Chapter 556: Testing the Waters

Sirius and Lupin worked quickly, and by the following day, they had already started cleaning up the Shrieking Shack.

As Kyle had warned, restoring a house that had been abandoned for years was no small task. The place was infested with pests like Doxies and Wood Lice, and Lupin even discovered two Boggarts hiding in the attic.

Sirius proposed demolishing the entire structure and rebuilding it from scratch, arguing it would be faster. However, Lupin disagreed, insisting that the Shrieking Shack was still structurally sound and it would be wasteful to destroy it. After a lengthy debate, they reached a compromise: they would keep the house intact but clear out everything inside, making the cleanup process more efficient.

Kyle had visited the Shrieking Shack once before, using the secret passage beneath the Whomping Willow. This time, while Sirius and Lupin busied themselves with the renovation, the noise they made attracted the attention of Hogsmeade's shopkeepers. Curious about the commotion, many of them gathered to investigate.

Some, like Mr. Ambrosius Flume and his wife from Honeydukes, even pitched in, helping to clear the yard of weeds and Flesh-Eating Slugs.

The shopkeepers were generally welcoming, as Hogsmeade was a tight-knit community, and the prospect of reviving the infamous Shrieking Shack intrigued them. Despite its eerie reputation, the Shack's dilapidated state had begun to tarnish the village's appearance, and they were glad to see it getting some attention.

Kyle didn't stay long, though. Lupin sent him home after about half an hour, assuring him that small tasks like cleaning didn't require his help. Besides, it wasn't a designated Hogsmeade visiting day, and if any professors spotted Kyle at The Three Broomsticks having a drink, he might face demerits or even detention. Understanding the risks, Kyle nodded and left without protest.

As he walked away from Whomping Willow, Kyle thought he spotted Harry, Hermione, and Ron on the school grounds.

The three seemed to be attempting to remain unseen, as they were draped in Harry's Cloak of Invisibility. However, their feet were still visible, creating a peculiar sight.

Realizing they were near the Whomping Willow and likely didn't want to be noticed, Kyle chose to act as though he hadn't seen them and continued on his way without a second glance.

On Monday morning, Dumbledore returned to the castle.

That same day, the newspaper featured a short, easily overlooked line:

"Decree restricting Aurors not passed."

The words were tiny, wedged between two larger articles, making them hard to notice unless you looked closely.

Despite this, Professor Moody was livid. During the afternoon's Defense Against the Dark Arts class, he openly criticized the Ministry, accusing its officials of incompetence. He claimed they were all talk and had no idea about the daily challenges Aurors faced.

"I think the professor is right," Cho said seriously from her seat. "If the Ministry had actually passed that restrictive decree, I would never consider becoming an Auror."

"Don't worry," Kyle replied with a grin. "If they really passed it, tomorrow we'd probably read about Aurors resigning en masse."

As he spoke, Kyle slid the Marauder's Map back into his pocket. Since Professor Moody had been absent for a month, Kyle had brought the map with him before class, just to check something.

The good news was that Moody's name still didn't appear on the map—just as it hadn't before.

Still, to be cautious, Kyle hurried out of the classroom as soon as the lesson ended. Catching up with Professor Moody, who hadn't gone far, he called out to him.

"Professor..." Kyle began calmly, "didn't you say you wanted to assess our mastery of the Shield Charm? You didn't mention it just now—are we covering it in the next class?"

"Shield Charm?" Professor Moody turned to look at him, his normal eye narrowing while the magical blue one swiveled to fix on Kyle.

"I think you must have remembered that wrong," Moody said firmly. "The Shield Charm was part of the first lesson, and I've already spent plenty of time teaching it. Whether you've learned it or not, I won't waste any more time on it—it's pointless."

"Then I must have remembered incorrectly," Kyle replied, his tone neutral. "Maybe it was Professor Black who mentioned it when he was covering for you last month."

"If that's the case, forget about it," Moody said, his gaze shifting briefly to the students passing in the corridor. "At least while I'm teaching, you can be sure I won't waste time checking your Shield Charm again."

"I understand, Professor," Kyle said, turning to leave.

Moody's magical eye tracked his movements, and a peculiar smile spread across his scarred face—one that was equal parts unsettling and amused.

"You're a sharp one, boy," Moody rasped. "Sharper than those bumbling Ministry idiots. Not one of them suspected I might be an impostor—no caution, no vigilance. Pitiful."

Kyle blinked, feigning confusion. "I don't understand what you mean, Professor." His tone was measured, but he couldn't deny that Moody's words hit uncomfortably close to home.

Moody, however, seemed entirely uninterested in Kyle's reaction and continued, "Verification is essential. Everyone knows I only drink from my own flask." He tapped the flask tucked into his pocket. "If someone wanted to impersonate me, all they'd have to do is fill this with Polyjuice Potion and sip it every hour. Simple, isn't it?"

Kyle remained silent. What was there to say? After all, someone had done exactly that.

"Have you thought about becoming an Auror?" Moody asked abruptly.

"An Auror?" Kyle repeated, shaking his head. "Not at the moment, but maybe someday."

"Well, you should," Moody said, his tone gruff but not unkind. He pointed to his magical eye. "I trust my instincts, and you're sharp—more vigilant than most, and that's what matters most. Vigilance is an Auror's greatest weapon."

"And you," Moody added, his voice taking on a rare note of approval, "you've got that weapon. Mark my words, boy—you'll make a legendary Auror someday, just like your mother."

"My mother?" Kyle paused, caught off guard. Until now, he'd only wanted to escape the conversation as quickly as possible, but Moody's statement surprised him. "Professor, I think you must be mistaken. My mother isn't an Auror."

"Mistaken? No, I'm not," Moody said with a low chuckle. "Diana wasn't just any Auror—she was exceptional, one of the best I've ever seen. She could've taken over the Auror Office one day if she'd stayed."

Kyle frowned, his surprise giving way to skepticism.

"But she didn't stay," Moody continued, his voice carrying a note of regret. "And now, I think she made the right choice. The Ministry today is corrupt—rotten to the core. And Fudge? That man doesn't care about doing the job well, only about holding on to power."

Moody's temper flared again, and without waiting for a response, he turned and began limping down the corridor toward his office, muttering curses under his breath.

Even as Moody's uneven steps faded, the echo of his grumbling about the Ministry lingered in the air.