Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 525, Section 523: The New Teaching Assistant

“This is extremely dangerous, children. Since Professor Lupin is with you, he shouldn't always be near danger—”

Professor McGonagall spoke sternly to Sheehan, a tone that made Harry shrink back.

"But anyway, you did a great job, son."

As Professor McGonagall spoke, she approached the young wizard and gently kissed his forehead.

Harry felt a sense of unreality about it all; he felt as if he were floating in the air, watching everything he couldn't accept.

He began to suspect that Professor McGonagall might be an imposter.

Sheehan was stunned as well, seeing the worry and relief overflowing in Professor McGonagall's eyes.

He looked down at his robes; the silver-trimmed fabric was of luxurious quality, something Professor McGonagall had taken him to buy.

The professors have always been restrained and tried their best to play their roles. Sometimes they forget that the professors are also becoming an important part of a young wizard's family for the first time.

She always restrained herself and tested the boundaries, but feelings are not always something that can be weighed.

"I will be careful."

Sheen said in a low voice.

"That's enough."

Professor McGonagall smiled faintly, then looked at Harry, who was still in a daze.

"Professor Lupin also said you weren't feeling well on the train, Potter."

"Oh...I...I..."

Seeing Professor McGonagall's stern expression return, Harry was so bewildered that he said nothing.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and then the school doctor, Ms. Pomfrey, hurriedly walked in.

"How about Potter? Is he alright?"

She asked anxiously.

Harry snapped out of his daze and realized he must have blushed.

What did he just see?
Oh, that's important, but it seems he has other troubles too.

That means he seems to have fainted on the train.

Whether he had fainted or something else, it was bad enough, but seeing Professor McGonagall and Mrs. Pomfrey making such a fuss made him feel even more embarrassed.

"I'm fine."

He says,

I don't need anything—

"Oh, Potter!"

As if she hadn't heard him, Ms. Pomfrey leaned down and scrutinized him closely.
"I bet you're up to something dangerous again, aren't you?"

"It's a Dementor, Poppy."

Professor McGonagall said.

They exchanged a somber look, and Ms. Pomfrey clucked in discontent like a hen.

"Send Dementors around the school,"

She muttered something as she brushed Harry's hair back and touched his forehead.
He won't be the first person to faint.

Yes, he was cold and wet. They're terrible creatures; the impact they have on someone already so vulnerable—”

"I am not weak!"

Harry said angrily.

"Of course you are not fragile."

Ms. Pomfrey said absentmindedly, and began to feel his pulse again.

What does he need?

Professor McGonagall asked directly and concisely,

"Bedtime? Maybe he should stay overnight at the school hospital?"

"I'm fine!"

Harry stood up as he spoke.

He couldn't bear the thought of what Draco Malfoy would say if he had to be hospitalized.

"Well, at least he should eat some chocolate."

Ms. Pomfrey said she was now observing Harry's eyes again.

“I’ve already eaten some,”

Harry said,
Professor Lupin gave me some. He then shared the chocolates with all of us.

And Sheehan, he gave me his pumpkin pie.

"Green, you're here too, kid?"

That's great, you always make things easy for me.

Ms. Pomfrey said approvingly,
"What's even more gratifying is that we finally have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows how to address the root cause of the problem."

"Are you really alright, Potter?"

Professor McGonagall asked sternly.

"Yes."

"Very well," Harry said. "Please wait outside for a moment. I need to speak with Mr. H.G. Greene, and then we'll go downstairs together for the banquet."

Professor McGonagall said.

The gate was closed.

Sheehan met Professor McGonagall's stern yet gentle gaze.

"He's the manager of your bookstore?"

Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yes, Professor."

Sheen said.

"Lupin is indeed a very capable wizard, but you'd better stay away from him."

Professor McGonagall pondered.

Sheen never asked why, he just nodded.

"Go to the banquet, child."

Professor McGonagall was always pleased with this.

The auditorium was a sea of ​​pointed black hats, and every long college table was filled with students whose faces were illuminated by thousands of candles floating above them.

Professor Flitwick, a short wizard with a full head of white hair, walked out of the Great Hall carrying an antique hat and a three-legged stool.

"Oh,"

As Harry returned to the long table, he whispered in Sheehan's ear,
"We missed the Sorting Ceremony."

"what happened?"

After I sat down, Justin suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

This is clearly Ravenclaw's long table.

"correct."

Hermione also appeared.

They looked on with curiosity, and before Sheen could explain, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and spoke.

"welcome!"

Dumbledore said that the candlelight shone brightly on his beard.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts! I have a few things to tell you all, one of which is very important, so I think it's best to get it straight before you get too caught up in your delicious meal and your brains start to fog up..."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued:

"We have recently received several Dementors from Azkaban. They were sent by the Ministry of Magic on official business, as you probably already know, because they searched the Hogwarts Express."

He paused.

Sheehan knew that Dumbledore had originally been unwilling to allow the Ministry of Magic to send Dementors to guard the school.

But Headmaster Dumbledore always adhered to the Ministry of Magic's rules; in fact, he could have easily refused.

Sometimes Sheehan thinks that this is because the principal is confident that he has the ability to take responsibility for the consequences.

But for the young wizards, this is not exactly a good thing.

“They are stationed at every entrance to the school,”

Dumbledore continued,
"I must make it clear that no one is allowed to leave the school without permission while they are around. No tricks, schemes, or disguises can fool the Dementors—not even the Invisibility Cloak."

He added casually,
"Dementors do not understand explanations or pleas for mercy. Therefore, I remind everyone here not to give them a reason to harm you."

I hope the prefect and our newly elected student council presidents will ensure that no student gets into a conflict with a Dementor.

Dumbledore paused again, his expression very serious as he surveyed the Great Hall. No one moved or made a sound.

"Let's change to a more pleasant topic,"

He continued,

"I am delighted to welcome three new teachers to our team this semester."

First, Professor Lupin readily agreed to fill the vacancy in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

A few cold, sparse claps rang out in the auditorium.

Only the students who shared a compartment with Professor Lupin on the train clapped enthusiastically; Sheen saw that Justin was about to break his hand from clapping.

"As for our second new teacher,"

After the sparse applause that had greeted Professor Lupin subsided, Dumbledore continued,

“Oh, by the way, let him come forward… Well then, Mr. Green, our dear Potions teaching assistant, I'm afraid you won’t be able to sit in your student seat today…”

Dumbledore blinked and said mischievously.

Sheen hadn't expected such news to be announced, so he could only stand up in silence and walk towards the head table.

As he walked, the auditorium gradually went from silent to frenzied.

The Ravenclaw wizards applauded wildly, and the Hufflepuffs were not to be outdone; the applause from both houses almost lifted the roof off the Great Hall.

At the Gryffindor table, Fred and George were practically standing up to applaud. Fred winked at George, who could see a group of Slytherins also clapping reservedly.

“Oh, very good, isn’t it? We’ve all seen Mr. Green’s abilities, and Professor Snape and I both trust him to do this job exceptionally well.”

This job may not have been particularly glamorous for him, but naturally, all greatness begins with a small start.

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes crinkling, as he watched the young wizard walk toward the two empty seats.

The first seat was near Professor Lu Ping, who was looking at him expectantly.
The second spot was next to Professor Snape, who was staring intently at Lupin.

(End of this chapter)