Chapter 806: Back-to-school banquet

Chapter 806: Back-to-school banquet

Chapter 806: School Opening Banquet

From morning to evening, the Hogwarts Express traveled at a speed that completely belied its name.

As Hogwarts approached, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick went to the prefects' carriage to explain things. Professor Sprout did not go. She was pruning the excess branches and leaves of a pot of crab claw plant.

Kyle sat there, looking out the window in a daze.

Before this, he was actually worried about how to hold the Hogwarts opening party.

If the most important event before this event was the freshman branch, then this year it would definitely be Dumbledore’s speech.

 It’s not that the freshmen branch is not important this year, it’s just that everyone is not that concerned about it. Especially in this situation, most people obviously want to see Dumbledore.

He doesn't need to do anything, just showing up can make everyone feel at ease.

Perhaps this is why Dumbledore prepared in advance to let Kyle pretend to be him.

If he didn't even show up at the school opening banquet, it would inevitably give people a bad idea, including that there might be some temptations against the school from the Death Eaters.

Of course, as long as he shows up, there is no need to worry about these.

 From the week before the start of school, Kyle had been wondering when Dumbledore would come back.

To be honest, he disappeared for a long time. The closer to the start of school, the more worried Kyle became.

First of all, time travel is not safe and is full of uncertainties. Under normal circumstances, there cannot be two Dumbledores within a time period. Once they see each other, they may accidentally kill someone in the past or future. "Own".

For example, if Dumbledore in the past killed "Dumbledore" who used the time turner to go back, then he was really dead during that time period, and naturally he could not come back.

If Dumbledore killed himself when he returned, the situation would only be worse. As for what exactly it was... no one knows, because the people who experienced it left no information at all.

Although Kyle believed that Dumbledore would definitely not make such a common-sense mistake, when it came to Ariana, he was not so sure.

Even the most sane people will lose their cool when facing the things they care about most, and even Dumbledore is no exception to this.

In case he has a hot mind and wants to save Aliana, it will inevitably interact with his past, and no matter what happens, it is possible.

 Another point that is also very important is his return.

If a normal wizard uses a time turner, Dumbledore will live in the past for a hundred years until August this year, and then return to Bathilda's home in Godric's Hollow to complete the time loop.

 That's when he left using the time turner.

 But this did not happen. It has been a month and he has not appeared.

One of the reasons is the problem with the time turner. According to Nico, because it has been repaired, it may cause Dumbledore's time point to fall into a special deviation.

  In other words, the system is stuck. His screen is frozen, but the outside world is normal.

But Nico also said that even if this happens, it will only last for a few days at most, rather than being stuck for a month.

In addition, in order to avoid this risk, Nico also gave a second option, which is to use the time turner to come back.

This is also the reason why he chose to create another magic stone and use it as the core of the time turner. The magic power provided by the magic stone is enough to support his two time travels.

But Dumbledore didn't seem to choose this method, and he just disappeared out of thin air.

Before today, Kyle also thought about whether Dumbledore was too old and died of old age one day in the past hundred years. If that was the case, he really wouldn't be able to show up.

 But he gave up the idea just now.

Wizards generally live a long life. For example, Armando Dippet, the last principal of Hogwarts, lived over 300 years old and is still alive and kicking. Bathilda is also over 100 years old.

Even the witch who sells snacks on the train can live to be nearly two hundred years old, not to mention Dumbledore, who has profound magic power. As long as he does not seek death, there is no problem at all in living two hundred years.

 But why he hasn't come back yet, Kyle couldn't figure it out.

Another whistle brought Kyle back to his senses.

There was a noise outside the box... The Hogwarts Express is almost here.

Kyle subconsciously stood up.

"You don't have to worry," Professor Sprout said. "It's best not to let anyone else know you're coming to Hogwarts."

Her meaning was simple, asking Kyle to go out later. Kyle understood, nodded and sat back down.

 Professor Sprout also left the carriage and led other students off the train.

Kyle sat in the car and looked at the crowds of people outside.

He also saw a huge figure, Hagrid, just like every year, carrying the oil lamp that had been used for who knows how many years, to pick up the new student to cross the river to the castle.

 Twenty minutes later, the last group of students took a carriage to the castle. The surroundings were quiet again. Kyle also came outside and looked up at the castle hidden in the night.

"How do you feel? Come back in another identity." Professor McGonagall, who was responsible for sending students off, turned back and walked next to Kyle.

