Chapter 883: I'm Here to Watch the Show
Chapter 883: I'm Here to Watch the Show
Kyle arrived in Hogsmeade Village via Apparition and quickly made his way towards the school.
The school gates were wide open, and Kyle walked right into the castle without encountering Filch or his cat, Mrs. Norris.
Following his memory, Kyle reached a corridor on the eighth floor.
"Hey, Kyle, is that you?"
Just as he stepped onto the stairs, Kyle heard someone whispering his name. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were hiding around a corner, waving at him.
Kyle calculated the time and realized that his other self should have already used the Time Converter to travel back in time, so he approached them without hesitation.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"That's a question we should be asking you," Ron muttered. "You've already graduated. Why are you here?"
"I'm here to watch the show," Kyle replied nonchalantly, glancing behind the trio.
There were over a dozen people hiding in that small corner; those who arrived late didn't even have a spot to peek through.
With so many people eavesdropping, the Gryffindors were truly fearless, even risking detention...
Kyle knew they were Gryffindors by the scarlet and gold scarves around their necks, a distinctive symbol.
"Coincidentally, so are we," Ron said leisurely.
"So, what's the result?"
Harry shook his head. "We only know that Professor McGonagall and Minister Bones argued for a long time, so we rushed over as soon as class ended."
"We're just a few minutes ahead of you."
"Then it's fine, let's go have some fun," Kyle said, never really in the mood to chat with them.
"Are you really here just to watch?" Hermione eyed Kyle skeptically, not fully believing his words.
She found it hard to believe that someone would travel all the way to Hogwarts after graduation just to watch the commotion.
"Well, I can't be here to visit, can I?" Kyle said without turning back.
Although Hermione found it odd, the class bell suddenly rang at that moment.
"Oh no, we're late!" A group of students were startled and quickly ran off.
The trio was among them.
Forgetting about class time just to watch the drama, no wonder Gryffindor was in last place for house points.
As Kyle passed by the Great Hall earlier, he noticed that the Gryffindor hourglass had the fewest gems. After this collective tardiness, their last-place position would likely be even more secure.
But Kyle didn't need to attend class.
They were still a distance away from Professor McGonagall and the others, and although he could hear their voices, it was intermittent and not very clear.
Kyle walked further down the corridor, getting closer.
This time, he could hear clearly.
"Minerva, I'm not here to be unreasonable. I just want to meet with Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Yes, we need to know what he's thinking."
"Albus must have his own ideas."
"Yes, we should trust him."
"At least let's find another place to talk. This is a school, and it won't look good if the students see us."
...
The corridor was filled with commotion.
In addition to Professor McGonagall and Minister Bones, there were many others present.
This included Scrimgeour, who had rushed over after the funeral, and some older wizards from the Phoenix Society.
Everyone was speaking at once, and no one was willing to back down. Professor McGonagall's lips were tightly pressed together, and Minister Bones' face was equally stern, turning a shade of deep blue.
Fortunately, she finally remembered they were in a school.
"Alright, Minerva," Minister Bones lowered her voice. "You know I've shown enough respect to Headmaster Dumbledore. But I truly can't understand how he can remain so calm up to now."
"The Death Eaters are inciting Dark Wizards in Knockturn Alley to rebel against the Ministry, capturing wizards in Brighton for magical experiments, recruiting wandering wizards in Cornwall, attempting to release the Black Dragon of the Hesidiri Archipelago, and launching a massive attack on Gringotts..."
"For each of these incidents, do you know how many Aurors and Hit Wizards have lost their lives trying to resolve these problems? Even Alastor Moody is dead now!"
As Kyle listened to Minister Bones' words, he subconsciously stopped in his tracks.
He realized that while Moody's funeral might have been the spark that ignited her anger, the tension had likely been building up for some time.
Furthermore, the rows of new graves he had seen in the cemetery indicated that more had been happening in the wizarding world than he was aware of.
Bartemius Crouch Jr. had gone to Cornwall to recruit wandering wizards for the Death Eaters.
Voldemort had personally gone to the Hesidiri Archipelago for the war machine dragon.
What about the other Death Eaters? What were they up to?
The last time Voldemort was resurrected, there were already over a dozen Death Eaters present, all worthy of bearing the Dark Mark and likely Voldemort's most trusted followers... at least sixteen years ago.
Adding those imprisoned in Azkaban, the number would only increase.
Even if Kyle or members of the Phoenix Society had eliminated some of them over the years, at least half of them were still alive.
At the Hesidiri Archipelago, there were five Death Eaters standing behind Voldemort, and with Bartemius Crouch Jr., that made only six. What about the rest?
Not to mention, Kyle hadn't seen Auren, one of the newer Death Eaters.
Where had he gone?
It didn't make sense for the other Death Eaters to be idle while Voldemort was busy, sleeping soundly in their homes.
