Hogwarts: I Am Such a Model Wizard

Chapter 762: The Rescued Death Eater

Although it was late, at the professor’s request, everyone left the Common Room and headed to the Great Hall.

They gathered together, chattering about what had just happened. Even though they had all stayed in their Common Rooms as instructed and hadnʼt witnessed the events firsthand, they had certainly been aware of the commotion.

For instance, those in Ravenclaw, being closer to the tower, had clearly heard the explosions and screams. Meanwhile, the Gryffindors had seen the bright fire outside through their windows, along with the Dark Mark floating ominously above the castle.

Now, the news was spreading at an incredible speed. With a few well-informed students always in the mix, it took less than twenty minutes for word of the Death Eatersʼ attack on Hogwarts to circulate throughout the Great Hall.

A sense of unprecedented panic gripped everyone. Until now, Hogwarts had always been considered the safest place—no one had ever imagined the Death Eaters would one day breach its walls.

The only silver lining was that no one had been harmed. The only incident involved a Gryffindor student who had tripped on the stairs while rushing down, but apart from that, everyone was safe.

Five minutes later, Neville limped into the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Now, everyone was accounted for.

Dumbledore, who had been speaking with Fudge, broke off the conversation and strode to the front of the professorʼs table, his expression grave as he addressed the room.

”Iʼm sure some of you already know what Iʼm about to say… Yes, just an hour ago, Death Eaters infiltrated this castle.”

A wave of murmurs and hushed discussions spread through the hall.

”Please, quiet down,” Dumbledore called, his voice barely able to rise above the noise.

”But I want to assure you that all the Death Eaters have been driven away. And as long as I remain at this school, I promise that nothing like this will happen again.”

With his firm reassurance, the Great Hall gradually fell into a tense, almost suffocating silence.

”However, I must emphasize that the situation remains critical. For your safety, curfew will now be moved up by two hours. No one is to be out after dinner.”

Beside him, Professor McGonagall unconsciously straightened up. She had expected the decision to be met with resistance, but to her surprise, no one voiced a single complaint. The Great Hall remained silent—everyone simply accepted it.

“Well then,” Dumbledore continued, “warm and comfortable beds are waiting for you. I know your top priority is to get some rest and prepare for tomorrow’s classes, so—oh, apologies, you’ll have to wait just a moment longer.”

Several students had already begun to rise, but Dumbledoreʼs next words made them pause.

“I would like to award Hufflepuff 100 points for Kyle’s bravery during the Death Eater attack. By the way, he saved my life.”

In an instant, every pair of eyes in the room turned toward Kyle.

”You saved Headmaster Dumbledore?” Kanna asked in surprise. ”Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Do you really think that’s possible?” Kyle replied indifferently. “If a handful of Death Eaters could take down Dumbledore, then what does that make Voldemort, who’s been in hiding all this time? He might as well rename himself Puffskein or Bowtruckle.”

His reasoning was convincing enough that Kanna immediately nodded. Right… this is Dumbledore we’re talking about.

”But in that case, why did the Headmaster say that just now?”

”Who knows?” Kyle said, unconcerned. ”Maybe itʼs just the old wizard’s sense of humor.”

Regardless, an extra 100 points for Hufflepuff was nothing to complain about. It all but guaranteed their victory in the House Cup this year.

Not wanting to deal with any more attention, Kyle took advantage of the distraction, pulling Kanna through the crowd and out of the Great Hall, making their way back to the Hufflepuff common room.

By the time they arrived, the Hufflepuffs had already begun celebrating their early House Cup victory.

It was almost comical how quickly their worry had been replaced by excitement over a trophy. But considering theyʼd all been woken up in the middle of the night, it wasn’t surprising that hunger had also kicked in. Some students had already run to the nearby kitchens, and in no time, the tables were laden with an assortment of cakes, biscuits, meatloaf, roast chicken, pudding, and various drinks.

Kyle wasn’t particularly fond of their casual champagne toasts, but since everyone was in high spirits, he decided to let it slide.

The only real issue was that he had to repeatedly explain that he hadn’t actually saved Dumbledore—that it had all been a joke by the Headmaster. Yet, no matter how many times he insisted, most people simply didn’t believe him.

The odd celebration lasted late into the night. Eventually, some of the younger students, mindful of their morning classes, began retiring to their dorms, and one by one, the others followed.

Kyle had half-expected to be summoned to the Headmaster’s office before the night was over. But even as the party came to an end, no message arrived.

Deciding there was no point in waiting, he simply washed up quickly and went straight to bed.

…

The next day, the common room, which had been in complete disarray the night before, had already been cleaned up by the House-elves.

Since the lessons in the Room of Requirement had ended, Kyle’s note was no longer valid. He waited in the common room for a while before heading to the Great Hall for breakfast with Kanna.

