Chapter 652: The Referee
Umbridge's search mission began that evening.
At precisely 8:30 p.m., Kyle sent Malfoy and Crabbe off on patrol before making his way to the eighth floor. The moment he stepped off the stairs, a head poked out from behind a tapestry on the same floor, moving with a cautious twitch.
"What's the situation...?" Fred whispered.
"Relax. I'm the only one on the eighth floor," Kyle replied, signaling with his hand to confirm the coast was clear.
Fred emerged confidently, brushing dust off his robes. "Alright, give me the details."
"Malfoy and Crabbe are on the sixth floor. Montague is on the fifth. There are people patrolling the third and second floors as well," Kyle explained. "If you're heading back, I'd recommend avoiding the stairs for now—or at least waiting a bit."
"No time to wait," George said, considering their options. "The curfew's starting soon. If we get caught, it'll be even worse. What about the tower? Isn't there a secret passage there that leads straight to the first floor?"
"That could work," Kyle nodded. "They won't have enough time to cover that area. Just make sure you take the Marauder's Map with you."
"Don't worry," Fred assured him with a grin. He ducked back behind the tapestry to gather the others.
Kyle, after a moment's thought, cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and moved to a shadowy corner by the stairs. Not long after, a door materialized on the opposite wall, and students began filing out one by one—members of the DA who had just finished their gathering.
Fred quickly organized the group, dividing them into three well-practiced teams. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students followed Fred toward the tower, where the secret passage would help them get back to their respective common rooms. Gryffindors, whose common room was conveniently located on the eighth floor, slipped away around the corner without needing much instruction.