Chapter 604: Harry’s Decision
In the quiet of nighttime Hogsmeade, a loud cackle of schadenfreude rang out from The Hog's Head. Moments later, Dumbledore emerged, his face twisted as if he'd just downed a pint of stale Butterbeer.
"Kyle, is this really necessary?" he asked, his tone deliberate and strained. "In truth, Voldemort requires time to recuperate, and we don't need to rush solving the Ministry of Magic problem."
"I trust that, in the meantime, you'll be able to devise a more suitable plan."
"Thank you for the compliment, Professor," Kyle replied calmly. "Yes, I've already thought of an alternative plan."
Dumbledore's eyes lit up with interest. "Let's hear it."
Kyle's expression turned serious. "What about staging a Dementor uprising? A raid on the Ministry. Maybe one or two of them 'accidentally' find their way into the Minister's office for a little... chat. It could both address the Ministry's obstructionism and refocus attention on the Dementors—killing two birds with one stone."
Dumbledore turned away, his silence dragging on as they walked. Finally, he spoke, his tone measured yet laced with unease. "The Dementors won't rebel—at least not now."
"I didn't say they would definitely rebel," Kyle said with a shrug. "I'm just proposing a possibility."
Dumbledore remained quiet, deep in thought. They had walked as far as Zonko's Joke Shop before he spoke again, his voice hoarse. "Creating a false impression... I see. But I've never orchestrated anything like this before. There's no guarantee Fudge would believe it."
"It's not that difficult, Professor," Kyle reassured him with a small laugh. "Just stay in touch with a few key figures, like Madam Bones from Magical Law Enforcement or Barty Crouch. If word gets back to Fudge, it'll certainly catch his attention."
Dumbledore opened his mouth as if to protest but shook his head instead. A trace of regret flickered across his face, his thoughts seemingly far away. If he had known then what he knew now, he would have lowered his guard on that hill, no matter the cost, to end Voldemort.