RNP Chapter 35 Oh!
Chapter 35 Oh!
"You underestimate me, Professor McGonagall—"
The midday sun was intense and dazzling, illuminating the fair and handsome face of the boy in Professor McGonagall's office who was no longer the helpless young man he once was.
Ares smiled gently as he soothed Professor McGonagall, who was not as stern and capable as usual, but rather lost in a sorrowful and guilty mood.
"I have never blamed you...not even Snape or Dumbledore—as for those Slytherin students who hunted me back then, they learned their lesson then and there, didn't they?"
"Yes... Pomona told me the same thing—"
Professor McGonagall pulled out a checkered handkerchief, blew her nose hard, and looked at Ares with a sense of relief.
"She said you're not the kind of extreme kid. She said that although you didn't quite fit in with other students before, you could always make people happy if you wanted to."
"Yeah, I do have a bit of that humor gene."
Ares said.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, her gaze towards Ares filled with pride.
The student in front of me had once tarnished Gryffindor's reputation, and after that incident, she herself was subjected to considerable criticism.
For a time, a ridiculous rumor even circulated in the school that Gryffindor was about to send an unprecedentedly outstanding talent to Azkaban.
Even though all the senior students who experienced this incident back then have graduated, when they occasionally "discuss" school affairs with Severus, he has not used this incident to provoke her emotions.
However, it has now been proven that all of this was nonsense.
Gryffindor did not produce a dark wizard who would "go down in history," but on the contrary, it produced a true hero!
In the past two days, she, Pomona, Bobby, and a few others had privately discussed the Hogwarts Express incident. They all agreed that if Ares hadn't been on the train, Hogwarts would be closed by now!
Now that we've talked about the past, it's time to talk about the present.
"Have you chosen your office, Ares?"
"Oh, let's use Quirrell's place then, I don't have any reservations—of course, I hope you'll ask the elves to take good care of the garlic smell in the office."
"Of course... As for living arrangements, do you need to buy any furniture, since we'll be living at the school for an extended period?"
"No need to worry, I carry a set with me... It's not that I'm picky, I'm just used to using my own things."
"Hmm—have you decided on the textbooks for each grade level for your upcoming teaching?"
"Oh! Can't we just use Quirrell's?"
"Regarding your lesson preparation... I must remind you that the Wizarding Level Examination Authority checks each professor's lesson plans every semester, so they must be handwritten and cannot be done with an autocorrect quill."
"Ah! Can't we just use Quirrell's?"
"For senior students who enter NEWTs, they need to conduct independent research on defensive techniques, but those topics are usually defined by us professors, which means you have to help them come up with good questions."
"Ah! Can't we just use Quirrell's?"
"For God's sake, Ares!"
In an instant, the warm atmosphere that had filled the cramped office piled high with student assignments vanished!
Professor McGonagall reverted to her intimidating Transfiguration professor persona, her eyebrows raised high, almost touching her hairline, as she glared sternly at Ares.
"Please pay attention, Ares. Being a professor is a demanding job, not like being a student...skipping class is absolutely forbidden!"
"Uh... I expected that."
"besides!"
Professor McGonagall's withered chest began to heave, and the heaving grew more and more intense.
"Besides teaching, Hogwarts professors have other responsibilities, such as—student safety!"
Professor McGonagall spoke very quickly.
"Each professor has to take night watch in the castle, in pairs, usually divided into the first half and the second half of the night, and you were assigned to the second half."
"I protest!"
Ares's face was full of 'indignation'
"This is workplace bullying!"
"Oh, it has nothing to do with workplace bullying or seniority, Ares. We have to take care of the older professors, like Professor Kettleburn!"
"And what about you?"
"I also need to work the night shift, of course, it's always in the first half of the night."
"That's not fair, Professor McGonagall, you look so young!"
"Oh, Ares..."
Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes, her expression softening.
Taking a few deep breaths, Professor McGonagall glared at Ares.
"In short, the most important thing is being on duty... oh no, the most important thing is teaching!"
Professor McGonagall spoke earnestly,
"Please keep an eye on things up there. Although you didn't finish your studies at Hogwarts, I believe you can shoulder the future of those children... Professor Dumbledore clearly has faith in you too, otherwise he wouldn't have invited you back."
We all believe you can do it, Ares. You're smart, you just don't try hard enough!
Ares rolled his eyes subtly, feeling like he was being subjected to psychological manipulation.
"Come on, stop being so lazy and show some drive."
"I-"
Tap, tap, tap—
A knock sounded on the door, and Ares promptly shut up.
After Professor McGonagall gave her permission, a senior Gryffindor student entered with a piece of parchment.
He clearly hadn't expected Ares to be there, and for a moment, his awe-inspiring gaze was fixed on Ares, and he forgot to speak.
"Professor Delfino is no Quidditch star, Wood!"
Professor McGonagall looked sternly at the boy.
"He can't tell you how to help Gryffindor win the House Cup."
"Oh—oh, yes, Professor—"
Oliver Wood quickly averted his gaze and hesitantly handed over the parchment.
"This is our roster for this year, Professor McGonagall. It's basically the same lineup as last year... well, as you can see, we're missing a Seeker. Kajave has graduated."
"Then hurry up and find one, Mr. Wood!"
Professor McGonagall asked Wood to sit down, appearing to take the matter very seriously.
"Okay, we'll find a great Seeker. You can't expect me to play, Wood—oh, Ares, it's all over now."
"OK."
Ares nodded slightly, a smile playing on his lips.
Quidditch...
The most popular sport in the wizarding world, loved by almost everyone, not to mention the energetic young wizards.
If this sport were used in a course…
Ares's eyes flashed, and he strode away.
"Oh, right, Ares—"
Professor McGonagall hurriedly called him back before he could close the door.
"Your first night patrol will be tonight in the latter half of the night, Ares, remember that?"
Get some rest after dinner...don't oversleep, and—your partner is Severus...you two can meet up first and then decide on your patrol route."
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