
Bartemius Crouch Jr. had gone to Cornwall to recruit vagrant wizards to bolster the ranks of the Death Eaters.
Voldemort's personal trip to the Hebrides indicated his interest in the war machine dragon there.
What about the rest of the Death Eaters? What were they up to?
The last time Voldemort was resurrected, over a dozen Death Eaters had been summoned. These individuals, marked with the Dark Mark, were undoubtedly Voldemort's trusted followers... at least they had been sixteen years ago.
Add to that the number of fanatics imprisoned in Azkaban, and the total would only increase.
Even if Kyle or the members of the Order of the Phoenix had eliminated some of them over the years, at least half of them were still alive.
At the Hebrides, there had been five people standing behind Voldemort, and with Bartemius Crouch Jr., it only brought the number up to six. What about the rest?
Leaving aside the others, Kyle hadn't even seen Alecto, one of the up-and-coming Death Eaters.
Where had she gone?
Surely they weren't all sleeping at home while Voldemort was busy with his own tasks.
Therefore, these Death Eaters must also have their own missions, just like Bartemius Crouch Jr., scattered in various places unknown to Kyle... after all, he was just one person and couldn't possibly keep track of the entire wizarding world.
Perhaps the peaceful days they had enjoyed were merely an illusion, and beneath the surface, troubles had been brewing all along.
If that was the case, Mr. Weasley was right about one thing—Amelia Bones, for all her faults, was a decent Minister.
She had minimized the impact of the Death Eaters, allowing most witches and wizards to enjoy a precious period of calm.
...
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together, unsure of what to say.
If she were the Minister, she probably would have come to the school to look for Dumbledore too.
But the problem was, the Headmaster truly couldn't make an appearance.
"Amelia, you can't say that," said Dedalus Diggle, a member of the Order of the Phoenix who had hurried over.
He was an old wizard who had once helped with the task of relocating Harry's Muggle relatives.
"The one they call the Dark Lord wasn't involved in what I'm about to tell you. I believe this was a clash between the core forces.
"Although Dumbledore wasn't directly involved, the Order of the Phoenix didn't stand idly by. Bill and Charlie, those two youngsters, were involved in the incidents you mentioned.
"As for Mad-Eye, he has retired from the Auror Office and went to Cornwall on behalf of the Order."
The Order of the Phoenix...
Amelia Bones frowned.
To be honest, when she was still the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she didn't have any particular feelings about this organization that fought against the Death Eaters. She had even thought they were quite admirable—brave and fearless, providing great assistance to the Ministry.
But ever since she became the Minister, that feeling had gradually faded.
Even though both sides had the same goal, there was an unbridgeable gap between them, and the inability to unify their efforts created a volatile situation.
Moreover, the existence of the Order of the Phoenix represented Dumbledore's distrust of the Ministry, which was not a good thing.
Scrimgeour shared the same sentiment.
"I know what you're thinking," said the old wizard, Dedalus, glancing at Bones. "If you haven't forgotten about Cornelius Fudge, then you should understand that the existence of the Order of the Phoenix is necessary."
"But I'm not Cornelius!" Bones said in a low voice.
"Fudge also believed that he was doing what was best for the Ministry," Dedalus said calmly.
Kyle, who was listening by their side, rubbed his forehead.
Didn't Mr. Weasley say they were here to mediate?
Why did the atmosphere become even more tense after he said those things? His words were almost a blatant display of distrust towards the Ministry.
Of course, it was understandable for him to have such thoughts. After all, the Ministry had indeed been a hindrance on more than one occasion.
In the past two years, it had mostly been members of the Order of the Phoenix who came up with ways to cut off Voldemort's minions, bring the giants to their side, and deal with the werewolves. Even in the case of dealing with the Dementors, it was Sirius who provided the gold, and the Ministry merely offered a venue.
Moreover, if it weren't for the members of the Order of the Phoenix and Harry forcing Voldemort out into the open, the Ministry might still be trying to cover up the truth even now.
However, while the logic made sense, the one who had done all those things—Fudge—was already dead.
The current Minister, Amelia Bones, was a strong-willed and decisive witch, and bringing up these matters now would only create an awkward situation.
But Dedalus seemed unaware of this and continued speaking.
"As for the issue with Gringotts, that was entirely the fault of those goblins. They attempted to make some sort of deal with the Death Eaters, but they ignored the fact that those people never keep their promises."
"Are you suggesting that we should just stand by and do nothing even if the Death Eaters break into our vaults?" Bones asked, struggling to suppress her anger.
"I don't have a vault at Gringotts."
Whether it was due to his distrust of the Ministry or some other reason, Dedalus, who had come to mediate, was now arguing with the Minister.
This put Professor McGonagall in a difficult position, and she didn't know whom to side with. It was then that she turned her head and saw Kyle standing in the corridor, watching the commotion.
Professor McGonagall was stunned.
What was going on? Hadn't Kyle already gone to the Headmaster's office? When did he come back?
She had been waiting for 'Dumbledore' to come and defuse the situation. Whether it was the real Dumbledore or not, at least they could take this discussion to the Headmaster's office. Arguing here was not appropriate.
She had noticed the curious young lions of Gryffindor sneaking peeks at the argument. Although they hadn't dared to approach thanks to her stern glares,
she couldn't rule out the possibility of one of them being bold enough to listen in on the conversation and spread the news throughout the school.
"Just as I don't trust the Ministry, I also don't trust the goblins. I'd rather hide my galleons in my socks than entrust them to those creatures."
"You..."
Dedalus and Bones continued their heated debate.
On the other hand, Kyle, noticing Professor McGonagall's subtle signals, suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be pretending to be the Headmaster at this moment.
