Casting them nothing more than a contemptuous glance, Kyle instantly withdrew his gaze.
The intentions of this group of people were something he could guess with his toes—they were here to take him away, nothing more.
Kyle didn't even bother to pay them any mind, turning around to face the students of Hogwarts.
"The bloom of magic exists only in a very few souls; it comes only to those who possess higher pursuits for life."
Upon hearing these words, the expressions on Fudge's face and those beside him changed instantly.
Equally shifting in expression was Dumbledore at the staff table.
With a dark face, he looked toward Grindelwald beside him, his eyes seeming to say: Did you teach him this?
The corners of Grindelwald's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
He tilted his head slightly, communicating with Dumbledore through his eyes: I certainly never taught him this.
Hearing Kyle's words, a man beside Cornelius Fudge drew his wand straight from his sleeve and pointed it at Kyle.
At the same time, he roared loudly at the Aurors beside him, "Don't let him say another word! Take him away immediately!"
If someone familiar with the French Ministry of Magic were present, they would know that this middle-aged man dripping with hostility toward Kyle was named McKen, the Senior Undersecretary of the French Ministry of Magic.
Within his family, someone had lost their life during the Battle of Père Lachaise Cemetery back then, perishing within Grindelwald's flames.
That person's name was Carrow.
Ironically, Carrow had once been an Acolyte under Grindelwald.
That was precisely why McKen exhibited such intense hostility toward Kyle, the son of Grindelwald.
Professor McGonagall stood up, shouting back at him in a voice even louder than his: "This is Hogwarts! You have no right to take anyone away from here!"
Facing Professor McGonagall's roaring lion-like shout, Fudge shrank his head slightly, but then had to steel himself and step forward.
"Minerva, you've seen today's Daily Prophet as well, haven't you?"
"Mr. Minister," a smirk played at the corners of Kyle's mouth, "we've all seen it, but so what?"
Because he wasn't facing Professor McGonagall or Dumbledore, but merely Kyle—a third-year student—Fudge's voice suddenly grew bold and assertive: "You must come with us to the Ministry of Magic."
"And if I refuse?"
McKen, who had been glaring at Kyle with hostile eyes from the very start, couldn't wait to speak up: "Then we will simply take you by force."
Glaring with dissatisfaction at the Frenchman beside him, Fudge forced a hypocritical smile onto his face. "Don't worry, Mr. Grindelwald. We are merely bringing you to the Ministry of Magic for some routine questioning."
Questioning?
Heh.
Only an idiot would believe their words. If he actually went with them to the Ministry of Magic, he would definitely never come back out.
"Have I committed any illegal acts, Minister?"
"No, but because you are..." Fudge's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
Kyle interrupted him directly: "The son of Grindelwald, right?"
McKen let out a sneering laugh. "That's right, that in itself is the greatest original sin."
Lacking even a shred of interest in debating him, Kyle turned directly to face the other students in the Great Hall, continuing his speech.
"A thousand years ago, four great wizards founded this school on the shores of the Black Lake."
"It was conceived in turmoil and dedicated to a single proposition—that all wizards are created equal."
The man from the French Ministry of Magic did not want Kyle to continue speaking. Taking advantage of Kyle having his back turned to him, he raised his wand to cast a spell.
Professor McGonagall's face changed, and she immediately raised her wand to stop him.
However, Kyle was faster than her.
With a slight thought, a barrier materialized behind Kyle, intercepting the opponent's incoming Stunning Spell at just the right moment.
The next second, the barrier twisted and deformed into a massive fist, sending the man flying out and smashing straight through two walls in succession.
Through the gaping hole in the wall, the students in the Great Hall could clearly see the scenery outside the castle.
Fudge could never have imagined that right in front of him, the Minister for Magic, Kyle would dare use magic to resist. He opened his mouth to order the Aurors beside him to seize Kyle, but unexpectedly, a sharp sword gleaming with cold light was pressed against his neck.
"Why couldn't you just let me finish speaking properly?"
Kyle's tone was still as light as ever, yet Fudge heard an incomparably icy intent to kill within it.
Seeing that Kyle dared treat Fudge like this, the surrounding Aurors drew their wands to attack Kyle, only to be glared back fiercely by Fudge.
Couldn't they see that he, the Minister, was being held hostage? Doing something at a time like this, were they trying to make him die right here?
Faced with a threat to his life, Cornelius Fudge decisively chose to yield, gesturing for Kyle to continue.
A look of mockery surfaced on Kyle's face as he slowly withdrew the longsword in his hand.
"When the Ministry of Magic was founded back then, they made promises to every wizard in heroic, majestic words, pledging to grant all wizards equal protection."
"However, judging by the actions of the Ministry of Magic today, they have not fulfilled their promises."
"The Ministry of Magic, composed of those high-and-mighty nobles, still holds discrimination against their fellow wizards. This is a fact."
"The officials of the Ministry of Magic look down from above, abusing the power granted to them by the public..."
Listening to Kyle's words, Fudge's face shifted repeatedly through various shades.
"This is what we must resolutely resist!"
"Their arrogance, their greed for power—they are beings akin to wild beasts—"
Hearing up to this point, Fudge finally couldn't hold back any longer and roared loudly at Kyle: "Shut up!"
He turned his head to look at the Aurors around him: "Seize him! Immediately!"
Receiving Cornelius's command, all the Aurors raised the wands already held in their hands as one, aiming them straight at Kyle.
Sliding out from Kyle's sleeve into his palm, his wand was raised above his head and traced a circle. A wall of eerie blue fire instantly encircled Kyle within it.
Fiendfyre spread across the Great Hall in an instant, and rolling waves of heat filled the air.
The students sitting near the long tables backed away in panic until they reached the walls on both sides, only then feeling the scorching sensation recede significantly.
In truth, there was no need for them to back away at all.
Gas stoves were, after all, a traditional specialty of the Grindelwald family. As the son of Gellert Grindelwald, Kyle was already thoroughly adept at using this spell.
Combined with the portion of bloodline belonging to the Dumbledore family within his body, Kyle's control over fire surpassed even Grindelwald's.
As long as his fire wasn't targeting these students, even if wrapped right in the middle of the flames, they wouldn't suffer a single bit of harm.
Just as Hermione did—when the fire ignited, the little beaver didn't back away in panic like the other students; instead, with a resolute expression, she walked right through the flames and stood by Kyle's side.
With a first, there came a second, a third...
Following her, several people likewise stepped through the fire to stand behind Kyle.
George, Fred, Cedric, Hannah, Penelope...
Neville, Harry, Ron, Ernie, Justin...
After recovering from the initial panic, the students who came to their senses joined the ranks supporting Kyle one after another.
Even though Kyle committed all kinds of outrageously wicked deeds at Hogwarts on ordinary days, that was only as far as the school's professors were concerned.
It had to be admitted that when it came to treating fellow classmates, the little Dark Lord was actually quite good to them.
Ahem, excluding the Quidditch team members and the Slytherin students.
Looking at Fudge and the crowd of Aurors who had already retreated outside the Great Hall's doors, Kyle smiled faintly and spread his arms wide.
"Aurors, pass through the fire and join me.
"Pledge to me your eternal loyalty!"
Hearing these two sentences, Dumbledore's face was already as dark as it could possibly get.
This was a complete reenactment of Grindelwald's speech at Père Lachaise Cemetery back in the day.
"Only here will you know what freedom is! Only here can you truly understand yourself!"
Seeing Kyle's posture, the next step would be using Fiendfyre against that crowd outside the Great Hall. Dumbledore had no choice but to step forward.
"Kyle, stop now."
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