Chapter 342 I Promise
The Sorting Hat is up, and the tip of the hat is hanging down.
The familiar ceiling, the candles floating all over the room, oh, and Minerva's serious face.
Serious, serious, and meticulously dressed.
And the lively little wizards who gathered together and gathered in the Hogwarts Great Hall.
Hogwarts.
This word made him startled, and the whole hat trembled.
"Is today the start of school?" The Sorting Hat stammered, feeling lost.
Professor McGonagall grabbed the tip of the hat and lifted it up high, at the same level as his vision: "Of course, isn't Mr. Hat always looking forward to this day?"
"I must be ready for today."
The Sorting Hat shook its body: "Well, of course, I think it should be ready."
"Let's start sorting happily."
"Shouldn't the first-year little wizard have come over yet?"
Professor McGonagall nodded: "Not yet, it's foggy today, they may be a little later."
The Sorting Hat heaved a sigh of relief, and its whole body collapsed visibly: "That's really great."
"I mean, it's kind of a shame not to be able to see the lovely kids sooner."
He said so.
But every crease on the hat is full of "great, I still have time" rejoicing.
The sorting hat was placed on the triangle, and he shook his head and muttered.
When the little wizards struggled to cross the mountain road and the lake, and entered the castle, he barely made up a happy ditty, and sang it briefly with his most familiar tune—Godric's favorite rock style recently.
The little wizards burst into cheers.
The other students also applauded.
"This year's song is pretty good," muttered Ron. "I want it to sing a little more."
"It's a Led Zeppelin song," Hermione began to explain. "I've heard it, but I don't know exactly which one."
"What's that?" Ron probed and asked, "I haven't heard of it, this level should be famous."
Harry nodded: "It is indeed famous."
"It's Sirius' favorite band, said to be better than the Beatles and the Rolling Stones."
Hermione and he looked at each other, and both of them wanted to laugh.
"But I seriously doubt that Sirius has a sense of identity because the four of them are as handsome as himself." Harry said softly.
"None of them are wizards," Hermione added.
Ron nodded: "Then I have to ask Sirius to borrow the record."
While they were talking.
The Sorting Hat assigns little wizards to their houses. This year's Slytherin is a bit lively. Except for Hufflepuff, they are the house with the most admissions--Gryffindor in previous years, and occasionally Raven Crow.
Wait until the dinner party is over.
Dumbledore stood up and smiled slightly: "A pleasant dinner."
"I have to say, the house-elves are getting better at their craft again."
The smile on his face was a little helpless.
This is Yennefer's masterpiece.
Although the lady only lived in the castle for a few days, her high demands and strict standards were remembered by the house elves—after Yennefer left, they collectively punished themselves for half a month, making Fer Qi had a headache. Although he could command the elves in name, he couldn't do magic, so he was powerless.
After self-punishment, the house-elves studied by themselves, and asked Hogwarts to give a long consumption list during the summer vacation.
Not only did the Hogwarts school directors have no objections, they even allocated a large sum of Galleons, promising each professor an annual salary increase of two-thirds, even for Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching positions.
Take their word for it.
Hogwarts is indeed the best wizarding school in Europe, teaching such excellent students as Harry Potter, and this year's Owls exam, in the long-term adverse trend, ushered in a wave of positive growth, these Galleons are all Hogwarts deserves it.
The little wizards agreed with Dumbledore's words.
"Last year, although there were some minor accidents, overall it was a peaceful year." Dumbledore raised his hand and pushed his glasses lightly, "In the history of Hogwarts, nothing happened The four houses unite to drive the unwanted out of Hogwarts."
"Professor Black also handed in a satisfactory answer sheet."
"Twelve people, a total of twelve people, got an "O" in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and 70% of the students successfully obtained the Defense Against the Dark Arts certificate."
"He is a very good and very popular professor. But I have to regret to inform you that Professor Black does not plan to stay at Hogwarts this year. He has more important things to do."
He glanced at Harry.
Now this situation is somewhat unexpected.
The Ministry of Magic couldn't mobilize manpower, and they were caught in the predicament of internal investigations. Since Scrimgeour succeeded the position of Minister of Magic, it has not been a month since the start of school, and he has received more than 30 reports.
And a joint letter involving almost two-thirds of the Ministry of Magic.
