Chapter 885: Forced Retirement
Chapter 885: Forced Retirement
Dumbledore was a little flustered, especially when Kyle mentioned taking pictures of Aberforth crying his eyes out and selling them to him.
It wasn't so much that he felt sorry for his younger brother, but more so because Dumbledore suddenly remembered that he had seen Kyle with a camera on more than one occasion.
He wondered if he had already done something like this before.
Unconsciously, Dumbledore's gaze fell on Kyle's hands.
Sensing something, Kyle casually moved the camera behind his back.
"It's empty, Headmaster. The previous photos have already been developed."
Developed...
If he had any doubts before, Dumbledore was now certain that Kyle had definitely taken photos of him at some point.
The only question was when—in 1899 or in the present...
"You know, I'd be willing to pay a pretty galleon for some... interesting photos," Dumbledore said.
"If I had any," Kyle forced a laugh, "but let's talk about that later. Is there something you wanted to discuss with me, Professor?"
How could Dumbledore's photos be measured in galleons?
Well, they could, but he didn't need the money right now.
Seeing Kyle's blunt attempt to change the subject, Dumbledore could only sigh helplessly.
"I want to know what happened at the Hebridean Islands."
Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "I just returned from there, and I discovered a very familiar yet extremely foreign curse. So, was it the answer I suspected?"
"Yes, it was the Fire-Making Spell," Kyle admitted and briefly explained what he had done on the Hebridean Islands.
"When the mysterious person couldn't find me, they tried to force me out with Fiendfyre. So, I attempted to control the Fiendfyre with that spell."
"Using the Fire-Making Spell to control Fiendfyre..." Dumbledore gave Kyle a complicated look.
Could the Fire-Making Spell control Fiendfyre? Of course, it could, and as the inventor of the spell, Dumbledore knew this very well.
The Fire-Making Spell was, strictly speaking, a type of Transfiguration spell, but its target was fire.
And Fiendfyre was a type of fire as well.
However, he never expected Kyle to be able to achieve this.
It was like transfiguring a stone into a dog—a simple task that even a fifth-year student could accomplish. But transfiguring a mountain into a dog was a different story, a feat that very few could manage.
Controlling Fiendfyre was no easier than transfiguring a mountain.
"Was that your first attempt?" Dumbledore asked.
"My second," Kyle thought for a moment before answering, "The first time was in Austria. To lure out Rosier, I decided to burn Nurmengard with Fiendfyre.
"But since I was at a distance, I wondered if I could use the Fire-Making Spell to send the Fiendfyre over there."
Nurmengard?
Dumbledore's eyes twitched at the mention of the name.
"Did you succeed?"
"I'm not sure if you could call it a success," Kyle said after a moment's thought. "Since it was my first attempt at such a transformation, I almost couldn't control the wild Fiendfyre and could only barely send it over.
"However, the dispersed Fiendfyre ignited Nurmengard more quickly and better achieved my purpose."
The Headmaster's office fell silent.
Dumbledore never expected that Kyle had done such a thing.
Setting Fiendfyre to burn Nurmengard was something many wanted to do but dared not attempt... yet Kyle had actually done it.
Dumbledore couldn't quite describe his current emotions.
Worry... surprise... or perhaps, schadenfreude?
Maybe a bit of all three.
Of course, his concern wasn't for Nurmengard.
When they had remodeled the prison, they had anticipated every possible scenario.
Even Fiendfyre couldn't burn through the tower, and this was done to prevent Grindelwald's escape and also to protect him.
Not everyone wanted to keep Grindelwald locked up; there were plenty who wanted him dead.
But there were also quite a few loyal to Grindelwald, and no one knew what those fanatics would do if he were killed.
This was the best option—to give them hope and prevent them from wreaking havoc in the wizarding world.
Of course... this was the official explanation, the reason written in the files.
"I also want to ask you a question. Why did you go to find... Grindelwald?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"Nicky sent me. He said that in 1899, you would definitely hide, and only Grindelwald would know where," Kyle replied, "As it turned out, Nicky was right. Grindelwald told me about the barn, and you indeed appeared there, Professor."
Those who used a Time-Turner to go back in time shared a similar subconscious—they would instinctively avoid everyone. If Kyle hadn't camped out and waited at the barn, he might not have found Dumbledore so easily.
Moreover, Dumbledore had lost many of his memories at the time, so even if Kyle had made a lot of noise, he wouldn't have recognized him and come looking.
"Ah, yes, he definitely knew," Dumbledore said, suddenly becoming a little flustered and even a bit anxious.
"I think you should also know... we used to be very close. Just like you and Mr. Diggory, we shared everything."
"Yeah, sorry, Professor," Kyle muttered, interrupting Dumbledore.
"It's still different. At least Cedric hasn't been expelled from school."
Dumbledore's expression froze, and the emotions he had been building up suddenly popped like a soap bubble.
Well, Grindelwald had indeed been expelled from Durmstrang, but was that the point?
He had been prepared to reveal the relationship between him and Grindelwald and confess all the foolish things they had done.
