Hogwarts: My Grandmother is the Queen

Chapter 199 Dumbledore's Affirmation

Miss Farley nodded without objecting.

"Go on."

Henry briefly recounted the disastrous situation Lockhart experienced in class that day, including the sprites flying around, Lockhart crawling under the podium, his wand being thrown out the window, and how he ultimately saved the day by using Petrify.

Miss Farley smiled faintly after hearing this.

"I've heard about it," she said. "The whole school is talking about it now. You did a great job that day."

"Thank you," Henry said. "But if there had been a dueling club back then, many people wouldn't have been in such a sorry state, at least they wouldn't have been attacked by Cornish elves and unable to fight back."

Miss Farley nodded thoughtfully.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I need a mentor," Henry said, looking at her. "Someone with prestige, experience, and the ability to inspire respect."

"Do you think I'm suitable?" Miss Farley asked with a smile.

"More than just suitable," Henry said, "you are the most suitable candidate."

Miss Farley picked up her teacup, took a sip, then put it down and looked at him.

"Why are you looking for me? I'm not the only prefect in sixth grade."

"Because you are different." Henry smiled slightly. "You are one of Slytherin's best students. You are prestigious, capable, and I still remember the brooch you gave me before."

Miss Farley looked at him and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

That smile was beautiful.

"Your Highness, you are truly—"

She didn't finish her sentence, but the appreciation in her tone was already very clear.

"Okay," she said. "I agree."

"Thank you for your help," Henry said.

"You're welcome." Miss Farley waved her hand. "You're right, you really can't learn anything from Lockhart. Slytherin students can't waste this year."

She picked up a macaron and took a small bite.

"However, I have a suggestion."

"Please speak."

"The club can't just have Slytherin people," Miss Farley said, looking at him.

"What do you mean?" Henry asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Other houses are welcome too," Miss Farley said. "Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff—let them all come."

"Why?" Henry asked, looking at her. He really hadn't expected the Slytherin prefect to be so open-minded.

Miss Farley put down the macaron and looked at him intently.

"Your Highness, do you know what Slytherin's biggest problem is?"

"Too closed off?"

“Yes,” Miss Farley said. “We’re too closed off. We only play with our own people, only associate with our own kind, and as a result, we know nothing about the outside world. What do the other houses think of us? Insidious, cunning, selfish, and untrustworthy.”

"But if Slytherin could take the lead in starting an inter-house club where everyone could come and learn something truly useful, that would be different."

"You're right," Henry nodded in agreement.

"And this will also help you build a better reputation throughout the school," Miss Farley smiled. "You already have friends in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw; this is a good opportunity to solidify that."

"Furthermore," she added, "I think both Headmaster Dumbledore and the professors would be happy to see this happen."

Oh, you must have excluded Professor Snape.

Henry looked at her and suddenly realized that this prefect was even smarter than he had imagined.

Miss Farley belongs to a completely opposite level to Lockhart; she is more suited to being a civil servant.

"You've thought of everything very carefully."

The two chatted for a while longer and finalized the club's initial plans.

As she was leaving, Miss Farley stood up and straightened her robe.

"Your Highness, I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too," Henry said with a smile.

After Miss Farley left, Henry sat alone in the empty classroom, watching the sunlight slowly set in the west outside the window.

She's right. Slytherin's biggest problem is that they're too closed off. They only play with their own kind and associate only with people of their own kind. As a result, they're labeled by other houses as insidious, cunning, selfish, and untrustworthy.

But it would be different if Slytherin could take the lead in establishing an inter-house club where everyone could come and learn something truly useful.

This will not only allow him to build a higher reputation throughout the school, but also gradually change the image of Slytherin in the eyes of other houses.

He put down his teacup, stood up, walked to the window, and pondered in his mind.

First, the venue. As a time traveler, Henry knew that the Room of Requirement on the eighth floor was the most suitable venue for the dueling club, so this was the easiest problem to solve.

Second, time. Setting aside a few hours each week is not difficult.

Third, guidance. Miss Farley has agreed, but she needs a few more assistants; there are too many people coming, and one person can't provide guidance alone. Draco and the others can help, but their level isn't high enough. We need to find a few truly capable upperclassmen.

Fourth, the rules. No random fighting, no injuring anyone; there must be basic rules. We can refer to the bylaws of previous dueling clubs, and then adapt them to the specific circumstances of Hogwarts.

Fifth, publicity. The goal is to let the whole school know, but not through a grand, high-profile campaign. A low-key, natural approach, letting the news spread slowly, is more appealing.

Sixth, and most importantly—safety. Duels are not to be trifled with; a single misplaced spell could lead to disaster. Strict protective measures are essential, and in the event of any incident, immediate medical attention must be sought at the school clinic.

He thought about each point one by one, and gradually a plan formed in his mind.

Next, we need to file a report with Headmaster Dumbledore.

He left the classroom and went to the principal's office on the eighth floor.

The entrance to the principal's office was behind a gargoyle-shaped stone beast. Henry walked up to the gargoyle and cleared his throat.

"Lemon Snowball".

The dripping stone beast leaped away, revealing the spiral staircase behind it.

He walked up, stopped in front of the oak door, and knocked.

"Please come in," came Dumbledore's gentle voice from inside.

Henry pushed open the door and went in.

Dumbledore was eating a lemon sorbet in his office when he saw Henry come in. He smiled and invited him to sit down.

"Henry, what do you want?" He put a lemon-flavored shaggy drink in his mouth, squinted his eyes, and chewed it. "Sit down and talk, sit down and talk."

Henry sat down opposite him and explained his idea for the dueling club.

He spoke in great detail, starting with the disastrous state of Lockhart's class, then moving on to his discussions with Miss Farley, the club's initial plans, and the various preparations he was considering.

After hearing this, Dumbledore's eyes flashed with approval.

"Great idea!" he said happily. "I support your idea."

He put down the candy jar he was holding and looked at Henry.

"What pleases me even more is that you don't intend to limit this club to Slytherin."