New Minister

That afternoon, when the final A History of Magic exam ended, cheers erupted from every corner of the castle.

Although the end of exams meant Hogwarts was about to break up for the holidays, and that they might very well run into Death Eaters or Voldemort after leaving school, those were problems for later.

At least everyone was happy now. Until the official start of the holidays, they could still play and relax to their hearts' content at Hogwarts without worrying about Death Eaters or Voldemort.

Many students left the castle and headed out onto the lawns, enjoying the warm evening breeze of June.

Silvan wanted to sit by the Black Lake. A History of Magic had been the final exam, and writing all those long passages on the paper had made his head spin. He needed to relax properly.

Harry and the other two happened to have the same idea—no homework, no exams, no worries about Death Eaters. They could just lie on the grass beside the Black Lake, think about nothing, and return to the castle for a hearty dinner only after the sun had completely set.

Thinking that, they unconsciously quickened their pace and walked out through the gates of Hogwarts Castle.

"Look, Headmaster Dumbledore is back too." On the stone steps, Ron instinctively stopped and looked at the two people approaching from a distance. "There's someone following him. Who is that? Next year's Defence Against the Dark Arts professor?"

Ron could not help laughing after he said it.

Ever since Dumbledore had rejected Tom Riddle's application to stay at Hogwarts as a teacher, no Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had lasted more than a year.

Come to think of it, Dumbledore really should have been looking for a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.