弗雷德和乔治认为凯尔杀死七十个食死徒是一件十分可笑的事情，他们根本就不相信。
而且严格来说，凯尔也确实没有这么做，他大概算了一下，蛇怪的战绩最多，算上一开始的偷袭，和之后的无差别攻击，差不多有三十个左右。
主要还是因为蛇怪的视线太无解了，人数不多的情况下几乎看到就死，直接打了食死徒一个措手不及。
诺伯是后来才加入的，虽然火龙破坏力惊人，但论效率还是比蛇怪差了不少，满打满算也就只有一个零头， 它们加一起，也就刚刚过一半的数量。
所以刚才金斯莱说到这个时候，凯尔才能很坦然地说，自己并没有杀死所有的食死徒。
因为他只解决了一半而已，至于剩下那些是怎么回事，凯尔就不清楚了。
可能是伏地魔为了灭口，毕竟他之前说出“里德尔”这个姓氏的时候，声音并不算小。
而那个麻瓜父亲一直都是伏地魔的禁忌，他如果想继续维持自己纯血斯莱特林后裔的身份，肯定不可能放过有可能听到这个秘密的食死徒。
以伏地魔的性格，也不太可能浪费时间去一个个筛查，直接灭口是最简单的方式，而且一定不会出任何差错。
当然，这些都是凯尔基于伏地魔性格做出的猜测，他跑路后到底发生了什么，就只有伏地魔自己才知道了。
与此同时，餐桌上……
“莫丽，小天狼星，你们真的误会了。”金斯莱叹了口气，他似乎想要解释什么，但想了想，还是没有再说话。
其实他之所以这么问，只是出于一个傲罗的习惯而已，包括穆迪也是这么想的。
或者说今天换成任何一个人，哪怕是邓布利多，他们也要问个清楚。
但现在却没有这个必要了，因为他们同样不相信，凯尔能在十五分钟的时间里杀死那么多食死徒。
十五分钟，七十……平均下来一分钟就将近五个，即便面对的是疣猪，也不可能这么快吧。
再退一万步，就算是七十头疣猪，在意识到危险的时候它们也是会跑的，更别说七十个巫师了。
在戈德里克山谷那种地方，要是一心想跑的话，还真没那么容易追。
所以这其中肯定有什么他们不知道的事情，和凯尔无关。
“抱歉。”金斯莱看向凯尔说道：“这是我的职责，希望你能明白。”
“当然。”凯尔说，“而且我也不在意。”
两人互相笑了笑，之后谁也没有再说什么，这件事似乎也就这么过去了。
眼见气氛变得有些僵硬，韦斯莱先生主动转移话题道：“对了，你们有谁看到邓布利多了吗？他的凤凰在这里，为什么人却不见了。”
说话间，他还下意识看了一眼落在凯尔肩膀上的福克斯……不知道是用了太多次的幻影移形，还是单纯的困了，福克斯睡得那叫一个香啊，这么多人说话都没能吵醒它。
不过面对韦斯莱先生的疑惑，其他人却纷纷摇头，全都表示自己也不知道这是怎么回事，好像从中午之后，就没人见过他了。
于是，所有人的目光再次集中到了凯尔身上。
没办法，谁让小天狼星刚才说，凯尔能指挥凤凰的行动呢，而在他肩膀上睡觉的福克斯同样也印证了这句话的真实性。
如果在场的人中有谁知道邓布利多的下落，他们首先想到的就是凯尔了。
“别看我，我也不知道。”凯尔耸了耸肩，“邓布利多只说有很重要的事情去做，让我帮忙照顾一下福克斯而已。”
说辞和在猪头酒吧的时候一样，事实上，这也是他们还在巴希达家里时提前商量好的。
邓布利多并不想让太多人知道他使用了时间转换器，所以就想了这么一个很模糊的理由……有重要的事情需要处理。
毕竟他平时也是到处跑，一时半会儿倒也不会被怀疑，但如果时间太长就不行了。
所以凯尔现在就是能糊弄一天是一天，只希望他能尽快回来，别拖个一年半载的。
不得不承认，现在这种时候，邓布利多这个名字从某种意义上来说已经变成了一种符号，只要他还在，就能给人一种必胜的信心。
这种信心在面对食死徒的时候是很有必要的。
这时候，韦斯莱夫人刚好送来了宵夜。
没有多丰盛，就是很普通的三明治，腌牛肉和煎火腿，但用来搭配威士忌还是很不错的。
当然，只是被福克斯救回来的人在喝，而其他从魔法部赶来的人，依旧是滴酒不沾。
等到众人清醒得差不多了，餐桌上的话题又再次回到了食死徒身上。
“真没想到，他们的人数居然变得这么多了。”韦斯莱先生忧心忡忡地说道。
“是啊。”小天狼星点点头。
之前他们遇到的食死徒数量并不多，每次基本上都只有几个人的样子，但现在情况却变得不一样了。
一次出动七十个食死徒……这个数量几乎和十几年前，伏地魔势力最庞大的时候差不多了。
虽然这其中大多数人都是被拉来凑数的，实力参差不齐，但对凤凰社和魔法部来说同样也是一件麻烦事。
