After relaying the information he had gathered from the Dementors, Kyle was about to leave the Headmaster's Office, indifferent to how Dumbledore intended to handle the matter.
After all, he had no clue where the sixty Dementors were, and no one seemed inclined to tell him. Even if he wanted to assist, there was little he could do.
But just as he opened the door to leave, Dumbledore's voice stopped him.
"Wait a moment."
"Yes, Headmaster?" Kyle turned back, curiosity faintly flickering in his tone.
Dumbledore's expression was peculiar. He opened his mouth as if to speak but hesitated, eventually shaking his head. "No, it's nothing... I just wanted to mention that starting tomorrow, I might be away for a while."
"Oh, and I'll be taking Fawkes with me."
The comment seemed almost incidental, but Dumbledore paused momentarily, as if surprised he'd said it. He wasn't entirely sure why he felt the need to add that, but perhaps it was a subconscious attempt to preempt Kyle from finding another reason to borrow the phoenix.
The pause was brief, and Dumbledore quickly continued, "If you need to contact me urgently, you can find me at The Hog's Head in Hogsmeade. I believe you have your ways of getting there undetected."
"Just to deal with the Dementors?" Kyle asked, his curiosity piqued.
It seemed unlikely that managing a mere sixty Dementors would require much time, especially considering the ongoing panic caused by Voldemort's public return. The castle's unease had only just begun to subside thanks to Dumbledore's reassuring presence. His absence, especially for any extended period, was bound to cause unrest.
"It's not solely because of the Dementors," Dumbledore admitted. "I also need to meet someone. A memory of his might offer us a crucial clue."
"Who?" Kyle inquired, though his tone was casual, not expecting an answer.
To his surprise, Dumbledore answered without hesitation, "Bob Ogden."
Kyle frowned slightly, searching his memory, but the name drew a blank. He dismissed it quickly, assuming Ogden to be some obscure member of the Order of the Phoenix. After all, the Order's numbers were substantial, and Kyle couldn't possibly remember every face. He barely recognized some members, like Sturgis; even if the man were standing right in front of him, Kyle doubted he'd notice.
"Then I wish you success, Professor."
"You as well."
After leaving the Headmaster's Office, Kyle made his way back toward the Common Room. Passing through the foyer, he noticed an unusually large crowd gathered around the notice board.
Strange. What's got everyone so interested at this hour?
Curiosity stirred, and Kyle headed toward the group.
"Oh, Kyle..." someone greeted him hesitantly.
At once, the chatter in the foyer died out. Silence fell, and dozens of eyes turned to him simultaneously.
This was a first for Kyle. Momentarily caught off guard, he paused and asked, "What's going on with all of you today?"
The crowd exchanged glances, their hesitation palpable. Finally, a Hufflepuff girl stammered, "Um... I think it's best if you see for yourself..."
As she spoke, the students standing between Kyle and the notice board parted, creating a clear path.
Without hesitation, Kyle stepped forward to see what had everyone so rattled.
A brand-new notice had been posted on the notice board:
[Ministry of Magic Commendation Notice]
Kyle couldn't help but feel a flicker of interest as he read the title. A commendation from the Ministry of Magic was a rare and prestigious honor. He wondered who the lucky recipient might be.
Then he saw his own name.
However, that wasn't the most shocking part. It was what came next.
'Kyle Chopper, a sixth-year student at Hufflepuff, submitted an application to the Ministry of Magic some time ago.
Although he is not yet of age to take up the position, the Ministry and Hogwarts have jointly decided to grant him special admission in recognition of the important clues he provided during You-Know-Who's resurrection and his courageous rescue of Harry Potter from the Death Eaters.
"Starting today, he will officially assume the positions of Senior Assistant to the Minister for Magic (Internship) and Head Boy of Hogwarts.
"P.S. During this special period, the Ministry of Magic will cooperate with Hogwarts to welcome every outstanding student who is interested in working for us, regardless of whether they meet the age requirement or not. We will seriously consider all applications.'
[Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts]
Kyle read the entire announcement, feeling a distinct throbbing in his temples.
What is this? When did I ever submit an application to the Ministry of Magic?
He had no intention of working for the Ministry; his sole goal had been to help Dumbledore secure the position of Minister. That mission was already accomplished. Now, this unexpected situation had arisen.
And Dumbledore's signature—what did it mean? Couldn't he see that this was the Ministry trying to poach Hogwarts' best talent?
Absolutely not!
Without a moment's hesitation, Kyle spun around and bolted back to the eighth floor, stopping in front of the Gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's Office.
"Tooth Splintering Strong Mints!" he declared firmly.
Nothing happened.
Kyle repeated the password, louder this time, but the Gargoyle remained immobile.
