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Chapter 916: The Headmaster Changes Again, Harry Skips School
Chapter 916: The Headmaster Changes Again, Harry Skips School
As Professor McGonagall used the Imperius Curse to control the Death Eater, Kyle was momentarily distracted by the sight of Fawkes' perch across the room, and he turned around.
The perch was truly exquisite, crafted from the finest yew wood, adorned with golden threads in intricate patterns, presumably for grip or decoration. Kyle was certain that those threads were made of real gold... Dumbledore was indeed wealthy.
But surely he wouldn't need this now, especially since the phoenix had escaped into his trunk. Leaving the perch here was pointless, so why not take the initiative and help dispose of it, saving Professor McGonagall the trouble?
Kyle pondered, ignoring the voices of the surrounding portraits.
The mention of Professor Minerva McGonagall using the Imperius Curse... he must have misheard, or perhaps Headmaster Armando Dippet had indulged in too much fake alcohol and was rambling incoherently.
He recalled Violet, a close friend of the Fat Lady, who loved drinking and brewing her own alcohol. Her portrait often featured a wooden barrel filled with her homemade brew. Occasionally, they would drink late into the night, leaving the Gryffindor students who ventured out after hours in a state of misery.
Sometimes, they would simply go to the kitchen for a late-night snack, only to find the Fat Lady passed out and unresponsive.
With the Fat Lady unconscious, they couldn't enter the common room and had to huddle outside the entrance, clutching the food they had brought from the kitchen, shivering in the cold.
On a good day, the Fat Lady would wake up groggily after an hour or two, allowing them to finally enter. But most of the time, they had to endure the risk of being caught by Filch and wait outside until the early hours of the morning.
This proved that Violet's brew was indeed potent.
But the question remained, how could a portrait like hers produce genuine alcohol? It had to be fake.
Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet must have been under the influence of her fake alcohol, leading to their bizarre claims about Fawkes' perch.
It was inconceivable that the Headmaster of Hogwarts would cast an Unforgivable Curse in the Headmaster's Office.
Kyle continued to stare at the perch, his neck as rigid as if it were made of steel, showing no intention of turning away.
Not until the voices from the ceiling above fell silent.
"Kyle, you..."
"Oh, I just remembered that the garden still needs watering."
Kyle slapped his forehead and, without waiting for Professor McGonagall to continue, spoke up, "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. Goodbye, Headmaster McGonagall!"
Without looking back, he strode forward, pocketed the perch as he passed by, opened the door, and exited the Headmaster's Office.
As for Professor McGonagall's intentions, Kyle didn't inquire further, knowing that he would find out eventually.
After crossing the castle grounds, Kyle made his way back to the garden of the cottage.
Unconsciously, he glanced at a small stool by the door, where Dumbledore had often sat during his time in hiding.
However, the stool was now empty, and Dumbledore had not returned since the funeral, seemingly having disappeared entirely.
Kyle had no idea where Dumbledore had gone or what he was doing, but he assumed it was related to Voldemort in some way.
In the time since, Hagrid had noticeably improved in spirits, and his presence in the garden had resumed.
"Thud!"
Hagrid, seeking comfort from the Hungarian Horntail, was struck by its tail and sent stumbling back several steps, colliding with a tree.
"Ouch... It's so mischievous," Hagrid moaned, limping towards Kyle. "I see a bit of Grawp from two years ago in it."
"Hagrid, I think there's a difference between dragons and giants... At least giants don't have spikes on their fists," Kyle remarked, eyeing the blood steadily dripping from Hagrid's thigh. "I suggest you apply some galantamine soon."
"Ah, it's fine," Hagrid said, tearing a strip of cloth from his clothing and tying it around the wound. "It must know that I need a bit of pain right now. How considerate."
Kyle gave a dry laugh and refrained from commenting on Hagrid's peculiar behavior.
If it made him happy, so be it.
...
The next day, an unexpected announcement appeared in the entrance hall of Hogwarts, catching everyone off guard.
The Headmaster had changed once again.
Professor McGonagall, who had recently assumed the role of Headmaster, was now stepping down, and Professor Severus Snape, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, was officially appointed as the new Headmaster.
This... the Headmaster position was being shuffled around like a game. The students exchanged bewildered glances, wondering if this was some student's prank.
It wasn't until Professor McGonagall publicly announced the news again during dinner that everyone had to accept it as truth.
The Slytherin table erupted in celebration, as if it were Christmas all over again, with everyone rejoicing.
However, Professor Snape himself was as bewildered as most students, completely unaware of what had transpired.
In fact, Professor Snape had not even been to the Great Hall for breakfast or lunch that day, which meant he had missed the announcement and learned about it later than everyone else.
From Professor Snape's perspective, he had simply been teaching as usual, and suddenly, he was the Headmaster.
No wonder the students had been giving him strange looks during class and offering peculiar congratulations.
Professor Snape had assumed they were talking nonsense and had deducted points from their houses.