伏地魔甚至没有出现，只是一个贝拉特里克斯，就能带出来七十个食死徒，这也从侧面表明了他们的数量肯定比七十要多的多。
一个贝拉特里克斯就是这样了，还有安东宁多洛霍夫、卢修斯马尔福、小巴蒂克劳奇、多尔芬、亚克斯利……他们同样是深受伏地魔信任的食死徒。
按照这样来算，食死徒的数量至少还要再多出五倍，也就是三百五十个左右。
相比之下，他们这边就显得有点势单力薄了。
凤凰社算上老成员和新加入的，满打满算也就三十多个人，傲罗的数量也差不多是这样，打击手要多一些，但也不会超过一百。
就算再加上警卫和其他战斗人员，他们的数量也就勉强能到二百左右。
一个最多二百，一个至少三百五，这其中的差距一目了然。
一时间，每个人脸上都露出了无奈的神色。
“各位，都别那么悲观，我们曾经历过更悬殊的战争，不是吗？”卢平安慰众人道：“上次战争的时候，食死徒的数量是我们的三十倍，但他们还是败了。”
只是他的话并没有起到什么作用。
在坐的每个人心里都很清楚，上次食死徒失败的原因是什么……和魔法部无关，和凤凰社也没什么关系，最重要的原因，是因为伏地魔死了。
或者说其他人以为他死了。
预言中的救世主杀死了不可一世的黑魔王，食死徒群龙无首，最强白巫师邓布利多抓住机会，带领魔法部和凤凰社一举将他们击溃。
这话听上去让人热血沸腾的，但归根到底还是因为运气的成分，如果伏地魔没死，谁也不敢保证最后会是个什么结局。
就算他们能赢，大概率也只是惨胜而已。
想到这里，一些人忍不住看向哈利……
“怎么了？”哈利问道。
“不，没什么。”金斯莱说，“我只是想提醒伱一下，这次损失了七十个食死徒，神秘人不会善罢甘休的，他一定会想方设法报复回来。
“所以最近一段时间，如果没有特别重要的事情，你最好就不要离开这里了。”
“这个……我认为，最好就别去国王十字车站了。”金斯莱说。
“那我们要怎么去学校。”赫敏有点着急了。
“不是只有火车才能到霍格沃茨，亲爱的。”韦斯莱夫人走过来，将一筐炸土豆放在桌子上。“我们会想办法把你安全送去霍格沃茨的，门钥匙，飞路网都是不错的选择。”
“我更倾向于幻影移形。”小天狼星说，“通过幻影移形把他们送到霍格莫德，是最稳妥的方式。说实话，我不太信得过受魔法部监管的飞路网。”
“我也一样。”卢平说，他抬头看了一眼金斯莱，“当然，这并不是针对你，我只是怀疑食死徒是不是已经策反了交通司的人，他们中可是有不少精通夺魂咒的巫师。”
"I understand, Remus." Kingsley nodded, "No matter what method is used, the ultimate goal is to get Harry Potter to Hogwarts safely.
"As long as he gets to Hogwarts, he will be safe under Dumbledore's protection."
Kyle just sat there in silence while they talked about this.
I’m afraid Hogwarts may not be that safe this year.
The only good news now is that no one except him knows Dumbledore's movements, and without accurate information, Voldemort dare not act rashly.
"By the way, we also need to arrange some people to go to Hogsmeade." Moody said, "Last year, someone tried to assassinate Kyle with a cursed dark magic item."
"Malfoy did it," Harry said suddenly. "He admitted it in the tower. He was also the one who used the Imperius Curse on Madam Rosmerta and controlled her to give Slughorn the Love Potion."
