"You mean, You-Know-Who went to Austria?"
The next day at noon, Kyle looked at Professor McGonagall, who had come to deliver the news, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
Today was the day Harry was to be transferred, and yet Voldemort had left Britain at such a critical moment?
"Someone saw traces of You-Know-Who at the Swiss border with Austria," said Professor McGonagall. "This is news from Madam Maxime, so it should be true."
"What did Professor Dumbledore say?" Hermione asked eagerly, having just arrived.
"Dumbledore has already gone," Professor McGonagall replied. "But according to him, he may not be able to participate in tonight's operation, so you will have to use the backup plan you previously decided on."
The room fell silent. No one spoke.
Although everyone had taken tonight's operation seriously, they hadn't truly felt nervous—because Dumbledore had always been there.
As long as Dumbledore was involved, failure had never seemed like an option. Everyone was convinced of that.
Even Moody and Kingsley had considered an alternative strategy: using Harry as bait to lure the Death Eaters and You-Know-Who out into the open for a direct confrontation.
They had known that neither Sirius nor the Weasley family would ever agree to it, which was why they had kept their thoughts to themselves.
But they had considered it.
Dumbledore would handle You-Know-Who. The rest of them would handle the Death Eaters. A head-on battle—a decisive showdown.
They had secretly prepared for it, formulating a series of detailed plans behind everyone's backs.
But all of this hinged on Dumbledore's participation. Without him, their confrontation with the Death Eaters would be reduced to a mere skirmish.
"Dumbledore has already left?" Moody asked again, his voice gruff.
"Yes," Professor McGonagall confirmed. "Half an hour ago, Madam Maxime sent a letter. After reading it, he set off immediately and asked me to inform you."
Silence fell once more.
Everyone understood what this meant. They had long considered the possibility that Dumbledore might be lured away and had factored it into their planning.
But despite knowing that this was Voldemort's scheme, they had all believed that Dumbledore would not fall for it.
And yet, he had.
Without even discussing it with them, he had left Britain entirely.
Which could only mean that whatever had drawn him away was of greater importance than protecting Harry's transfer.
But what could it be?
They racked their brains but couldn't think of anything particularly significant about Austria.
Could it be because the International Confederation of Wizards had held its meetings there three times in a row?
No, that was too far-fetched. Even if there was something to be found there, why would it require Dumbledore to act so urgently?
They frowned in thought, but no answer presented itself.
Only Kyle narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
When it came to Austria, there was one place that absolutely couldn't be overlooked.
It wasn't the so-called Hall of the International Confederation of Wizards, which sounded impressive but was little more than a glorified meeting room.
The truly significant location was a prison—Nurmengard Tower.
Unlike Azkaban, which housed countless prisoners, Nurmengard contained only one.
Gellert Grindelwald.
A legendary wizard who had nearly conquered the entire European wizarding world sixty years ago. Dumbledore's former best friend.
The two had parted ways for reasons unknown, their ideological differences turning them into archenemies.
If there was anyone who could influence Dumbledore's decision at such a critical moment, it was Grindelwald.
So was that Voldemort's real target? Nurmengard?
Kyle wondered.
Perhaps.
Or maybe Voldemort's goal had simply been to lure Dumbledore far enough away at a crucial moment, and Nurmengard had just been a convenient excuse.
But in the end, it didn't matter.
Voldemort had succeeded.
Now, it was nearly time for their planned operation, and Dumbledore was gone. If Voldemort returned in time, then things could become very problematic.
Kyle took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead.
On the other side of the room, Professor McGonagall, having delivered her message, quickly left. She had other tasks to attend to and would not be participating in the operation.
Those who remained in 12 Grimmauld Place exchanged looks, glancing at one another as they hastily discussed their countermeasures.
Fortunately, they had anticipated this possibility. No one panicked.
At six o'clock, Tonks and Dedalus set off, accompanied by a witch Kyle had not seen before.
Meanwhile, Hagrid arrived, riding up to Grimmauld Place on the lightweight flying motorcycle with its black sidecar, the engine roaring as he appeared.
"Oh, Hagrid, I told you before not to drive anything so attention-grabbing," Moody frowned.
"Don't worry, I haven't been flying it since we got to London," Hagrid said, patting the motorcycle's sidecar. "And I rode it to Little Whinging when Harry was a baby, so I thought I'd use it to pick him up from there."
Hagrid sounded cheerful, even a little nostalgic, completely unaware that Moody's reference to "attention-grabbing" wasn't limited to the motorcycle.
