Hogwarts: Don't call me the Staff Maker

Chapter 771 A Different New School Year

It seems like it rains heavily every year on the first day of Hogwarts, and this year was no exception.

The sky was clear in the morning, but by evening it was suddenly covered by thick dark clouds, and a torrential downpour almost flooded the Hogwarts Express.

Fortunately, the train eventually came to a safe stop at Hogsmeade Station.

As Ginny stepped off the train, she instinctively looked toward the path next to the platform.

At this time of year, Hagrid would hold up an oil lamp that had been used for who knows how many years, and beckon the first-year students to take the ferry with him to the castle. This has been a Hogwarts tradition for many years.

The train has stopped, but the path is deserted; there's not a soul in sight.

Hagrid didn't come, and no professors came to pick them up. Bewildered, the freshmen instinctively followed the older students, braving the heavy rain towards the carriage.

It seems that the school's tradition, which has lasted for over a thousand years, is about to be broken today.

However, at this time, no one cared about the newborn.

Apart from the Slytherins, the other students walked quietly, looking uneasy, unsure of what they were about to face.

"My mother wants me to transfer to Beauxbatons, but I refused," Seamus Finnigan said softly, looking at the noticeably fewer classmates around him. "I only want to go to Hogwarts, even though it's going to be dangerous here this year."

"Me too." Neville helped the bewildered freshmen open the carriage door. "But my grandmother has never mentioned transferring schools. In any case, I will return to Hogwarts."

"I wonder how Harry and Sheryl are doing." He wiped the rain off his face. "I heard from my grandmother that the Man of Varian is looking for them everywhere and has even put up a bounty on their heads at the Ministry of Magic."

"I've heard about it too." Dean Thomas eagerly flung open the carriage door. "500 Galleons for providing clues, and if you can capture them and take them to the Mystic, you can immediately become one of the Death Eater leaders—isn't that a tempting offer?"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look, staring at Dean Thomas with hostile eyes.

"Hey guys, don't look at me like that. I never intended to betray them." Dean quickly raised his hand. "I mean, being a Death Eater is a cushy job right now. After all, once you join them, you can do whatever you want."

Everyone fell silent.

Although it's hard to admit, the Death Eaters who control the Ministry of Magic can indeed do whatever they want.

"That's not necessarily true—"

At that moment, Ginny, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "The Man from Darkness won't catch Harry and Hillon, never!"

"I hope so," Simon sighed.

Then everyone got into the carriage, and Thestrals pulled them along, swaying and rocking as they headed toward the castle.

Seeing Professor McGonagall still standing in the middle of the hallway waiting for them, just as they remembered, many students breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the next second, the appearance of someone shattered this familiar scene.

Alecto Caro walked over and looked at the students who were soaked to the bone by the heavy rain. A look of satisfaction flashed across the Death Eater's face.

"All Slytherins, follow me!" she said in a high-pitched voice, and the Slytherins in the crowd immediately sprang out and ran into the wide hallway.

"Wait, what about us?" a questioning voice came from the crowd.

The Slytherin students had all gone into the foyer, but they were still outside in the rain.

But Alecto Caro acted as if he hadn't seen any of this, slowly turning around and glancing at the other students who were being kept out of the door.

"According to the latest regulations, all students must be present before entering the castle together. You can wait outside."

"But it's raining right now!" someone shouted.

"Then you can wait in the rain," Alector Caro sneered. "Or you can leave and withdraw from Hogwarts; I can approve it immediately."

Several Slytherins also let out shrill, taunting laughter.

Professor McGonagall frowned.

"Alectus————"

"Minerva, I don't want you to be pleading for them." Alecto Caro looked at Professor McGonagall expressionlessly.

"These are the rules, and they must be followed!"

Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed into a tight line, and her fingers trembled slightly.

But in the end, she compromised, saying nothing, but simply waving her wand forcefully, conjuring up a large umbrella outside that could cover everyone.

Alecto Caro was a little unhappy, but he didn't say anything either.

The Dark Lord hoped these professors would stay at the school obediently, but she couldn't go too far.

Fortunately, the Thestrals were fast, and they arrived at the castle gate in about ten minutes.

At this moment, the students who had been waiting in the rain finally entered the lobby.

But they didn't have time to dry their hair and clothes before they had to rush into the auditorium and find their respective college tables to sit down.

Because the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin.

Inside the auditorium, a black cat lay beside a pillar supporting the ceiling, quietly watching the students rushing in below.

At the very front, Professor Flitwick had already placed the tattered Sorting Hat on the triangular stool.

Once everyone had arrived, a long tear appeared on the brim of the Sorting Hat, and it began to sing the song it had been writing for a year.

Xilun's ears twitched.

This time, the Sorting Hat abandoned all its previous styles, and the lyrics are arguably the simplest and most direct ever. It's about uniting to fight a common enemy.

The consequence of doing this was that he was forcibly interrupted by Alecto Caro after only singing a third of the song.

"Torn apart!"

She tried to destroy the Sorting Hat, but the Smash Charm didn't even break a single thread on the hat.

As a magical artifact that has existed for over a thousand years, the Sorting Hat is a special magical artifact that is very difficult to destroy.

When Alecto Caro tried to use even more powerful dark magic, Professor McGonagall stopped him in time.

Professor McGonagall was not about to watch her destroy the Sorting Hat. The two of them drew their wands almost simultaneously, and a wizarding duel could break out in the Great Hall in front of all the students at any moment.

It was Snape who stepped in and managed to resolve the conflict.

Interestingly, Snape is now sitting in the same seat that Dumbledore used to occupy, which means he has become the current headmaster of Hogwarts.

In addition, there was another Death Eater in the faculty, Barty Crouch Jr., whose position suggests he had taken over Defense Against the Dark Arts.

However, it's unclear whether this course will teach defensive magic or dark magic.