Now, he realized he might have been too hasty in his judgments.
No, that wasn't right either... how did he become the Headmaster? Had the Dark Lord invaded Hogwarts? Definitely not, as the school would be in chaos if that were the case.
So, what was the reason behind this?
Snape's face contorted with emotion... That uncontrollable feeling again, it was unbearable.
"Headmistress McGonagall, what is the meaning of this?" He stood up hastily, addressing Professor McGonagall who had returned.
"Oh, you may still call me Professor, for now, you are the Headmaster." Professor McGonagall glanced at him indifferently, "As for the reason, didn't your colleagues inform you?"
"He approached me today, representing the Ministry, and threatened to make life difficult for the entire school if I didn't hand over the position of Headmaster to you."
Professor McGonagall tried to control her tone, but her words were blunt.
She already knew the identity of that small, hunched director; he was a genuine Death Eater.
A Death Eater wanted Severus Snape to be the Headmaster, and if Professor McGonagall couldn't guess what that implied, she would be a fool.
Obviously, Snape was also a Death Eater, one trusted by Voldemort, who believed he could help control Hogwarts.
To be honest, she had her suspicions about Snape's identity, dating back over a decade when they had seen him in Voldemort's camp.
But Dumbledore trusted him and always hinted at an unbreakable reason for that trust.
So Professor McGonagall chose to believe as well.
She never expected him to betray Dumbledore.
In the memory of that small Death Eater, the order for Snape to assume the role of Headmaster was a personal command from the Dark Lord, and it was the first order given after the Death Eaters took control of half the Ministry.
It couldn't be that Voldemort simply preferred Snape; he must also be a Death Eater.
Professor McGonagall even suspected that Dumbledore's death might be related to Snape, after all, it was rather unbelievable that Malfoy could have done it alone... According to normal circumstances, once Dumbledore sensed Malfoy's intentions, he wouldn't have given him the chance to raise his wand.
Someone must have helped; that was how their plan succeeded so smoothly.
And when Malfoy was rescued by an unknown wizard, Snape was the only professor at Hogwarts who was unaccounted for.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips.
Unfortunately, she had no evidence; after hearing the Phoenix's song, Snape had been right behind her, providing a perfect alibi.
Moreover, two people had attacked Filius, but there was only one Snape, the numbers didn't add up.
Snape noticed Professor McGonagall's increasingly cold gaze, and he felt a twinge of guilt.
When Professor McGonagall mentioned his colleagues earlier, he had thought of the Death Eaters in the Ministry, but he never expected them to act against Hogwarts so quickly.
Snape had assumed they would wait until they had complete control over the Ministry before targeting Hogwarts.
What was even more unbelievable was that Professor McGonagall agreed to cooperate with them... No, she had to cooperate.
Snape stepped forward and glanced at the students filling half the Great Hall... They were the reason Professor McGonagall agreed to the Death Eaters' demands.
After understanding all this, Snape composed himself and quickly accepted the reality.
Moreover, becoming the Headmaster of Hogwarts would facilitate his own plans.
Yes, his plans...
Dumbledore, that unreliable man, hadn't left him a plan before his death, not even a word of greeting, and he was the only one who knew Snape's identity.
Since the funeral, his identity as a Death Eater was irredeemable.
So Snape had to find a way to overthrow Voldemort on his own, but he hadn't figured it out yet, or at least, he had only figured out half of it.
The Malfoy family should be key, and also, Potter.
He had heard Dumbledore emphasize countless times that Potter was the key to defeating the Dark Lord, and he had to protect him.
That arrogant, reckless fool?
Snape quickly located that detestable face in the Great Hall.
However, it was clear that Harry, who struggled to accept Snape as Headmaster, also had an aggressive gaze, as if he were about to hurl insults at him.
After a brief moment of eye contact, both felt insulted.
"Look at him." Harry couldn't hold back any longer and spoke without any attempt to hide his disdain, "I wonder what underhanded methods he used to become the Headmaster of Hogwarts. I bet he's feeling pretty smug right now."
As more and more eyes turned towards them, Ron and Hermione looked terrified, repeatedly kicking Harry under the table to remind him to be mindful of the setting.
"Don't, Harry, you'll get expelled!" Hermione's voice trembled, "He heard you, you'll definitely be expelled!"
"I don't care!" Harry sneered, showing no restraint, and his voice grew louder, "So what if I get expelled? If Snape is the Headmaster, I'd rather have never come to Hogwarts!"
Snape's eyes flashed dangerously, but surprisingly, he didn't say a word, as if he hadn't heard Harry's declaration.
This made Hermione anxious until the end of dinner, when she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I thought you were going to get expelled right then and there." She whispered to Harry on their way back to the Gryffindor common room.
"I don't care." Harry said, "Do you think I was joking? If Snape really becomes the Headmaster, even if he doesn't expel me, I'll still leave the school.