Therefore, these Death Eaters must have their own tasks, just like Bartemius Crouch Jr., scattered in various places, unknown to Kyle... after all, he was just one person and couldn't keep track of the entire wizarding world.
Perhaps the peaceful days they had experienced were merely a facade, and beneath the surface, dark currents had already begun to stir.
If this was indeed the case, Mr. Weasley was right about one thing; Minister Amelia Bones was indeed a capable leader.
She had minimized the impact of the Death Eaters, allowing most witches and wizards to enjoy a precious period of calm.
...
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, unsure of what to say for a moment.
If she were the Minister of Magic, she might have also visited Hogwarts to seek Dumbledore.
But the problem was, the Headmaster couldn't make it.
"Amelia, you can't say that," Dedalus, a member of the Phoenix Society who had rushed over, whispered.
He was an elderly wizard who had participated in the mission to relocate Harry's aunt and uncle.
"What you're saying doesn't involve the Dark Lord. I believe this is merely a clash between the core forces.
"Although Dumbledore isn't involved, the Phoenix Society hasn't stood idly by. Bill and Charlie, the two children you mentioned earlier, were both part of it.
"And Mad-Eye, he's retired from the Auror Office and went to Cornwall on behalf of the Phoenix Society."
The Phoenix Society...
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 even thought their members were quite decent, brave, and fearless, providing great assistance to the Ministry of Magic.
But as she became the Minister of Magic, this feeling gradually faded.
Even though both sides had the same goal, they were forcibly torn apart, and the current situation of not being able to unify management was filled with instability.
Moreover, the existence of the Phoenix Society also represented Dumbledore's distrust of the Ministry, which wasn't a good thing.
Scrimgeour shared the same thoughts as well.
"I know what you're thinking," the old wizard Dedalus glanced at Bones, "If you haven't forgotten about Cornelius Fudge, you should understand that the existence of the Phoenix Society is very necessary."
"But I'm not Cornelius!" Bones said in a low voice.
"Fudge also believed that what he did was right and for the Ministry," Dedalus said indifferently.
Kyle, who had been listening to their conversation, rubbed his forehead.
Didn't Mr. Weasley say they were here to mediate?
Why did it feel like the atmosphere between the two sides became even tenser after he said those words? His statement was almost a clear display of distrust towards the Ministry of Magic.
Of course, it was normal for him to have such thoughts. After all, the Ministry had indeed done many things that hindered progress.
In the past two years, it was mostly the members of the Phoenix Society who were figuring out ways to deal with Voldemort's minions, gathering giants, and settling matters with werewolves. They even took care of the Dementors, thanks to Sirius' financial support, while the Ministry only provided a venue.
Furthermore, if it weren't for the Phoenix Society and Harry forcing Voldemort into the open, the Ministry might still be clueless to this day."
But while the logic was sound, Fudge, who had done all this, was already dead.
The current Minister, Bones, was a strong-willed and decisive witch. Putting all these matters out in the open would be somewhat embarrassing.
However, Dedalus didn't realize this and continued speaking.
"And regarding the Gringotts issue, it's entirely the goblins' fault. They tried to make a deal with the Death Eaters but ignored the fact that they wouldn't keep their word."
"Are you saying that even if the Death Eaters break into your vault, we shouldn't get involved?" Bones asked, trying to suppress her anger.
"I don't have a vault in Gringotts."
It was unclear if it was due to a lack of trust in the Ministry or some other reason, but Dedalus, who had come to mediate, ended up arguing with Bones.
This left Professor McGonagall in a difficult position, unsure of whom to persuade for a while, until she turned her head and noticed Kyle standing in the corridor, watching the heated exchange.
Professor McGonagall was dumbfounded.
The original text is available in Chapter 6, Book 9, on the website/forum.
What was happening? Hadn't Kyle just gone to the Headmaster's Office? When did he return?
She was still waiting for 'Dumbledore' to come and save the situation, regardless of whether he was real or not. At least they should be taken to the Headmaster's Office before arguing like this.
She had noticed that the curious little lions had already come to watch the commotion. Although they didn't dare approach under her intense gaze,
it was hard to say if there might be a brave one among them who would overhear some unfavorable news and spread it, causing chaos throughout the school.
"Just as I don't trust the Ministry, I also don't trust the goblins. I'd rather hide my gold coins in my socks than hand them over to the goblins."
"You..."
Dedalus and Bones continued their argument.
On the other side, Kyle, noticing Professor McGonagall signaling him, suddenly remembered that he should be impersonating the Headmaster at this moment.
He had almost forgotten about it.
Kyle patted his forehead and was about to head towards the Headmaster's Office when he realized that Bones' attention was entirely focused on Dedalus, so she probably wouldn't notice him...
Kyle had only taken a few steps when he stopped again.
In response to Professor McGonagall's puzzled look, Kyle shrugged, offering no explanation.
"And you say Dumbledore hasn't done anything. Did the mysterious person in the Hesidiri Archipelago get chased away by the Aurors?"