"Malfoy?" Ron was a little surprised. "What did he say? Why have I never heard you mention this before?"
"Didn't I tell you that?" Harry asked doubtfully.
"Of course not. Ask Hermione if you don't believe me," said Ron.
Hermione nodded, "No."
"Maybe I forgot." Harry said, "He said a lot that day, and admitted that he had always wanted to kill Kell and Dumbledore since he entered school, but he had never succeeded."
"How could you hide such an important thing from us?" Ron said loudly, unable to accept it for a moment.
After all, most of the time, Harry would tell them whatever happened, but now he changed his mind?
"I didn't mean to, I really forgot." Harry explained quickly: "You know, something even more incredible happened that day. If Alastor hadn't mentioned this just now, I might not have remembered it."
What Harry was talking about was the scene where Kyle rushed into the tower and washed the floor with Fiendfyre. At that time, he was protected by Dumbledore, and he saw with his own eyes that the entire tower was filled with raging Fiendfyre. The terrible scene, like doomsday, made him forget everything else.
It was also because of this incident that when Kingsley said that Kyle had dealt with seventy Death Eaters alone, he did not doubt it at all and believed it almost subconsciously.
After listening to his explanation, Ron nodded and reluctantly believed it.
"Oh, Malfoy...just as I guessed." Moody snorted coldly, "But he probably won't go to Hogwarts this year."
"That's great." Harry couldn't help laughing.
Hogwarts without Malfoy...it was like a dream.
"If you ask me, Dumbledore is just too kind," Hagrid said gruffly. "The Malfoys are all wicked, but Dumbledore thinks he's being deceived. He's just as evil as Lucius."
"Don't say that, Hagrid." Mr. Weasley waved his hand. "Dumbledore must have his considerations. We just need to trust him."
Hagrid didn't say anything. He took a bottle of brandy, unscrewed the cork and drank it all in one gulp.
"In short..." Moody continued, "Although the culprit last year has left the school, none of us can guarantee whether there are still such people among the students, and whether the target will be Harry this year.
"For safety reasons, it would be best if someone could stay in Hogsmeade for a long time after Hogwarts starts.
"Protecting Harry is one thing, but we can also provide quick support when special situations arise."
"No problem, I agree."
"I agree..."
"That's best."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Although Harry really didn't want everyone to do extra things for him, he also knew that his words would not count, so he could only sit there and listen silently.
Moody glanced at the crowd and said, "Mundungus, you go..."
"Alastor," Sirius spoke suddenly, interrupting him.
"Leave this to me."
"You?" Moody frowned, a little hesitant.
Of course he believed that Sirius could get the job done, but the problem was that ability was secondary, and what they needed was concealment.
Whether it is to protect Harry or something else, once discovered, the effect will be greatly reduced... because no Death Eater would be stupid enough to attack Harry in front of the protection personnel.
When it comes to hiding oneself, apart from Nymphadora Tonks, Mundungus is more suitable.
"It's better to change someone." Moody said, "Your face is too recognizable. Almost all Death Eaters recognize you and know that you are Harry's godfather.
"Dumbledore and the professors are enough for the obvious protection. There is no need to add more people."
"I can take Polyjuice Potion," said Sirius. "And more importantly, I have property in Hogsmeade and can stay there legitimately."
"industry?"
"The Shrieking Shack," Sirius said with a smile, "Remus and I bought it, and it's ours now."
"No, it's you and Kyle." Lupin corrected, "I don't have that much money. Kyle lent it to me, and I need to pay him back first."
When it comes to this, Sirius's face turned sour. He still can't understand why Lupin would rather pay interest and borrow money from Kyle, who had not graduated yet, instead of asking him. What's going on? He could obviously give it to Lupin.
Chris also had a big reaction.
He knew Kyle had made some money in recent years, but he had no idea how much, and he had never asked.
How come he already has his own business right after graduation? And in Hogsmeade? From what he knew, the prices there were not cheap.
As the only village in Britain with only wizards, Hogsmeade has always been famous, so even the Shrieking Shack, which has been abandoned for a long time, cannot be priced below three thousand Galleons.
Even if we take out the half that Sirius gets, fifteen hundred Galleons is his salary for most of half a year. Can Kyle and the others earn that much from the small business they run at school?
Oh, yes, the Triwizard Tournament.
Chris suddenly remembered that the prize money for the Triwizard Tournament was about one thousand Galleons, so it made more sense if he calculated it this way.
…
(End of this chapter)