A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Time passed slowly, and the sky gradually darkened.

Thousands of candles were burning above the auditorium, the ceiling was decorated with a beautiful cosmic starry sky, and the tables and chairs were arranged neatly.

All the professors were present, even Dumbledore. Only Hagrid had to pick up the first-year wizards and had to leave temporarily.

Not far away, Professor Lockhart stood with Professor Flitwick and Headmaster Dumbledore, his self-praising voice echoing throughout the Great Hall, "Yes... it's a very simple matter, my badge is not fake, hahaha..."

Felix and Snape each occupied a corner, observing everything that happened in the Great Hall.

He was quite puzzled. Just moments ago, he had hardly spent any effort getting Professor Lockhart to speak freely. He was even willing to share his own adventures, as long as you were a good straight man.

However... the results were meager.

Lockhart is wary of him? That doesn't seem likely at all. Is he an actor? Gathering information through exaggerated words and self-praise?

Felix was completely baffled, as was a certain professor.

Snape stood in another corner, a mocking smile on his face, seemingly laughing at someone.

What happened to Professor Snape?

He didn't have this gloomy and sarcastic face when he was in school, did he?

What happened during those three years?

Felix felt his usual sharp mind was not up to the task, and he became increasingly cautious. He then joined Professor Sprout's conversation and talked to her about the magical plant.

"Felix, I must say, you didn't put much effort into herbalism class when you were in school."

"Professor, I was distracted by other subjects at the time; I was too busy."

"I don't think so. You went to great lengths to ask me about those dangerous plants, asking what their weaknesses were..." Sprout remembered this vividly.

Uh, that's a dark history. He really wasn't interested in herbalism at the time.

Can you provide power?

No? No way!

Therefore, his grades in herb class were always poor, hovering between A (pass) and P (poor). However, he was very good at dealing with dangerous magical plants, and even went to great lengths to find out their weaknesses and try to solve them in the least effortful way.

He shares this philosophy with the Magical Creatures Conservation Class.

All I can say is that he was indeed somewhat obsessed with his beliefs during those years.

A commotion arose in the distance.

"The students are here!"

Professor McGonagall stood up and hurriedly left. The other professors, guided by Headmaster Dumbledore, took their seats. Felix particularly wanted to sit with Professor Snape, trying to observe what unknown changes had taken place in him over the years, but he quickly avoided him.

Fellowship had no choice but to set his sights on his second target, sitting down next to Lockhart.

Professor Flitwick seemed to be quite bothered by Lockhart, and seeing Felix arrive was a welcome relief, so he offered Felix his seat without hesitation.

After sitting down, Felix skillfully began the conversation, "Professor Lockhart, your descriptions of vampires in your book 'Walking with Vampires' are fantastic, but I have a few small questions..."

Now it was Lockhart's turn to be restless. He kept changing the subject and never got to the point, so Felix had to wisely stop the conversation.

I'm being disliked...

The atmosphere was a little awkward, but soon Professor McGonagall led the students into the Great Hall, where the young wizards from the second to the seventh year sat on either side of four long tables according to their respective houses.

Professor McGonagall, however, seemed to be in a bad mood. She quickly went to Dumbledore and whispered something, and the headmaster's face immediately turned serious. He said a few words to McGonagall, she nodded, then called Snape, and the two left the Great Hall together.

What happened? Felix wanted to get involved, but this was not a suitable occasion to use magic to find out.

Meanwhile, the newly enrolled young wizards were very excited, chattering incessantly, making the Great Hall exceptionally lively. The professors, quite understandingly, did not step in to stop them, and Headmaster Dumbledore's expression turned smiling again as he watched all this, stroking his silver-white beard.

Felix also looked around with interest. There were quite a few people he knew here. After all, he had only graduated three years ago. In other words, he had met all the students above the fourth year.

Slytherin House.

The tall and imposing Marcus Flint was talking animatedly about his summer vacation experiences, his voice clearly audible even three seats away. Just as he was getting into his rant, his companion quietly tugged at his arm.

Marcus Flint was getting impatient. What? Don't bother me while I'm posing, pshaw! Don't bother me while I'm sharing my interesting experiences!

When his companion pulled him a second time with even greater force, he finally turned his head and saw the boy looking terrified, frantically winking at the professor's chair.

Did something interesting happen?

Another new professor has arrived? That's normal, isn't it? Aren't professors for a certain subject used and discarded every year?

Marcus Flint looked toward the professors' table, his gaze sweeping around, searching for unfamiliar figures.

Hmm, a handsome-looking wizard, is this their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?

It's nothing...

and many more!

Who did he see?!

Marcus Flint suddenly let out a short scream, as if he had been bitten by a rat, and his expression turned terrified, almost in sync with his companion beside him.

It's that person!

How did he end up here?

For a moment, my already slow-witted mind became even more sluggish.

With a scream from Marcus Flint, the other Slytherin students followed his gaze toward the professor's seat and gasped in shock.

Almost instantly, most of the Slytherin table fell into a deathly silence.

The remaining small group of lower-grade students quickly noticed the older students' bewildered silence and also stopped talking, staring blankly at them.

Malfoy, bewildered by the strange scene unfolding in his academy, tugged at the clerk beside him, "What's going on?"

"Shut up, keep your voice down!" the senior scolded in a low voice, lowering his head and not daring to look at the man's figure. Instead, he pretended to be very interested in observing a silver plate.

Then he whispered, "Draco, keep your voice down, that gentleman is back."

"That gentleman? Sir?" Malfoy asked, somewhat puzzled. It sounded like a title of respect for a nobleman.

The senior student whispered a few words: "The 1987 duel incident."

"Hiss!" Malfoy also took a deep breath and couldn't help but secretly look up at the young professor on the professor's seat.

Is it that person?

As the Slytherins suddenly fell silent, the other houses noticed their unusual behavior.

Hermione had noticed Felix much earlier, and with her exceptional memory, she immediately recognized him as the strange guest she had met during the summer holidays.

So he's a wizard too? No wonder his requirements are so strange!

I wonder what courses he'll be teaching?

Lockhart already knew the two unfamiliar faces from this year's class; they were the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and Lockhart had read all of his works.

His experience is truly amazing!

The other professor looked very young, probably not that old... Wait, why is everyone so quiet?

Hermione looked around. The Slytherin students were as quiet as quails, while the other three houses were silent for a moment before starting to discuss in even louder voices, and the Great Hall was in complete chaos.

The upperclassmen were explaining something, with expressions that said, "I have a big secret."

She was initially worried about Harry and Ron's safety, but since she had already told Professor McGonagall, she figured there shouldn't be any major problems.

Hermione listened intently, craning her neck without making a sound.