A Certain Magical Hogwarts

Chapter 240 Professor McGonagall's Doubts

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Headmaster's Office.

Dumbledore sat in a chair, holding a mirror in his hand, and chatted gently with a child.

Every now and then, laughter could be heard coming from inside, as if they were amused by Dumbledore's lame jokes.

A moment later, a voice called "Annie, dinner's ready" came from the mirror again. The girl then said "Goodbye" and quickly left.

Dumbledore put down the mirror, glanced at the time with lingering interest, and realized it was already lunchtime.

Before him was a huge, claw-shaped table, and behind the chair was a shelf on which sat a tattered, pointed wizard's hat.

"Dumbledore, how's the lyrics I just prepared?" The hat twisted and a crack appeared in the brim.

"It's pretty good. The lyrics are as excellent as ever. The students will like it!" Dumbledore commented.

"But you weren't listening at all!" the Sorting Hat shrieked.

It was very dissatisfied with being neglected.

"You're only interested in chatting with that little girl. Is she more interesting than me?!"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. Wasn't this obvious?

The Sorting Hat is simply asking for trouble.

The Sorting Hat, clearly lacking in awareness, muttered a couple of things and then asked, "Did you go to Nurmengard?"

Dumbledore's mood quickly sombered. After a moment of silence, he shook his head: "I didn't go."

"Why? Didn't you go to the Wizarding Union Conference? The conference is being held in Austria, which is so close by."

Dumbledore did not speak.

"He's been writing to you, saying he's sick and not feeling well, and wants to see you," the Sorting Hat persisted with its gossip.

Dumbledore finally raised his head and said in an aged voice, "What should I say when I see him?"

The Sorting Hat grinned and said, "Catch up, have a heart-to-heart, and check on each other's...health, isn't that great?"

"These things have already been discussed in the letters." Dumbledore glanced at a locked cabinet containing a stack of letters from Nurmengard.

"Writing a letter and meeting in person are two different things," the Sorting Hat advised, speaking with the air of someone who had been through it all.

It seems that it also had a poignant rural love story with a certain woman's hat.

Dumbledore said softly, "The time difference caused by the delay in correspondence is roughly comparable only to the minute difference in the fermentation time of natural yeast—"

The Sorting Hat interrupted, "Once communication becomes too efficient, no longer requiring craning one's neck and looking at each other, certain feelings will quickly depreciate without being noticed..."

Dumbledore, I've also read *Charing Cross Road*.

"Oh, who gave it to you?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"William, this is the Christmas present he gave me. That kid really knows what he's doing. It's the first time I've received a gift from anyone other than you."

I remember his family lived near Charing Cross Road, right?

"Yes, it's a very beautiful street. I visited it once, but William isn't living there recently. He bought a house in Wizard Village."

Dumbledore was pleased to be able to steer the conversation away from Grindelwald.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Dumbledore looked toward the door and said softly, "Come in."

A tall female witch dressed in a turquoise robe opened the door and walked in.

The Sorting Hat immediately shut up, realizing that discussing Dumbledore's romantic relationships in front of Professor McGonagall was not a good idea.

"Minerva, good afternoon." Dumbledore gestured for Professor McGonagall to sit down.

"Professor Dumbledore, I have something to discuss with you. Do you have a moment now?"

"Of course, all day long," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"But no rush, how about some honey butter almonds first? It's a little gift from Annie."

Dumbledore waved his hand, and a plate appeared on the table.

Professor McGonagall politely declined, as she was past the age of enjoying snacks, and handed over a document instead.

"This semester, there are a total of seventeen students applying for grants. I have already reviewed them all, and the slots are here. I need your signature."

Dumbledore took the list and looked it over carefully.

Hogwarts does not charge tuition fees at all, and even provides a scholarship fund for poor students to ensure their graduation.

"I think our scholarship fund should be increased; the current amount is too small," Dumbledore said.

Lockhart wanted to buy seven books at once, but the amount of the scholarship was still not enough for those students from poorer backgrounds.

"But what about the board of trustees..." Professor McGonagall hesitated. "I think Malfoy would object."

"Let Professor Snape handle the talks; he'll find a way to reach an agreement," Dumbledore said confidently.

"I remember, didn't Professor Snape just persuade Malfoy to donate seven Nimbus 2001s to Slytherin?"

Dumbledore laughed, "That's too generous. If I'd known Malfoy was so enthusiastic about education, I shouldn't have changed the brooms so soon..."

Professor McGonagall glanced at Dumbledore with a slight look in her eyes, her lips pursed, clearly displeased.

Slytherin failed to win the Quidditch Cup last year, and has upgraded its equipment again this year... Could the Quidditch Cup also become a once-in-a-lifetime event?

Wait a minute... Gryffindor hasn't won the College Cup in years!

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips even tighter.

"Of course, if the school board doesn't agree, we can send the Nifflers to mine gold all over the world. I remember Newt's family has quite a few Nifflers."

Dumbledore told another lame joke, and Professor McGonagall felt a chill run down her spine, so cold that she got goosebumps.

"Principal, there's one more thing, about William's class schedule."

"What's wrong?" Dumbledore's tone remained unchanged.

"He's taken all twelve courses, which creates a lot of time conflicts. Should we apply for a time converter for him?" Professor McGonagall asked.

If a student is too passionate about studying, the professor can write various letters to the Ministry of Magic, telling them that the owner is a model student and will never use it for anything other than studying.

Of course, very few students meet the criteria; they must be excellent students in both character and academics.

Dumbledore crossed his arms and shook his head. "No need. It's entirely up to William which course he wants to take. We'll just give him an exam in the end."

Professor McGonagall hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Well, it seems you've made up your mind. You always have your reasons."

Dumbledore adjusted his glasses, which were twisted on his nose, and asked, "Any other questions?"

"It's about... the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Everyone's asking me, especially Professor Snape."

"You were in Austria for the Wizarding Conference during this time, and we heard that Lockhart is going to be a professor?" Professor McGonagall frowned.

Lockhart was a complete nuisance; he caused all sorts of problems during his school years.

Lockhart told everyone who was willing to listen that he would make a Philosopher's Stone before graduating, then lead the England team to victory in the Quidditch World Cup as captain, and finally become the youngest Minister for Magic in Britain.

Lockhart also craves attention and awards.

He asked the principal to start a school newspaper, simply so that he could see his name printed in it.

This was also Hogwarts' first newspaper, but it was filled with praise for him and was subsequently discontinued.

When he realized that these “feats” had not brought him attention, he began to resort to even grander and more dramatic methods.

Professor McGonagall disliked the student at all, let alone wanted him to return to teach.

It's a disaster.

So why did Dumbledore want him to come back?

Could it be that, as Snape suspected, the two made some kind of special deal?

……

……

(Thanks to "LIEbe" for the generous donation)

(End of this chapter)