All along the way, he could hear people whispering about the previous night’s events, the chatter persisting until he stepped into the Great Hall.

“Did you hear? The Death Eaters came back last night,” a senior student said mysteriously.

“Really? How is that possible?” The witch sitting across from him looked skeptical. “Last night, Headmaster Dumbledore and Aurors from the Ministry of Magic were here. Why would the Death Eaters dare to return?”

“I’m telling you, it’s true,” the student insisted. “The Death Eaters came in the early hours of the morning. The Headmaster must have been asleep at the time, so he didn’t know.”

“That still doesn’t make sense.” The witch shook her head. “I heard that the professors were patrolling the castle all night. There’s no way no one noticed.”

“Who said they came to the castle? They went to the Hospital Wing.”

“The Hospital Wing?”

“Yes,” the student said. “I just came from there. Even the Headmaster went. How could it be a lie?”

“Headmaster Dumbledore?”

“What, do you think there’s a second Headmaster at the school?”

“But…”

“Don’t but me. If you don’t believe me, just wait until class and take a look at Professor Snape. He was injured by the Death Eaters.”

The two continued their conversation as they walked away, but their words had already caught Kyle’s attention.

The Death Eaters came back?

To be honest, Kyle didn’t believe it.

Only two Death Eaters had escaped the previous night. He wasn’t sure about Oren, but Antonin Dolohov definitely wouldn’t have dared to return. He was missing a leg—coming back now would be a death sentence.

Besides, Dolohov didn’t seem like the type to risk himself for his comrades. If he had been, he wouldn’t have used Alecto as a shield against the Fiendfyre last night.

So, after breakfast, Kyle didn’t head straight to class. Instead, he took a detour to the Hospital Wing to find out what had really happened.

He wasn’t the only one with that idea. The corridor leading to the Hospital Wing was packed with students, but none of them could see anything.

Kyle didn’t see Dumbledore either. Maybe the Headmaster had already left, or maybe the student from earlier had been mistaken about him being there at all.

There were two beds in the corner of the Hospital Wing, completely hidden behind thick curtains. No one could see what lay beyond.

Hm. Two beds?

Kyle, who had just gone to collect a bottle of Pepperup Potion, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

If those beds were occupied by Alecto and Malfoy, then where was Snape?

Where had Snape gone?

Was he behind the curtain too?

Alecto was a Death Eater and a violent one at that. Even if she was injured, Dumbledore would never have allowed her to remain in the Hospital Wing unguarded.

But what about Snape…?

Kyle’s gaze drifted back toward the curtains.

The fabric was thick, but from the small gap at the bottom, it was obvious that no one was standing behind them.

Interesting.

There were only two beds, which meant they must have been occupied by Alecto and Malfoy.

So where was Snape, who was supposed to be watching over them?

He couldn’t possibly be lying in bed with Alecto…

…Huh? Actually, that wasn’t entirely impossible.

“Don’t look around!”

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Madam Pomfrey’s voice snapped him out of his speculation. She impatiently shoved a bottle of Pepperup Potion into his hands.

“Everyone’s here for the Pepperup Potion today…” she muttered, glancing at the long queue forming behind him. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re all up to. But let me warn you—stifle your curiosity and stop asking questions.”

It was clear, however, that not many people were listening. The crowd in the corridor only continued to grow.

At her wit’s end, Madam Pomfrey finally lost her patience. She turned everyone away and even dragged a table outside the Hospital Wing, blocking entry entirely.

Meanwhile, Kyle, now holding the Pepperup Potion, had already left the area and was heading back into the castle.

From what he had gathered, something had definitely happened in the Hospital Wing last night. But what exactly, he wasn’t sure.

“Kyle.”

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

Looking up, he saw Lupin and Tonks.

Lupin’s arm was wrapped in a bandage—he must have been injured the night before. Tonks was supporting him, though her fussing seemed to make him even more uncomfortable.

“Really, Tonks, it’s just my arm. I’m fine,” Lupin muttered.

Tonks, however, ignored him completely, unfazed by Kyle’s curious gaze.

“Where are you going?” Kyle asked, pretending not to notice Lupin’s reluctance.

“The Hospital Wing,” Tonks replied. “The Minister has decided to transfer Alecto to the Ministry of Magic, and we’re the Aurors assigned to escort her. We need to check on her first.”

“Alright, then. You two go ahead. I need to get to class,” Kyle said, waving a hand as he passed them.

Lupin hesitated, watching Kyle as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Harry had already told Sirius what had happened in the tower the night before, and Sirius, in turn, had told him.

So when Lupin saw Kyle, he had instinctively wanted to ask for details. But when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know how to phrase them.

A Fiendfyre Giant and a Nundu… It was all a bit beyond his imagination.