“I can’t tell.” Kyle spread his hands, “But if I had the choice, I really don’t want to come, and I believe not many graduates would want to come back.”

"It's understandable." Professor McGonagall said with a smile, "But Dumbledore must show up at the first-term banquet."

"I understand, otherwise I would have run away." Kyle said, "By the way, Professor McGonagall, what is the principal's salary?"

"Salary?" Professor McGonagall felt a little unable to keep up with Kyle's thoughts. Why were we talking about school just now, and suddenly the topic of salary came up.

But she still thought about it and said, "It shouldn't be less than two hundred galleons."

 Her monthly salary is two hundred galleons, so the principal should be higher.

"Is this money for me?" Kyle asked: "After all, I come to work in place of Dumbledore, so it is reasonable to take his salary."

"That's very reasonable." Professor McGonagall couldn't help rubbing her forehead. "Okay, we should go there. As I said just now, Dumbledore must appear at the opening banquet."

 “Okay.” Kyle sighed and walked into the castle gate with mixed emotions.

However, they were not in a hurry to go to the castle. Instead, they went to the principal's office on the eighth floor first.

 There were several robes prepared in advance.

"These are the styles that Dumbledore likes. Pick one." Professor McGonagall said, "Hurry up."

Kyle took a look.

 Good guys, purple...lilac...lilac stripes, dark purple gold rims, all these robes, none of them match Kyle's aesthetic.

Professor McGonagall on the side was anxious again, but there was no other way. Kyle could only choose a blue robe that was quite pleasing to the eye, then put Dumbledore's hair into the polyjuice potion and drank it.

 Polyjuice potion is a very magical potion. It smells very unpleasant on its own, but when added to hair, it changes into a different smell, and everyone is different. It's a bit like... Bibi's multi-flavored beans.

As for the bottle Kyle drank... I wonder if the sugar Dumbledore added to the black tea before was accumulated in his hair, a bit like syrup mixed with honey.

It was so sweet that it was so bitter that Kyle couldn't help but spit it out.

 …

 At the same time, the auditorium.

 Because Professor McGonagall was away, Professor Flitwick helped organize the sorting of freshmen this time, but few students around paid attention to the sorting hat.

They all stared in the direction of the teacher's chair and the side entrance next to it.

“Dumbledore is not here.” Ron muttered in a low voice: “What on earth is he busy with? He didn’t even attend the Sorting Ceremony.”

"I don't know, and no one knows where he is." Harry said worriedly: "Is Hogwarts really safe without Dumbledore?"

"Don't worry, this castle not only contains Principal Dumbledore, but also Professor McGonagall and the others." Hermione on the side was not so worried, "And it has existed here for a thousand years, and has various protective magics. Death Eaters Don’t dare to break in.”

 “I hope so,” said Harry.

 He still felt that Hermione's idea was a bit too optimistic.

Without Dumbledore, the protective magic in the castle might not be able to stop Voldemort.

There are not a few people who have the same idea as him. From the time the freshmen came in until now, the auditorium can be seen everywhere with students whispering to each other. It has always been noisy.     And as time goes by, the sound becomes louder and louder.

 “Oh, look over there!”

Just when Harry was thinking wildly, he suddenly felt someone push him hard.

Ron was patting his shoulder excitedly and pointing in the direction of the side door.

 “Look, Dumbledore is here!”

 Harry looked up and saw Dumbledore who had just walked in. He was wearing a blue robe and was talking to Professor McGonagall next to him.

"They must have been delayed for something." Ron's voice was obviously lighter than before. "Remember? Professor McGonagall watched us get into the carriage and left in a hurry. I guess she must have gone to find Dumbledore at that time."

"It's obvious." Hermione said. He looked at Dumbledore and frowned in confusion. "Strange, I feel like the principal is a little nervous."

"How is that possible?" Ron said nonchalantly, "It's just a sorting ceremony. He doesn't know how many times he has participated in it. How could he be nervous?"

“That’s right, maybe I’m dazzled.” Hermione didn’t care.

 “Go slower.”

In the direction of the teacher's chair, Professor McGonagall had a sullen face and whispered without moving her mouth: "You are the principal, so you don't have to walk so fast."

"I know, but I have no experience." Dumbledore...no, it should be said that Kyle, who drank the polyjuice potion, whispered.

 Who has been a principal before this? How does he know how fast to walk is normal?

"Stop talking, follow me!" Professor McGonagall said again, then walked to the teacher's seat and pulled out the chair in the middle.

 This serves as a reminder to Kyle where he should sit.

