New Headmaster, Arrangements for the Professors

No matter what, Adam had successfully become the headmaster of Hogwarts.

After Professor McGonagall returned from St. Mungo’s and learned this shocking news, she hurried to the Headmaster’s Office. However, Professor Dumbledore had already gone off to attend to other matters, leaving Adam alone to receive her.

"…That’s how it happened."

After explaining the entire process of becoming headmaster yet again, Adam looked at the still somewhat dazed Professor McGonagall and said,

"Professor McGonagall, please leave out the headmaster’s identity from this year’s admission letters for new students… Besides that, I’ll have to leave matters such as speeches at the feast to you as well."

Adam had already explained why it was inconvenient for him to appear openly at the moment and why he did not want everyone to know he was the new headmaster, so Professor McGonagall agreed to each request.

"Also, please have Hogwarts’ owls deliver these two letters to Fred and George. I believe the previous decision to expel them was unreasonable. They can now return and continue their unfinished studies."

Learning that Fred and George could return to complete their education, Professor McGonagall gladly accepted the two letters.

"They’ll certainly be very happy!"

Well… that was hard to say.

Adam merely smiled without speaking.

"Then, the things the Ministry of Magic previously issued…"

"All of them are void."

Adam spread his hands.

"There is no Ministry of Magic, nor is there a Board of Governors. Voldemort and his lackeys have just reduced the Department of Mysteries to ruins, and the Ministry of Magic no longer has the strength to protect everyone’s safety."

"During this extraordinary period, Hogwarts will enter full self-governance. I will take responsibility for every need involved in Hogwarts’ operation, and I will deal with every enemy that comes for Hogwarts."

"I understand. Then I shall… Oh, right."

Professor McGonagall suddenly remembered something.

"Hagrid has returned, so Care of Magical Creatures can proceed normally next term. Should Professor Grubbly-Plank remain? Also, there is the choice of professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts next term… and the matter of the Divination professor."

Although Professor McGonagall considered Divination nothing but utter nonsense, she still sympathized with Professor Trelawney’s circumstances.

"Let Professor Grubbly-Plank return home. Please convey my thanks to her."

At Professor Dumbledore’s invitation, the witch had intermittently helped teach Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts over the past two years. She had worked very hard.

"Also, notify Hagrid that he will not be teaching Care of Magical Creatures next term. I will invite someone else to teach the course."

Seeing Professor McGonagall’s puzzled expression, Adam said helplessly,

"I acknowledge Hagrid’s heartfelt love for magical creatures, but his inability to clearly understand the difference between students and himself means that he is probably not suited to be a professor."

After finishing the materials Professor Scamander had left behind, Hagrid had already begun having students raise dangerous creatures such as Blast-Ended Skrewts and Thestrals. Adam did not dare imagine what magical creatures Hagrid might bring into Care of Magical Creatures afterward.

As for a candidate to teach Care of Magical Creatures… Adam had met quite a few researchers in that field when he had gone to America with Professor Scamander, such as that fellow fan from Hawaii.

Just as Professor Scamander had said, with the development of human seafaring technology, magical creatures such as sirens and sea monsters had less and less space to survive. Accordingly, researchers in that field found it increasingly difficult to achieve results.

As a young researcher who had only recently entered the profession, the other man was very interested in switching fields to study other magical creatures.

As it happened, Hogwarts had quite a lot of magical creatures.

Especially with Adam around.

After hearing Adam’s reasoning and thinking back on it, Professor McGonagall had to admit that he was right.

Hagrid might be someone who loved magical creatures, but he was not a good Care of Magical Creatures professor.

"Professor Trelawney and Professor Firenze… let each of them be responsible for part of the students. Professor Trelawney will take students from third year through fifth year, while Professor Firenze will take sixth- and seventh-years."

After considering it, Adam said this.

Although Professor Trelawney was usually flighty and fond of predicting misfortune for people, she did possess some genuine ability. He could not simply let her go, and she also enjoyed life at Hogwarts.

Professor Firenze had already been expelled by the centaur herd in the Forbidden Forest. Sending him back now would be sending him to his death… Adam could certainly stop the centaurs’ violence, since the Forbidden Forest now belonged to him as headmaster, but he could only preserve Professor Firenze’s life. He could not force the centaurs to change their attitude toward him.

Neither of them could leave this position now, and their teaching abilities happened to differ somewhat—Professor Trelawney taught every last detail, but not anything truly useful, so students could muddle through easily. Professor Firenze taught genuine divination techniques, but his standards for students were far too high.

By balancing them out, Professor Trelawney could teach the O.W.L. students while Professor Firenze taught the N.E.W.T. students. It was just right.

"As for the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next term, I already have someone in mind, but please allow me to keep it secret for now."

Seeing the mysterious smile on Adam’s face, Professor McGonagall nodded.

At least for now, Adam seemed more reliable than Professor Dumbledore when it came to being headmaster. There should not be any problems.

After Professor McGonagall left, Adam rose and went to Grindelwald’s residence.

"How is it? Can you deal with it?"

Adam had originally intended to have Grindelwald teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but according to Grindelwald, he needed some time to study the curse. Perhaps he could resolve it directly.

"It is very stubborn, very well hidden… but not difficult."

Freed from his prisoner’s identity and having cleaned himself up, Grindelwald had regained some of his former vigor. He sat in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, idly playing with the Elder Wand.

Although Grindelwald had not defeated Adam and made the Elder Wand acknowledge him as its master, the Elder Wand was still a powerful wand in its current state.

"Voldemort… truly is a wizard with extraordinary talent in the Dark Arts. Unfortunately, he has split his soul too many times. By now, he probably cannot even undo the exquisite curse he laid down in his youth."

When speaking of that junior, a trace of regret appeared on Grindelwald’s face.

"It is good that you can break it. Please teach the students some practical abilities. Things will not be peaceful outside for a while."

Adam recalled the newspaper he had seen earlier. Fudge had stepped down, the Department of Mysteries had been blown apart entirely, and the Death Eaters had invaded the Ministry of Magic as though it were empty. Everyone within the Ministry of Magic already knew the truth.

Under the current circumstances, the students urgently needed a sufficiently capable Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to teach them how to protect themselves.

Hogwarts was certainly safe, but the students could not remain at Hogwarts forever.