Clouds Over Hogwarts

Legend has it that Voldemort desperately wanted the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Dumbledore firmly refused him.

As a result, he cursed every wizard who served as Hogwarts' Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts equally.

Since then, no Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts has ever been able to teach safely until their second year.

Every year, Hogwarts had to find a new wizard to fill this position.

Facing Dumbledore's offer, Li Wei quickly began to think.

Voldemort's curse was indeed terrifying, but as long as he was careful, it shouldn't be life-threatening.

Like the werewolf Lupin later on, who also held this position but left Hogwarts safely.

If Lupin could do it, there was no reason he couldn't.

Moreover, he had Jiamer, who bore a powerful curse, traveling with him. Jiamer was naturally extremely sensitive to curses, and the two of them might even discover something about Voldemort's curse.

The immediate danger was resolved, but what about the others?

It was now 1992, and it seemed to be the time when the Harry Potter plot began.

Having lived in the magical world for over thirty years, he could no longer remember many details of the original story.

It was foreseeable that as long as he taught at Hogwarts, he would inevitably get entangled in the main storyline.

Although not many people died in the books, even someone as strong as Professor McGonagall was severely injured in the war, and Snape was killed by Voldemort with a single blow.

Even if not many people died in the war, theoretically, this matter still carried considerable risk.

However, did he have any other choice?

Being allowed by Dumbledore to continue researching the Dark Arts was already an unimaginable concession.

As for what happened next, he could only take it one step at a time.

Currently, he had no other choice but to teach at Hogwarts.

Therefore, showing the corresponding sincerity was the most important thing right now.

"I'm sorry, Professor, I was just too surprised—this news is overwhelming."

As he spoke, Li Wei had completely made up his mind.

Dumbledore simply watched him calmly, without even a smile on his face.

"It is my honor to teach at Hogwarts, and I am very happy to accept your invitation, but..."

Li Wei drank his cup of black tea in one gulp, his calm gaze tinged with a hint of seriousness.

Dumbledore sensed his earnestness and frowned slightly—it seemed this matter was not going to be easily resolved.

Would Li Wei's request be related to the Dark Arts?

He hoped Li Wei wouldn't make any unreasonable demands.

"I am, to a degree, an educator, and I have my own philosophy and pursuits regarding how to teach students."

Being forced to become a professor and then slacking off like Quirrell, wasting a whole year for all students across seven years, was not Li Wei's style.

He wouldn't take responsibility for others' lives, but he also wouldn't intentionally waste them.

"Of course, I can feel that your students are all very outstanding."

It was precisely because of this that if they couldn't reach an agreement this time, Dumbledore wouldn't allow Li Wei to continue his activities.

With Voldemort's shadow returning, he needed to minimize all other threat factors.

"If I am to be the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, I hope to teach in my own way, and the school needs to respect and cooperate with my philosophy."

"Philosophy? You're not going to teach the students the Dark Arts in class, are you?"

"No, Professor, you misunderstand me."

Li Wei snapped his fingers, and Barton quietly brought over two Basque cheesecakes and refilled their drinks.

"As for the quality of Hogwarts students, they are far from worthy of learning the Dark Arts from me."

Dumbledore gave Li Wei a deep look, not rushing to speak.

But again, he was not in the mood to thank Barton this time—as the headmaster, he could not ignore Li Wei's statement after his beloved and proud student had been insulted.

"I would like to know—after you become a professor, what is your teaching plan?"

"First, I hope to change the teaching model for Defense Against the Dark Arts. I propose to abolish the small class system for each of the two houses and instead gather students from all four houses together, holding two extra classes per week."

Dumbledore considered it for a moment, then shook his head.

"Li Wei, if you gather students from all four houses, there will be over forty people. I don't believe such a teaching method would benefit the students' development—you won't be able to attend to every student."

"I certainly can. Through in-class tests and monthly exams, I can easily keep track of each student's learning progress."

"In-class tests, monthly exams?"

Although Dumbledore heard the concept for the first time, he roughly understood what Li Wei meant.

"That's right. This has been implemented in China's Muggle education for a long time and has shown astonishing results. Through the 'sea of questions' tactic, they can continuously cultivate outstanding students."

"China's Muggle education? You're also knowledgeable in this area? Oh, right, you are Chinese, and your Muggle Studies grade was O (Outstanding)."

Dumbledore's interest was piqued when he first heard about the concept of Muggle education.

He considered himself an educator as well, and being the Headmaster of Hogwarts had always been a source of pride for him.

Faced with the new philosophy Li Wei proposed, he quickly forgot his earlier displeasure and began to communicate enthusiastically with the other man.

The more they talked, the more astonished he became by the novelty of Li Wei's educational philosophy; no, it should be called professionalism!

Every concept the other man put forward was supported by practical teaching experience.

It was only through their in-depth discussion that Dumbledore learned Li Wei had been consciously seeking out talented students to teach ever since he graduated and took on Qiao Weili.

He proposed the concept of 'teaching according to aptitude,' guiding different students to understand magic through various methods, and he had even obtained the O.W.L. exam subject content from the Ministry of Magic over the years.

After internal assessments, all students who had reached the required learning period achieved excellent results.

"You're saying every student who reached the required period achieved at least six O's? Li Wei, if that's true, this is a truly remarkable educational achievement."

"Hmm, teaching according to aptitude? It's a novel and excellent concept, but precisely because of that, I must refuse your earlier request to merge classes—I don't believe you can teach forty students according to their aptitude simultaneously."

"Will the heavy workload suppress the students' natural disposition? They are at the age where they are most mischievous, and things may not always proceed according to your expectations."

"I only provide correct instruction; whether to learn is their own business."

"Isn't that somewhat irresponsible?"

"As far as I know, the Defense Against the Dark Arts class at Hogwarts has always been a major problem. I thought I was at least providing help to those students who wanted to improve."

"..."

The two engaged in a series of discussions about how to teach, talking until nightfall—the students who had fled earlier, worried, risked being caught and returned, which made Dumbledore realize they had been talking for a full six hours.

These students, who had left and then returned, further allowed Dumbledore to see the warmth embedded in Li Wei's teaching—the respect these students had for Li Wei was absolutely genuine.

Reluctantly, Dumbledore ended the conversation, finally stood up, and extended his hand to Li Wei.

"I am already looking forward to seeing what results you will bring."

"I believe that even if you can only teach for one year, you will bring a profound influence to the children of Hogwarts."

"Thank you for your trust, Professor. I promise I will give it my all."

Li Wei's face showed no excitement for this expected outcome, and he calmly extended his hand.

Their hands clasped firmly.

Suddenly, a dark cloud drifted across the sky above Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.