Frustrated, he rattled off the names of various sweets, practically reciting Honeydukes' entire inventory, but it was futile. The statue stood as still as if it had been fused to the floor.
Kyle paused, his mind racing. It wasn't just the password—Dumbledore might have already left the school. With Fawkes, he could vanish at a moment's notice.
Determined, Kyle turned and marched to Professor McGonagall's office. He knocked briskly on the door.
"Kyle?" Professor McGonagall greeted him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "What can I do for you?"
"I need to speak with Professor Dumbledore," Kyle said quickly. "But it seems the password to his office has been changed."
Professor McGonagall's expression shifted slightly, her lips twitching as though holding back a smile.
Moments earlier, Dumbledore had stood in the same spot and solemnly instructed her that under no circumstances was Kyle to be given the new password.
"I'm sorry," she said with a faintly amused tone. "The Headmaster has left the school on urgent business."
"Left?" Kyle exhaled sharply, his irritation mounting.
"Come in," Professor McGonagall said, stepping aside to let him enter. Once Kyle was seated, she continued, "What did you need to see the Headmaster about?"
"That notice in the foyer," Kyle said, trying to keep his voice even. "I had no idea about any of this until today."
"Ah, I see," Professor McGonagall said with a knowing smile. "The Headmaster mentioned it and said that he should not be thanked."
"Thanked?" Kyle's voice rose in disbelief.
"Yes," she replied, the corners of her mouth twitching. "He said the position of Senior Assistant is a good opportunity with an excellent salary. He's pleased to see a student achieve such recognition before graduation and provide some minor assistance to the Ministry."
"Oh, and he also left a message: Stay true to yourself and contribute more to the wizarding world."
Kyle let out a dry laugh, clearly unamused. "But Professor McGonagall, did you notice the last paragraph of the announcement? It's blatantly poaching Hogwarts' talent! Aren't you going to do something about it?"
Professor McGonagall shook her head. "No, Kyle, you misunderstand. Hogwarts is a school, not a career path. When students graduate, they naturally move on to work in various fields, including the Ministry of Magic."
"In fact, I believe this decision is not only appropriate but one of the best in recent years."
Kyle was momentarily speechless. On reflection, he couldn't deny the logic.
Fudge's motives were transparent—he wanted to secure Kyle's allegiance while enticing other talented students, thereby bolstering his own influence.
If Dumbledore had ambitions to become Minister, this decision might seem counterproductive. But as a headmaster? It aligned perfectly with his role in preparing students for their future.
As Professor McGonagall had said, students would undoubtedly appreciate having such promising opportunities laid before them before they even graduated.
"Do you need anything else?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"No," Kyle replied, shaking his head.
"In that case, go back quickly," she said with a warm smile. "I believe your friends have already heard the news and are waiting to celebrate with you."
Kyle sighed and left the office.
Sure enough, things were just as Professor McGonagall had predicted.
When he returned to the foyer, a large group of students was waiting for him. The moment they spotted him, they swarmed around.
"Haha, Senior Assistant to the Minister for Magic—that's brilliant!" Fred exclaimed, clapping Kyle on the shoulder.
"Percy's going to lose it," George said with a mischievous grin. "He's only just managed to claw his way up to Junior Assistant, and that's after years of working at the Ministry."
"And don't forget," Fred added, "he only got there by turning on his own family."
"Yeah," George nodded, his expression souring. "Not long ago, he was badmouthing Dumbledore every chance he got. Said our support for him was ruining his chances for promotion."
"And he had that huge fight with Mum and Dad about it," Fred said. "Mum was upset for days."
"He's going to explode when he finds out you've become his boss before even graduating," George finished, laughing.
"Don't say that," Kyle interjected, shaking his head. "It's just an internship—I could be fired tomorrow."
"No chance of that!" came Tonks's voice from across the room. She approached with a playful grin. "It's just because you're still in school, same as when I started. Once you graduate, you'll automatically become a full-fledged Senior Assistant."
Kyle rubbed his temples. "Great... more good news," he muttered under his breath.
"Speaking of which," Fred said, turning to Tonks with a curious expression, "you and Umbridge are both 'seniors,' right? So whose position is higher?"
"It's not exactly comparable," Tonks explained. "Umbridge is a Senior Undersecretary, which makes her second only to the Minister himself. But Kyle's role isn't bad either. As Senior Assistant to the Minister, he'll be part of some important decision-making processes and can even make smaller personnel adjustments if the Minister is unavailable."
She gave Kyle a sly look. "So, how about transferring me back to the Auror Office? You've got the authority now..."
Kyle acted as though he hadn't heard her, deliberately looking away.
Tonks's hair flared red with frustration. "You little—! Fine, I'll just give you a hard time in the next class!" she declared, which drew hearty laughter from everyone nearby.