“It’s okay, Remus,” Tonks said beside him. “Kyle will definitely join the Order of the Phoenix after graduation. You can ask him then.”

“That’s true,” Lupin admitted, nodding.

With that, the two of them continued toward the Hospital Wing.

…

When they returned to the castle, Kyle headed to the third floor for his first Charms lesson. The moment he stepped into the classroom, everyone turned to look at him in surprise.

It was the first time they had seen Kyle in class in two months.

Professor Flitwick, however, remained unfazed. With a wave of his hand, he signaled for everyone to settle down.

“The Water-Making Spell!” he announced. “A very important charm. It’s not difficult, but it does test a witch or wizard’s overall ability. It is also the most frequently appearing charm in the N.E.W.T. exams, so I strongly suggest you all master it.”

“You all remember the incantation, don’t you? Aguamenti. Don’t forget it.”

Standing atop a lectern made of books, Professor Flitwick continued explaining the finer details and precautions of the Water-Making Spell. However, few students were paying attention.

The spell was part of the Sixth Year curriculum—they had learned it long ago.

In fact, now that the Seventh Years were in the second half of the school year, with the N.E.W.T. exams approaching, most professors had stopped teaching new material altogether and instead focused on review.

While Professor Flitwick spoke, the classroom buzzed with side conversations, students discussing whatever interested them more than the lesson.

“Did you hear? Draco Malfoy has taken leave.”

Kyle clearly overheard the two Slytherins sitting behind him.

“What happened to him?” the second Slytherin asked, sounding indifferent. “It couldn’t have been an attack by Death Eaters.”

“How could that be? Don’t forget his father—” The first Slytherin suddenly lowered his voice, and Kyle couldn’t make out the rest of the sentence.

“Anyway, he’s practically a Death Eater himself. And he’s a pureblood. Why would they attack him?”

“Then why did he take leave?”

“No idea. Maybe he was scared.” The first one sneered. “Don’t forget, he’s a Malfoy. The most cunning family in the wizarding world. It wouldn’t be surprising if he just ran off.”

“But the Quidditch final is coming up soon. Without our main Seeker, we’re doomed, aren’t we?”

“Nothing we can do about it. He’s probably already left the school. There’s no dragging him back now. Besides, we’re trailing by 600 points. Even if he hadn’t taken leave, we probably still wouldn’t have won.”

“Yeah…” the second Slytherin sighed. “Why can’t we Slytherins have Firebolts…”

The conversation soon shifted to Quidditch, and Kyle lost interest in listening.

He wasn’t particularly surprised that Malfoy had taken leave. After all, his identity had been exposed in the tower last night…

Wait.

Kyle’s brow furrowed.

A sudden thought struck him.

Could it be that the Death Eaters had snuck into the Hospital Wing in the early morning to take Malfoy?

A scene played out in his mind’s eye:

Late at night, a masked wizard broke into the Hospital Wing, attempting to retrieve Malfoy from his hospital bed. Snape fought back valiantly, but in the end, he was outmatched and injured. The intruder succeeded in taking Malfoy.

That would explain why there had only been two beds behind the curtain in the Hospital Wing.

As for the identity of the masked wizard, that was a separate question. It could have been a Death Eater. It could have been the real Snape. It could have even been Dumbledore.

Kyle’s fingers tapped lightly against the desk.

Malfoy had been exposed. Both Dumbledore and Voldemort knew it.

This was the only way to protect him.

Even if Dumbledore was magnanimous enough to overlook the fact that Malfoy had let a Death Eater into Hogwarts, Voldemort certainly wouldn’t be so forgiving.

The Death Eaters had suffered heavy losses. If Malfoy remained at Hogwarts without consequence, the ever-suspicious Voldemort would surely assume that he had betrayed them—tipped off Dumbledore in advance.

For Voldemort, proof wasn’t necessary. A mere suspicion was enough to mean death.

And Malfoy was in his sixth year. He couldn’t hide in Hogwarts forever.

Being “rescued” from Hogwarts was undoubtedly the best outcome.

And having Snape—a known Death Eater—be the one to do it? It all made perfect sense.

More importantly, when Kyle had met Lupin and Tonks earlier, they had only mentioned taking Alecto to the Ministry of Magic.

They hadn’t said a word about Malfoy.

Kyle clicked his tongue.

“Tsk.”

Kanna, sitting beside him, gave him a curious look. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Kyle said, shaking his head. “I just think Dumbledore really has his hands full.”

“Agreed.” Kanna nodded, though she wasn’t particularly convinced. “I saw the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic on my way to class earlier. They looked anxious. I don’t think they’ve had any sleep.”

“That’s normal,” Kyle replied. “With something this big going on, they wouldn’t be able to sleep even if they wanted to.”