"I'm sorry, Dedalus, but that wasn't me either."
Accompanied by an aged voice, Dumbledore approached from the direction of the Headmaster's Office.
Professor McGonagall looked at him and then at Kyle on the other side, her expression filled with bewilderment.
This is Dumbledore... in person?
He's back?
How is this possible? Wasn't he banished to 1899 by time itself?
How could he have returned on his own! Did Kyle obtain the Time Converter without her knowledge? 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 time had returned to normal, his business on the other side was also concluded, and he had returned just in time to witness this scene.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I... The Ministry requires an explanation." Bones, unaware of the thoughts of the three individuals from years past, approached Dumbledore and spoke immediately.
However, compared to earlier, her tone was not as assertive.
Dedalus's words, though somewhat unpleasant, were true in a sense.
When the Death Eaters were carrying out their actions, the Dark Lord had not made an appearance, so it was understandable for Dumbledore to be cautious.
The only place where the Dark Lord's presence was confirmed was the Hebrides Archipelago, where signs of intense combat were discovered.
Scrimgeour did not see who the wizard was that drove the Dark Lord away, but it was highly likely to be Dumbledore, as everyone in the magical community knew that the Dark Lord feared none more than Headmaster Dumbledore.
With this, her previous excuse no longer held up.
The only thing keeping Bones going was probably her inability to accept the increasing casualty rates among the Hit Wizards and Aurors.
"Rest assured, Amelia, I will provide an explanation. I can clarify all your doubts." Dumbledore said.
He glanced at Professor McGonagall, who was bowing her head, with a hint of nervousness, "How about we discuss this in the Headmaster's Office? I think you wouldn't mind a cup of tea, and Rufus, you can join us too. I need to consult with you on some matters."
Dumbledore left with Bones and Scrimgeour.
Kyle had also wanted to ask him some questions, such as what he and Ariana had been up to lately, but in this situation, it would be somewhat inappropriate to inquire about such matters.
So, he wisely chose to remain silent.
"Professor McGonagall, since everything is resolved, I'll be on my way..."
"Is that you?"
"What?" Kyle looked at Professor McGonagall and offered a standard, well-behaved smile.
"Regarding the matter of the Headmaster..." Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, "I believe I've told you more than once how dangerous this is, but you don't seem to take it to heart."
Professor McGonagall's voice was calm, but Kyle felt a sense of unease, as the sense of intimidation she exuded was far greater than that of the real Dumbledore.
"Yes, Nicoleme gave me the Time Converter. He believed that only I could bring Professor Dumbledore back, and I had no choice." Kyle chose his words carefully, "What's more, it happened just now. He was waiting for me in the Headmaster's Office."
Professor McGonagall furrowed her brows slightly.
She had been planning to deal with Bones and then take the initiative to go to Devon to meet Nicoleme.
Unexpectedly, Nicoleme, who rarely left his home, had come to Hogwarts, and the timing coincided with when she couldn't get away.
Professor McGonagall didn't think this was a coincidence.
Fortunately, everything turned out fine.
Kyle returned unharmed, and Dumbledore was back as well.
"No wonder I saw two of you." Professor McGonagall finally understood, "I have one more question. When did you return, and was it the Headmaster who drove away the Dark Lord in the Hebrides Archipelago?"
"No, although we returned two months ago, the Headmaster had other matters to attend to and left soon after." Kyle shook his head.
"Two months ago?"
"Yes, it was on the day Lupin and Tonks got married, the date he used the Time Converter."
Professor McGonagall understood.
With this, the matter of Dumbledore's personal letter could be explained. But soon, she thought of another question.
"Wasn't it the Headmaster who drove away the Dark Lord in the Hebrides Archipelago?"
When Dedalus mentioned it earlier, Professor McGonagall's first thought was also Dumbledore, but at the time, she still believed he was in 1899.
"Um..." Kyle smiled sheepishly, "The one who was there at the time was me."
"You?" Professor McGonagall was taken aback, "You encountered the Dark Lord and drove him away..."
"Well..." Kyle scratched his head, "It's not exactly driving him away, more like a clever trick, with a bit of luck involved. And in the end, I was the one who fled first. The Dark Lord probably chased after me, which is why he left the Hebrides Archipelago."
Professor McGonagall's heart raced as she listened, and her breathing became heavy.
"Why didn't you contact the Phoenix Society members?"
"It was urgent." Kyle looked innocent, "With Professor Dumbledore's whereabouts unknown, I had no choice but to take on the task. To be honest, even now, I still feel a sense of lingering fear. It was terrifying."
Where had Dumbledore gone?
With this reminder, Professor McGonagall also realized.
Kyle had risked his life to rescue him from the time loop, and now he had simply left?
"To let a student who just graduated face the Dark Lord?"
Professor McGonagall looked towards the Headmaster's Office, and her anger surged, even forgetting that Kyle had unilaterally broken their agreement and ventured to use the Time Converter.
...
(End of Chapter)
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