Hogwarts: Me? Fight Voldemort?

As if sensing something, the Dementors on the train fled through the windows and doors, the temperature inside the train quickly returned to normal, and the lights came back on.

Professor Lupin put away his wand, turned around and smiled at the group, then took out some chocolate from his pocket and distributed it to the four of them. "Have some chocolate; it will do you good."

“Thank you, Professor,” Hermione said politely.

The others also grabbed some chocolates and started eating them without any hesitation, or perhaps it was a way to alleviate the damage caused by seeing Dementors.

"Professor, what was that just now?" Harry was not in good condition; his face was pale and his lips were gray.

When he saw the Dementors just now, he felt a sense of emptiness, as if his happiness was about to disappear and he was no longer interested in anything.

The scar on his forehead still throbbed faintly, and he could almost hear a woman's scream.

The feeling was terrible, and even after the Dementors were gone, Harry was still shaken.

Professor Lupin explained, "The Dementors, the guards of Azkaban, are probably here on the train to search for Sirius Black."

He checked the time, grabbed his trench coat, and said with a smile, "Sorry, I have to go. I have some things to tell the train driver."

He seemed to be in a real hurry, or perhaps he felt that others would feel uncomfortable with him in the car, so he got up and left the private room very decisively.

After Professor Lupin left, the box felt much more spacious. Harry got up and sat down next to Ron, and they talked about their feelings just now.

Facing the Dementors felt terrible. Hermione said, "I know those monsters, but this is the first time I've seen them up close. Only the Patronus Charm can hurt them, but I haven't learned that charm yet."

"When I saw the Dementors, I felt like I would never be able to laugh again." Ron also looked relieved when talking about the Dementors. "Luckily, there was a professor on the train."

"Jimmy, do you know the Patronus Charm?" Harry asked, munching on a piece of chocolate.

Jimmy made a gesture that would infuriate any Korean, saying, "I know a little bit. I've tried it, but it's not very effective."

He knows the Guardian Charm, but it requires a happy emotion to be activated, so it's a spell with very little skill involved. Even if you learn it, you can't cast it if you're not happy.

Logically speaking, Jimmy should have been very happy, but his happiness was fleeting; it wasn't long or intense enough.

The train restarted and moved quickly toward Hogwarts.

The torrential rain stopped just as the train pulled into the station, and the humid air invigorated those who disembarked.

In the darkness, a lantern emitting a yellow light swayed high, and from beneath it came a voice familiar to many, "First-year students! First-year students, come here!"

Before Harry could even speak to Hagrid, he was swept away by the crowd to the other side of the platform.

On the dimly lit road, senior students spontaneously took out their wands and used the Illumination Charm to light up the road before boarding the carriages pulled by Thestrals in an orderly fashion.

The sounds of jumping and running came from the damp platform. Just as everyone was about to board a carriage, a blonde girl ran out from the crowd.

Yes, Hydra. Her hair was a little messy from running, and there were some water stains on her loafers. The light reflected off those water stains was far less eye-catching than the white stockings on her legs.

Sure enough, Harry's gaze was involuntarily drawn to those white legs, then pulled back to his upper body by the powerful gravity generated by the swaying of the large thunderbolts.

"Why didn't you wait for me!" she complained, expertly grabbing the handrail and climbing into the carriage, settling down next to Harry with a thud. "Guys, how was your summer vacation?"

The pleasant scent of perfume instantly filled the carriage. Harry rubbed his nose and replied awkwardly, "It's fine. I've been living in Diagon Alley for a month... Hydra?"

He is now fourteen years old, no longer an eleven-year-old child who knows nothing. Those who are more precocious may have already experienced matters between men and women.

Hydra's eyes crinkled with laughter when Harry called out her new name.

The tiny branches bear abundant fruit; who wouldn't be confused by that?

Then another person squeezed into the box. It was Ginny. When she saw Malfoy sitting next to Harry, she immediately gritted her teeth.

Ron, however, seemed to have seen a savior and quickly moved away from Harry's side to sit opposite him. He didn't dare to sit in the same row as Malfoy.