"Aren't you curious?" Dumbledore looked at Kyle. "What we did during that time, I think you still don't know about it, do you?"
"I'm not actually as perfect as you imagine.
"Dumbledore's voice was hoarse as he said, "We once shared a common goal... to overthrow the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and establish a world ruled by wizards, and we even took a blood pact."
"I know," Kyle shrugged.
"You know?" This time, Dumbledore was truly perplexed.
Although he and Grindelwald had been young back then, they had been cautious and always avoided others when chatting.
How could Kyle possibly know?
Dumbledore wasn't underestimating Kyle; he just knew the level of caution that he and Grindelwald had at that age.
"I have this," Kyle said as he took out something that resembled an ear.
"Is this... Mr. Weasley's eavesdropping device?" Dumbledore asked uncertainly.
"Yes," Kyle nodded. "After arriving at the Valley of Gordrick, I immediately hid this under the floorboards of an old crate to locate you as soon as possible."
"But..." Dumbledore frowned, "We searched the barn."
"Are you sure you checked thoroughly, Professor?" Kyle smiled. "Or would you have thought that no one would hide a magical listening device in a barn that had been abandoned for many years?"
Dumbledore nodded subconsciously.
Now that he thought about it, that was probably the case.
Back then, he and Grindelwald were more excited about finding a secret base, so their so-called inspection was just a simple magical probe and pest control.
If it were indeed hidden under the floorboards as Kyle said, they wouldn't have found it.
"So, you knew everything?" Dumbledore said with a desolate expression.
"Just a little," Kyle said.
"That eavesdropping device was meant to find you, not to eavesdrop on your conversations. Usually, I wouldn't use it and would even actively cut off the connection to make it as inconspicuous as a stone."
"But I'm not interested in that."
"What?"
"Your plan, I mean. I'm not interested in it." Kyle tapped his finger lightly on the table, and a house-elf immediately brought him a glass of lemonade.
Kyle took a sip... it was delicious, just as he remembered it.
"Speaking of which, this is like using a spell. Although the wand-waving gesture made a slight mistake, the result was correct, so there's no problem.
"In the final exam, you won't be deducted points for making a mistake in the gesture, and the same is true when facing an enemy."
Dumbledore didn't say anything and just stared at Kyle in a daze, only to reveal a helpless smile after a while.
"I never thought that I would need to be consoled by a child. What a strange experience."
"I never thought I'd be comforting a professor of your age either." Kyle took another sip of lemonade. "I guess that's what they call being blinded by one's own perspective."
"...That's a fitting description." Dumbledore also tapped the table, and a house-elf brought him a cup of tea.
He took a sip and said calmly, "Starting tomorrow, I will no longer be the principal. Professor McGonagall is more suitable for this position."
"Hmm?" Kyle raised his head slightly but didn't say anything.
"You don't seem surprised," Dumbledore asked.
"Isn't that how it should be?" Kyle said.
Since last year, Dumbledore had hardly been at Hogwarts, and Professor McGonagall had been handling all the major and minor issues at the school.
If it had been up to Kyle, he would have moved his office a long time ago and wouldn't have needed Dumbledore's permission.
"Yes, you're right." Dumbledore sighed in relief. "I've been an irresponsible principal, so it's better this way. I can enjoy my retirement."
He wanted to spend time with his sister.
It was only after Ariana had woken up that Dumbledore decided to step down and let Professor McGonagall take over. His intentions were a little too obvious.
Kyle glanced at Dumbledore but didn't expose him.
"Does Professor McGonagall know?"
"No," Dumbledore shook his head. "I've already contacted the school's board of directors and plan to give her a surprise."
"Are you sure it's a surprise?" Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Not a shock?"
"I have no choice. I know Minerva," Dumbledore explained. "If I told her directly, she definitely wouldn't agree."
Kyle frowned, still feeling that something was amiss.
He looked around and noticed a stack of parchment nearly two feet thick next to the table.
Were those there before?
Kyle tried to recall and remembered that when Nicki came to give him the Time-Turner, the office had been spotless and empty.
That was normal since all the matters that required Dumbledore's attention had been sent to Professor McGonagall, so there shouldn't have been any documents in the Principal's office.
Could these... have been thrown over by Professor McGonagall?
Kyle felt that he had discovered the truth.
He walked over and flipped through the parchments in front of Dumbledore's nervous gaze.
"Planning the Quidditch competition..."
"Application for the transfer of the Potions classroom to the third floor..."
"Snape's application for one thousand galleons to purchase Dark Creatures' red hats, Kabas, and other Dark Creatures..."
"Professor McGonagall's application for three hundred galleons to purchase rabbits, turtles, and hamsters..."
"Professor Sinistra's application for three thousand galleons to purchase a panoramic celestial sphere..."
...
Indeed, these were all work arrangements for Hogwarts, ranging from two months ago to the present.
Some parchments even had ink stains, indicating that they had been written on and then erased with magic, but the process had been hasty, leaving these traces.
