The Best Candidate for Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor

At the end of March, Dumbledore convened a meeting.

All staff members, including Filch, were required to attend.

The layout of the Headmaster's Office had changed, becoming a large room furnished with nothing but a round table and benches.

Hagrid arrived first, and he did not even need to duck to enter.

"You're always the first to arrive, Hagrid."

He sat down shyly on the right. "Those troublesome students haven't been out much lately. I can sleep eight hours a day now."

Dumbledore smiled toward the doorway. "Severus, how has your sleep been lately?"

"Fine." Snape sat down on the left with an extremely unnatural expression.

The bat—the Potions Class professor's office had not been invaded, and the Slytherin dormitories had been peaceful again.

No matter how unwilling he was to believe it, he had to accept an utterly speechless fact.

If Black Swan did not cause trouble, then the six little ones did not cause trouble either.

Acceptance was one thing, but he would never readily admit it with that stubborn mouth of his.

McGonagall and Madam Hooch arrived together.

Though both wore stern expressions, anyone could tell they were in excellent moods.

McGonagall sat opposite Snape, with only a bench separating her from Hagrid.

Dumbledore asked without reservation, "Minerva, I rarely see you this happy."

"This is wonderful news." She gave Snape a slight smile. "The editor of Transfiguration Today replied yesterday.

He said Vincent's paper was highly valuable as a reference and planned to publish it next month."

Her restless little hands made Snape's face drain of all color.

"I knew he could do it!" Hagrid laughed heartily.

"That day, he turned branches into Gwent cards. The finished products looked exactly like those made by upper-year students."

Before Flitwick had even entered, he heard laughter coming from