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Chapter 916: The Headmaster Changes, Harry Skips School
Chapter 916: The Headmaster Changes, Harry Skips School
As Professor McGonagall used the Imperius Curse to control the Death Eater, Kyle's attention was drawn to the perch branch of the fox across the way.
What a beautiful branch, clearly made of high-quality pear wood, with golden threads coiled around it, likely for anti-slip purposes or perhaps just decoration. But Kyle was certain that those threads were genuine gold... Truly, Dumbledore was wealthy.
However, he probably had no use for such things now, especially since the phoenix had escaped into his box. Leaving the branch here was pointless, so he might as well take it with him to avoid inconveniencing Professor McGonagall.
Kyle thought to himself, ignoring the voices of the surrounding portraits.
What, Millerva McGonagall using the Imperius Curse... It must have been a mishearing, or perhaps Headmaster Armando Dippet had drunk too much fake alcohol and was rambling.
He remembered Violet, a good friend of the Fat Lady, who enjoyed drinking and brewing her own alcohol. In her portrait, one could often see a wooden barrel of alcohol, and the two of them would sometimes drink late into the night, leaving the Gryffindor students who were out and about feeling miserable.
Sometimes, Violet would just go to the kitchen for a late-night snack, but when she returned, she would be passed out and couldn't be woken up no matter what.
With the Fat Lady unconscious, they couldn't enter the common room, so they had to huddle outside the common room door, shivering, with food they had grabbed from the kitchen.
If they were lucky, Violet would wake up after an hour or two, and they could then enter the common room. But most of the time, they had to wait outside until the early hours of the morning, risking being discovered by Filch.
This showed that the alcohol Violet brewed had quite a kick to it.
However, the issue was that she was a portrait, and the alcohol she brewed must have been fake.
Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet must have been under the influence of her fake alcohol, leading them to say such nonsense.
It was absolutely impossible for the Headmaster of Hogwarts to use Unforgivable Curses in the Headmaster's Office.
Kyle continued to stare at the branch, his neck as rigid as if it were cast in steel, showing no intention of turning away.
Until the voices from above ceased.
"Kyle, you..."
"Ah, I just remembered that the garden vegetables haven't been watered yet."
Kyle slapped his forehead and, without waiting for Professor McGonagall to say more, spoke up, "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. Goodbye, Headmaster McGonagall!"
Without looking back, Kyle walked forward, picked up the branch on his way past it, and then opened the door, striding out of the Headmaster's office.
As for what Professor McGonagall intended to do, Kyle didn't ask further, knowing that he would find out eventually.
Kyle made his way through the castle and back to the garden of the cottage.
Unconsciously, he glanced at a small stool where Dumbledore had once hidden. The old headmaster had a habit of sitting on that stool.
However, the stool was now empty, and Dumbledore had not returned since the funeral, maintaining his disappearance.
Kyle wasn't sure where Dumbledore had gone or what he was doing, but it was likely related to Voldemort.
After such a long time, Hagrid seemed to have regained his spirits, and his figure reappeared in the garden.
"Thud!"
A loud noise echoed as Hagrid, seeking comfort from the Hungarian Horntail, was swatted by its tail, causing him to stumble back several steps and collide with a tree.
"Ouch... It's so playful," Hagrid whined, limping towards Kyle. "I think I see a bit of Grawp from two years ago in its eyes."
"Hagrid, I think you should consider the fact that giants don't have tails," Kyle observed, eyeing Hagrid's bleeding leg. "I suggest you apply some Dittany immediately."
"Ah, it's fine," Hagrid said, tearing off a piece of cloth from his robe and wrapping it around the wound. "It must know that I need a bit of appropriate pain now. It's so thoughtful, isn't it?"
Kyle gave a dry laugh, choosing not to comment on Hagrid's dragon-licking behavior.
So be it, as long as he was happy.
...
The next day, an unexpected addition appeared in the entrance hall of Hogwarts, leaving everyone surprised.
The Headmaster had changed again.
Professor McGonagall, who had recently become the Headmaster, was once again replaced, and Severus Snape, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, officially took on the role of Headmaster.
The frequent changes in Headmasters left students bewildered, wondering if it was a prank by a bored student.
However, when Professor McGonagall publicly announced the news during dinner, everyone had to believe it.
The Slytherin table was especially lively, with students celebrating the news.
But Snape himself, like most students, was confused and had no idea what was happening.
Snape hadn't even been to the Great Hall for breakfast or lunch, which meant he hadn't seen the announcement, leaving him even more clueless than the others.
From Snape's perspective, he was just teaching as usual, and suddenly he became the Headmaster.
