“Hey, Kyle, where’s Mad-Eye?” Hagrid asked as he walked over, carrying two bottles. He glanced at Kyle’s wooden hut, then looked around the empty field.
“I don’t know where he is,” Kyle shook his head. “But he did say he wanted to go home.”
“Home... Oh, yes, a lot of people want to go home after the war,” Hagrid’s voice dropped, growing much quieter.
“Grawp’s the same. I saw him sitting there this morning, just staring off into space, but he can’t go back. His mother won’t welcome him... Of course, she won’t welcome me either.”
“Mad-Eye should go back... I was planning to find him, have a drink, and celebrate his resurrection... But he should go back.”
Hagrid muttered to himself, and despite having brought two bottles of alcohol, he didn’t waste them. After confirming Kyle didn’t want any, he poured them all into his own mouth.
“Hagrid, you...” Kyle watched him, hesitating, unsure whether to speak.
“I’m fine,” Hagrid shook his head. “Giants only like kids tall enough for them. I’ve gotten used to it, but Grawp... he needs a little more time.”
“Let’s not talk about that,” he said, stuffing the two empty bottles into his coat pocket. “So Mad-Eye really is alive, and I wasn’t dreaming, right?”
“He never died,” Kyle said. “But he has other missions to complete. So, don’t you dare... tell anyone.”
“I understand. It needs to be kept a secret, right? Don’t worry,” Hagrid patted his chest.
Then, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly froze in place.
Mad-Eye isn’t dead... does that mean Professor Dumbledore is also... Oh, what am I thinking? That’s impossible. No one found Mad-Eye, but Dumbledore was real.
He carried him over himself... Hagrid’s face grew solemn again. He wanted to drink, but all he found were two empty bottles.
“Hagrid, Hagrid...”
Kyle called twice more, but Hagrid didn’t respond. It wasn’t until the third call that Hagrid slowly turned to him.
“Sorry, Kyle, I didn’t hear you.”
“It’s okay,” Kyle said, not knowing what Hagrid had been thinking. He assumed Hagrid was still mulling over his Giant brother.
“I’m heading to the castle for lunch. Want to join me?” Kyle asked.
“You go ahead. I want to stay with Grawp,” Hagrid shook his head, declining.
With that, Kyle went to the castle alone.
Compared to yesterday, the castle felt much emptier today.
Most people had already left, and fewer than a hundred students remained. Even at lunchtime, the long tables weren’t filled.
“Someone will be here soon,” Fred said with a mouthful of fried pork chop, his words muffled. “This morning, I... heard the professors discussing whether or not to resume classes.”
“You know, there’s still some time left before the end of the school year.”
George’s voice came from the other side of Kyle, “If classes do resume now, we should still be able to take the O.W.L.s for the fifth years and the N.E.W.T.s for the seventh years—those important exams.”
If they hadn’t already graduated, he would’ve found it impossible for them to say such things.
“Hey, we’re not gloating.” Seeing Kyle’s speechless expression, George immediately clarified, “We’re doing this to build up our choir.”
“The choir?” Kyle blinked, momentarily thinking of the Hogwarts Toad Choir.
“It’s your idea,” Fred explained. “We just gave it a more detailed name: ‘The First Wave of Wizards United to Speak Out Against Voldemort.’”
“That name is way too long,” Kyle frowned. “Are you serious?”
“We agree, the name’s a bit long,” Fred said with a grin.
“So we gave it a shorter version... the ‘Chorus,’” George lifted the pumpkin juice on the table and gently clinked it with Fred’s.
“Okay,” Kyle sighed and slowly accepted this ridiculous, but in a strange way, fitting name.
Fred and George... whatever decision they made would never surprise him.
“We take this activity seriously.”
“That’s right.”
“But then we realized, even though there are a lot of people in the castle, not many actually agree with us.”
“The adults just think we’re messing around...”
“So far, we’ve only recruited about 80 members, which is way too few.”
“But we’ve figured out that it’s not hard to solve this problem…”
“As long as Hogwarts reopens...”
“Then we’ll have hundreds of reserve members.”
By now, Kyle understood.
It was because his ideas had been new and unfamiliar to many, and not everyone was willing to accept them right away.
