Blood Without a Bloody Smell, Harry's Major Progress!

After handing the white chess piece to Barty Crouch Sr., Linley explained the Pocket Anchor's principles and method of use to him.

After learning how precious the Pocket Anchor was, Barty Crouch Sr. gazed at the white chess piece in his hand. Just as he was about to say something to Linley, he discovered that Linley had already left via an Apparition Key.

"Because of my loyalty?" Barty Crouch Sr. murmured to himself. "That's quite a nice evaluation..."

Barty Crouch Sr. slowly raised the chess piece in his hand. It was another "Rook."

Among the remaining ten chess pieces, Linley had already decided where the two "Knights" and two "Imperial Guards" would go.

However, he would have to wait until Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry reopened before he could give them to their owners.

Meanwhile.

Budleigh Babberton.

Outside a neat little stone cottage set amid a garden stood two figures, one tall and one small.

They were Dumbledore and Harry. They had come here to invite Horace Slughorn, who lived here, to return to Hogwarts Castle as the Potions class professor for the new school year.

As for Professor Severus Snape, the original Potions class professor, he had gotten his wish and been appointed the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the new school year.

However, this was not because Professor Snape had prevailed over the other applicants. Rather, aside from Professor Snape, not a single wizard in the entire British wizarding world was willing to take the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Even if Dumbledore begged everyone he knew, no one was willing to apply.

After all, Voldemort's curse on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was common knowledge throughout the British wizarding