"I know, but isn't this a special situation?" Kael said somewhat guiltily.
He's about to graduate and doesn't want to stir up trouble now—what if he's expelled like Newt and becomes a dropout?
How embarrassing would that be—to say out loud?
Dumbledore remained silent, quietly watching Kael.
But the situation didn't last long.
"Professor, you've locked the Room of Requirement door, haven't you?" Kael asked, though his tone was very assured.
The situation shifted again, now making Dumbledore feel uneasy.
"How do you know?"
"I guessed," Kael replied, "After all, Rowena Ravenclaw wouldn't do something unnecessary like this."
Dumbledore fell silent once more.
"Professor, she seems barely breathing now," Harry suddenly spoke up. "Is everything okay?"
"I will explain," Dumbledore finally said, looking at Kael. "But for now, we must first settle what's in front of us."
Kael thought similarly, glancing at Alecto behind Dumbledore.
There should be five elite Death Eaters this time; two have escaped, the rest remain in Hogwarts.
Kael wasn't too satisfied with this result, though only slightly so; after all, he didn't expect to handle them all with a single Fiendfyre Curse.
After all, they are elite Death Eaters—if it were that simple, Voldemort's taste in choosing people would seem lacking.
Apart from them, the remaining Death Eaters in the castle were just numbers to attract the professors' attention—a distraction not worth worrying about.
At this moment, Snape returned, entering the tower through the empty window, looking at Kael and the surrounding dark walls, with a very complex expression.
"Did you really have to use Fiendfyre?" he said deeply. "That's Dark Magic."
"But it's the most suitable," Kael shrugged, "I was facing four enemies... hmm, maybe six?"
Kael quietly continued, glancing at Snape and the fainted Malfoy not far away.
Snape's face changed; as he was about to speak, Kael continued, "Anyway, in this situation, I couldn't foolishly duel them; the opportunity was once, and must be seized when they're careless."
"In this narrow space, without using Apparition, what could be more suitable than Fiendfyre?"
"What if Fiendfyre went out of control!" Snape said, his face dark.
Even he nearly got caught earlier; if Dumbledore reacted slower, Harry and Malfoy wouldn't have escaped either.
"I trust Professor Dumbledore," Kael said calmly. "Though he seemed weak and helpless earlier, disarmed even, he wouldn't neglect students' safety."
Dumbledore's face showed some embarrassment, unable to refute.
He had his own plans, but didn't expect Kael to suddenly appear from the Room of Requirement.
With Kael's involvement, the situation immediately changed, and the anticipated outcome completely altered.
While they talked, footsteps echoed around them.
Mr. Weasley hurried over, looking at the dark tower, shocked.
"Outrageous, truly outrageous, for these Death Eaters to dare use Fiendfyre in school!" Mr. Weasley blurted out.
But Bill disagreed; he looked at the unharmed Kael and the unconscious Alecto on the ground, coughed lightly, and nudged Mr. Weasley.
Mr. Weasley realized then, recalling how Kael had used Fiendfyre to burn through the earthen blocking wall downstairs.
Could it be...
"Ahem..." Mr. Weasley immediately closed his mouth, saying nothing more.
"How are things, Professor Dumbledore?" He changed the subject, "Are you alright?"
"Alright." Dumbledore said softly. "Severus, can you take Alecto and Mr. Malfoy to the Hospital Wing?"
"Make sure they don't escape; we have many questions for them."
"Understood," Snape said, grabbing Malfoy and Alecto on the floor and striding off downstairs, without pause upon passing Kael.
Kael didn't stop him; he let them vanish down the spiral staircase.
"Let's go back." Dumbledore said. "Arthur, could you meet the Ministry of Magic personnel? I think they'll be here soon."
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore." Mr. Weasley replied.
Gradually, everyone left the tower.
Harry walked at the end, gazing at Kael in the crowd, with hints of fear in his eyes.
Though already having experienced a similar scene, compared to the Triwizard Tournament, this time Kael's Fiendfyre seemed even darker.
Suddenly, he felt disoriented; enemies even Dumbledore had trouble dealing with were resolved this way?
Seeing his bewilderment, Dumbledore softly said, "An erroneous example, Harry; few choose to use Fiendfyre in such confined spaces—Death Eaters didn't foresee it."
"I know." Harry said.