Chapter 4 Temporary Appointment
“First, adding garlic to the scarf, Professor, do you really believe that lame excuse?
There’s a relevant introduction in the third-year Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook.
I don’t recall Vampires being afraid of garlic.
I even met a Vampire in Mexico who loved eating garlic!
So, let’s boldly assume:
Perhaps this is a distress signal he’s sending?”
Dumbledore first looked at Douglas with appreciation, then shook his head and said,
“The garlic smell is just our guess; I think it’s likely some Potion!”
Douglas nodded. You’re the Principal, everything you say is right!
Then, with an expectant look, he cautiously asked Dumbledore,
“I’m very curious, with your ability, Principal, are you able to see Lord Voldemort on Quirinus’s back of the head without lifting the scarf?”
Because he remembered that in the original novel, Dumbledore seemed to be able to see through Harry Potter, who was wearing an Invisibility Cloak.
Wait. If he could really see through that thick scarf, wouldn’t that mean… tsk tsk…
Dumbledore seemed to catch that strange thought from Douglas.
“Ahem! I’m glad you can directly call Lord Voldemort by name, instead of using You-Know-Who.
Secondly, in certain specific situations, I mean, in an emergency, I think I can see through some things.
Of course, this isn’t to be used indiscriminately…
Perhaps, you should have enough trust in an old man!
In fact, under normal circumstances, I didn’t find anything strange under Quirinus’s scarf!”
Seeing Douglas’s increasingly strange gaze, Dumbledore quickly explained.
And brought the conversation back.
Douglas’s expression also became serious, and he nodded.
“That means Lord Voldemort should be able to hide himself inside Quirinus at any time,
Instead of constantly being exposed on the back of his head.
Otherwise, with your ability, Principal, you should have discovered him long ago.
Also, even without Lord Voldemort, given Quirinus’s ability,
If he really wanted to kill Harry Potter, he wouldn’t choose to cast a curse in plain sight, would he?
In public, and a continuous curse that’s so easily interrupted.”
At this point, Douglas almost said that if it were him, who had watched over a thousand episodes of Holmes in the Muggle World, making a move,
He would definitely do it more cleanly than Professor Quirrell.
But he didn’t dare to make that joke now; the person opposite was suspecting him of being an undercover agent sent by Lord Voldemort.
After all, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor position…
Due to some unkind rumors circulating outside,
It had been sustained all these years thanks to Dumbledore’s powerful connections.
Basically, very few people actively applied for this position.
Except for a certain Potions Professor.
After hearing Douglas’s words, Dumbledore nodded.
“It is a bit crude. According to what you said, is this also a warning from Quirinus?”
After speaking, Dumbledore’s gaze through his half-moon spectacles gradually softened.
Actually, when Douglas could directly say Lord Voldemort’s name,
It indicated that he was a very suitable person for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professor position.
And absolutely could not be related to Lord Voldemort.
People who fear the Dark Arts will only run away when they see it, not face it head-on.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts Class is not something just anyone can teach.
Of course, it’s not ruled out that Dumbledore wanted to keep this guy, who was secretly developing while wearing a disguise, close for observation.
After all, the last student who changed his identity after graduation was named Tom Riddle…
When Douglas felt a bit unnerved by Dumbledore’s gaze, especially remembering that the person opposite seemed to be gay,
He became even more flustered, wondering if he should quickly escape after activating the system.
Seeing Douglas suddenly become a bit flustered, Dumbledore suddenly felt that his conclusion might have been made too soon.
After thinking for a moment, Dumbledore still pulled out a piece of parchment from a pile of documents nearby.
Then he used magic to erase some content on it and used a quill to modify some other content.
While modifying, he said,
“Merlin’s socks, Douglas, I think I must tell you,
Regarding the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor,
I had originally planned for another well-known writer to take it…”
Hearing this, Douglas frowned slightly. So, it was true.
Dumbledore smiled and pointed to the candies in a box nearby, saying,
“If you feel bitter, I suggest you pick a Fizzing Whizbee.
You can enjoy a delicious candy while listening to this old man continue to speak!”
Douglas complied readily.
He picked a candy and put it in his mouth…
Dumbledore finished modifying the content and put down the quill.
Then, he clasped his hands on the table and continued,
“Of course, perhaps I overestimated my influence as an old man.
The other party did not accept my invitation after receiving my letter.
In fact, my original plan was to personally go and invite him…
Oh, thanks to Minerva reminding me, you had applied for this position by writing to Hogwarts a few months ago.
It was then that I thought, why not invite another writer to try.
Although he has always used a pen name for public promotion…”
At this point, Dumbledore winked like an old rascal.
Then he handed the parchment in his hand to Douglas.
“This is an appointment letter for the main Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
As well as the job responsibilities, you can take a look first.”
Douglas looked at the parchment, which was two feet long.
It was densely covered with terms and conditions.
【…Appointed as Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor (Temporary)…】
Douglas pointed to the parchment and asked doubtfully,
“Professor, this…?”
