Kyle's words cast an imdiate hush over the entire Headmaster's Office.
Dumbledore, though accustod to witnessing grand scenes, found himself montarily at a loss for words. The sa reaction held true for the portraits lining the walls.
In one fra, a thin wizard looked at Kyle, his expression filled with complex emotions. He also had a portrait in the Ministry of Magic and often visited it to keep up with the latest happenings in the wizarding world. Because of this, he had a decent understanding of Cornelius Fudge... Yet, try as he might, he simply couldn't reconcile the scheming, power-driven figure he knew with the person Kyle was describing.
Phineas, on the other hand, was much more blunt.
"Albus," he said to Dumbledore without a hint of hesitation—even with Kyle present, "you should check him. I think this boy must be under soone's Imperius Curse."
Phineas himself was familiar with Fudge and, in his words... "Milliphutt was bad enough, but he's even worse."
Hortensia Milliphutt had served as Minister for Magic about 150 years prior, passing all sorts of pointless legislation—like specifying the angle at which a wizard's hat should be worn. At that ti, wizards had to spend twenty minutes every ti they left the house just to check if their attire t regulations.
But after eting Fudge, Phineas suddenly found himself thinking that Milliphutt hadn't been so bad after all; at least she'd managed to enact so practical laws each year. Fudge, on the other hand, had achieved virtually nothing in his recent years, save for the Muggle Protection Act from last year.
"Phineas... I don't think anyone at this school should be permitted to use the Imperius Curse on students," Dumbledore said calmly.
"Then why is he spouting such nonsense?" Phineas retorted.
"I can examine him," offered another witch.
Dilys Derwent, a forr Hogwarts headmistress from two centuries ago and a celebrated Healer, had a portrait here as well as at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Dumbledore shook his head, ignoring their comnts and instead regarding Kyle with interest.
"I knew you would always find ways to surprise ... Care to explain your thought process?"
"If soone else were Minister for Magic—like Barty Crouch, for instance—Sirius would indeed have a hard ti getting his case overturned. But with Fudge in power... things are much simpler."
"But before that..." He turned to Sirius. "Do you know of any Death Eaters who have been identified but remain at large?"
Sirius shook his head, perplexed. Most of those he knew had either been his neighbors for the past twelve years or had been cleared. As for any loose ends, he hadn't had the opportunity to investigate.
"I do have so information," Dumbledore interjected. "Two Death Eaters have adopted new identities and continue to work in secret, though they aren't particularly significant figures."
"That's perfect," Kyle replied. "As long as they're confird Death Eaters, that's all that matters."
"Why do you ask?" Sirius inquired curiously.
"A gift," Kyle said simply. "They've done you a big favor—you have to give them sothing in return."
Dumbledore considered this, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, until a glimr of realization lit up his eyes.
"I knew it! You never cease to amaze ," he repeated, his eyes twinkling.
...
The next day, Dumbledore was gone from the school, and Sirius had vanished along with him.
Harry ca by several tis to ask about them, but he couldn't find a trace of either, which made him lose his appetite. In contrast, Kyle was eating heartily—his appetite seed to have even grown. When Harry questioned him, Kyle just shook his head, saying he didn't know where Sirius and Dumbledore had gone either. And that was true; Kyle really didn't know. He'd wanted to go with them, but Dumbledore hadn't allowed it.
But that was all right...
Two more days passed, and still, there was no sign of their return.
Kyle woke up early that day, and after breakfast, he headed to Hogsade through the secret passage hidden in the hunchbacked witch statue on the fourth floor, claiming he had so business to attend to.
Today was the agreed-upon day, and he was there to collect sothing from the Dentors. Hogsade was quiet and undisturbed.
Kyle searched the area for quite a while before finally spotting a familiar black-robed figure in the space between Hogsade and the castle grounds. It was a Dentor, though he couldn't be sure if it was the sa one he'd t the other night. To him, all Dentors looked alike.
He was just about to approach it when the Dentor suddenly drifted away, as if startled.
Kyle hesitated for a mont, then hurried after it. There was only one Dentor in sight, and he couldn't let it slip away. Although the Dentor could glide swiftly, it seed unable to leave the area, and soon Kyle managed to catch up.
He was a bit taken aback. This Dentor was smaller than others he'd seen, and its robe was even more tattered, with the hooded cloak practically shredded to the point of resembling a makeshift jacket.
"Why are you running off..." Kyle asked. "I just want to ask you sothing."
The Dentor didn't reply but instead pulled the few remaining tatters of its robe more tightly around itself.
"Where is your leader..." Kyle paused, then clarified, "Not the one from the Ministry."
The Dentor extended its hand and pointed in the direction of the castle. With the sleeve missing, its arm looked ghastly in the sunlight, a mottled mixture of black and white, as though badly burned.
"Over there by the castle?" Kyle asked to confirm.
The Dentor nodded.
With his answer in hand, Kyle turned and headed back toward the castle. Before leaving, he tossed a dark blue cloth to the Dentor, suggesting it use it to patch up its sleeve as a thank-you for helping him.
This was actually one of Kyle's Quidditch World Cup souvenirs, though he hadn't been able to find black cloth, so he had to settle for dark blue. But he doubted the Dentor would mind such a minor detail.
...
Hogsade lay close to the castle, and within minutes, Kyle could already see the castle gates. Two Dentors hovered nearby, stationed as guards.
This ti, Kyle didn't need to say a word. Upon noticing him, one of the Dentors imdiately drifted forward.
"You must have seen it for yourself. Dumbledore didn't give you any trouble... So, what did she say?" Kyle asked directly.
The Dentor was equally straightforward. "The Old House's Underground Store Cupboard... the portrait... behind the third wall tile..."
"Which old house?" Kyle pressed.
"I don't know... she didn't say..."
"Alright," Kyle nodded, extending his hand. "Where's the stuff I gave you earlier?"
The Dentor reached into its tattered robes and produced an envelope and an empty vial.
In return, Kyle handed over so chocolate. "These are treats that can make people happy. Consider it paynt for the information. Take these back to her—maybe you'll both get an extra snack," he added with a small grin.
The Dentor seed a bit puzzled by this but perked up at the ntion of a treat and tucked the chocolates away.
With that, Kyle entered through the castle gates. Instead of heading directly back to the castle, he found a secluded spot, took out his wand, and set the envelope ablaze.
As the flas consud it, a faint whisper seed to erge from within, "Gringotts... Vault..."
Next, Kyle took out the empty vial.
"Diffindo!" he murmured, and the vial shattered into fragnts, mingling with the ashes of the envelope on the ground.
"Aguanti!"
"Scourgify!"
With two quick Charms, the area was left spotless, as if nothing had ever been there.
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