Legend had it that Voldemort had once desperately coveted the post of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, only to be firmly refused by Dumbledore.
So he had impartially cursed every wizard who took up the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.
Ever since then, not a single Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts had managed to teach safely into a second year.
Every year, Hogwarts had to find a new wizard for the position.
Faced with Dumbledore's proposal, Li Wei thought quickly.
Voldemort's curse was certainly terrifying, but as long as he was careful, it probably would not endanger his life.
Lupin, the werewolf who came later, had held the same position and still left Hogwarts safely.
If Lupin could do it, there was no reason he could not.
Besides, Jiamer, who bore a powerful curse, would be accompanying him. She was naturally exceptionally sensitive to curses, and perhaps the two of them might discover something about Voldemort's curse.
The short-term danger was settled. What about everything else?
It was now 1992. It seemed the plot of Harry Potter had already begun?
Having lived in the wizarding world for more than thirty years, he had already forgotten many details from the original books.
One thing was foreseeable: if he taught at Hogwarts, he would inevitably become entangled in the main storyline.
Although not many people died in the books, even someone as formidable as Professor McGonagall had been gravely injured in the war, while Snape had been killed outright by Voldemort in a single blow.
Even if few people died in that war, the matter still carried considerable risk in theory.
But did he have any other choice?
Getting Dumbledore to accept that he could continue researching the Dark Arts was already an unimaginable concession.
As for what came after, he could only take things one step at a time.
Right now, apart from teaching at Hogwarts, he had no other choice.
Then demonstrating the appropriate sincerity was the most important thing at present.
"Sorry, Professor. I was just too surprised—this news truly honors me."
By the time he spoke, Li Wei had completely made up his mind.
Dumbledore merely watched him calmly, without even a smile on his face.
"It would be my honor to teach at Hogwarts. I am very happy to accept your invitation, but—"
Li Wei drained the black tea in his cup in one gulp, and a hint of solemnity colored his calm gaze.
Dumbledore noticed his seriousness and frowned slightly—it seemed this matter would not be so easily resolved.
Would Li Wei's request have something to do with the Dark Arts?
He hoped Li Wei would not make any unreasonable demands.
"I can barely be considered an educator, and I have my own ideals and aspirations when it comes to teaching students."
Being forced to become a professor, then slacking off like Quirrell and wasting an entire year for students across all seven grades, was not Li Wei's style.
He would not take responsibility for other people's lives, but neither would he deliberately waste them.
"Of course. I can tell that your students are all quite outstanding."
That was precisely why, if they failed to reach an agreement this time, Dumbledore would not allow Li Wei to continue acting freely.
Voldemort's shadow was returning, and he had to reduce every other potential threat to a minimum.
"If I am to serve as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, I hope to teach in my own way. The school must respect and cooperate with my educational principles."
"Principles? You do not intend to teach the students the Dark Arts in class, do you?"
"No, Professor, you misunderstand me."
Li Wei snapped his fingers. Barton silently brought over two plates of Basque cheesecake and replaced their drinks.
"By Hogwarts students' current standards, they are still far from qualified to study the Dark Arts with me."
Dumbledore gave Li Wei a long look and did not rush to speak.
But this time, he was equally in no mood to thank Barton—his beloved and proud students had been insulted, and as headmaster, he could not ignore Li Wei's remarks.
"I would like to know—after becoming a professor, what will your teaching plan be?"
"First, I hope to change the format of Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. We will cancel the small classes shared by two houses at a time, gather students from all four houses together instead, and add two more lessons each week."
Dumbledore considered this, but ultimately shook his head.
"Li Wei, if students from all four houses are gathered together, there will be more than forty of them. I do not believe such a teaching method would benefit their development—you could not possibly attend to every student."
"Of course I can. Through in-class quizzes and monthly exams, I can easily keep track of every student's learning progress."
"In-class quizzes? Monthly exams?"
Although Dumbledore was hearing these concepts for the first time, he roughly understood what Li Wei meant.
"Exactly. They have been practiced in Chinese Muggle education for a long time and have produced astonishing results. Through intensive drilling, they continuously cultivate top students with outstanding grades."
"Chinese Muggle education? You have studied that as well? Oh, right, you are Chinese, and you received an O—Outstanding—in Muggle Studies."
Dumbledore was intrigued as he heard these educational ideas for the first time.
He considered himself an educator as well, and serving as Hogwarts's headmaster had always been a source of pride for him.
Faced with the new ideas Li Wei had proposed, he quickly forgot their earlier unpleasantness and immersed himself in discussion with Li Wei.
And the more they discussed, the more Dumbledore marveled at Li Wei's fresh educational ideas. No—professional was the better word!
Every idea Li Wei put forward was supported by actual teaching experience.
Only through their in-depth discussion did Dumbledore learn that ever since Li Wei had taken Qiao Weili as his student after graduation, he had consciously sought out talented students to teach.
He had proposed the idea of "teaching according to aptitude," guiding different students to understand magic through various methods. He had even acquired the Ministry of Magic's O.W.L. examination materials from previous years.
After internal assessments, every student who had reached the required years of study had achieved outstanding results.
"You mean every student who reached the required term achieved at least six Os?
Li Wei, if that is true, it is a truly remarkable educational accomplishment."
"Mm, teaching according to aptitude? It is a fresh and excellent concept, but precisely because of that, I must reject your earlier request to merge the classes—I do not believe you can teach according to aptitude for forty students at once."
"Would heavy coursework suppress the students' nature? They are at the age when they are most prone to mischief. Things may not necessarily go as you expect—"
"I only provide proper instruction. Whether they choose to learn is their own concern."
"Is that not somewhat irresponsible?"
"As I understand it, Defense Against the Dark Arts has always been a major problem at Hogwarts. I believe I would at least be helping those students who wish to improve."
"..."
The two held a series of discussions on how teaching should be conducted, talking until nightfall. The students who had fled earlier returned despite the risk of being caught out of worry, and only then did Dumbledore realize they had discussed the matter for a full six hours.
And those students who had returned made Dumbledore see the warmth hidden within Li Wei's teaching—these students' respect for Li Wei was absolutely not something that could be feigned.
Dumbledore reluctantly ended the conversation at last. He rose to his feet and extended his hand to Li Wei.
"I am already looking forward to the results you will bring."
"I believe that even if you can teach for only one year, you will leave a profound impact on Hogwarts's children."
"Thank you for your trust, Professor. I promise I will give it everything I have."
Despite this entirely expected outcome, there was still no excitement on Li Wei's face. He merely extended his hand calmly.
Their hands clasped tightly.
Above Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a dark cloud suddenly drifted in.
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