Chapter 942: The Disappearance
Chapter 942: The Disappearance
"Hey, Kyle, where's Mad-Eye?" Hagrid approached with two bottles, glancing first into Kyle's wooden hut and then around the spacious area.
"I don't know where he is either," Kyle shook his head. "But he mentioned wanting to go home earlier."
"Home... oh, yeah, many people want to go home after the war." Hagrid's voice grew much deeper.
"Gloop feels the same. I saw him sitting there in a daze this morning, but he can't go back. Mom won't welcome him... of course, she won't welcome me either."
"Mad-Eye should go home... though I was planning to find him for a drink, to celebrate his resurrection... but he should go home."
Hagrid kept mumbling, not wasting the two bottles of alcohol he had brought... After confirming that Kyle didn't want to drink, he poured them all into his own mouth.
"Hagrid, you..." Kyle looked at him, hesitating.
"I'm fine." Hagrid shook his head. "Giants only like kids who are tall enough. I'm used to it, but Gloop still needs some time."
"Let's not talk about this." He casually stuffed the two empty bottles into his shirt pocket. "So, Mad-Eye is really alive, and I'm not dreaming, right?"
"He wasn't dead in the first place," Kyle said. "But he has other missions after this. You mustn't... tell anyone."
"I understand, it's confidential, right? Don't worry." Hagrid patted his chest.
Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly stood still.
Mad-Eye isn't dead. Could Professor Dumbledore also be... Oh, what am I thinking? It's impossible. No one has found Mad-Eye, but Dumbledore is indeed real.
Or maybe he personally brought him back... Hagrid's expression turned somber again. He wanted a drink but only took out two empty bottles.
"Hagrid, Hagrid..."
Kyle called out twice but received no response. It wasn't until the third time that Hagrid slowly turned to look at him.
"Sorry, Kyle, I didn't hear you."
"It's okay." Kyle didn't know what Hagrid was thinking about just now; he assumed he was still thinking about his giant brother.
"I'm going to the castle for lunch. Wanna come?" Kyle invited.
"You go ahead. I want to stay with Gloop." Hagrid shook his head in refusal.
Kyle had no choice but to go to the castle alone.
Compared to yesterday, the castle suddenly felt much more spacious today.
Most people had already left, with fewer than a hundred students remaining. Even during lunch, the long table wasn't fully occupied.
"More people will come soon," Fred stuffed a piece of fried pork into his mouth and spoke indistinctly. "I heard the professors discussing this morning... whether to reopen the school or not."
"You know, there's still some time before the end of the school year."
George's voice came from Kyle's other side. "If they reopen now, we might still be able to catch the O.W.L. for fifth-year students and the N.E.W.T. for seventh-year students, two important exams."
"I think they'll be very disappointed when they hear this news," Kyle couldn't help but say.
"I fully support Professor McGonagall's decision this time," Fred finally swallowed the fried pork in his mouth.
"The exams are the most important experience in a wizard's life. How can they be canceled just because of Voldemort's insignificant attack on Hogwarts?"
"That would be such a waste."
"Hogwarts can't do that."
"It's irresponsible to all the students."
Seeing the two of them in such righteous indignation, Kyle almost believed them.
It was only because they had already graduated; otherwise, they would never say such things.
"Hey, we're not gloating," Fred said, seeing Kyle's speechless expression.
"We're serious about this idea you proposed," Fred said. "We've given it a more detailed name: The First Batch of the World's Wizards United to Condemn Voldemort."
"That name is too long," Kyle smacked his lips. "Are you serious?"
"We think the name is a bit long too," Fred said.
"So, we gave it a shorter name... The First Batch," George picked up the pumpkin juice on the table and gently clinked glasses with Fred.
"Okay," Kyle smacked his lips, gradually accepting this name, which was absurd in a way but also quite normal in another sense.
It wasn't surprising for Fred and George to make such a decision.
"We value this activity a lot."
"Exactly."
"But we've found that, although there are many people in the castle, few agree with our idea..."
"Those adults only think we're fooling around..."
"So, as of now, we've only recruited about eighty members. It's too few..."
"But we've also realized that solving this problem isn't difficult..."
