Chapter 806: Opening Party

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

Approaching Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick went to the prefect's compartment to explain things. Professor Sprout did not go. She was trimming the extra branches and leaves of a pot of Christmas cactus.

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

Before this, he was actually worried about how the Hogwarts opening banquet would be held.

If the most important thing about this event before was the freshmen's sorting, then this year it must be Dumbledore's speech.

It's not that the freshmen's sorting is not important this year, but that everyone is not so concerned about it, especially in this situation, most people obviously want to see Dumbledore more.

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

Maybe this is why Dumbledore prepared in advance and asked Kyle to pretend to be him.

If he doesn't even show up at the opening banquet, it will inevitably make people have a bad association, including the Death Eaters may also have some temptations against the school.

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

A week before school started, Kyle had been wondering when Dumbledore would come back.

To be honest, he did disappear for a long time. The closer it got to school, the more worried Kyle became.

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

For example, if Dumbledore in the past killed "Dumbledore" who went back with a time converter, then he would really die in that period of time and naturally could not come back.

If Dumbledore who went back killed himself at that time, the situation would only be worse. As for what exactly happened... no one knows, because the people who experienced it did not leave any information at all.

Although Kyle believed that Dumbledore would definitely not make such a common sense mistake, he was not so sure about Ariana.

Even the most sober-minded people will lose their composure when facing the things they care about most, and even Dumbledore is no exception.

If he gets excited and wants to save Ariana, he will inevitably have an intersection with his past self, and anything can happen at that time.

Another important point is his return.

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

That is when he used the time turner to leave.

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

One of the reasons is the problem of 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 not moving, but the outside world is normal.

However, Nico also said that even if this happens, it will only be a few days at most, and it will not be 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 make another magic stone and use it as the core of the time converter. The magic power provided by the magic stone is enough to support him to travel through time twice.

But Dumbledore did not seem to choose this method. He just disappeared out of thin air.

Before today, Kyle also thought whether Dumbledore was too old and died of old age one day in this hundred years. If so, he really could not appear.

But he just gave up this idea.

The life span of wizards is generally very long. For example, the last headmaster of Hogwarts, Armando Dippet, lived for more than 300 years and is still alive and kicking. Bathilda is also more than 100 years old.

Even the witches who sell snacks on the train can live to nearly 200 years old, not to mention Dumbledore, who has deep magic power. As long as he does not commit suicide, there is no problem living for 200 years.

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

Another whistle sounded, bringing Kyle back to his senses.

There was a noise outside the compartment...Hogwarts Express arrived at the station.

Kyle stood up subconsciously.

"Don't worry." Professor Sprout said, "It's best not to let others know that you are coming to Hogwarts."

Her meaning was very simple, asking Kyle to wait a while before leaving. Kyle understood, nodded and sat back again.

After that, Professor Sprout also left the carriage and led other students to get off the train.

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

He also saw a huge figure. Hagrid, like in previous years, was carrying the oil lamp that had been used for who knows how many years, to pick up the freshmen to cross the river to the castle.

Twenty minutes later, the last batch of students took the carriage to the castle. The surroundings returned to silence. 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 the students, turned back and walked to Kyle's side.

"I can't say." Kyle spread his hands, "But if there is a choice, I really don't want to come, and I believe that few graduates want to come back."

"It's understandable." Professor McGonagall said with a smile, "But Dumbledore must show up at the opening party."

"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 am working in place of Dumbledore, so it is reasonable to take his salary."

"That's reasonable." Professor McGonagall couldn't help rubbing her forehead. "Okay, we should go over 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, but went to the principal's office on the eighth floor first.

There were several robes prepared in advance.

"These are Dumbledore's favorite styles, pick one." Professor McGonagall said, "Hurry up."

Kyle took a look.

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

Professor McGonagall was urging her anxiously on the side, 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 turns into a different smell, and everyone is different. It's a bit like...Bibi's All-Flavour 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 Kyle couldn't help but spit it out.

…

Meanwhile, the auditorium.

Since Professor McGonagall was away, Professor Flitwick helped organize the sorting of freshmen students 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 isn't here." Ron murmured 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 gets louder and louder.

"Oh, look 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 Polyjuice Potion, whispered.

Who had been a principal before this? How did he know how fast to walk was 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 served as a reminder to Kyle where to 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." Professor Sprout said.

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

This was also what they had agreed upon, taking the initiative to speak and try their best to prevent other professors from chatting with the principal.

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

“Gryffindor!”

A freshman completed the sorting, and Kyle clapped along with other professors.

He wanted the sorting to be slower, preferably until the end.

Because during the sorting, he only needed to sit and clap, and nothing else.

But this idea was obviously impossible.

When the last freshman was sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick left with the Sorting Hat and the triangular stool.

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

At the same time, he remembered that according to the procedure, Dumbledore was supposed 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, and Kyle felt nervous for no reason.

“Welcome everyone to Hogwarts, I will 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.

I don’t know if it’s because of his age, but Harry looked at their surprised expressions and thought of himself when he first entered school.

He was like this at that time, and was amazed by the delicious food that appeared on the plate.

“What does he mean by this?” Hermione couldn’t help asking.

“Who knows, isn’t Dumbledore always like this? Crazy, and always likes to say things that people can’t understand.” Ron, who had been hungry for a long time, grabbed a chicken leg, “But he is right about one thing.”

“What?” Harry asked.

“He did say a few simple words.”

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

“After graduating from Hogwarts, can you 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 moving to the side, leaving a large space.

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

However, Luna didn't care about her actions. She never cared about other people's attitude towards her, whether it was disgust or dislike, what did these have to do with her.

Luna glanced at Dumbledore on the stage again and whispered: "No? How strange."

But because she was surrounded by nothing, no one heard this sentence.

When the students started to eat, the professors were also eating.

Kyle had already spotted a piece of fragrant grilled steak. The steak was grilled to a light brown color and paired with garlic. It must be delicious.

But before he could start, the steak was taken away by Professor McGonagall next to him, and she quietly moved a plate of frosted raspberry pie over.

Kyle reacted.

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

And Dumbledore doesn't like steak, he only likes sweet food.

Kyle looked at the thick layer of icing on the pie... If he took a bite of this thing, his throat would probably be choked.

He really regretted it at this moment.

Whether it was Voldemort or those robes that did not meet his aesthetic taste, they only made Kyle hesitate, but now, he really regretted taking this job.

Clothes and other things can be compromised, but the taste preferences... Sorry, as a Hufflepuff, this is really not compromised.

Kyle smiled and put down the tableware silently.

"Albus, what's wrong with you?" Aurora Sinistra, the astronomy professor who happened to see this scene, couldn't help asking, "No appetite?"

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

"No, I just thought that I really shouldn't go to see Newt this afternoon."

"Newt Scamander?" Professor Sinistra asked.

"Yes, his wife Tina likes making cookies. I ate them for a whole afternoon. I thought they tasted good at the time, but now it seems that this was a wrong decision."

Kyle sighed and looked at the frosting pie with a reluctant look, "If I take it away, would it be a bit too rude?"

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

……