Chapter 887: Dumbledore's Betrayal
Chapter 887: Dumbledore's Betrayal
Voldemort would never be so bored as to listen to Death Eaters' tedious reports.
His sole purpose for doing this was to confirm if there were any imposters among them who had consumed Polyjuice Potion.
Although Polyjuice Potion could perfectly transform someone into another person, it had a limitation. Regardless of the amount consumed, from a sip to a cauldron, the maximum transformation time was only two hours, after which one would revert to their original form.
To maintain the transformation, one had to consume another dose within this time frame.
Voldemort took advantage of this limitation, gathering everyone together and observing them for over three hours until no one showed any changes before leaving.
This also indicated that Voldemort was indeed being tormented by Kyle to the point of suspecting his own people.
Fortunately, Alastor Moody had prepared in advance, preventing his cover from being blown.
Upon returning to Cornwall, he immediately entered a dilapidated Black Magic Supplies shop, carefully closed the door, and approached a grayish mirror.
In the mirror, 'Lainis' hair had already started to change, with several noticeable white strands, and his originally well-fitted robe had become taut.
This was a sign of the impending failure of the Polyjuice Potion.
Moody took a bottle from behind the counter, opened the stopper, and poured a mouthful into his mouth.
His hair reverted to its dull golden color, and his robe became well-fitted again.
But when he opened his mouth, it was evident that several gaps had appeared in his teeth, although they were not easily noticeable molars. Still, if one looked closely enough, they could be spotted.
Moody's throat moved, as if something was being squeezed out of his stomach and then spat into his palm.
They were a few teeth.
Under the light, it was clear that these teeth had small holes, resembling cavities.
Moody placed the teeth on the table, his expression grave.
Although he had prepared, the urgency of the situation left him somewhat unprepared. If Voldemort had delayed a little longer, he might have been exposed.
Without hesitation, Moody extended his wand into his mouth and waved it vigorously.
Three more teeth fell out, and the blood that came with them dripped down from the corner of his mouth.
However, Moody didn't care. He carefully drilled a hole in the teeth with his wand, then waved and picked them up.
The teeth seemed to undergo some transformation, but nothing was apparent on the surface.
An entire bottle of Polyjuice Potion was poured into these teeth through the hole, and Moody resealed them in his mouth.
He tentatively opened his mouth.
It was manageable, although it felt a bit uncomfortable, but at least it ensured safety.
...
While Moody was doing his best to hide the Polyjuice Potion, Hogwarts was bustling with excitement.
On Saturday, a day meant for sleeping in, the students were awakened early by loud knocks on the door.
The Head Prefects were bustling in the Common Room, pulling everyone out of bed. They then led the drowsy group to form a line and head towards the Great Hall.
"Gosh, we finally get to the weekend, and there's something going on. Why are we being asked to go to the Great Hall so early?" Ron yawned as he led a group of younger students through the Common Room passage.
"You've complained three times since we started," Hermione said from behind him, "Ron, don't forget you're a Head Prefect."
"I know," Ron said nonchalantly, "So, Hermione, do you know what's going on?"
"No," Hermione replied.
She had only received a notification from the Headmaster, instructing her to bring all the students to the Great Hall, but the Headmaster didn't specify the reason.
"Let's go," Hermione urged, "The Headmaster must have an important reason for asking us to go to the Great Hall."
The group passed through the passage, and behind them, Lady Violet in the painting instinctively hid a wine glass behind her back.
Her cheeks were flushed, indicating she had been drinking quite a bit.
"I hope she can still hear the orders later," Harry muttered, glancing back.
Lady Violet had gotten drunk several times, and students wanting to return to the Common Room had to wait for her to sober up.
In fact, the person responsible for this task was not her but the Fat Lady. However, the Fat Lady had been feeling unwell recently, so Lady Violet was temporarily filling in.
The painting's illness... This sounded unbelievable, but it was a fact, and he had witnessed it himself.
After Kyle visited the Headmaster's Office, the Fat Lady's mood had been volatile, and she had changed the password five times within an hour.
From enchanting melodies to graceful tunes, all the passwords were related to singing.
But changing the password five times in an hour was too much for them to remember, and Neville had even given up, waiting for someone else to take him in.
Professor McGonagall had no choice but to move the Fat Lady elsewhere to calm down, and Lady Violet temporarily took over.
However, this replacement was not very reliable.
The group descended the stairs and arrived at the Great Hall.
By the time they got there, many people were already present.
"There must be something big happening today," Ron said, instantly becoming alert upon seeing Minister of Magic Amelia Bones at the front of the Great Hall.
And it wasn't just the Minister; there was also Head of the Auror Office Scrimgeour, directors or deputy directors of several important departments, and reporters from the Daily Prophet.
This setup was over the top.