No wonder some students had been acting strangely during class, congratulating him for no apparent reason.
Snape had thought they were talking nonsense and had deducted points accordingly.
Now, he realized he might have been too harsh.
No, that's not it, he thought. How could he have become the Headmaster?
Certainly not by the Dark Lord's doing, as the school would never be so calm if it were him.
So, what was the reason?
Snape's face kept changing... that uncontrollable feeling was so hard to bear.
"Headmistress McGonagall, what's going on here?" He looked at the returning Millerva McGonagall and quickly stood up to ask.
"Oh, you should call me Professor, after all, you're the Headmistress now." Professor McGonagall glanced at him indifferently, "As for why, didn't your colleagues tell you?"
"He found me today, representing the Ministry of Magic, to offer the Headmistress position to you, or else the entire school will suffer."
Although Professor McGonagall tried to control her voice, her tone was unfriendly.
She already knew the identity of that short-statured director—a bona fide Death Eater.
A Death Eater wanted Severus Snape to become the Headmaster, and if Professor McGonagall couldn't guess what that implied, she'd be a real fool.
Obviously, Snape was also a Death Eater, and trusted deeply by Voldemort, who believed he could help control Hogwarts.
To be honest, she hadn't doubted Snape's identity; she had suspected him since over a decade ago, after all, they had witnessed Snape appearing in Voldemort's camp.
But Dumbledore trusted him and always hinted at an unbreakable reason to trust Snape.
So Professor McGonagall chose to believe.
Unexpectedly, he betrayed Dumbledore.
In the memory of that short-statured Death Eater, Snape's appointment as Headmaster was ordered by the Dark Wizard himself, and it was the first order given after the Death Eaters gained control of half the Ministry.
Voldemort must not have liked Snape more, so he must also be a Death Eater.
Professor McGonagall even suspected that Dumbledore's death might be somewhat related to him. After all, according to normal circumstances, after realizing Malfoy's intentions, Dumbledore would never have given him the chance to raise his wand.
There must have been someone helping them, allowing their plan to proceed so smoothly.
Moreover, when Malfoy was rescued by an unknown wizard, Snape was the only professor unaccounted for.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips.
Unfortunately, she had no evidence; after hearing the Phoenix's call, Snape had always followed behind her, possessing a perfect alibi.
Furthermore, the attack on Flitwick involved two people, but there was only one Snape, so the numbers didn't add up.
Snape looked at Professor McGonagall with increasingly cold eyes, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy.
When Professor McGonagall mentioned colleagues earlier, he thought of the Death Eaters in the Ministry, but he never expected them to move against Hogwarts so quickly.
Snape had always assumed they would wait until they had complete control of the Ministry before targeting Hogwarts.
What was even more unbelievable was that Professor McGonagall actually agreed to cooperate with them... no, she must have agreed to cooperate.
Snape walked forward and glanced at the Great Hall, half-filled with students... They were the reason Professor McGonagall agreed to the Death Eaters' demands.
Understanding these facts, Snape composed himself and quickly accepted this reality.
Moreover, becoming the Headmaster of Hogwarts would further facilitate his plan.
Yes, it was Snape's plan...
That unreliable Dumbledore, after his death, didn't even leave a greeting for him, and he was the only one who knew his identity.
Since that day's funeral, his identity as a Death Eater could no longer be washed away.
So Snape had to find a way to overthrow Voldemort himself, but he hadn't figured it out yet, or perhaps he had only figured out half of it.
The Malfoy family could be the key, and also, Potter.
He had heard Dumbledore mutter countless times that Potter was the key to defeating Voldemort, and he must protect him well.
That arrogant, reckless fool?
Snape quickly found that annoying face in the Great Hall.
However, it was obvious that Harry, who struggled to accept Snape as Headmaster, had an equally aggressive gaze, as if he wanted to write insults on his face.
The two briefly locked eyes, both feeling offended.
"Look at him." Harry couldn't help but speak in a voice that didn't hide his feelings, "I wonder how he became the Headmaster of Hogwarts, I bet he's feeling mighty proud."
Looking at the growing number of gazes around, Ron and Hermione were terrified, repeatedly kicking Harry with their feet to remind him of the occasion.
"Don't do this, Harry, you'll be expelled!" Hermione's voice trembled, "He heard you, you'll definitely be expelled!"
"I don't care!" Harry sneered, not holding back, his voice even louder, "So what if I get expelled, if Snape is the Headmaster, I'd rather never have 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 nervous throughout dinner, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief when it ended.
"I almost thought you'd be expelled." She whispered to Harry on the way back to Gryffindor Tower.
