Hogwarts: Please, Just Graduate Already!

"Yeah, this letter put it well. Quirrell used some method to deceive me, but why would it be a Love Potion?

Dumbledore set down the letter and smiled in relief. "Fortunately, no one sent a Howler. These old bones of mine couldn't withstand that kind of volume."

"Enough with all that nonsense." Snape cut him off irritably. Every time he talked with Dumbledore, he felt mentally exhausted; they could spend half a day without ever getting to the point. "How do you plan to handle it?" Dumbledore looked puzzled. "Handle what? Handle whom?"

"Obviously, Wayne Lawrence!" Snape raised his voice. "Didn't you hear what the Fat Friar said?

"That kind of influence, that ability to rally people, and that terrifying magical talent of his. Aren't you afraid he might be the next—

Snape drew a deep breath. "The next Voldemort?!"

The portraits, which had been pretending to be dead, suddenly came to life. Phineas Black was the loudest of them all.

"Exactly! I support Snape!"

"He dared to complain about a professor and incited so many people to act with him." "This is outrageous!" "Expel him! He must be expelled!"

"If I had been Headmaster back in my day, I would have expelled every Hufflepuff!"

The red-nosed Hufflepuff Headmaster couldn't take it anymore. He leaped into Phineas's portrait and punched him.

"Shut up, you idiot!"

The daily beating of Phineas had begun.

To avoid being disturbed, Dumbledore waved his hand, and red curtains covered all the portraits. The annoying shouting finally disappeared.

"Severus." Dumbledore clasped his hands on the desk and leaned forward slightly.

A series of intimidating movements made Snape's breathing hitch.

"Don't assume the worst about our student. He's only a first-year wizard."

"You still regard him as an ordinary first-year student?" Snape stared at Dumbledore in disbelief.

"Didn't you see his talent? Multiple transformations, spellwork good enough to graduate, and even Potions at NEWTs level.

"And that Celia's Shop Lawrence has been tinkering with has made over a thousand Galleons from my students!"

Snape looked extremely agitated. "If he's an ordinary first-year wizard, then what is Potter, a preschooler?

"I'm delighted that the school has produced a talented young wizard." Dumbledore pushed up his glasses with his middle finger. Snape couldn't shake the feeling that the old man was taking the opportunity to hint at something.

"You're right. Mr. Lawrence is indeed exceptionally gifted. He's even more talented than Tom."

"But you can't crudely compare the two." Dumbledore analyzed the situation for Snape earnestly.

"Mr. Lawrence was indeed born into a Muggle family, but his family holds a very high position among Muggles. His personality is also bright and cheerful, and he has—

Recalling everything he had discovered about what Wayne had done in primary school, Dumbledore struggled to find a positive adjective. "A very fulfilling childhood."

"His family environment and his intelligence will never lead him down Tom's old path."

"Even at school, Mr. Lawrence's friends are spread across every house, completely opposed to Tom's pure-blood theory."

"To be honest, I'm even a little envious of how well-liked he is." Snape said nothing, but his expression had already softened.

A brief silence fell over the office. In the end, Snape was the first to lose patience.

"So what are you going to do? Pretend nothing happened?"

"How could I?" Dumbledore looked at Snape in surprise and pointed at the mountain of letters on the desk.

"There have never been so many complaint letters in Hogwarts' history."

"After this incident, I may well go from being the greatest Headmaster to the most infamous one, surpassing even Phineas."

"Of course I have to handle it carefully."

"Of course." A faint smile appeared on his face. "Before dealing with Quirrell, however, I must first ask the person involved for his opinion."

"Fawkes, could you bring Mr. Lawrence here?"

It was still the Headmaster's Office.

Snape had disappeared, and the person sitting in his former seat was now Wayne.

Wayne wore a broad smile, the corners of his mouth impossible to suppress. The reason was simple: the notifications in his mind were practically flooding in. This whole major event had earned him an enormous fortune.

"Mr. Lawrence, you seem very happy?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"Of course." Wayne smiled shyly. "Seeing that you're not angry, Headmaster, means my punishment probably won't be too severe."

"My classmates are innocent too. They were only supporting me, so please don't punish them either."

Dumbledore looked at the boy sitting across from him with relief.

"Mr. Lawrence, you are a true Hufflepuff. I'm very glad the Sorting Hat discovered the qualities shining within you."

The Sorting Hat, which had been sitting on its tall stool the entire time, really wanted to say something.

I honestly can't see what makes him suitable for Hufflepuff. He was completely bribed.

Most importantly, the grooming tools that little wizard had promised still hadn't arrived.

The hat was furious!

"However, I think you've misunderstood." Dumbledore comforted him. "I have no intention of punishing you or the other students."

"On the contrary, I must solemnly apologize to all of you."

Dumbledore spoke with great sincerity. "It was my negligence that delayed everyone's progress in magic."

"I asked you here because I wanted to hear your opinion, so—

"My opinion?" Wayne asked in surprise. "Professor, I already put my opinion in the letter."

"Either Professor Quirrell teaches some useful spells in class, or he is replaced by another Defense Against the Dark Arts class teacher."

"But..." Dumbledore frowned, looking troubled. "The term has already begun. Replacing a teacher so abruptly would be extremely difficult."

"Professor."

Wayne spoke at length. "I've also heard about the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Finding someone to die—er, I mean, to teach the class—is difficult.

"But this school year has already started. If you replace the teacher at Christmas and find a substitute who only teaches for half a year, the curse surely won't take effect, will it?"

Seeing Dumbledore's hesitant expression, he pressed on while the iron was hot. "If that doesn't work, you can find a teacher within the school to cover the class."