“Oh, Albus, why are you here so late?” Professor Flitwick asked with a wink.

"Something delayed me." Kyle took a deep breath and quickly recalled Dumbledore's previous performance. "I really hope I didn't miss the sorting ceremony."

“Then you have to come ten minutes early,” said Professor Sprout.

Her performance was much better than Professor Flitwick, and it felt like she was really talking to Dumbledore.

 This is what they have agreed upon, and they take the initiative to speak and try to prevent other professors from chatting with the principal.

With the arrival of ‘Dumbledore’, the auditorium gradually became quiet, and the sound of the Sorting Hat could finally be heard clearly.

 “Gryffindor!”

 A new student completed the sorting, and Kyle applauded along with the other professors.

 He wanted to make the sorting process slower, preferably until the end.

 Because during the sorting, he only had to sit and applaud, and he didn’t have to do anything else.

 But this idea is obviously impossible.

 After the last new student was sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick took the sorting hat and triangular stool and left.

Kyle felt someone kick him from below, it was Professor McGonagall.

At the same time, he also remembered that according to the procedure, Dumbledore was going to speak at this time.

 Then he stood up.

The eyes of hundreds of people in the audience moved to him at the same time. For no reason, Kyle only felt nervous.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, everyone. Let me say a few words before the banquet begins." He said subconsciously, and then reacted quickly.

 “That’s it, eat.”

Kyle sat down, and there was thunderous applause around him.

 The empty golden plates were immediately filled with rich food, and the freshmen were shocked from ear to ear.

 Whether it was because he was getting older or not, Harry looked at their fussing looks and vaguely thought of himself when he first entered school.

 He was also like this at that time, and he was amazed by the delicious food coming out of the plate.

 “What does he mean by that?” Hermione couldn't help but ask.

"Who knows, hasn't Dumbledore always been like this? He's crazy, and he always likes to say things that people can't understand." Ron, who was already hungry, grabbed a chicken leg, "But there is one thing he said That’s right.”

 “What?” Harry asked.

  “He did say a few words briefly.”

At the long Ravenclaw table next door, Luna Lovegood looked at Dumbledore at the teacher's table, tilted her head, and then looked at the person next to her.

 “After graduating from Hogwarts, can I become the principal directly?”

 “What nonsense are you talking about?” the person she asked said with some disgust.

She glanced at the carrot earrings on Luna's ears, and couldn't help but move them to the side, leaving a large space free.

 She didn’t want to talk to Luna, let alone let others misunderstand that she was friends with this famous crazy girl.

But Luna didn't care about her actions. She never cared about other people's attitudes towards her, whether they were disgusted or disgusted, what did this have to do with her.

Luna glanced at Dumbledore on the stage again and said softly: "Isn't it possible? It's really weird."

 But because everything around her was empty, no one heard this sentence.

 When the students started eating, the professors also started eating.

Kyle has long since spotted a piece of grilled steak that is full of aroma. The steak is grilled to a light brown color and is paired with garlic. It must be delicious.

But before he could do anything, the steak was taken away by Professor McGonagall next to her. At the same time, she quietly moved a plate with frosted raspberry pie over.

Kyle then reacted.

Yes, he is Dumbledore now, and this identity must be kept secret not only from students, but also from most professors.

Dumbledore doesn’t like steak, he only likes sweet things.

Kyle looked at the thick layer of frosting on the pie...if you take a bite of this, your throat will probably be stuck.

 At this moment he really regretted it.

Whether it was Voldemort or the robes that did not suit his aesthetics, it only made Kyle hesitate, but now, he really regretted taking this job.

 Clothes and other things can be made do with, but the taste you like...Sorry, as a Hufflepuff, this is really something I can't make do with.

Kyle smiled and silently put down the tableware.

“Albus, what’s wrong with you?” Aurora Sinister, the astronomy professor who happened to see this scene, couldn’t help but asked, “Don’t you have an appetite?”

Professor McGonagall also looked over, with a bit of nervousness in her eyes.

"No, I was just thinking that I shouldn't have gone to see Newt this afternoon."

 “Newt Scamander?” Professor Sinistra asked.

“Yes, his wife Tina fell in love with making biscuits, and I ate them all afternoon. At the time I thought they tasted pretty good, but now I think it was a really bad decision.”

Kyle sighed and looked at the frosting pie with a reluctant look, "Would it be a bit rude if I took it away?"

"Of course not." Professor Sinister had no doubt at all, "To be honest, you are the only one who likes this."

 …

 (End of this chapter)