Kyle turned to Dumbledore, "So, Professor McGonagall sent these over?"
"It was Milliva." Dumbledore's gaze flickered, "She believes I've failed in my duties as Headmaster, so she's returning these to their rightful owner."
"So, you want to retire?"
Kyle dismissed his earlier suspicion, "And then reasonably shirk these responsibilities, right?"
"Of course not." Dumbledore regained his composure and said earnestly, "Seeing all this, I realize how negligent I've been. Milliva becoming Headmaster is well-deserved."
"Hehe..." Kyle chuckled.
Dumbledore's excuse was too flimsy, even a giant would not buy it.
"No wonder you want to give Professor McGonagall a surprise." Kyle understood why Dumbledore was in such a hurry to step down.
After all, the process of changing headmasters at a millennium-old school like Hogwarts was usually lengthy and complex.
Not only did it require advance notice to the board of directors, who would decide whether to agree to the change, but it also involved notifying the Ministry of Magic, the International Confederation of Wizards, and informing other magic schools to avoid confusion during collaboration.
Additionally, an announcement in the official newspaper, the Prophet, was essential, and the process was no less cumbersome than a change in ministry leadership.
Even with the current simplified procedures due to Voldemort and the Death Eaters, it was impossible to complete everything in a day.
Dumbledore was deliberately trying to spring a surprise on Professor McGonagall.
By the time everyone arrived tomorrow and he announced his decision, Professor McGonagall would have no choice but to accept, or she would embarrass Hogwarts.
If she refused, it would make the school a laughingstock.
Dumbledore was truly shameless.
Kyle's gaze turned contemptuous as he looked at him.
But Dumbledore seemed oblivious to Kyle's stare and calmly sipped his tea.
"That's settled, then. I'm over a hundred years old, well past retirement age. It's unethical to have a centenarian continue working."
"Now, tell me in detail what happened after we returned." This time, it was Dumbledore's turn to shift the topic.
"Alright." Kyle said, "Where would you like me to start, Professor?"
"Let me think..." Dumbledore added another sugar cube to his tea, "How about we start with Cornwall... Is Alastor really dead?"
Kyle paused with the lemon water in his hand.
"I'm mainly curious." Dumbledore's eyes fixed on Kyle.
"The Kyle I know wouldn't just stand by and watch Alastor get killed, nor would he do nothing afterward and only bring back a strip of binding.
"And as far as I know, Tom wasn't in Cornwall at the time."
Dumbledore's meaning was clear. Without Voldemort, it wouldn't be difficult for Kyle to kill a Death Eater to avenge Mad-Eye.
Even if there were many of them, as long as Kyle wanted to, he could avenge Mad-Eye and leave safely. After all, it was unlikely for over a hundred wizards to gather in one place at the same time.
Doing nothing and only bringing back a strip of binding didn't fit Kyle's character.
"I wanted to keep it a secret." Kyle shook his head, "But yes, Moody is still alive. The imposter, Leiniss, is him in disguise using Polyjuice Potion."
"The leader of the vagrant wizards?" Dumbledore continued to stir his sugar, not too surprised.
"If I'm not mistaken, your plan is to plot the defection of the vagrant wizards, right?"
"Yes." Kyle nodded, "Professor Moody thought the plan was feasible, so he faked his death to drop off everyone's radar."
"It's a good idea, but... Alastor might be in danger." Dumbledore suddenly sighed and worriedly said.
"There's definitely danger, but Professor Moody should be able to handle it." Kyle said.
"Perhaps before, but not now." Dumbledore shook his head, "But after you used Polyjuice Potion in the Hebrides, things have changed... Don't forget, Tom is a very suspicious person."
Kyle suddenly realized.
Yes, after he used Polyjuice Potion, Voldemort might think he would try the same trick again.
Given his suspicious nature, that was highly likely... No, he definitely would.
"I've put Professor Moody in danger..."
"No, it's not like that." Dumbledore interrupted Kyle, "You don't understand Tom, or rather, you only know the Tom of the present."
"He's never trusted anyone, not as a child, not during his time at Hogwarts, and not sixteen years ago either.
After he became Voldemort, even his Death Eaters, who were once his companions, became disposable tools. He doesn't trust his own tools, let alone a new addition.
"Even if you didn't do anything and just ran away, he would suspect there's a spy among the Death Eaters... Perhaps, it's even a good thing."
"A good thing?" Kyle didn't understand.
"The incident in the Hebrides caused quite a stir. The Prophet published an article about it this morning.
"If Alastor sees it, he'll surely guess something and make the necessary preparations."
"How did the Prophet find out? Did the Aurors tell them? That's impossible!"
"No, it was me." Dumbledore said, "When I was at the Hog's Head, I happened to meet a famous reporter and inadvertently let it slip during our conversation."
"What a coincidence..." Kyle fiddled with his cup, "Professor, did you already know that Moody wasn't dead and had infiltrated the vagrant wizards?"
"Of course not." Dumbledore smiled faintly, "I truly just let it slip, that's all. I only found out the truth myself just now."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
