A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts Chapter 111: Dumbledore’s Afternoon Tea

The young wizards who were eating breakfast in the auditorium whispered.

Hermione borrowed a newspaper from the seat next to her, pointed to the words on it and said, "Look here," Lockhart tampered with wizards' memories, obtained their stories, and used Empty to make them forget everything .Only seven victims have been found so far, whose memories have been permanently damaged.'”

The chicken legs in Ron's mouth were no longer fragrant, "So, I almost lost my memory forever?"

He still finds it inconceivable that with Lockhart's usual level of magic, he was able to succeed in sneak attacks repeatedly.

Harry also said with lingering fear: "You may not even know that you have lost your memory. Who would have thought that he is a real master of the Forgetting Curse?"

"It's horrible, I actually spent a week in an office with such a person." Ron took a big gulp of pumpkin juice.

"I don't know who captured Lockhart?"

"Isn't it an Auror from the Ministry of Magic? I heard from Dean."

"Impossible, I asked the fat lady, and she said that no outsiders came that day." Hermione said casually.

"How does she know?" Ron was shocked, "It's just a portrait."

"Ron, the portrait also retains its own personality. The fat lady is keen on opera and chatting. She often visits other portraits when no one is around." Hermione narrowed her eyes, "As long as you praise her more Sing a few lines well, and she'll be happy to share some gossip with you."

"And to be fair, her songs aren't bad."

……

That afternoon, in the principal's office, Felix and Dumbledore sat face to face, and the two discussed the aftermath of Lockhart's arrest.

On the table were plates of small cakes and biscuits, and two glasses of pumpkin juice.

"Unfortunately, more people may be hurt than originally expected." Dumbledore said softly.

"More than his adventures?"

"Yes, he can't guarantee that every story he encounters is attractive enough."

Felix flipped through the newspapers on the table, "Why didn't you see the report on Rita Skeeter?" This is not like her.

Could it be that he was afraid that his attack on Lockhart would be exposed? But memory can be difficult to use as evidence, especially when the perpetrator is a master of memory himself. Even if Lockhart identified Rita Skeeter in court, it would not mean much.

"She has encountered some trouble." Dumbledore inserted a piece of cake with a small fork, "It tastes quite good, Felix, I highly recommend it."

Felix inserted a piece into his mouth, "Will she put herself in trouble? That's a smart person."

Dumbledore glanced at him, "Smart people also make mistakes, and they are more likely to find loopholes in the rules than ordinary people, so the mistakes they make may be bigger."

"So her trouble is—"

"According to the information I got, she did everything possible to find out the inside story of Lockhart's arrest, and then rushed to the Ministry of Magic to register Animagus on the same day."

"Animagus." Felix swallowed the cake and repeated. "Yeah, Animagus, illegal Animagus..."

He finally understood why Rita Skeeter attacked Lockhart.

"I guess, her transformation must be some kind of tiny creature." Felix's tone was very sure.

"It's a beetle." Dumbledore said calmly, "If the facts are as we think, there is a reason for her being well-informed all these years. From your previous judgment, Lockhart has been under the Oblivion Curse , but he has gotten rid of the influence of the spell, which puts her in a very embarrassing situation."

Memories can be faked, but magic doesn't lie. If Lockhart really testified that Rita Skeeter was an illegal Animagus, there must be quite a few people at the Ministry of Magic who would be interested in checking it out.

In the past few years, Rita Skeeter has acted recklessly and offended many people.

"I don't think it will be easy for her," Felix said.

After a moment of silence, Felix said: "Principal Dumbledore, there are still five months until the next school year, what about the school's Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"

Dumbledore also showed a distressed expression, he couldn't help but smack his lips and sighed, "The professor of this course consumes really fast."

"So, the Dark Lord's curse is real?"

"I think so. Since I rejected Voldemort, no Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has been able to teach for more than a year." Dumbledore said, "I think he must be very angry and was rejected twice. .”

"Twice?" Felix looked at him strangely. "You rejected him twice?"

I, who was rejected three times, are still eating cake in the principal's office.

"No, Felix." Dumbledore blinked and said relaxedly, "Headmaster Dippet thought he was too young and rejected him. After that he disappeared for ten years, when he came again When I applied for a job, I barely recognized him, and I definitely turned him down."

"Professor Snape has always been obsessed with this class." Felix played the side drum for his dean.

"Severus..." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows: "I will not give this class to him."