"As long as Hogwarts reopens..."
"Then we'll have several hundred potential members."
By this point, Kyle had also understood.
It was because his ideas were too novel; not everyone could accept them.
Fred and George could, because they were never one to follow the rules, and they didn't fear Voldemort too much.
However, for those adult wizards, who had experienced the war over a decade ago, the fear of Voldemort deeply rooted in their hearts couldn't easily dissipate in just a few days.
Perhaps they could try to change the way they addressed him in public, but it was hard for them to say anything too excessive.
It was an instinct.
Fred and George had only recently realized this, so they focused on the students who hadn't experienced the First Wizarding War.
However, there were only a few people helping at Hogwarts, and after the war, many had been hurriedly picked up by their parents. The remaining number was less than a hundred.
"These people have all been approached."
"The number is still too small."
"But if we want to recruit new members, we can only wait for the school to reopen."
Both sighed, showing their worried expressions.
In their plans, eighty people were far from enough. To greet Voldemort continuously throughout the day, they needed at least two hundred people.
Honestly, if they only wanted to gather this number, it wasn't hard; they had countless ways to make their group grow rapidly in a short time.
However, they didn't do this, or rather, they set the most important restriction for themselves... When speaking about Voldemort, the person must be at Hogwarts.
This was to protect those people to the greatest extent.
After all, Voldemort wasn't a particularly magnanimous person. Even if he fled after his defeat, his terrifying power remained.
Once he was enraged, almost no one could escape his vengeance, unless everyone stuck together in Hogwarts, a place Voldemort wouldn't dare to return to.
Because of this, the number couldn't increase, as there were only so many people in the school, and most of those who could join had already joined.
"Hey Kyle, I just remembered you're a professor too." George suddenly slapped his hand, saying, "Go ask if Hogwarts can reopen soon."
"You're right, how could I forget that." Fred also reacted, "And it was your suggestion, we can't be the only ones busy while you do nothing."
"It's your turn to do something."
Even before Kyle could put down his utensils, the two of them pushed him out of the dining room together.
Kyle originally wanted to finish his lunch before speaking, but seeing Fred and George's earnest gazes, he gave up the idea. Instead, he sighed and walked toward the direction of the professors.
Because it wasn't the official start of the term, Professor McGonagall and others weren't sitting in their usual places but were all seated at the front of the Gryffindor table.
When Kyle approached, they were just discussing whether to reopen the school, and no one had noticed him.
"No, this is too dangerous," Professor Sprout clearly held an opposing opinion. "No one can guarantee that Voldemort won't return. If he does, we won't have the time to organize the evacuation of the students again."
"Pomona, your concerns are completely unnecessary," Professor Flitwick had a completely opposite opinion.
"I don't think Voldemort will come back. He should be well aware that, without his Death Eaters, he can't possibly face all the professors together.
He just needs to be smart enough not to come back."
"I agree with Filius," Astronomy Professor Sinistra said softly. "And as far as I know, the Aurors have been constantly searching for Voldemort and Severus... Snape, the traitor.
"If they really come back to Hogwarts, it would be like walking into a trap."
While they were discussing, Professor McGonagall had been silent on the side.
Although she valued the exams, she cared more about the students' safety, making it difficult for her to make a decision.
However, after listening to Flitwick and Sinistra, she seemed somewhat convinced.
Because she also didn't think Voldemort would come to Hogwarts for trouble after all the Death Eaters were captured.
Perhaps a single professor wouldn't be a match for Voldemort, but if all the professors acted together, Voldemort would be the one to flee.
So Professor McGonagall thought that even if Voldemort wanted revenge, the first thing he would do was to rescue the captured Death Eaters, not come alone to Hogwarts.
Therefore, as long as they paid more attention to the Ministry, they could send the students away before Voldemort returned.
"Alright, let's vote," Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, interrupting the discussion. "Those in favor of reopening the school, raise your hand."
Including Professors Flitwick and Sinistra, several hands immediately went up, about half of the total.
Kyle also raised his hand, standing at the edge, unsure if he counted.
"Very well," Professor McGonagall put down her hand and said again, "Those against reopening the school, raise your hand.
Another round of hands raised, but it was clear there were significantly fewer than before.