"I recommend Professor Snape. He—"

"Stop, stop, stop."

Dumbledore hurriedly interrupted Wayne. "Professor Snape is already overworked. Having him cover the class isn't realistic."

Old Dumbledore wiped away a cold sweat in his heart.

This is like sending away his most capable assistant.

These two were something else. One couldn't stand the young wizard and was thinking of every way to punish him. The other was even more ruthless, directly trying to make him the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

A saying was currently circulating throughout Britain's Wizarding World.

If you hate someone, recommend that they go teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.

"All right, Mr. Lawrence." Dumbledore spoke softly. "Thank you for your suggestion. It has given me a great deal to think about."

"However, expelling a teacher is not a simple matter. It requires the approval of the Board of Directors."

"Usually, teachers in that position resign of their own accord." Wayne's mouth twitched slightly.

Resign of their own accord? What a damn novel method.

"I'll have a proper talk with Quirrell first, then decide which method to use."

"For your unity and courage, I'll award Hufflepuff fifty points." After comforting Wayne for a while, Dumbledore let him leave.

Wayne had barely stepped out of the Headmaster's Office when Snape pushed open a hidden door and emerged behind him, his face frighteningly gloomy.

He had heard their entire conversation.

Although he very much wanted to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Wayne clearly hadn't made the suggestion to help him achieve his wish. That boy—

Snape thought for a long time before coming up with a word more insulting than "bastard."

What a damn Tang San!

After leaving the office, Wayne strode briskly downstairs. He moved quickly, since Cho was still waiting for news in the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was still packed.

Everyone already knew that Wayne had been taken away by a Phoenix, and they were anxiously waiting for him.

The moment he pushed open the doors, countless gazes fell on him. The hall fell silent, and even the professors couldn't help looking curious.

Wayne didn't hide anything. He broke into a huge smile and announced what everyone had been waiting to hear.

"Professor Dumbledore said he would seriously consider our opinions, and he awarded Hufflepuff fifty points!"

Boom!

Thunderous applause and excited cheers rang throughout the Great Hall, as though even the stars on the ceiling had been shaken.

Everyone excitedly hugged the classmates beside them.

Cho finally stopped worrying and looked at Wayne with a radiant smile.

Hermione gave a quiet snort, closed her thick book, and turned to leave, completely unaware that she had been holding it upside down the entire time.

"That's so cool!" Ron clapped until his hands turned red. Staring at Wayne, who was surrounded by the badgers, he shouted, "So complaining really works!"

"Harry, let's complain about Snape!"

"Get rid of that old bat, and our lives will be much better!" The little lions around them all lit up when they heard Ron. Right!

"If complaining about Quirrell worked, then complaining about Snape should work too, right? He plays favorites with Slytherin every day and keeps taking points from Gryffindor!"

"If Snape leaves, won't we have a chance at winning the House Cup?" This time, it wasn't only Harry who was tempted. The other little lions were eager to try it too. They planned to imitate Hufflepuff and fill the gargoyle outside the Headmaster's Office with water first thing the next morning.

There were simply too many people around, so Wayne couldn't get away.

He could only exchange a few words with Cho and arrange to meet her by the Black Lake after class the next day before his two roommates dragged him back to the common room.

Today's action had not only kept Wayne from being punished, but had also won fifty points for the house. They absolutely had to celebrate.

As Hufflepuffs, celebrating was incredibly easy. The kitchen was right outside their door.

Several senior students went in and ordered a huge pile of snacks and cakes. They also asked the House-elves to buy some Butterbeer from The Three Broomsticks.

"Wayne, let me buy you a drink!"

Pierre, a seventh-year prefect, raised his glass and clinked it against Wayne's.

"If you hadn't been so brave, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have said that."

"We can finally get rid of that fake professor Quirrell! To—"

Pierre's face flushed with excitement. Wayne smiled and echoed him with a few words, but he didn't have much faith in actually driving Quirrell away.

Would Dumbledore sacrifice the students' progress in Defense Against the Dark Arts for an entire year, or continue observing Voldemort's movements under his very nose?

Dumbledore's choice was obvious. It perfectly matched something he had once said.

Everything for the greater good.

Still, Wayne wasn't going to say that and ruin everyone's celebration.

At the very least, Quirrell would have to make some changes from then on. Otherwise, even Dumbledore wouldn't be able to satisfy the students.

The celebration continued until eleven, when everyone gradually dispersed. Wayne also returned to the dormitory.

Toby and Norman kept asking about his conversation with Dumbledore, and Wayne didn't hide anything.

When they heard that he had recommended Snape as the Defense Against the Dark Arts class professor, they quickly understood what he was getting at.

Toby said seriously, "Wayne, how could you do that?"

"Exactly." Norman also looked displeased. "How can our Professor Snape be a substitute professor? He has to teach the entire term!"

"I suggest that everyone continue signing joint letters next term and recommend Snape as the Defense Against the Dark Arts class professor!"

Wayne: "..."

You two are even more ruthless than I am.

Chapter 65: Lions Who Courted Death, the System's Major Event, and the Clash of the Dark and White Lords

Late at night, the two roommates had far too much energy and continued discussing the matter until very late.

They came up with seven or eight ways to make Snape take over the Defense Against the Dark Arts class before finally going to sleep, satisfied.

Only then did Wayne have time to check the notifications that had been ringing in his mind all day.

After the badgers handed over the letters, several notifications appeared on the system panel.

The system detected that the host had begun to show his brilliance, allowing Hogwarts to experience the delight of chaos. Major event activation in progress.