Fred and George could, since they were unconventional and didn’t have much fear of Voldemort.
But for the adult wizards, having lived through the first war, their fear of Voldemort was not something that could fade easily.
Perhaps they could try to change the names in more crowded places, but they would struggle to speak too freely.
It was instinct.
Fred and George had only recently realized this and had turned their focus to the students who hadn’t experienced the first Wizarding War.
However, there were only a few who came to Hogwarts to help, and after the war, many were hurriedly taken away by their parents, leaving fewer than a hundred behind.
“All of these people have been contacted.”
“The number is still too small.”
“But if we want to recruit new members, we’ll have to wait until school starts.”
The two of them sighed, their faces showing clear frustration.
In their plan, eighty people just wouldn’t be enough. If they wanted to maintain continuous greetings to Voldemort, they would need at least two hundred people.
To be honest, gathering that many wasn’t difficult. They had countless ways to rapidly expand their team in a short time.
But they hadn’t done that. Or rather, they had imposed the most important restriction on themselves... When making statements against Voldemort, they had to be on Hogwarts grounds.
This was to ensure the greatest level of safety for the participants.
After all, Voldemort wasn’t a gracious person. Even though he was defeated and had fled, his terrifying power still remained.
Once he became enraged and humiliated, no one could escape his pursuit... unless everyone stayed together at Hogwarts, where Voldemort wouldn’t dare to return.
That was why their numbers hadn’t increased. After all, there were only so many people in the school, and everyone who could join had already done so.
“Right, Kyle, I just remembered, you’re a professor, too,” George suddenly slapped the table. “Go ask if Hogwarts can reopen.”
“Right, how could I forget?” Fred also caught on. “And it was your idea, so we can’t be the only ones busy while you do nothing.”
“It’s time for you to contribute.”
Kyle hadn’t even set down his utensils before Fred and George pushed him away from the table.
Kyle had originally planned to finish his lunch before talking to them, but seeing the serious expressions on Fred and George’s faces, he gave up that idea. With a sigh, he made his way toward the professors.
Since the school year hadn’t officially started yet, Professor McGonagall and the other teachers weren’t sitting at their usual places but were gathered at the front of the Gryffindor table.
As Kyle approached, they were in the middle of a discussion about whether to reopen the school, and no one noticed him.
“No, it’s too dangerous,” Sprout clearly opposed the idea. “No one can guarantee that Voldemort won’t return. If he does, we won’t have time to organize another evacuation.”
“Pomona, your worries are unnecessary,” Professor Flitwick, sitting opposite her, had an entirely different opinion.
“I don’t think Voldemort will return. He should know very well that without his Death Eaters, he has no chance against all of us professors working together.
If he’s smart, he won’t come back.”
“I agree with Filius,” said Professor Sinistra, the astronomy professor, speaking softly. “And from what I know, the Aurors have been searching for Voldemort and Severus... that traitor Snape.
If they dare return to Hogwarts, it would be like walking into a trap.”
Throughout the discussion, Professor McGonagall remained silent.
Although she took the exams very seriously, her primary concern was the safety of the students, which made it difficult for her to make a decision.
However, after hearing Professors Flitwick and Sinistra, she seemed to be somewhat persuaded.
She, too, didn’t believe Voldemort would return to Hogwarts to cause trouble after losing all his Death Eaters.
Perhaps one professor alone couldn’t stand up to Voldemort, but if all the professors worked together, it would be Voldemort who had to flee.
Therefore, Professor McGonagall believed that even if Voldemort wanted revenge, his first move would likely be to rescue the captured Death Eaters, rather than come to Hogwarts alone.
As long as they kept a close eye on the situation at the Ministry of Magic, they should be able to evacuate the students before Voldemort returned.
“All right, let’s vote,” Professor McGonagall said, clearing her throat and interrupting the discussion.
“Those who agree to reopen the school, raise your hands.”
Including Professors Flitwick and Sinistra, several hands were raised immediately, about half of the total number.
Kyle raised his hand as well, but since he was sitting at the edge, he wasn’t sure if his vote counted.
“Very good.” Professor McGonagall lowered her hand and spoke again. “Now, those who disagree with reopening the school, raise your hands.”
