Harry raised his hand and knocked three times.
Douglas's voice came from inside.
"Come in."
When they pushed the door open, the office was excessively cool.
A stack of exam papers sat on the desk.
Douglas sat in a high-backed chair, slowly turning pages.
Hearing them enter, he did not even look up right away.
"The looks on your three faces,"
he said with a smile, "you look like you've just come back from the morgue."
Ron muttered under his breath.
"Pretty much."
Only then did Douglas look up at them, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"So, what is it?"
Harry walked up to the desk.
"Professor, were the staff assessment standards your idea?"
Douglas did not rush to answer.
He put down his red pen and leaned back in his chair, as though watching a somewhat interesting play.
"If I said no, would you believe me?"
"No."
Harry answered without hesitation.
Ron tugged at Harry, but Harry ignored him.
"Good."
Douglas raised his eyebrows.
"At least that brain of yours isn't just for decoration."
Ron exploded.
"So it really was you? You've turned the whole school into this, and you're acting like you had nothing to do with it?"
Douglas looked at him.
"Mr. Weasley, you seem to have misunderstood. I'm not someone with nothing to do with it. I'm precisely the one doing things."
Ron opened his mouth to retort.
Douglas pointed at the exam papers and said:
"The class representatives have all been rather busy lately. Since you're here, help me mark these papers."
"Ahem."
Hermione cleared her throat and said:
"Professor, you're putting the other professors and the students through the mill together."
"Yes."
Douglas counted the papers as he spoke.
He answered so quickly that all three of them froze for a moment.
Douglas