"I'm sorry, Hagrid, but our plan this time is Apparition."
Hagrid's face froze, and he looked at Moody in confusion.
"Yes. It's exactly as you think." Ignoring his expression, Moody continued, "So you'll have to stay here with your motorcycle."
"What?" Hagrid, towering over Moody, sounded slightly aggrieved. "You can't do this... Harry's waitin' for me."
"This is the safest way, Hagrid," Moody said, glancing at the time. "Time to go. Don't forget to stay hidden."
He drew his wand, and with a twist of the air around them, everyone vanished.
As Hagrid's sad eyes watched them disappear, the door automatically swung open and then slammed shut again.
"Cheer up, Hagrid. And you too, Ron." At that moment, Mrs. Weasley appeared, leading Ron out of the room.
Ron looked just as dejected as Hagrid. He had stayed in his room sulking while everyone set off, unable to take part in the mission.
"Reconnaissance is just as important, and someone has to do it," Mrs. Weasley reminded him. "Come on, Ron, check around Grimmauld Place—especially the road leading to the abandoned garage—and make sure there are no suspicious people."
"Okay, Mum, I'll go." Ron straightened up slightly, opened the door, and walked out.
Mrs. Weasley then turned to Hagrid, looking somewhat embarrassed. His size naturally drew attention, making it difficult for him to move unnoticed, no matter where he was.
"Hagrid, you... be ready to provide backup at any time. If Death Eaters end up chasing Harry, go help."
"No problem," Hagrid nodded, though his disappointment was evident.
He silently scolded himself. If he'd known Apparition would be necessary, he should have listened to Maxime and learned the spell properly.
Meanwhile, in Little Whinging, Privet Drive.
A boy moved cautiously along the street, keeping his head down beneath a hat, though he occasionally glanced up and around, revealing glimpses of his face. It was Harry Potter.
He seemed to be avoiding someone as he hurried away from Privet Drive, heading toward nearby Magnolia Crescent.
A man dressed like an office worker noticed him and quickly followed. Another man, dressed scruffily, dropped the newspaper he had been holding and followed as well.
Once they were gone, an ordinary gray car pulled out from the street in the opposite direction, blending into traffic and disappearing among the other vehicles.
Back in the garden of the house where the car had emerged, ripples shimmered in the air, and figures began to materialize.
"Hurry," Mr. Weasley urged. "While Tonks is keeping the Death Eaters busy, we need to get Harry out of here quickly."
Kyle appeared, followed by Hermione...
Sensing movement, the back door of the house swung open, and Harry, who had just left, ran back inside, rushing toward them.
Hermione stepped forward and wrapped him in a tight hug.
"Long time no see, Harry."
"Long time no see, Hermione," Harry replied cheerfully.
"So, Harry, are you ready?" Sirius asked.
"I've been ready for six years," Harry said, smiling at the luggage and the owl cage. "I didn't realize so many of you were coming."
"Better safe than sorry," Moody said gruffly.
"Okay, time is tight. Let's get started." He walked into the room, and the others followed suit.
"I'll make this short. We'll be using Apparition to get you out of here this time."
"Apparition?" Harry frowned. "But I haven't learned that magic yet."
"That's alright, you don't need to know it—you won't even have to Apparate as a follower," Mr. Weasley said, glancing at Kyle.
"I see."
Kyle stepped forward, set down the suitcase he had been carrying, and opened it. "Okay, come on in."
"What is this…" Harry looked at Kyle suspiciously, then suddenly, something clicked in his mind.
Right. Kyle's suitcase was enormous—so big that even a dragon could fit inside. Back at the Quidditch World Cup, they had hidden inside it to escape the Death Eaters. At that time, Ron had even fainted from the shock of seeing a dragon inside.
It had to be the same setup this time.
As Harry processed this, Mr. Weasley explained from the side, "We originally planned to make your entourage invisible, but Kyle happened to return after handling some things. His magical suitcase is more convenient, and more importantly, it won't reveal your presence."
"Afterwards, he'll take you straight back to 12 Grimmauld Place."
"Okay," Harry nodded instinctively. But then, a thought quickly surfaced—there was also a dragon in the suitcase.
He remembered the dragons from the Triwizard Tournament, the ones that could breathe fire dozens of feet in a single breath. His legs, which had just started to move, hesitated mid-step.