Kyle squinted at Fred and George, who were laughing the loudest.
Hmm... Mrs. Weasley always wanted them to work at the Ministry... Since they're family friends, there's no reason not to take care of them now that I have the influence.
A sly smile crept onto his face as he made up his mind.
As soon as he got back to his dormitory, he'd write a letter to Mrs. Weasley, proposing jobs for the twins in the Ministry of Magic. He already had a perfect position in mind for them: the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, in the same department as Mr. Weasley.
Getting them in would be a trivial task for him as Senior Assistant.
And Cedric... Kyle glanced at his friend, who was also grinning. He'd fit right in, too. Mr. Diggory would surely appreciate working alongside his son.
For no apparent reason, Fred and George both shivered, feeling an odd chill run down their spines. They chalked it up to the cold draft from the entrance and continued laughing without a care.
Meanwhile, across the foyer, Harry, Hermione, and Ron had also spotted the announcement.
Ron glanced at Kyle, who was surrounded by congratulatory students, and muttered with a sneer, "That's not fair. When it comes to providing clues... Harry, you've contributed way more than Kyle, haven't you? You've been saying all along that You-Know-Who is back. Why is the Ministry only rewarding him?"
"Don't say that," Harry replied, shaking his head. "Kyle really did save me. The Ministry rewarding him is the least they can do."
Ron didn't seem to hear, continuing under his breath, "Another Percy... Only someone like him would actually want to work for the Ministry."
"The Senior Assistant to the Minister for Magic earns 150 Galleons a month," Hermione said suddenly, her tone matter-of-fact.
"How much?" Ron froze, his eyes going wide.
"One hundred and fifty Galleons," Hermione repeated, glancing at the copy of the Daily Prophet in her hands. "That's about the same as a Deputy Director's salary. Here—today's Prophet has more details."
Ron snatched the newspaper from her hands, quickly scanning the article. His expression shifted dramatically as he imagined what it would feel like to earn such an amount.
"Harry," he said, his voice filled with sudden enthusiasm, "do you think it's too late for us to write to the Ministry of Magic?"
"I doubt it," Harry replied with a shrug. With his vault at Gringotts well-stocked, he wasn't particularly interested in the Ministry's salary. "But you could try. The announcement did say they welcome every student."
Ron hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Forget it. I don't want to work with Percy—I'd lose my mind. And after the way the Ministry slandered you, Harry, I don't think many students here are eager to join them."
He moved to hand the newspaper back to Hermione, but paused when he noticed her staring at the announcement on the notice board.
"Wait," Ron said, frowning. "Hermione, you're not seriously thinking of applying, are you?"
"Yes, I am," Hermione said firmly. "I want to work for the Ministry of Magic."
"Why?" Ron demanded, his disbelief evident. "A few months ago, the Ministry was calling us crazy and refusing to admit that You-Know-Who was back. How can you even think about siding with them?"
"That's all in the past now, isn't it?" Hermione countered. "At least now we're working toward the same goals."
"What about Umbridge?" Ron shot back. "She's from the Ministry too."
"Umbridge doesn't represent the entire Ministry," Hermione said sharply. "Mr. Weasley and Tonks works for the Ministry, and she's great. Not everyone there is like Umbridge."
She took a deep breath and continued, "And besides, there are so many things in the wizarding world that don't make sense anymore. Like how wizards treat House-elves... The only way to change things like that is from within the Ministry."
"House-elves?" Ron interrupted, his voice incredulous. "I thought you'd given up on that whole rescue thing."
"It's the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare," Hermione corrected, her tone firm. "And I haven't given up—I've only put it on hold."
"You know it's impossible," Ron argued. "House-elves like to work."
"That doesn't mean they like being treated poorly," Hermione shot back. "Take the House-elves in the kitchens, for instance. They'd be much happier if people simply said thank you once in a while."
She sighed. "Kyle's right—I've been going about it the wrong way. Instead of trying to 'rescue' them, I should focus on getting people to treat them with kindness, like Harry did with Dobby."
"But the truth is, nobody listens to a student. My only real chance is to join the Ministry of Magic."
"I'm with you," Harry said with a smile. "You're the best student in our year, Hermione. The Ministry would be mad not to take you. Who knows? You might even end up as Senior Assistant to the Minister for Magic, like Kyle."
"Thanks," Hermione replied with a small smile. "But I think I'd prefer the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I could do more good there."
"I want to be an Auror," Harry said. "But with my grades... well, it might not be as easy as I'd like."
Ron looked at his two best friends, blinking in bewilderment. He couldn't understand why they wanted anything to do with the Ministry after everything that had happened with Fudge and Umbridge. It felt like he was the only one still holding a grudge.
"Fine," he said after a pause, throwing his hands up. "If you two are in, I guess I'll join too."