Chapter 1183: A Novel Way to Travel (Part 3)

Chapter 1183 -830: A Novel Way to Travel (Part 3)

But his hand grabbed at empty air. Kael searched back and forth three times before finally confirming that the Polyjuice Potion and Dumbledore’s hair that he’d put in the Transfiguration Lizard Skin Bag earlier had completely vanished.

“Did I drop it back in the forest?” Kael frowned.

He’d been chased too hard at the time; maybe he’d pulled it out by accident while rummaging for something.

Still, it didn’t matter. There was a spare in the Headmaster’s Office. As long as he got there quickly, he should make it in time. Kael didn’t have the leisure to think it through—he Apparated straight to the familiar Hog’s Head Pub, ready to repeat his old trick: turn into an owl and fly back to the school.

“Wait.”

A hand suddenly appeared, blocking Kael.

“Mr. Abeforth…” Kael looked at the man. “I don’t have time to explain—I have to get back to Hogwarts right now.”

“I know,” Abeforth said coolly. “Hogwarts is crawling with experienced Aurors now. If you use Transfiguration Technique again, there’s a very high chance you’ll be spotted… Go through there instead.”

He pointed at a huge painting on the wall.

Arianna’s portrait—but right now it had opened like a door, revealing a passageway behind it.

“Wait, didn’t you say this was a one-way secret passage?”

“Yes,” Abeforth said calmly. “But just a minute ago, someone opened it from the inside. Maybe someone knew in advance you’d be coming back to Hogwarts, so they opened it for you.

“All right, stop wasting time and get moving. If the passage closes, you’ll have to find your own way.”

“Okay.” Kael nodded and jumped in.

The passage was long and quite spacious. Even hurrying as fast as he could, Kael still spent nearly ten minutes before reaching the exit in the Room of Requirement.

The Room of Requirement was on the eighth floor, and the Headmaster’s Office was on the eighth floor as well, not far away. But just as Kael stepped outside, he heard Amelia’s cold voice.

“Minerva, where exactly is Dumbledore? I must see him today!”

“I’m sorry, Minister Bones, the Headmaster has more important matters to attend to.” That was Professor McGonagall’s voice.

“More important matters?” Bones’s voice shot up. “What could be more important than Gringotts being attacked… Over a hundred Death Eaters. While Aurors and Beaters were risking their lives to protect the Wizards in Gringotts, where was Dumbledore? Do you know how many we lost?

“I must see him today. I need to know his stance. If Dumbledore is unwilling to cooperate with the Ministry of Magic against You-Know-Who, then we will have to withdraw all protection and information exchange with Hogwarts as soon as possible.”

“You misunderstand, Amelia. We at Hogwarts will always stand against the Death Eaters,” Professor McGonagall said.

“Then have Dumbledore come to see me!”

Kael walked forward a few steps and saw Amelia Bones and Professor McGonagall standing at the corner.

Fortunately, they were the only ones there—no other Aurors or students.

Amelia had already lost her patience by now. “Don’t try to fob me off with that flimsy excuse. I’ve made inquiries—right now, throughout the Magic Realm, no country has any word of Dumbledore. Or you can just tell me straight: is he even still alive?”

“Of course. I can assure you of that,” Professor McGonagall said gravely.

Amelia’s expression eased a little; she seemed to let out a breath.

At the same time, Professor McGonagall noticed the sneaking Kael. She instinctively shifted her position, and Amelia’s line of sight turned with her, leaving the corridor completely.

Kael seized the chance to tiptoe past.

Apparently hearing something, Amelia instinctively started to turn her head.

“In fact…” Professor McGonagall suddenly raised her voice, drawing her attention back. “I’ve already notified Headmaster Dumbledore. He’ll be returning very soon.”

“Then I’ll wait right here.”

Listening to their conversation, Kael, who had just slipped by, suddenly felt his legs go weak.

He had a pretty good idea what this was about now: the Death Eaters had attacked Gringotts, the Ministry of Magic had fought back with all it had, and yet Dumbledore never appeared… The Minister was here to call him to account.

What excuse could possibly cover that?

Kael’s thoughts were a tangled mess. If he handled this poorly, Hogwarts might end up breaking with the Ministry of Magic. How had such a huge responsibility landed on his shoulders?

With these complicated feelings, Kael passed the Gargoyle and climbed the spiral staircase up to the Headmaster’s Office.

One way or another, Dumbledore would have to show his face. As for what excuse he could come up with to bluff his way through… he’d just have to improvise. Maybe Professor McGonagall could help him as well.

Kael pushed open the oak door at the top of the stairs, ready to grab the Polyjuice Potion and hair from the drawer—but to his surprise, someone was already in the Headmaster’s Office.

Kael jumped in fright, but when he saw who it was, he let out a sigh of relief.

“Nicolas?”

“Ah, I knew you’d find your own way back.” Nicolas said with a smile.

At that, Kael’s mouth twitched slightly.

If he hadn’t come up with the owl idea, he’d have been flying for over ten hours. He wasn’t about to brag about that.

But this wasn’t the time to dwell on it. Kael strode to the desk, pulled open a drawer, and searched inside for the Polyjuice Potion while saying, “Nicolas, what brings you here? I might not have time right now—can whatever it is wait until later?”

“It’s fine. I’m just here to deliver something.”

Nicolas smiled, reached into his pocket, and took out an exquisite golden Pocket Watch, placing it on the desk. “I told you, once you came back from Nimongard, the Time Turner would be repaired. And look—now the timing is just right.”