In the Apocalypse, I Can Enter Hogwarts

Chapter 421 The Cancelled Christmas Holiday

"Alright, Ian!" Professor McGonagall nodded, not dwelling on the title.

He then turned around and placed the stack of parchment he was holding on the desk.

"There are some things here that I need you to look at and sign. It's about the funding we're applying for from the board of trustees next year, and the year-end bonuses we need to give to all professors next month—whether we choose to give them in-kind gifts or convert them into Galleons…"

The thick stack of documents gave Ian a headache, but he still dutifully checked them one by one.

The top item is the application for next year's funding.

This was quite simple, as Professor McGonagall had already meticulously calculated the expenses for the entire year; all he needed to do was sign his name and send it to the school board.

But Ian was somewhat unsure about the rewards offered by the professors and school staff.

"Professor McGonagall, how have we always handled year-end rewards? I mean, what kind of reward do people prefer?"

Upon hearing this, Professor McGonagall paused, seemingly surprised that Ian would directly ask for her opinion. After hesitating for a few seconds, she whispered, "Snape and the others don't really like carrying things home..."

"Pfft~ cough cough!" Ian almost burst out laughing, and a picture instantly flashed in his mind.

When Snape returned home for the year-end holiday, he was dressed in a long black robe, carrying two buckets of rice, flour, and oil, and muttering curses as he walked out of Hogwarts...

"Then let's convert it to Galleons!" Ian said, while secretly marveling at how people in both the East and West generally prefer to give money directly.

"Alright, I'll calculate the remaining funds for this year before the Christmas holidays," Professor McGonagall readily agreed.

Speaking of this, we have to mention that Hogwarts has summer vacation, but no winter vacation. The long winter break is the Christmas holiday, which lasts for 15 days.

Next, Ian told Professor McGonagall the password for the future. There was no fancy recitation of names; it was simply changed weekly according to the order of the four houses.

Even if you remember it wrong, it doesn't matter. You can just try all four colleges.

In fact, at Hogwarts, there are really no fools who dare to cause trouble in the Headmaster's office. Even the Weasley twins, who are as bold as they are, have never tried to mess with the Headmaster's office.

This is like in the British Isles, where you can freely criticize the Prime Minister, and people might even join you in criticizing him, but no one will criticize the Queen.

After all, the Queen is the symbol and glory of the entire nation.

The same goes for the Hogwarts Headmaster, who represents the school's honor.

……

Time flies like an arrow; more than ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

As Christmas approaches, a joyful atmosphere fills the castle.

However, unlike the peace and joy of Hogwarts, the outside world was gripped by an eerie tranquility.

Whether the wizards increased patrols or simply gave up, no further incidents of werewolves causing trouble were reported.

But Ian also knew that this peace was only temporary, and that only after a violent conflict and compromises between the parties could there be lasting peace.

Similarly, Ian's ten-odd days as headmaster at Hogwarts helped him gradually adapt to his new life.

To put it bluntly, it's like a mascot; it should just stay quietly.

Because Professor McGonagall would take care of everything, and he only needed to sign off on it step by step.

……

"Or maybe we shouldn't have a holiday..."

In the principal's office on the eighth floor, Ian stood by the window, looking at the snow-covered Forbidden Forest outside the castle, when this idea suddenly came to him.

His position determined his perspective; once he became the headmaster, he had to take responsibility for all the young wizards.

The short 15-day Christmas holiday is a time when incidents can easily occur, and neither Hogwarts nor the Ministry of Magic has sufficient personnel to ensure the safety of students.

This isn't just a few dozen or a hundred people; it's all the wizards from all seven grades in the school. No one can guarantee that they'll be safely sent home.

Pure-blood children are fine, as their families might arrange for adult wizards to pick them up and drop them off. But for mixed-race or even Muggle children, it's really impossible for them to be fully cared for.

Just as Ian hesitated, the portrait on the wall spoke up at an inopportune moment:

"Kid, thanks! From now on, you'll be the most unpopular headmaster. No holiday for Christmas, Merlin's stockings—I'm not as crazy as you."

It was Principal Blake who spoke again.

"Shut up, Phineas. Our job is to assist the current principal, not to make sarcastic remarks."

Headmistress Delis Devant, dressed in a light blue robe and wearing a tall wizard's hat, spoke up to stop her.

As a woman, she serves as the Headmistress of Hogwarts and a Radiant Healer at St. Mungo's Hospital. With her multiple identities, she always possesses an extraordinary vision.

"Child, do as you wish! Hogwarts has given you this power. Wolfsbane is no joke. I have seen too many wizards driven to the brink of collapse by wolfsbane at St. Mungo's."

Listening to the words of wisdom in the portrait, Ian made up his mind.

"Thank you for your suggestion, Ms. Devante."

Now is not the time to be indecisive. We cannot gamble with the little wizard's future for a ten-day vacation.

As for the so-called unwelcome attitude, let it be.

Thinking of this, Ian got up, straightened his clothes in front of the mirror, and then walked towards the door.

He was going to tell Professor McGonagall about this idea; in such matters, one must have the support of a person of high prestige.

Professor McGonagall was undoubtedly the best choice. First of all, just based on her sense of responsibility, Ian was confident that his proposal would be supported. After all, in Professor McGonagall's mind, nothing was more important than the safety of the students.

……

As Ian walked away from the headmaster's office, he noticed that many of the young wizards' gazes towards him had subtly changed.

Especially the girls, their feelings have changed from initial admiration and longing to a mixture of respect and awe.

"Sigh! Social class is everywhere," Ian sighed inwardly.

As his status changed, he unknowingly distanced himself from ordinary people, and this... was something he disliked; no one is born noble.

The distance from the eighth floor to the Transformation Department office on the third floor was quite long. Ian walked through the stairs and corridors, politely nodding and greeting everyone he encountered.

As you turn the corner of the corridor, a slender figure comes into view.

Although the castle was bustling with people coming and going, Ian saw loneliness in the other person.

Corridors, windows, a young girl, quietly gazing at the forbidden forest in the distance... like a montage, these different elements are cleverly combined together, like a long-sealed, secluded painting.

"Luna, why are you standing here all alone, lost in thought?"

(End of this chapter)