"If you had paid closer attention to the staff table, you would have noticed someone missing."
"Huh?" Ron was taken aback, "Was there an empty seat on the staff table?"
"It was Kyle.
"Hermione whispered, "He didn't come to the dinner, but Professor McGonagall insisted that everyone must attend."
"He must have sensed the danger beforehand," Harry said firmly. "You should know, Kyle is a Phoenix..."
"Hey, Harry Potter."
Suddenly, a slender figure interrupted their conversation.
"Potter, the new Headmaster wants to see you in his office." The visitor was a Slytherin student, apparently a second-year.
"Don't go," Hermione blurted out.
Ron nodded in agreement, "Think about what you said in the Great Hall just now. I don't think he wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."
"No, I'll go," Harry said.
"Are you crazy?"
"I've never been more clear-headed," Harry turned to the visitor, "Go back and tell Snape that I'll be there. Tell him to wait for me."
The person frowned, "You should learn to respect the Headmaster, Potter."
"I'll say the same to you, little one. You should learn to respect the seventh years, or you'll get a beating." Ron, annoyed, stepped forward and pushed him, "Get out of the way!"
The person stumbled, almost falling to the ground. He shot Ron a venomous look and turned to leave.
But Ron didn't pay him any mind; he was just a second-year, and Ron could take on three of them with one hand.
"Are you really going to Snape's office, Harry?" Ron asked, concerned. "He must have some ulterior motive."
"Don't be silly, Ron," Harry laughed. "How could I possibly go see Snape on my own?"
"But you just said..."
"I was lying to him so he wouldn't keep following us," Harry lowered his voice. "Listen, after Snape, the Death Eater, became Headmaster, there will definitely be more Death Eaters. I think I can't stay in school anymore; I must leave immediately."
"But this is just our speculation, right?" Hermione hesitated, "There's no direct evidence that Professor Snape is a Death Eater."
"Don't be silly, Hermione," Harry glanced at her, "Didn't you hear what Professor McGonagall said? She called him 'your colleague'. I heard it."
"And the way she looked at Snape has changed too, very coldly. Doesn't that prove Snape's identity?"
Hermione remained silent, her expression conflicted.
"I'll go with you," Ron said loyally, patting his chest, "When are we leaving?"
"No, Ron, I'll go alone," Harry shook his head. "You're a pureblood. Why would you run? Even if the Death Eaters come, they won't give you a hard time."
"Are you talking about the pureblood shame?" Ron shrugged, self-mockingly.
It was no secret in the wizarding world that the Weasley family was considered the shame of purebloods and had even been expelled from the pureblood family registry.
"You two go. I'll stay," Hermione lifted her head, her eyes gradually firming. "Someone has to stay to gather information. This way, even if the Death Eaters take over Hogwarts, we won't be completely in the dark."
"Then, I'll stay too," Ron suddenly said. "As you said, I'm a pureblood. They won't kill me no matter what."
"You..." Harry wanted to say something, but Hermione pushed him.
"Let's get moving. But after leaving Hogwarts, have you decided where you're going?"
"Of course, I'm going to find Sirius," Harry replied without hesitation. "Or maybe I'll look for Kyle. He definitely knows more than we do."
"Oh, right." Harry ran a few steps forward and turned back. "Be careful. If you ever want to escape from here, the secret passage under the Whomping Willow is a good choice.
"I'll leave the Invisibility Cloak in the Shrieking Shack... Oh, no, it's an ice cream shop now. I heard Sirius lost quite a bit of money."
After deciding to leave the school, Harry felt a sense of relief and even had the mood to joke.
"No need, Harry. You need the Invisibility Cloak more than we do."
"I have a Firebolt," Harry said. "They won't be able to catch me. It's you two... Are you really not coming with me?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione forced a light laugh. "I've prepared for seven years. I don't want to give up the N.E.W.T. exam just like that."
"Alright then, be careful."
Harry didn't insist and turned to put on the Invisibility Cloak, blending into the crowd and heading out of Hogwarts Castle.
So far, these were just his speculations. He was leaving Hogwarts, mainly because he was resentful of Snape becoming the Headmaster. Anyway, he had savings, and his godfather had Galleons left. He could live well even without a graduation certificate.
But unlike Hermione and Ron, there was no need for them to leave with him based on a mere speculation.
Moreover, even if Hogwarts were to be occupied by Death Eaters later, Harry believed that with Hermione's wisdom, she could successfully lead Ron into the secret passage under the Whomping Willow before the danger arrived.
Adding to that, with the Invisibility Cloak he left behind, the chances of them successfully escaping were high.
After realizing this, Harry didn't hesitate. He quickly ran out of the castle before Snape could react.
However, Harry didn't notice that on the tower of the castle behind him, a pair of eyes was watching the empty grounds.
The person might have seen through the Invisibility Cloak, or perhaps not, but someone seemed to have the same thoughts as Harry.
...
(End of Chapter)
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