"Let's set off in the carriage." Jimmy marveled at Harry's posture, with two beautiful girls serving him. How could he be anything but lucky?

The carriage slowly started moving, and the few people in the carriage chatted casually, mainly about summer vacation and things that happened on the train.

It's been almost a year since the transformation, and Hydra no longer possesses any male characteristics. Even other people's memories of her have become blurred.

"Oh, right, this is something my dad asked me to give you. He said it's a gift to apologize."

She took a plain cloth bag out of her pocket and handed it to Jimmy; without a doubt, it contained Galon.

"Give him my regards." Jimmy accepted the money without hesitation, then casually handed it to Hermione. "Put it in your private account."

He is not short of money now, nor is he short of the power to protect himself in the short term. The money in his bag is definitely less than 100,000. He might as well invest the money in the Round Table, through which he will purchase a batch of potion materials.

Hermione didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the money directly; it was for public funds.

Chapter 196 The Opening Banquet for Third Graders

The students returned to Hogwarts Castle after a long absence, and after washing the mud off their shoes, they stepped into the Great Hall feeling refreshed.

The professors were already waiting in the auditorium. This year, Professor McGonagall did not go to guide the new students. Instead, she sat quietly behind the professor's table, observing the many students below.

Hagrid was the last to enter the hall. Today, he was wearing a brand-new fur coat, his black fur smooth and glossy, and his face, surrounded by hair and beard, was as rosy as agate.

The students had already noticed the extra-large chair that had appeared next to Professor McGonagall, which had originally been occupied by an elderly professor who was missing an arm or a leg.

Now it's Hagrid sitting there.

Even now, Professor McGonagall has not gotten up. In previous years, Professor McGonagall led the freshmen sorting, but this year is an exception.

Professor McGonagall picked up her fork and tapped it against her wine glass, announcing loudly, "Now please be quiet and wait for the freshman sorting!"

The volume of voices in the auditorium began to gradually decrease.

Thinking back to their conversation in the school infirmary at the end of last semester, Jimmy turned to Hermione and whispered, "Professor Dumbledore has finally started working!"

Hermione whispered in response, "Although I've never seen Professor Dumbledore at work, perhaps he's busy with other things?"

"Yeah, right. He usually just strolls around the headmaster's office." Jimmy smelled Hermione's hair; it smelled nice. He touched it!

"Stop fooling around, the professor is looking over here." Hermione nudged Jimmy with her elbow.

This year, they had moved to the middle of the long table, so even if they were whispering, it wouldn't be as noticeable. But Professor McGonagall's sharp eyes still pierced through them, locking onto the two who were up to something.

At that moment, the side door of the Great Hall opened, and Dumbledore, dressed in a white wizard's robe, led a group of children into the Great Hall.

The four-cornered stool in the corner flew automatically to the center of the open space in front of the professor's long table, and the old Sorting Hat stood on the chair, beginning to sing that indescribable song.

This year's song should be called "Caution," because it reminds everyone to be cautious.

"When your name is called, sit down and be sorted into your house." Dumbledore, imitating Professor McGonagall, stood beside the four-cornered stool with a parchment in one hand and the Sorting Hat in the other, and began to call out names.

The audience applauded in unison; this has almost become a tradition.

The Sorting Ceremony took longer than usual. After Professor Dumbledore finished reading the last name, nearly a hundred new students finally went to their assigned long table.

"Welcome! Welcome back to Hogwarts! I have a few things to tell you, one of which is very important, so I think it's best to make it clear before you get too caught up in your delicious meal and your brains start to go haywire!"

One of Dumbledore's strengths is that he never speaks at length; his speeches are always brief and to the point.

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

Wow!

The students at the four long tables began whispering amongst themselves upon hearing this, and even the young wizards who had just entered the magical world quickly learned what Dementors were through their conversation.

Dumbledore's expression was very calm, completely different from his usual bubbly and silly old man image. Those who knew him well could tell that he was not happy.

