Soon, the train bound for Hogwarts pulled out of the station, and, just as expected, Airi ended up sharing a compartment with Hermione again.
"It's wonderful to see you again, Professor Airi."
Hermione was clearly delighted to see Airi.
"Will you still be our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
"Of course."
Airi flipped through the book in her hands again and glanced at Hermione.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because George said the position is cursed."
Hermione was clearly a little unhappy when the subject came up.
"He told me that the Dark Lord once wanted to become Hogwarts's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but he was turned down. So he put an evil curse on the position. After that, almost no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher could last longer than a year."
"Oh... I think I've heard that rumor before."
Hearing Hermione say that, Airi seemed to recall that such a claim did exist. Rumor had it that Defense Against the Dark Arts was the course that burned through professors the fastest at Hogwarts... Well, simply put, it was rather boring.
That sort of curse might work on ordinary wizards, but on her? Keep dreaming.
Of course, Hermione did not tell Airi that Hogwarts students had long since started a private betting pool on whether she could remain the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Strictly speaking, Airi was not an especially popular teacher at Hogwarts. Her severity and coldness frightened quite a few students.
On the other hand, her Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were indeed excellent. Compared with Snape, that nitpicker, Airi actually felt more like Professor McGonagall to the students—everyone respected her and feared her, but they did not particularly dislike her.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Just then, someone knocked on the compartment door.