"Could it be that the Death Eaters are attacking Hogwarts?" Harry said worriedly.
As they spoke, a sudden commotion came from outside, as if something massive had heavily landed on the ground.
And then, Hagrid walked in from outside, accompanied by an equally large witch.
Harry recognized her, Madame Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons.
But why was she here? It wasn't the Triwizard Tournament season.
"Hagrid, what's going on?" Madame Maxime's expression turned serious. "When I first received the news, I thought it was a prank."
"Sorry, Olympe," Hagrid apologized. "You might not believe me, but as soon as I got the news, I rushed out and happened to see your carriage."
Madame Maxime instinctively turned her head, "Are you joking?"
"I swear, I'm not," Hagrid assured her.
Madame Maxime furrowed her brows deeply, "But Dumbledore is still alive, isn't he?"
Listening to their conversation, Harry's heart tightened with tension.
What could have brought Madame Maxime all the way from France...
He wanted to ask, but Hagrid seemed to ignore him, walking straight past.
Left with no choice, Harry joined the other Gryffindors and sat at the long table.
More guests arrived, but Harry didn't recognize any of them.
The only constant was the stern expressions on their faces.
Harry even wondered if Voldemort had appeared at the school gates, prompting a pre-battle rally.
"Hey, move over and make some room for me."
A familiar voice broke Harry's train of thought, and he instinctively turned his head.
"Kyle?" He looked at the newcomer and blurted out, "What are you doing here?"
"Just here to watch the show," Kyle replied.
This conversation felt all too familiar, as if they had just heard it yesterday.
But the question was, what kind of spectacle could Hogwarts possibly offer?
Kyle didn't explain, instead, he awkwardly squeezed himself between Harry and Ginny, earning a disapproving glare from Ginny.
"Sorry," Kyle laughed, "This is the best spot. Any closer and Professor McGonagall might spot me. You know she doesn't want me here anymore."
"Then you shouldn't have come," Ginny said irritably. "You've graduated. Why do you keep coming back to Hogwarts?"
"I can skip other times, but not today," Kyle shook his finger. "Today is a special day. It would be a shame to miss it."
"So, what's happening?" Harry asked curiously.
"You'll see soon enough," Kyle said, fiddling with a camera. "I promise, it'll blow your mind."
Harry's curiosity grew as Kyle maintained an air of mystery.
"Wait and see," Kyle placed a potion bottle next to him. "Besides, you might not even believe it."
The potion was a Revelio Potion, which could animate figures in photographs, allowing them to process the images immediately after taking them.
Harry half-closed his eyes, wishing he could... No, he had to stay polite. Fighting was against the rules and would cost him points.
However, they didn't have to wait long. Soon, the guests arrived, and the professors entered, all eyes turning to Dumbledore, who made his grand entrance.
He was dressed in crimson robes, his beard and hair meticulously groomed.
Hundreds of eyes stared unwaveringly at Dumbledore.
"Welcome, welcome, esteemed guests from afar, and students who must bid farewell to their cozy beds. I apologize for taking up your precious weekend time."
A murmur of whispers filled the Great Hall.
"Well, to not delay your breakfast further, I'll keep this brief."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and spoke solemnly, "I, Albus Percival Dumbledore, once abandoned my responsibilities due to personal matters and nearly caused an irreversible mistake. Here, I apologize to all who once believed in me."
The murmurs grew louder.
"What did the Headmaster do?" Ron was puzzled. "Wasn't he always here?"
Hermione frowned, equally perplexed.
She couldn't understand what he meant by almost causing an irreversible mistake due to personal matters... The magical world had been so peaceful lately, with no major incidents.
Except for those who knew the truth, others shared a similar sentiment.
The Daily Prophet's journalist clicked away, capturing this rare moment.
The greatest white wizard, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore, was publicly apologizing... Though he wasn't sure what had happened, he knew this was a big news story. If written up, it would surely sell like hotcakes.
But there was more.
Dumbledore stepped forward again, "I, knowing my shame, have decided to voluntarily resign from the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts!"
His words were like a bomb dropped in the Great Hall, causing an uproar.
"Is this a joke?" Someone shouted.
"Madness, sheer madness, I must be dreaming!"
"This isn't funny at all!"
...
The hall erupted in chaos, with nearly half the people standing up in excitement.
"Silence!"
Dumbledore's voice boomed, instantly silencing the hall.
"I'm not joking," he said. "Mr. Finnigan, and I know it's not funny. But I must step down."
No one found it amusing.
They didn't care who the Headmaster was, but Hogwarts must not lose Dumbledore.
"Of course, I'll still be here at Hogwarts, just in a different capacity." Dumbledore continued, "As for my successor, after much deliberation with the Board last night, we unanimously agreed that Professor Minerva McGonagall is more than capable of taking on this role."
