Hogwarts: Becoming the White Lord from Breathing

Chapter 148 Valentine's Day Assessment Preparations
"Cough cough!"

Seeing the professors looking at him with complicated expressions, Damon awkwardly put down his tea.

"Are you talking about me?"

His expression was innocent and somewhat amusing, but none of the professors could laugh.

Professor McGonagall looked at him, wanting to reprimand him but unable to bring herself to do so, and could only ask:
"Child, are you aware of what happened?"

“No,” Damon answered decisively. “However, Professor, if you would like me to do something, please tell me.”

Seeing that his attitude was fairly good, Professor McGonagall paused, glanced at Dumbledore, and said, "You go ahead and explain."

Dumbledore glanced at Professor McGonagall again—I don’t even know the situation, how can I say anything?
His relationship with Damon was already somewhat delicate—although he took this disciple, he never taught him, and now Damon doesn't even call him teacher anymore. What can he say?
He didn't want to upset his precious student.

Moreover, he genuinely didn't know how to resolve the matter—Dumbledore was a staunch defender of his students' right to free love, even if it meant countless people would be heartbroken.

But what did Damon do wrong?

He simply picked a girl to go on a date; that wouldn't be a problem for anyone.

Professor McGonagall glared at Dumbledore, then looked pleadingly at Professor Flitwick—she really didn't know what to do, and given her personality, she was unwilling to do anything that might go against Damon's wishes.

Flitwick was also in a dilemma—this matter was neither simple nor difficult. He did have a solution in mind, but he was unwilling to be the 'bad guy' by offering it.

During the intermission, all the professors who were most suitable to play the villains turned their attention to Snape.

As if guessing what they were thinking, Snape's face twitched.

But he still spoke up—was he afraid of offending Damon? What a joke!

Moreover, this whole thing was originally this kid's responsibility.

“I suggest—” Snape began, but his expression still held some hesitation, “that we leave the arrangements for Damon’s Valentine’s Day to the school.”

Everyone's attention turned to Damon—why was he still eating cake?!
"Oh—I'm sorry."

Everyone's eyes dimmed, and then they heard him say:
"I want to eat more sweets while I'm young and won't get fat. You know—if you still love sweets when you're old, you're more likely to get fat and sick."

Seeing that he wasn't talking about the suggestion from earlier, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Dumbledore said gently:

"Yes, there's also the issue of dental health. I have many potions for repairing teeth; take some with you when you leave."

Because of his love for candy, he was a major consumer of this potion—of course, the vast majority of which were made by Snape using the school's funds.

Snape did indeed criticize him:
"It was clearly the potion I concocted, yet you're playing the good guy here?"

"Yes, yes, Severus, this is all thanks to you."

Dumbledore acknowledged this, but it didn't ease Snape's expression in the slightest. He looked at Damon with disdain:
"Alright, kid, you still haven't given me a response regarding the suggestion I just mentioned."

"What are your plans for Valentine's Day? I don't really care, but I have to have classes that day, so the schedule will be very tight."

“We can make an exception and give that day off—” Professor McGonagall didn’t expect to say such a thing. Ever since she met Damon, things always seemed to turn out this way. But for the sake of the students, this was the only way.

"Anyway—given the situation of those kids, it doesn't really make a difference whether they get a holiday or not."

At this point, a sense of urgency crept into her heart. "We can't let things get any worse!"

She then looked at Dumbledore:

"I've decided to give Damon two days off, on Valentine's Day and the eve of Valentine's Day, to girls from all seven grade levels—one from each grade—to use a Transfiguration test to determine the winner. What do you think?"

“I think it’s a brilliant idea, Minerva.”

“I disagree,” Professor Flitwick suddenly interjected. “Why not a contest of Charms, but Transfiguration? You know, Minerva, that will ignite the students’ enthusiasm. At least it should be fifty-fifty, right?”

Do you think I don't exist?

Snape looked grim.

He was the one who spoke first and was the bad guy, but the fruits of his labor were taken by someone else? Why?
"Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts should both be included in the assessment!"

"Snape, can you please stop making things worse at a time like this?"

"How can this be considered adding to the chaos? Professor McGonagall, are you being fair?"

"Alright, alright, we can discuss this in more detail later—Damon, are you willing?"

Fritilla reassured the two, who had once been teacher and student, and then asked Damon for advice.

“I have no objection. But I need to know exactly what you’re planning to do—also, I’ve already given Luna the time slot at 8 p.m. on Valentine’s Day.”

"Ha! Who doesn't know? Isn't it because of your foolish and rash behavior, like a rooster showing off its bright red comb, that so many witches have been heartbroken? Do you really have to agree to this in public? How eager are you to show off your popularity?"

?

Am I giving you too much credit, Snape?

Damon was about to retort, but before he could speak, the other professors had already had enough.

“Severus, I think your accusations are completely unfounded.” Professor McGonagall looked directly at him, her expression serious.

"Damon didn't do anything wrong, he's just too popular."

“Yes, Professor Snape, I think your assessment of him is unfair—just because he’s not a Slytherin student, you view Damon with such prejudice, which is not something to be praised.”

Even Professor Flitwick's words became a bit more intense—he looked at Damon, subtly raising an eyebrow at him, as if to say—"Don't worry, we all support you, he can't cause any trouble."

As they entered their second year, after discovering that Damon had mastered all the spells, Professor Flitwick's favoritism towards Damon became increasingly apparent—no matter how many points Snape deducted from Damon, Professor Flitwick would always add them back in his own class after finding out, and Professor McGonagall did the same.

This ironically led to the fact that the more points Snape deducted from Damon, the higher Gryffindor's House Cup score became—and everyone accepted this happening.

This made Snape hesitant to deduct points from Damon's grades—he now focused his criticism on Harry and Neville so the other professors wouldn't say anything.

“It seems you’re the one in the wrong, Professor Snape—you should learn how to be a good professor, especially since you’re teaching a second course.”

Damon shrugged at Professor Snape, barely able to suppress a laugh.

(End of this chapter)