Snape ultimately agreed to Sean's request and approved his qualification to participate in the seventh-year Apparition training classes as an exception. However, besides his Head of House, Sean still needed the headmaster's approval, so after getting his Head of House's approval slip, he went to the headmaster's office again.
"Sean, we meet again."
"I have another matter to trouble you with today, Headmaster."
Sean handed the slip to Dumbledore.
Looking at the slip Sean handed over, Dumbledore slowly nodded and said, "Sean, perhaps you can tell me your reason for being so eager to learn Apparition."
"The other two champions in the Triwizard Tournament both know Apparition, so I don't want to fall behind either."
"If that's your only reason, then I cannot approve it, because the third round venue of the Triwizard Tournament prohibits Apparition. Even if you don't know Apparition, it won't affect your competition at all. So I'm sorry, but this reason cannot make me approve your application."
Looking at the application, Dumbledore pushed back. Sean frowned slightly and said again, "Then what about the reason of preventing pursuit by the Dark Lord and Death Eaters?"
Hearing this, Dumbledore's expression became serious. He looked at Sean and asked, "Sean, why do you say this? Or have you seen something again?"
"Professor, I haven't seen anything, but I want to remind you that the reason I became Hogwarts' champion is because Death Eaters tampered with things. Those Death Eaters, or simply the Dark Lord himself, want to obtain me or capture me. Although I think he should try to capture Harry instead... But regardless, I've already been targeted by them. This is fact. So I need to master Apparition as soon as possible. This way, even if I encounter danger, I'll have a possibility of escape."
"Sean, Hogwarts is safe."
"But I can't stay at Hogwarts forever, can I?"
Looking at Sean, after a long while, Dumbledore reached out to pull the application toward himself, looked it over briefly, and finally signed his name.
"Apparition classes will begin next week. You'll need to go to the school's Great Hall and participate in the Apparition training with the seventh-year students. I hope you can learn Apparition quickly."
Taking the application Dumbledore handed back, Sean looked at Snape's and Dumbledore's signatures on it. He nodded slightly, thanked Dumbledore, and then left the headmaster's office.
After Sean left, the portraits of past headmasters on the wall behind Dumbledore opened their eyes one by one. Phineas even shouted directly at Dumbledore, "I can be certain that boy is hiding something from you, Dumbledore! He must have seen more visions of the future, but he's not planning to tell you!"
"Phineas, if Sean doesn't plan to tell me, then the timing isn't right. Regarding prophecy matters, I trust Sean can distinguish between what's urgent and what's important."
Dumbledore's single sentence silenced Phineas, who could only mutter things about being brainwashed and deceived by Sean.
Then Dilys from another portrait ran into Phineas's painting with a club and knocked him unconscious, making the headmaster's office quiet again.
Care of Magical Creatures class.
Lupin, disguised as Hagrid, was clumsily teaching everyone.
Clumsiness was certainly Hagrid's characteristic. No problem there.
But the key issue was that Lupin's acting was slightly poor, being too clumsy. Hagrid was indeed clumsy, but definitely not to this extent. The Hagrid that Lupin portrayed had reached a level where Hagrid could sue him at the Ministry for damaging his reputation.
Looking at Lupin, who kept knocking things over here and breaking things there, Sean sighed helplessly. With this level of acting, if the Death Eater hiding at Hogwarts still didn't suspect anything, Sean thought Voldemort should just go home and grow sweet potatoes. One Avada per hole, simple and convenient. Otherwise, he'd be killed by such subordinates sooner or later.
Pretending to help, Sean whispered to Lupin, "Professor, you're overdoing it. Hagrid isn't this clumsy. You can be slightly more normal. Being a bit clumsy on top of being normal is Hagrid's level. You're being too abnormal. Be careful of being discovered by the hidden Death Eater."
"Alright, I understand."
The two separated, and afterward, Hagrid finally became much more normal, and the class ended smoothly.
When class ended, Lupin pretended to thank Sean for helping and whispered, "Sean, come to the small cabin in the Forbidden Forest tonight. Moody is coming too."
Hearing Moody's name, Sean knew Dumbledore had made up his mind to find that Death Eater.
Before this, Sean had checked the Daily Prophet issues from around September first, when the school year began. He found no reports about attacks on Moody's house or similar incidents. This lowered Sean's suspicions about Moody by a level. Although this didn't mean Moody was completely unsuspicious, his suspicion had indeed decreased considerably.
"I understand."
Acknowledging this, Sean returned to Hogwarts castle.
That evening, Sean cast a Disillusionment Charm and left the castle, entering the Forbidden Forest.
In the small cabin in the Forbidden Forest, Dumbledore, the real Hagrid, Lupin disguised as Hagrid, and Sirius who had been staying here recently were all sitting in the cabin. When Sean arrived, Moody hadn't come yet, so he found a place to sit and took out a book to read.
At this moment, Lupin disguised as Hagrid immediately gave Sirius a look. Sirius knew this was Lupin telling him to apologise for the previous incident. He shuffled toward Sean, and Sean noticed Sirius's movement too. He frowned slightly, put down his book, and looked at him, wanting to see what he was up to.
But just then, the cabin door was pushed open again, and Snape walked in from outside. His first glance fell on Sean sitting in the corner, and on Sirius who was walking toward Sean. Instinctively, Snape immediately stepped forward, blocking Sean's front, his expression immediately darkening.
"Stupid dog, try touching him!"
"Greasy git, which eye of yours saw me wanting to hurt Sean?"
"Then why are you approaching him? Does the noble Gryffindor want to be friends with a Slytherin?"
"Be friends?" Sirius laughed angrily and spoke without thinking. "I would never deign to be friends with you Slytherin snakes!"
Oh... Merlin's beard!
Lupin, disguised as Hagrid, despairingly covered his face.