"I don't care." Harry said, "Do you think I'm joking? If Snape really becomes the Headmaster, even if he doesn't expel me, I'll definitely leave the school."
"If you had carefully observed the staff table earlier, you'd have noticed someone was missing."
"Huh?" Ron was taken aback, "Was there a missing teacher?"
"It's Kael," Hermione whispered. "He didn't come to dinner, but Professor McGonagall... Professor McGonagall insisted that everyone must attend."
"He must have sensed the danger." Harry stated confidently. "You know, Kael is a Phoenix..."
"Hey, Harry Potter."
Suddenly, a small figure interrupted their conversation.
"Potter, the new Headmaster wants to see you in his office." The speaker was a Slytherin student, seemingly a second-year.
"Don't go," Hermione blurted out.
Ron nodded in agreement, "Think about what you said in the Great Hall earlier. I don't think he's looking for a heart-to-heart talk."
"No, I'll go." Harry said.
"Are you crazy?" Ron asked, exasperated.
"I've never been more clear-headed." Harry turned to the messenger, "Go back and tell Snape that I'll be there. Tell him to wait for me."
The messenger frowned, "You should learn to respect the Headmaster, Potter."
"I'd say the same to you, little one. You should learn to respect seventh-years, or you'll get a beating." Ron pushed him away, annoyed, "Get out of the way!"
The messenger stumbled, almost falling to the ground. He glared at Ron with a venomous look, then turned and walked away.
Ron didn't take him seriously. He was just a second-year, and Ron could take him on with one hand.
"Are you really going to Snape's office, Harry?" Ron asked, concerned. "He can't have good intentions."
"Don't be silly, Ron." Harry suddenly laughed, "How could I possibly go to Snape alone?"
"But you just..." Hermione started.
"I was tricking him, so he wouldn't follow us." Harry lowered his voice, "Listen, with Snape being a Death Eater, more Death Eaters will surely follow. I can't stay here any longer, I must leave immediately."
"But these are just our guesses, right?" Hermione hesitated, "There's no direct evidence that Professor Snape is a Death Eater."
"Don't be silly, Hermione." Harry looked at her, "Didn't you hear what Professor McGonagall said? She called him 'your colleague'.
"And the way she looked at Snape changed too, very coldly. This is not a coincidence."
Hermione's expression was conflicted.
"I'll go with you." Ron said, loyally, "When should we escape?"
"No, Ron, I can do this alone." Harry shook his head, "You're pure-blood, they won't bother you even if the Death Eaters come."
"You mean the pure-blood shame?" Ron shrugged, "The Weasley family has been removed from the pure-blood registry, it's no secret in the wizarding world."
"You go, I'll stay." Hermione raised her head, her eyes firming, "Someone has to stay and gather information. This way, even if the Death Eaters take over Hogwarts, we won't be completely in the dark."
"Then, then I'll stay too." Ron suddenly said, "As you said, I'm pure-blood, they won't kill me."
"You..." Harry wanted to say something, but Hermione pushed him.
"Hurry up and leave Hogwarts. But after you leave, what's your plan?"
"Of course, I'll find Sirius." Harry answered without hesitation, "Maybe I'll find Kael too, he'll know what to do."
"Oh, right." Harry ran forward two steps, then turned back, "Be careful. If you want to escape later, the passage under the Whomping Willow is a good choice.
"I'll leave the Invisibility Cloak... oh, no, that's the Ice Cream Parlor now, I heard Sirius lost a lot of money."
After deciding to leave Hogwarts, Harry felt much lighter, even in the mood for jokes.
"No need, Harry. You need the Invisibility Cloak more than us."
"I have the Firebolt." Harry said, "They can't catch me. Instead, you really not coming with me?"
"Don't be silly." Hermione smiled, pretending to be relaxed, "I've prepared for the N.E.W.T. exams, I can't just give up."
"Then be careful."
Harry didn't insist, putting on the Invisibility Cloak, blending into the crowd, and walking out of Hogwarts Castle.
So far, these were just his guesses. He left Hogwarts, mostly out of spite for Snape. Anyway, his godfather only had a Galleon left, and he could live without a graduation certificate.
But Hermione and Ron didn't have to leave on a guess.
And even if Death Eaters took over Hogwarts later, Hermione's wisdom would surely get Ron safely into the passage under the Whomping Willow.
Plus, with the Invisibility Cloak he left behind, their chances of escape were high.
After figuring this out, Harry didn't hesitate. He quickly ran out of the castle, before Snape had time to react.
But Harry didn't notice the eyes on the castle tower behind him, someone seemed to have seen through the Invisibility Cloak, or maybe they just had the same idea as Harry.
...
(End of Chapter)
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