He had almost forgotten about that.
Kyle patted his forehead and was about to walk towards the Headmaster's office. Luckily, Minister Bones' attention was focused on Dedalus, so she didn't seem to notice him...
However, after taking only two steps, Kyle stopped again.
Facing Professor McGonagall's puzzled look, Kyle shrugged, offering no explanation.
"And as for your claim that Dumbledore hasn't done anything, do you think the mysterious person in Heshidi Islands was chased away by the Aurors?"
"I'm sorry, Dedalus, but that wasn't me either."
Along with an aged voice, Dumbledore himself appeared, walking over from the direction of the Headmaster's office.
Professor McGonagall looked at him, then at Kyle, her expression confused.
This was Dumbledore...in person?
He's back?
How is that possible? Isn't he stuck in a time loop in the year 1899?
How did he return!
Did Kyle get his hands on a Time-Turner without her knowing?
Professor McGonagall's mind was in turmoil, but with others present, she could only take a few deep breaths and refrain from asking.
Kyle stood still, having stopped earlier because he had spotted Dumbledore approaching from a distance.
It seemed that after the timeline had corrected itself, Dumbledore had finished his business and returned just in time to witness this scene.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," Amelia Bones began, her tone less assertive than before, "the Ministry demands an explanation." She was unaware of what the trio had been up to in the past few years, and seeing Dumbledore now, she immediately stepped forward.
Dumbledore's words, though a bit harsh, were true in a sense.
It was understandable that Dumbledore would be cautious of the mysterious man, as he had not appeared when the Death Eaters were causing trouble.
The only place where the mysterious man's presence was confirmed was on the Heshidi Islands, where signs of a fierce battle were discovered.
Though Scrimgeour hadn't seen who drove away the mysterious man, it was most likely Dumbledore, as everyone in the wizarding world knew that the mysterious man feared Headmaster Dumbledore the most.
With this, her previous excuse fell apart.
The only thing that seemed to be keeping Amelia going was her inability to accept the increasing death toll among the Hit Wizards and Aurors.
"Rest assured, Amelia, I will explain everything. I can clarify all your doubts," Dumbledore said, glancing at Professor McGonagall, who was standing with her head lowered. "Let's continue this discussion in my office, and I'll gladly offer you a cup of tea. Rufus, please join us as well. I need to discuss something with you."
Dumbledore left with Amelia and Scrimgeour.
Kyle had also wanted to ask him some questions, such as what he and Ariana had been up to lately, but now didn't seem like the right time or place.
So, he wisely chose to remain silent.
"Professor McGonagall, now that everything's fine, I'll be on my way..."
"It was you, wasn't it?" Professor McGonagall said.
"What?" Kyle looked at her, offering a polite smile.
"The matter with the Headmaster," she said, pursing her lips. "I believe I've told you more than once how dangerous this is, but you don't seem to have taken it to heart."
Though Professor McGonagall's voice was calm, Kyle felt a sense of panic. The pressure she exuded was far greater than that of Headmaster Dumbledore himself.
"Yes, Nicollama gave me the Time-Turner," Kyle explained carefully. "He thought only I could bring Professor Dumbledore back, and I couldn't refuse."
Yes, that's right, it was all Nicollama's doing, and he couldn't very well push the blame onto him now.
"When did this happen?"
"Just now. He was waiting for me in the Headmaster's office," Kyle said.
Professor McGonagall furrowed her brow slightly.
She had been thinking that after dealing with Amelia, she would go to Devon to meet Nicollama, who rarely left his home.
But now, she realized that Nicollama had taken the initiative to come to Hogwarts, and the timing he chose was precisely when she couldn't get away.
Professor McGonagall didn't believe this was a coincidence.
Fortunately, the outcome was positive.
Kyle had returned safely, and so had Dumbledore.
"No wonder I saw two of you," Professor McGonagall said, finally understanding. "I have one more question. When did you return, and was it you who drove away the mysterious man from the Heshidi Islands?"
"No," Kyle shook his head. "We returned two months ago, but the Headmaster had other matters to attend to and left soon after."
"Two months ago?"
"Yes, on the day Lupin and Tonks got married. That's when he used the Time-Turner."
Professor McGonagall understood.
Now, Dumbledore's handwritten letter made sense, but she soon thought of another question.
"Are you sure it wasn't the Headmaster who drove away the mysterious man from the Heshidi Islands?"
When Dedalo had mentioned this earlier, her first thought had been Dumbledore, but she quickly dismissed it, believing he was stuck in 1899.
"Well..." Kyle smiled sheepishly. "I was the one who was there at the time."
"You?" Professor McGonagall was taken aback. "You encountered the mysterious man and drove him away..."
"It's not exactly driving him away," Kyle said, scratching his head. "I guess you could say I outsmarted him and got lucky."
"And in the end, I was the one who ran away. The mysterious man probably left the Heshidi Islands because he was chasing after me."
The more Professor McGonagall listened, the more shocked she became, her breathing turning heavy.
"Why didn't you contact anyone from the Order?"
"There wasn't time," Kyle said innocently. "I had no idea where Professor Dumbledore was, so I had to step up. To be honest, I'm still shaken by the whole experience. It was terrifying."
Yes, where had Dumbledore gone?
With this reminder, Professor McGonagall realized the situation as well.
Kyle had risked his life to rescue Dumbledore from the time loop, and he had just walked away?
"You let a recent graduate face the mysterious man alone?"
Professor McGonagall glared in the direction of the Headmaster's office, her anger reaching its peak. She even forgot about Kyle's unilateral violation of their agreement to not use the Time-Turner.
...
(End of Chapter)
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