"Why? When I was in school, no one died, only one or two suffered minor injuries. It seems that the curse has little effect."

"That's because no one has served on this course for more than a year." Dumbledore sighed softly. "This is the only way I can come up with, but after more than 30 years, the reputation of this course has not been very good, and it is getting more and more difficult to find qualified teachers."

This is indeed true.

The reason why Felix rejects the Defense Against the Dark Arts class is because, on the one hand, the default term of appointment for this class is one year, which is never an exception, and it does not meet his purpose; on the other hand, this position is really evil, Every professor has more or less accidents at the end of the term.

But in his view, the risk this time is not great. Snape can completely substitute for half a year's class, at worst, hand it over to the new professor next year.

Felix gave his suggestion.

"But Severus will stay at Hogwarts to teach next year, won't he?" Dumbledore looked at him meaningfully.

"You mean, as long as this person is still in school, the curse will not stop?" Felix asked keenly.

"According to my observation, this is the case. I also invited several resigned Defense Against the Dark Arts professors to transfer to other positions, and a serious accident occurred..." Dumbledore fell into memory, "But the interim It doesn't matter a class or two."

The information he disclosed was astonishing. It was almost saying that once you are infected with the curse, you must escape from Hogwarts for at most one year, otherwise you will not be spared even if you resign from the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Dumbledore would not seek anyone, but Snape.

Felix completely dismissed the idea of ​​helping him get a teaching position in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and the two began to discuss the curse itself.

"How did he do it?" Felix asked.

This seemed unbelievable to him, since Voldemort's curse was a little too closely associated with the school.

But Hogwarts itself has a very good defense system, and it is difficult to be influenced by outsiders.

"The rest are all my guesses, and it's time to chat during afternoon tea."

"Of course."

"I think Voldemort cleverly used his status as the heir of Slytherin, and he is also very good at curses... In short, when the two are combined, the effect is amazing." said Dumbledore.

"Can Voldemort affect the operation of Hogwarts?" Felix asked terrified. This statement is amazing...

"No, Felix. The Hogwarts order has existed for thousands of years. Even if Salazar Slytherin returns, he will not be able to reoccupy the school."

"Then—"

"Voldemort paid a huge price. Judging from all signs, he gave up Hogwarts' protection for him forever-this is the power that belongs exclusively to the descendants of the four founders, and he imposed this power with his own hatred. Curse."

After a long silence——

"What is the way to lift the curse?"

"Voldemort's death." Dumbledore lowered his gaze.

"So you knew early on that he wasn't dead?"

"Yes, I have always known." Dumbledore murmured, "The existence of the curse explains everything."

Next, the two discussed the curse for a long time, and Felix knew a lot about Hogwarts.

When Felix said goodbye and left, Dumbledore sat quietly in a chair. On a table with slender legs, there was a group of outlandish silverware, which spun and sprayed small puffs. Smoke ~IndoMTL.com~ There are portraits of the former male and female principals on the wall, they whispered and discussed the topic they had just discussed in a low voice.

On the shelf of the cabinet opposite the table was a tattered, crumpled wizard hat. At this moment, a slit near the brim of the Sorting Hat opened like a mouth: "Dumbledore, this is not like you."

Dumbledore put his slender fingers together, "Do you have any insights, Sorting Hat? I'm all ears."

"You said a lot today, I thought...you would bury it in your heart."

"Maybe I'm just aroused, Felix is ​​a good listener."

"Perhaps...but you are revealing the school's secrets little by little, and that is the sole authority of the headmaster. Dumbledore..."

Portraits on the wall stare at the Sorting Hat.

"... I guess, you want to train that boy?"

Dumbledore smiled, his beard trembling slightly: "The Sorting Hat, what do you think of him, from your own perspective?"

"He wants to study me, I can tell, although he hides this idea tightly. He is really an excellent wizard, reminds me of Ms. Ravenclaw, and I am very much looking forward to his growth." Branch said the Cap with a grin.

Dumbledore showed a surprised expression. He has been with the Sorting Hat for nearly half a century. He naturally knows that although the Sorting Hat respects the four founders, it has the most special feelings for two of them. One is Gryffin Many, the other is Ravenclaw.

This is a very high evaluation for the Sorting Hat.

The old man regained his composure. He said: "Voldemort's sense of presence is getting stronger and stronger. I have a hunch that it will not be long before he returns. I also need to make some preparations, although they may not be useful. .”