The Bard at Hogwarts

Extra - Dumbledore

Time seemed to speed up in the busyness and joy.

Half of the two-week Christmas vacation at Hogwarts has passed in the blink of an eye.

The morning of the seventh day of the Christmas vacation.

The owls flew into the hall as promised, and in a flurry of activity, they accurately found their masters and handed them letters from afar.

Of course, there were not all letters here, there might also be packages or freshly-made Daily Prophet.

…

"Professor Snape left? So suddenly?"

Smick looked at the newspaper in his hand in disbelief, and the bold title was clearly printed on the front page - "The Youngest Dean of Slytherin"

To be honest, as a Slytherin and a student of the Magic Machinery Club, she was happy to see this news.

"What? Left? Died?"

Smick's words caused a small discussion around him, but as the Daily Prophet fell, the whole hall was suddenly full of discussions.

However, these discussions were only aimed at the new dean Swinburne. As for Snape, who has never been popular, everyone subconsciously chose to ignore it.

Although Snape's departure was a bit abrupt, and he didn't even last a school year. But it's actually no big deal. In essence, it's still just the departure of a professor.

Unlike other colleges, in the noisy auditorium, every Slytherin has an expression of pride. After all, for them, the content in the newspaper is really a sudden surprise.

Think about it, a wizard with top strength, high appearance and popularity suddenly became his dean overnight, and it makes people happy to think about it.

But what is surprising is the vacant position of Potions Professor.

Although Snape always has a dark face, no one can deny his achievements in potions.

Therefore, the candidate for the successor of Potions Professor has become a new round of topic in the auditorium.

...

Compared with the curiosity of the little wizards, Professor McGonagall in the principal's office on the eighth floor also looked at the clock on the table from time to time.

The time on the clock was exactly 8:15 in the morning, and there was still more than half an hour before the agreed time.

While quietly waiting for time, Professor McGonagall also fell into a brief memory.

Snape had been away for a week. During this period, after receiving the rejection from Hermione and Damocles, Professor McGonagall could only mobilize her own connections as much as possible to find a reliable professor of potions.

However, different majors have different circles.

If she was looking for a successor to the Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall could easily find many suitable candidates, but she was powerless in the potion circle.

Although she could find some people, she always felt that it was a little bit worse after comparing them with the potion master like Snape.

It was at this time that the new Slytherin Dean, Ino, took the initiative to take on the task of finding a professor.

This made Professor McGonagall breathe a sigh of relief, but also felt a little uneasy.

After all, as the current principal of Hogwarts, she didn't even know the candidate for the upcoming potion professor, which sounded a bit absurd.

...

The astronomy tower in the early morning was always cold and lonely.

But the difference is that today it seems a little more lively.

The top floor of the astronomical tower is filled with morning light.

A simple and elegant wooden dining table occupies the central position. The tabletop is covered with a white tablecloth, and the edges are slightly yellowed, revealing a charm of time.

A set of exquisite bone china tableware is placed on the table. The porcelain surface is as smooth as a mirror. The cups and plates gently collide with each other, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

The breakfast content is rich and varied. The first thing that comes into view is a plate of steaming baked beans. The beans are plump and juicy, mixed with a faint smoky aroma; next to it are a few slices of perfectly roasted tomatoes, with slightly charred skin, sweet and sour inside, and rich juice.

Of course, a few slices of fried bacon are indispensable. The fat exudes an attractive aroma under the action of heat. The meat is tender and juicy, and paired with a few slices of toast, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it is simply a perfect match.

In addition, there is a small pot of bubbling mushrooms, which roll in butter, absorb juice, and have a rich flavor.

Finally, a pot of freshly brewed black tea, the aroma of tea rising, intertwined with the aroma of food, also added a perfect period to this breakfast.

Ino sat quietly in a comfortable chair, the back of the chair tilted back slightly, giving people just the right support, and the whole person looked very elegant.

Thanks to the furniture made by Transfiguration, the stool legs under the table are very stable, and even the slightest movement will not make noise, allowing people to completely immerse themselves in this quiet time.

The sun shines through the clouds, like a beautiful filter, and the bright gold shines.

After eating the last piece of bread, Ino slowly picked up the black tea at hand, and looked across at the same time.

"Professor, I remember that we first met here, of course, except for the opening dinner."

"Yes! It was also in such a morning." Dumbledore looked nostalgic, and then changed the subject and asked:

"So, you asked me to come back for Snape?"

"Yes, but not entirely." Ino nodded slightly.

"Professor McGonagall couldn't find a suitable successor, so I volunteered to recruit one for her."

He didn't hide his intentions. In fact, he had a plan a week ago to let the greatest white wizard of the 20th century return to Hogwarts.

The reason for this idea is still to start with Mad-Eye Moody.

During the Christmas holiday, on an ordinary evening, Moody dragged his injured leg and walked alone on the path leading to the Forbidden Forest.

To be honest, although I don’t understand Moody’s mentality at the time, after seeing such a picture, Dumbledore’s figure emerged in Ino’s mind.

He always felt that these two people were somewhat similar. Moody devoted his life to the Auror Office, and Dumbledore also devoted the second half of his life to Hogwarts.

For people who have lived in an environment for a long time, loneliness is always indispensable when the previous environment suddenly changes.

This is also the reason why Ino decided to re-employ Dumbledore after seeing Moody.

Perhaps in the eyes of the outside world, it is somewhat inhumane to let an old man over a hundred years old continue to work. But he knows very well that letting Dumbledore return to Hogwarts is a win-win and the best choice.

After all, Dumbledore is truly unmarried all his life, and his brother Aberforth is also single.

...

In this case, Hogwarts is probably no longer a place for Dumbledore to work.

For more than half a century, the castle may have already become a real home.

In the past few years, it was just a long vacation for the old headmaster. Now that the vacation is over, it is time to come back.

At the same time.

After sending a formal invitation, Ino also saw a little more spirit in the old headmaster's eyes, and the previous nostalgia had long disappeared.

Perhaps, Hogwarts really cannot be without Dumbledore.