Dumbledore saw Douglas’s puzzled expression, as if he had already guessed Douglas would ask this.
“Oh, obviously, it’s literal.
Mr. Holmes, I hope you understand that although school Professors are chosen and appointed by the Principal himself,
However, due to your age…
Of course…
If I remember correctly, the last person to be appointed Professor at 21 was Severus.
It’s just that at that time, Severus had already achieved quite a bit in Potions.
And when Horace (Horace Slughorn, Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (taught twice), Dean of Slytherin) left, he had recommended him as Dean of Slytherin…
And you, frankly, besides your anonymous writings, only have your excellent grades from graduation.
Of course, you don’t need to worry.
This is just a probationary period, which can reduce the slight conflict between you and your colleagues.
As long as you can teach for this academic year and gain recognition from students and other colleagues, this appointment will automatically become permanent.”
Douglas really wanted to roll his eyes. What did he mean by reducing the slight conflict between you and your colleagues?
Among the current Professors at Hogwarts, the one who least wanted to see him at Hogwarts,
Besides that one, he couldn’t think of anyone else.
Only he could trip him up with Dumbledore.
However, he didn’t feel too much aversion to this temporary appointment.
Probationary period, understood.
Seeing Douglas agree so readily, Dumbledore, on the contrary, felt a bit more surprised.
In fact, he had prepared a pile of quotes to guide a young person just starting their career.
After all, they are young, so they should have some pride…
Of course, it was also because this young man in front of him was not a quiet student during his school days.
Dumbledore adjusted his spectacles and said casually,
“In fact, I have an immature small suggestion.
I can personally invite that writer to co-teach this year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts Class with you.
I think you writers should have very good exchanges…
Of course, I still respect your opinion.”
Competitive hiring?
Last-place elimination?
Wolf culture?
Douglas seemed to hear those distant yet familiar terms.
He never thought that after escaping from one world to another, from the East to the West, from the Muggle World to the magic world,
He could still feel the fear emanating from it.
Thinking of this, Douglas immediately stood up and said with great vigor,
“Please rest assured, Principal Comrade, I believe I alone can effectively lead all of Hogwarts’s Defense Against the Dark Arts.”
After speaking, he quickly signed the appointment letter.
Hmph!
No regrets after signing.
The moment Douglas finished signing.
A voice echoed in his mind.
【Scholar System activated…】
After hearing this voice, Douglas let out a long sigh of relief.
The last time the system started, it only gave him one sentence.
【Condition for activating Scholar System: Join a school, two-year countdown.】
As a Transmigrator, he naturally understood the meaning of this voice…
Although he raged at the sky for two hours at the time,
He still had a little secret joy inside, after all, a Transmigrator with a system and one without were two completely different concepts.
Although it was late, it was better than nothing, it just lasted two and a half years… I mean two years, which was a bit annoying.
Of course, as someone who had lived legitimately in the magic world for ten years, he also knew a saying.
“If you haven’t seen where its brain is hidden, never believe what you think.”
So, at first, Douglas even thought of using Occlumency to counter this system.
If it weren’t for him being Muggle-born, he wouldn’t have had much information to research.
Perhaps he would have chosen to study soul magic.
Finally, looking at the countdown, Douglas still chose to compromise.
Douglas, with a small financial advantage, entered a university in London.
Although he stayed there for one semester, it was a pity,
Every morning, that sentence would still wake him up in the form of a countdown.
There was no sign of activation.
Until one day, Douglas’s Muggle teacher said to him,
“My dear Holmes, I want to train you to be my lab assistant…”
Douglas suddenly had a flash of inspiration, wondering if there was a possibility.
The system’s name was literal.
“Nurturing” could mean nurturing oneself or nurturing others.
Given that he had been out of touch with the Muggle World for too long,
He finally decided to submit an application to Hogwarts to try.
If it didn’t work out, he would go and become an elementary school teacher.
He felt that his former guardian, Dean George, would definitely not mind him not having a teaching certificate.
…
Seeing Douglas’s relaxed expression after signing.
Dumbledore seemed to think of something, and hidden behind his half-moon spectacles were waves of laughter.
Then he picked up his wand and gently tapped it in the air.
A Phoenix summoned by a Patronus Charm spun in the air once, then disappeared.
At this moment, Fawkes, the Phoenix in a corner of the office, let out a cry towards Douglas.
Dumbledore explained with a smile,
“Fawkes is asking you why you didn’t bring him a gift.
In fact, ever since that one time, I have forbidden Fawkes from tasting the abnormal chili sauce you taught the kitchen to make.
You know, it seems to be a bit addicted to that stuff.
So, Mr. Douglas, please do not feed it strange food during your tenure at the school!”
At this point, Dumbledore rubbed his forehead.
He suddenly regretted recruiting Douglas into Hogwarts.
Douglas also remembered the incident that almost made Fawkes prematurely undergo Nirvana.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he said, “Don’t worry, Professor!”
Who says a man over thirty is no longer young?
Although at that time, Douglas’s soul age was already over forty.