Approval

Sherlock's idea proved highly effective. For a time, all twenty governors wrote to Dumbledore, directly pointing out that Hogwarts was a magical school with a thousand-year history.

As one of Europe's three great magical schools, it was shockingly indifferent toward its own anniversary celebrations—far less lively and joyous than the celebrations held by schools in the Muggle world.

Even the Daily Prophet pointed out that during Dumbledore's tenure as Hogwarts Headmaster, he had failed to value or pay attention to anniversary celebrations, days beloved by students. As a result, students had lost much of the fun such occasions could bring, making it difficult for them to form fond memories of Hogwarts.

A school could not be treated solely as a place of education. Sometimes, in combining education with enjoyment, enjoyment had to come first.

If students lived unhappy lives at school, then that was Dumbledore's own serious dereliction of duty.

That day, when Dumbledore saw the Daily Prophet and the full twenty letters from the governors on his desk in the Headmaster's office, he found it all rather baffling.

What did they mean, dereliction of duty? None of Hogwarts' previous headmasters had ever held any special activities for the school anniversary.

Besides, these governors included wizards who had all graduated from Hogwarts themselves. The anniversary had always passed quietly and uneventfully. What was so strange about that? Everyone had been perfectly calm about it before, so why was he suddenly being condemned from all sides this year?

Even when Dumbledore had attended Hogwarts, the anniversary had merely meant a somewhat better dinner in the evening... along with that banner that had been in use for nearly a thousand years.

Having grown accustomed to it, he had never thought there was anything wrong with it. And hadn't those pure-blood wizards always looked down on certain practices in the Muggle world? Why did this anniversary suddenly have to imitate Muggle schools?

Most excessive of all was the Daily Prophet. They had brought up the fact that Hogwarts was one of Europe's three great magical schools, so why had they singled out Hogwarts' anniversary celebration for criticism?

Didn't they know what the other two schools' anniversary celebrations were like? At least Hogwarts served a good meal in the evening. Those schools did not even have good food.

Dumbledore set the newspaper down on the desk and complained to Fawkes that the wizards of the magical world were becoming increasingly idle.

Ever since learning the Whispering Word Spirit spell, Dumbledore often chatted with Fawkes. Yet it felt like speaking with a close friend. Every conversation with Fawkes left Dumbledore amazed by Sherlock's talent, worried for him, and filled with a small measure of fear for the future.

He was not one hundred percent certain that he could change a person. It was difficult for anyone to change themselves, so he could not say what Sherlock would become in the future. Even now, he remembered the night Sherlock had enrolled two months ago—the brief clash of magic. Though the child was currently far inferior to him in strength, dealing with him had still taken some effort. In another four or five years, if they were to cross wands again, Dumbledore would probably have to use the Elder Wand.

Dumbledore was brooding over these thoughts.

Until Snape entered his office and placed a letter of application, personally written by the famed Prince of Spells, Sherlock Mephisto, before Dumbledore.

Looking at the twenty governors' letters and the Daily Prophet on Dumbledore's desk, Snape said gloomily, "If you have something troubling you, Professor... perhaps you should read this application from the person involved. You may understand where the source of your troubles lies."

Dumbledore opened the application and carefully read every word Sherlock had written. Then, to Snape's surprise, he smiled in relief.

"So you find the trouble Mr. Sherlock has caused you amusing?"

Dumbledore waved a hand, his calm expression still carrying a trace of joy. "I simply feel that all my previous worries were pointless. How could someone capable of thinking up such an interesting game possibly become a great villain in the future?"

Dumbledore shook his head and said to Snape, "That little fellow's influence in the magical world is already no weaker than mine. Wizards across the entire world have heard the title Prince of Spells. At first, I thought Lucius was having another fit of madness and had joined forces with the other nineteen governors... But judging from things now, if Lucius did not resort to coercion or temptation, then the other governors must have acted this way out of respect for the Prince of Spells."

Snape said nothing. If he were the manager of a great family, he too would choose this time to show goodwill toward a wizard with boundless prospects.

"So, Headmaster, do you intend to approve Sherlock's application and hold this game on next week's anniversary?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "It is not that simple, Severus. Hogwarts is not mine alone to decide for. And according to the rules of this Hogwarts Honor Tournament, each of the four houses must select contestants. Therefore, this must receive the approval of all four Heads of House, as well as the willingness of students from all four houses to participate."

Snape said directly, "As long as it is not during class, the students will certainly have no objections."

That afternoon, Dumbledore took some time to gather the Heads of Hogwarts' four houses. He straightforwardly showed them Sherlock's application, along with the rules and regulations for the game known as the Hogwarts Honor Tournament.

"Setting aside how complex this game competition is, simply being able to devise it proves he is clever enough. And he even made all the magical tools required for it himself. That is truly exceptional talent." After reading it, Flitwick nearly could not stop himself from applauding.

Snape said calmly from the side, "My outstanding student was able to invent spells at the age of five. Do you think someone known as the Prince of Spells would encounter difficulties in making magical items?"

The other three Heads of House looked at Snape strangely. They had originally thought their colleague was merely serious and reserved by nature. Who would have expected him to be such a tsundere grown man? Sherlock had not been his student when he invented spells at the age of five, had he?

Even Snape had once invented a spell himself, but compared with Sherlock, there was a difference in sheer quantity.

"All right. If none of you object, then we should discuss what the winning side's reward will be. After all, this is a competitive contest between four houses. Though it is being presented as a game, its essence remains a competition. The winners should receive a reward worthy of the school, shouldn't they?"

Just as Dumbledore was troubled by that point, Fawkes told him that while flying outside, he had seen Lucius striding inside.

Ordinarily, Dumbledore would not have wished to meet Lucius, but his appearance now was instead a good thing. After all, the financier for the reward had arrived.