A few more hands were raised, but clearly fewer than before.
Some, like Sybill Trelawney and Slughorn, didn’t raise their hands at all.
“Then the result is clear,” said Professor McGonagall. “Filius, please inform the students that Hogwarts will officially reopen tomorrow.”
“No problem.” Professor Flitwick skipped lunch, immediately jumping out of his seat and walking toward the Great Hall. But he quickly turned back.
“Minerva, should we activate the Hogwarts Express?”
“No.” Professor McGonagall paused for a moment before shaking her head. “The train takes too long. Have them go directly to Hogsmeade. They can Apparate or take the Knight Bus.”
“Remember to tell them how to summon the Knight Bus. It’s a bit uncomfortable, but it’s very fast. Even from the farthest corners of Britain, it won’t take long to get here. It’s very convenient.”
“No problem.” Professor Flitwick hurried off, heading towards the owlery.
The simplest and most straightforward way to communicate at Hogwarts... sending messages.
“Pomona.”
Professor McGonagall turned to Professor Sprout. “Please go check the rest of the castle. I’m worried there may still be traces of dark magic left behind by the Death Eaters. They need to be cleaned up before the students start classes.”
“I understand.” Although Professor Sprout had been opposed to starting school now, she couldn’t say anything more when most of the professors agreed. She also stood up and left the Great Hall.
Several other professors accompanied her.
After all, checking for dark magic was a tedious task, and one person couldn’t manage it alone.
Under Professor McGonagall’s guidance, everyone quickly received their assignments.
“Professor McGonagall, what about me?” Kyle asked from the corner, pointing at himself.
“You don’t need to do anything...” Professor McGonagall paused for a moment.
Initially, she had planned to have Kyle ready to face Voldemort again at any time, just like yesterday.
But after hesitating, she changed her mind. “You can decide for yourself. You can help Filius or Pomona, but make sure to rest first.”
“Don’t worry, Professor McGonagall, I’m fine,” Kyle said.
He then returned to Fred and George to deliver the good news that Hogwarts was about to reopen.
Though he had done very little to help with the matter, Fred and George didn’t know that.
They only knew that Kyle had gone to the teachers’ table, and the decision had been made. They were full of admiration for him.
“It’s nothing, just a small matter,” Kyle said calmly. “But be careful when the time comes. Your script isn’t suitable for first- and second-year students.”
“Of course we know that.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t corrupt those little ones.”
The two of them assured him, though it was unclear how much credibility their words held.
It should be fairly high, since most of the products at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes had age restrictions.
And if they corrupted the younger students, Professor McGonagall would be the first to punish them.
Fred and George would never take such a risk.
After a quick lunch, Kyle was ready to find Professor Sprout.
There wasn’t much he could help with for Professor Flitwick. The school owls were specially trained and far more capable in both flight and endurance than regular mail carriers.
There were hundreds of students who needed letters delivered, but for the owls, it was just a few extra trips.
As for the letters, they could be handled with a Duplication Charm. Professor Flitwick could do that on his own without needing assistance.
Leaving the Great Hall, Kyle headed for the stairs.
But just then, Fawkes, who had been quiet since the end of the war, suddenly flew out of his box and landed directly on Kyle’s shoulder.
The appearance of the phoenix immediately drew the attention of everyone, including the professors who hadn’t yet left.
Although they knew that Fawkes had been with Kyle during the battle, helping him fight and using special Apparition to dodge two Killing Curses, seeing it up close was still incredible.
After all, everyone knew that Professor Dumbledore had a phoenix. And now it was perched on Kyle’s shoulder... Was this Dumbledore’s choice?
Some people instantly imagined a scene of old and new wizards passing the torch, with Fawkes as the token.
Unlike the professors, the students were much simpler in their thoughts. They just thought the phoenix was beautiful, and Fred even took out his camera, preparing to take a photo to feature in their upcoming promotional flyer.
He had already decided on the name: “The Boy and the Phoenix.” It should attract quite a few people.
“Bang!”
A burst of purple smoke rose, and Fred looked at the photo in his hands, frowning slightly.
It showed only a bright flash of fire, and nothing else.
When he pressed the shutter, Kyle was already surrounded by fire, vanishing completely.