Dumbledore took a step back and gestured towards the bewildered Professor McGonagall, initiating a round of applause.
Amelia Bones followed suit, joining in the applause.
She had been aware of this decision beforehand, so it wasn't a surprise to her.
More and more people joined in the clapping.
In a moment, the Great Hall echoed with applause.
As long as Dumbledore remained at Hogwarts, nothing else mattered, and Professor McGonagall as Headmaster was something she could accept.
A few Gryffindors even stood up in excitement.
Surrounded by the applause, Professor McGonagall was still processing what had just happened.
This couldn't be right, she thought. How did she become the Headmaster?
Who could tell her what was going on! At that moment, Professor McGonagall suddenly felt someone nudging her...
It was Professor Sprout, who quietly approached and whispered, "Minerva, what are you waiting for? Everyone is waiting for you."
Professor McGonagall finally realized what was happening and looked up.
Sure enough, everyone's gaze shifted from Dumbledore to her.
But the problem was, she had no idea what was going on.
"Congratulations, Minerva," Dumbledore said softly as he approached, "Now you need to deliver your inaugural speech. It's a necessary process."
Professor McGonagall's eyes twitched.
At that moment, she finally understood.
It had to be Dumbledore.
He didn't want to deal with the paperwork, so he simply passed on the position of Headmaster to her, that had to be it.
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath.
She hadn't expected Dumbledore to be so decisive, knowing she wouldn't agree, he had chosen to act first and explain later...
The photographers from the Daily Prophet were about to wear out their camera shutters.
If she refused the position now, by noon today, Hogwarts would become a laughingstock in the entire wizarding world.
Professor McGonagall, forced into this situation, had no choice but to step forward. She looked at the students, journalists, Board members, and the Minister of Magic below, and with a stiff expression, she said,
"I am honored..."
Professor McGonagall's mind was buzzing, and she didn't even realize how the inauguration ceremony had ended.
The students were equally bewildered. They had expected many things, but never imagined that they were called to the Great Hall on a weekend morning to announce a change in Headmaster.
There was supposed to be a breakfast after the ceremony, but under these circumstances, no one was in the mood for food. Instead, they gathered in small groups, intensely discussing what had just happened.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore, who had voluntarily resigned, had already returned to the Headmaster's office, starting to pack his belongings—the Mirror of Erised, the Pensieve, Fox's Perch...
The silverware on the desk could stay, as they would serve a greater purpose.
At that moment, the door opened.
Kyle poked his head in.
"Hey, Headmaster, moving out?"
"Yes," Dumbledore sighed with relief at the sight of Kyle, "I need to maintain some dignity, it would be too embarrassing to be forced out."
"I don't think Professor McGonagall will force you out." Kyle shook his head, "She probably wants to kill you. When she was speaking, I even heard the sound of her grinding her teeth."
Dumbledore's hands moved faster.
"No rush, sir," Kyle smiled, "Professor McGonagall is right outside the door, you can't escape."
Dumbledore's hands froze.
"How do you know..."
"Because I brought her here." Kyle smiled, "I saw you leaving the Great Hall, so I went to find her."
"Why... child." Dumbledore felt betrayed, "What's in it for you?"
"I told her you might try to escape, and she forgave me for returning to Hogwarts. It's a fair trade."
"I... can do the same." Dumbledore said, "Hogwarts welcomes back its graduates for visits."
"You're not the Headmaster anymore." Kyle shook his finger, "Times have changed, Mr. Dumbledore. Now it's Professor McGonagall... no, Headmaster McGonagall's word is final, your promise holds no weight."
How realistic.
Dumbledore sighed. Just a moment ago, he was addressed as 'Professor,' and now, less than ten minutes after his resignation, he was already being called 'Mr.'
Alright then...
Dumbledore sighed and assumed a stance as if ready to face death, waiting for Minerva to arrive.
But he waited for a long time, and the door remained silent.
"We still have time." Kyle said, "Headmaster McGonagall promised me that we could have some time alone first, so I can give you your resignation gift."
"A gift?"
"Yes, a resignation gift." Kyle said, "Consider it a token of my personal appreciation."
Dumbledore turned his head, looking at Kyle with interest, knowing that Minerva wouldn't burst in right away, he wasn't in a hurry.
As long as he wasn't caught, he could use the phoenix to leave the Headmaster's office... It seemed Kyle's betrayal wasn't complete yet.
"I'm curious, what gift do you have for me?" Dumbledore, feeling much better, even asked for a cup of tea.
"This." Kyle placed his hand on the table.
Then Dumbledore saw a photograph appear before him.
"What's this?" he asked subconsciously.
"The entire process of your blood pact with Mr. Grindelwald in 1899," Kyle said, "I thought you'd like it."
...
(End of Chapter)
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