Because some didn't raise their hands at all, like Professor Trelawney and Professor Slughorn.
"Well, the result is obvious," Professor McGonagall said, "Filius, please inform the students after the meal that Hogwarts will officially reopen tomorrow."
"No problem," Professor Flitwick said, skipping lunch and heading straight out of the Great Hall, only to return shortly after.
"Minerva, should we use the Hogwarts Express?"
"No," Professor McGonagall pondered for a moment before shaking her head, "The train journey is too long. Let them go directly to Hogsmeade, either by Apparition or the Knight Bus."
"Remember to tell them about summoning the Knight Bus as well. Although it's a bit less comfortable, it's much faster, even for those coming from the farthest parts of Britain. It's very convenient."
"No problem," Professor Flitwick hurried off, heading towards the owlery.
The simplest and most straightforward means of communication at Hogwarts... sending letters.
"Pomona."
Professor McGonagall turned to Professor Sprout, "Please check the castle again. I'm concerned there might still be traces of Dark Magic left by Death Eaters, and we must clean them up before the students start classes."
"I understand," Professor Sprout said. Although she opposed the reopening of the school at this time, with most professors agreeing, she had no choice but to comply. She also rose and left the Great Hall.
Several other professors accompanied her.
After all, checking for Dark Magic was a tedious task, and one person alone wouldn't be enough.
Under Professor McGonagall's arrangement, everyone quickly received their tasks.
"Professor McGonagall, what about me?" Kyle asked, pointing to himself from the corner.
"You don't need to do anything..." Professor McGonagall paused.
Initially, she had planned to have Kyle always be ready to face Voldemort again, just like yesterday.
But after a moment's hesitation, she changed her mind and said, "You can decide for yourself. You can help Filius or Pomona, but be sure to rest well first."
"Don't worry, Professor McGonagall, I'm fine," Kyle assured her.
After that, he returned to Fred and George's side.
Although he had hardly contributed to this matter, Fred and George were none the wiser.
They only knew that Kyle had just returned from the staff table, and the matter was settled. For a while, they admired Kyle's abilities.
"It's nothing, just a small matter," Kyle said calmly. "But you should also be more careful later. Your current script isn't suitable for those first and second-year little wizards to see."
"Of course, we understand."
"Don't worry, we won't corrupt those little ones," they assured, but how much of this was believable was uncertain.
Perhaps it was quite believable, as most products in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes had age restrictions.
Moreover, if Fred and George were to corrupt the younger wizards, Professor McGonagall would be the first to deal with them.
Fred and George wouldn't dare do something so risky.
After a simple lunch, Kyle was about to go find Professor Sprout.
There wasn't much he could help Professor Flitwick with. The school owls were specially trained, and their flying abilities and endurance far surpassed those of ordinary postal owls.
There were several hundred students who needed to send letters, but for the owls, it was just a matter of making a few more trips.
As for the letters, they could be handled with the Duplicating Charm. Professor Flitwick could manage it alone, and no assistance was needed.
After leaving the Great Hall, Kyle headed towards the staircase.
But just then, Fox, who had been quiet since the end of the war, flew out of the box and landed on Kyle's shoulder.
The appearance of the phoenix immediately caught everyone's attention, including the professors who hadn't yet left.
Although they had already known during the battle that a phoenix was with Kyle, and it had even assisted him in combat, using Apparition to dodge the Killing Curse twice.
But seeing this up close now, they still found it somewhat unbelievable.
Because everyone knew that Professor Dumbledore had a phoenix, and now it was on Kyle's shoulder... Was this Dumbledore's choice? Some people instantly imagined a scene of the old and new wizards passing the baton, with Phoenix Fox as the symbol.
The students' thoughts were much simpler; they purely found the phoenix beautiful. Fred even took out his camera, planning to take a photo to print on their upcoming flyer.
He already had a name in mind: Boy and Phoenix. It would surely attract many people.
"Bang!"
A purple smoke rose, and Fred frowned slightly at the photo in his hand.
It showed a bright flash of light, and nothing else.
As he pressed the shutter, Kyle was already surrounded by a flash of light and disappeared.
(End of Chapter)
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