A deployment of seventy Death Eaters... this number is nearly as large as it was over ten years ago, when Voldemort's power was at its peak.
Although most of them were just brought in to pad the numbers, with varying levels of strength, it nevertheless poses a problem for the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry of Magic.
Voldemort didn't even appear. It was just one Bellatrix who managed to bring out seventy Death Eaters, which shows from another angle that their actual numbers must be far more than seventy.
One Bellatrix is like that, and then there's Antonin Dolohov, Lucius Malfoy, Barty Crouch Jr, Thorfinn, Yaxley... They are all Death Eaters whom Voldemort deeply trusts.
By this calculation, the number of Death Eaters must be at least five times as many, around three hundred and fifty.
In contrast, our side seems a bit understaffed.
The Order of the Phoenix, counting old and new members, numbers just over thirty, and the Aurors are about the same. The Beaters have a few more, but they don't exceed a hundred.
Even with the addition of guards and other combat personnel, their numbers barely reach around two hundred.
Two hundred at most and three hundred fifty at least—a clear discrepancy.
For a moment, everyone wore an expression of helplessness on their faces.
"Everyone, don't be so pessimistic; we've been through even more uneven wars, haven't we?" Lupin comforted everyone, "The last time, the Death Eaters outnumbered us thirty to one, but they still lost."
But his words didn't have much effect.
Everyone present knew very well the reason for the Death Eaters' past defeat... it had nothing to do with the Ministry of Magic or the Order of the Phoenix; the most crucial reason was that Voldemort died.
Or, others thought he died.
The prophesied Savior killed the invincible Dark Lord, the Death Eaters lost their leader, and the strongest White Wizard, Dumbledore, seized the opportunity to lead the Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix to crush them.
Hearing these words could stir one's blood, but ultimately it boiled down to luck; if Voldemort hadn't died, no one could guarantee what the outcome would have been.
Even if they could win, it would likely just be a pyrrhic victory.
At this thought, some couldn't help but look at Harry...
"What?" Harry asked.
"No, nothing." Kingsley said, "I just wanted to remind you, having lost seventy Death Eaters, You-Know-Who will not let it go. He will definitely look for a way to retaliate.
"So for the next period, if it's not something particularly important, you best not leave here."
"But I can't just hide here forever," Harry frowned, "We're starting school soon, and I have to go to King's Cross Station then."
"Well... I think it's best not to go to King's Cross Station." Kingsley said.
"Then how are we supposed to get to school?" Hermione said, a bit anxious.
"The train's not the only way to get to Hogwarts, dear," Mrs. Weasley came over, putting a basket of fried potatoes on the table. "We'll find a way to get you to Hogwarts safely. Portkeys, Floo Network are good options."
"I prefer Apparition." Sirius said, "Getting them to Hogsmeade via Apparition is the safest way. To be honest, I don't really trust the Floo Network under Ministry of Magic's supervision."
"I feel the same way." Lupin said, glancing at Kingsley, "Of course, this isn't aimed at you; I just suspect the Death Eaters might have already turned someone in the Department of Transportation, and there are quite a few wizards skilled in the Imperio among them."
"I understand, Remus." Kingsley nodded, "Regardless of the method, the ultimate goal is to get Harry Potter safely to Hogwarts.
"Once at Hogwarts, under Dumbledore's protection, he'll be safe."
As they spoke of this, Kael sat there silently.
This year's Hogwarts might not be so safe either.
The only good news now is that no one else but him knows Dumbledore's whereabouts, and without solid information, Voldemort wouldn't dare act recklessly.
"By the way, we still need to arrange some personnel to go to Hogsmeade," Moody said, "Last year, someone tried to use cursed Dark Arts items to set up Kael."
"It was Malfoy who did it." Harry suddenly spoke up, "He admitted it at the tower, and he's the one who used the Imperio on Ms. Rosmerta to get her to give Slughorn a Love Potion."
"Malfoy?" Ron was somewhat surprised, "What did he say exactly, I've never heard you mention this."
"I didn't say it?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Of course not, ask Hermione if you don't believe me." Ron said.
Hermione nodded, "No."
"Then maybe I forgot." Harry said, "That day, he said a lot and even admitted that he had wanted to kill Kael and Dumbledore ever since he started school, but never succeeded."
"And you kept this important information from us?" Ron said loudly, finding it hard to accept for a moment.
After all, most of the time, Harry would tell them whatever happened; now he was changing?
"I didn't do it on purpose; I really forgot." Harry quickly explained, "You know, something even more unbelievable happened that day, if Alastor hadn't just mentioned this, I might not have remembered."