Coincidentally, Kyle added, "Right, once you're inside, don't wander off. Stay in the room at the entrance, and whatever you do, don't open that door."
"I know, there are some outside…" Harry started, glancing at Moody and Kingsley, but then he quickly shut his mouth.
He had almost forgotten—dragons were strictly forbidden, and Kingsley was an Auror.
"Not only that," Kyle continued, shaking his head. "There are also a few smaller ones inside. They're even faster, quite territorial, and don't know you well. Without me, they might see you as an enemy."
Hearing Kyle say this, Harry suddenly felt an instinctual reluctance to step inside the suitcase.
Really, being visible didn't seem like such a bad option after all. Worst case, he could just use his Invisibility Cloak and still remain hidden.
But before he could protest, someone gave him a shove from behind.
"Hurry up, Harry. We can explain everything once we're safe," Hermione said.
She knew him too well—she could tell exactly what he was thinking. Not wanting to waste any more time, she gave him another nudge.
Harry stumbled, one foot landing inside the suitcase, and before he could steady himself, he tumbled down the stairs inside.
Thud!
A dull thump echoed, followed by the sound of something being knocked over.
"Remember, the house is safe. No matter what you hear, don't open the door," Kyle reminded him again. Then, he tossed the luggage and owl inside before shutting the suitcase.
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from outside. The office worker from earlier, along with the scruffily dressed man, were running toward them.
"Operation begins—quickly!" Moody barked.
Hermione was the first to close her eyes and Disapparate.
Bill, Fred, and George followed, vanishing from the house at the same time.
Standing in the middle of the group, Kyle picked up the suitcase, glanced at the others, and said, "See you at Grimmauld Place."
Then, he disappeared on the spot.
When he reappeared, the tidy room had transformed into a dusty garage filled with cobwebs.
"You're finally here. I hope you didn't run into any trouble," Charlie said, rushing over and thrusting a broom at Kyle. "Here's your Firebolt. Hurry up—I'll cover your escape."
"Okay." Kyle didn't waste any time. Casting an invisibility spell over himself, he mounted the broom and shot out of the abandoned garage.
The Firebolt was incredibly fast, and within a minute, he spotted the familiar outline of Grimmauld Place.
The door at number 12 had already been opened in advance. Kyle didn't slow down—he charged straight inside.
At the sight of Kyle, Mrs. Weasley, who had been waiting anxiously, suddenly brightened.
As part of the group that had devised the plan, she knew Kyle had been responsible for bringing Harry. Now that Kyle had arrived, it meant Harry was safe.
"Where's Harry?" Hagrid asked urgently.
"Here," Kyle said, setting the suitcase down and opening it.
Harry immediately poked his head out, glancing around warily.
"Mrs. Weasley?"
"Oh, that's wonderful." Mrs. Weasley rushed forward, embracing him tightly. She was so overwhelmed with relief that she nearly burst into tears. "Thank goodness, you're safe."
A minute later, Charlie returned as well, looking completely unscathed—not even a speck of dirt on his clothes.
"How did it go?" someone asked.
"It was safe. Not a single Death Eater behind us," Charlie replied with a grin. "This plan was a complete success."
"Yes, the plan was a complete success," Kyle echoed with a laugh.
Five minutes later, Sirius returned via Portkey.
While Portkeys weren't as flexible as Apparition in emergencies, they were safer and untraceable as long as they weren't registered with the Ministry—making them ideal for the return journey.
Sirius twirled as he landed, immediately scanning the room. When he spotted Harry chatting with Hagrid, he exhaled in relief.
"How did it go over there?" Kyle asked.
"Fine," Sirius said, casually tossing an empty can aside. "The Death Eaters probably never thought Harry would go to Diagon Alley, so they didn't follow."
"Really?" Kyle's smile stiffened slightly, but he didn't say anything further.
One by one, the others returned.
Oddly, none of them seemed to have encountered any resistance. Everyone was unharmed.
Fred and George celebrated the success of the mission with their usual cheer, and Harry, clearly relieved, greeted everyone with a smile.
But Kyle frowned.
Something felt off. The operation had gone too smoothly—suspiciously so.
It was almost as if all their previous precautions had been unnecessary.
There was no way the Death Eaters would remain completely silent.
It was just… too strange.
Kyle couldn't shake the feeling that they could have walked Harry right out into the open, and nothing would have happened.
But for now, the others were happily celebrating Harry's safe arrival.
Kyle thought about it for a moment, then chose to keep his concerns to himself.