They all begged, Scrimgeour could see Thicknesse turned himself in, keep him in the Ministry of Magic, and stay in the position of Auror Office Director, if it doesn't work, send him back to his original position and continue to do that magic Captain of the Law Enforcement Squad.
The names above are listed on the Death Eaters list.
There are also pure blood families that are not on the Death Eaters list.
Scrimgeour suggested more than once that he should first mobilize his strength to help Harry find the whereabouts of the remaining Death Eaters and goblins.
But the Ministry of Magic has been coerced, and has to deal with this conflict that has been put on the surface and intensified.
The Ministry of Magic couldn't draw anyone.
The Order of the Phoenix only has Rita and Mundungus.
Searching the whole of London is very problematic, not to mention the whole of Great Britain, and even the whole of Europe. Now it is relatively safe. Sirius also joined the journey to find Voldemort, the girl named "Healy" and the wild hunting middle.
Listening to Dumbledore's words, Gryffindor burst into a whimper.
They like Sirius very much, and the Gryffindor who graduated is also Gryffindor, so they can get along very well.
Dumbledore waved his hand: "I believe we still have a chance to meet Professor Black again."
"Next, let's introduce the new professor."
"I think many of you must have heard of him, Horace Slughorn, a very good potions master, who once served at Hogwarts, and taught people like Severus The same excellent Potions Master, starting this year, he will return to Hogwarts and become your new Potions professor."
Slughorn stood up with a cheerful voice: "Hi everyone, the atmosphere at Hogwarts is really cheerful."
"Hopefully we can get along well."
The students were about to applaud, and it took a while to realize the words in Dumbledore's words - not "Defense Against the Dark Arts" but "Potions class".
Can.
Now Hogwarts has no shortage of Potions professors, isn't there Snape, what about him?
Dumbledore continued: "Yes, as some students guessed, from this year onwards, Professor Snape will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
The little wizards were in an uproar.
"Professor Snape's Defense Against the Dark Arts is no worse than his potion level." Dumbledore waved his hand again, suppressing their uproar, "Both me and Harry can do it for Snape." Professor Nepe has proved that he will be a qualified professor."
Snape didn't stand up, just sat on the table coldly, without saying a word.
Sparse applause sounded.
Dumbledore coughed lightly, and after the important things were finished, he began to talk clichés, talking about those well-known things.
Forbidden Forest, Quidditch, Mischief props
This year is the year without the Weasley brothers.
Both Professor McGonagall and Filch relaxed a lot.
Of course, they knew that even though Dumbledore repeatedly emphasized that Hogwarts banned all props from the Weasley Brothers' Joke Workshop just like last year, these things would still appear in every corner of the castle, and they would disappear at any time. It will bring them a huge surprise.
It was better than meeting George and Fred in person.
After Dumbledore said this, he smiled slightly: "I think you are all tired of hearing these things every year at the beginning of school."
"That's all I'm going to say."
"This year will definitely be a different school year. I assure you that all troubles will be resolved and we will usher in a perfect school year without any surprises."
The little wizards pouted.
That's what Dumbledore promised last year.
It turned out that the Ministry of Magic sent a Umbridge, which made them sick for more than two months.
What about this year?
And what surprise would come from that Professor Slughorn?
"Okay, your beds are waiting for you, as warm and comfortable as you expected. Your top priority now is to have a good rest and get ready for class tomorrow. So, let's say 'good night'."
The little wizards left.
The prefects of the four grades greeted the new students.
Harry and Hermione walked up to Gryffindor Tower.
"I returned the Time-Turner." Hermione said without thinking.
"Are you going to get twelve 'O's without newts?" Harry asked her, laughing.
Hermione shook her head: "Twelve "O"s don't mean anything, there are only three people in the history of Hogwarts, but whether it's you, or Professor Dumbledore, or even Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout... They all Got twelve "O's."
"Yennefer told me that there is no need to expect to be an all-rounder."
"You have to work hard in the direction you are best at, so that you can grow the fastest."
She clenched her fist: "I don't plan to take divination or arithmetic divination this year, but I still hesitate to protect magical animals. Would you choose it, Harry?"
"That's Hagrid's class." Harry said softly.
Not because of their relationship with Hagrid.
The professors of the main courses are all masters in their fields, but not all of the electives are. Hagrid is one of the few real masters in the electives.