Chapter 108: Teasing Kids Out of Boredom
The Hit Wizards scoured the pile of leaves for ages but, in the end, only found half of a shoe sole, marked with teeth.
Oren must have damaged his shoe earlier when he was kicking a Chomping Cabbage, which had clearly gnawed at it. Perhaps he had dropped it while escaping, or maybe he'd left it there on purpose.
Hit Wizard Hadd stood nearby, his expression dark as storm clouds. He knew exactly what awaited him next. Failing to apprehend anyone would be seen as a grave oversight, and coupled with Oren's parting words, Hadd was practically the obvious choice to take the fall. The Ministry would surely blame him for letting Oren escape, especially that meddlesome pink toad... A demotion would likely be the least severe punishment to quell the anger back at the Ministry.
Furious, Hadd bellowed orders, commanding the Hit Wizards to search the vicinity for any trace of Oren. The Centaurs tried to stand in their way, but Hadd brandished his wand, forcing them back.
"That's an important prisoner of the Ministry of Magic. If any of you dare obstruct this search, you'll all be considered accomplices!"
Under his threat, the Centaurs kept silent.
But none of this concerned Kyle anymore.
Professor McGonagall had arrived.
Her face was a sight Kyle had never seen—pale with tightly pressed lips, an anger that chilled to the bone. The idea that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would attempt to kill a student was beyond her worst fears. Had Dumbledore completely lost his senses when he hired Oren?