"They guard every entrance to the school..." Dumbledore's eyes sharpened behind his half-moon glasses as he slowly swept across the Gryffindor table. "No one is allowed to leave the school without permission. No tricks, schemes, or disguises can fool the Dementors—not even the Invisibility Cloak."

Jimmy noticed that Harry's expression stiffened; he was probably thinking about Hogsmeade Week.

Dumbledore explained to each student what a terrifying monster a Dementor was, and seeing that the students were all frightened, he put on a smiling face and said, "Let's change to a more pleasant topic!"

He turned slightly to the side, raised his hand and pointed to the new faces sitting next to the dark-faced bat, introducing them: "I am delighted to welcome two new teachers to our team this semester."

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

The students applauded enthusiastically, and Professor Lu Ping also stood up modestly and nodded to the students below.

Jimmy and his friends weren't too surprised. After all, they were the ones who saw off their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor last semester, and it just so happened that an unfamiliar professor appeared on the train. Everything made perfect sense.

"As for our second new teacher..." Dumbledore pointed to a conspicuous tall man on the other side after the sparse applause subsided, "our Magical Creatures Protection teacher, Professor Kettleburn, has officially retired."

However, I am pleased to announce that the person who will be filling his position is none other than Rupert Hagrid, who has agreed to take on the teaching position in addition to his duties as a gamekeeper.

This time, the applause was even more enthusiastic than that for Professor Lupin. Two identical people stood up from the Gryffindor table and cheered loudly, turning the Great Hall into a fan meeting.

Hermione, Harry, and Ron were all ecstatic, standing up and clapping enthusiastically. They never expected Hagrid to become their professor.

It's like going to a new school and finding out that the PE teacher is the neighbor you usually get along with.

“I should have known!” Ron shouted, slamming his hand on the table. “Who else would ask us to prepare a book that bites?”

Hagrid had never experienced anything like this before. He grinned foolishly, but Professor McGonagall nudged him with her elbow, and he hurriedly stood up and nodded, making the table shake.

There was only one thing Dumbledore hadn't announced yet: dinner.

"Alright, that's all the important stuff. Let's begin the feast!" Dumbledore chuckled and spread his hands, revealing a variety of delicious foods on four long tables, so much so that it was hard to know where to start.

All the students feasted on the food at the once-a-year opening banquet. Jimmy, however, only ate what he wanted, along with some high-calorie salty meat to balance the flavors.

When it comes to food, he is not picky as long as it can provide his body with enough nutrients and vitamins.

The clinking of cups and plates gradually evolved into conversation and laughter.

Jimmy, now with some free time, began to look around and noticed something unusual as he scanned the professor's long table.

Hagrid's mood was always written on his face. At this moment, his happy smile had turned into a bitter face. He was slightly turned to the side as he listened to Professor McGonagall's lecture, nodding repeatedly.

"What are you looking at?" Hermione noticed Jimmy staring in the same direction and looked over curiously as she asked, "Oh, Hagrid? What are Professor McGonagall saying to Hagrid?"

Jimmy guessed thoughtfully, "Maybe he's being taught how to be a good professor, since it's Hagrid's first time being a professor."

Hermione thought of Hagrid's carefree personality, "I believe Hagrid can handle it, but let's go ask him later."

She then told Harry, Ron, and Neville about it, and the four of them felt they should congratulate Hagrid and also find out about the content of the first Magical Creatures Protection class.

Chapter 197 Hagrid's Troubles

Regardless of Hagrid's troubles, becoming a professor is still something to celebrate.

After the dinner ended, the group immediately went to the professor's long table to congratulate Hagrid.

Hagrid's smile returned, and he scratched his neck, saying somewhat embarrassedly, "Oh, you know, Professor Kettleburn has always thought highly of me, and it's all thanks to Jimmy."

“It’s nothing.” Jimmy knew Hagrid was referring to the secret room incident, and clearing his name was crucial to the board’s decision.

Ron asked curiously, "Hagrid, what was the topic of your first lesson?"