As those words left his mouth, it was as if a mass Petrification Charm had been cast over the entire Hall.
Every student, and even most of the professors, froze in their seats!
"Pfft!"
Professor Snape sprayed a mouthful of red wine across the table. Ignoring the undignified mess dripping from his chin, he stared at the figure on the stage, his eyes wide with shock!
His pupils were vibrating with pure disbelief.
He had only just heard from Dumbledore that he had finally been granted the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year. He had been planning to gloat a bit in front of Ethan, but he never expected this.
In the blink of an eye, this kid had undergone a "mega-evolution" and turned into the Headmaster of Hogwarts?!
What kind of god-tier transformation was this?!
Did the Board of Governors have no opinion on this?!
...Oh, wait. The Board was essentially run by the Malfoy family now. Never mind.
Coming to his senses, Snape slammed his fork into the table with a resonant thwack! He ground his teeth so hard they creaked, his heart burning with indignation. The mere thought of having to work under this lunatic made the world go dark before his eyes.
...Every gift of fate comes with a price already marked in the shadows.
Is it too late to resign?
On the other side of the staff table, Professor Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw, felt the weight of dozens of scorching stares. He slowly began to slide down until he was practically hiding under the table.
...Ravenclaw had always produced talents, but this year, it felt like they had produced a bit too much.
After several seconds of deathly silence, Ethan tilted his head, observing the stunned, statue-like students below. He offered a considerate reminder:
"There's no need to suppress yourselves. You may applaud now."
The students: "..."
---The darkest year in the history of Hogwarts had arrived!! (Not really.)
That single sentence acted like a splash of cold water, jerking everyone awake. They finally realized this wasn't a collective nightmare; they were living in a reality far more absurd than any dream.
A first-year student's eyes lit up, and he whispered excitedly, "Wow! Is this Hogwarts? It's so inclusive! You can even see a Dark Lord as the Headmaster!"
Michael Corner opened his mouth blankly, murmuring, "This is the most insane episode of Ravenclaw ever... we've truly 'brought glory' to the House of the Eagle."
"This is literal hell..." Ron stared straight ahead, as if he could see his great-great-great-grandfather beckoning to him from the Great Beyond. "Ethan is the Headmaster? The world has officially gone mad."
Hermione's eyes were sparkling with stars. "Oh my god! Ethan is the youngest Headmaster in the history of Hogwarts! He's definitely going to be written into the history books!"
"He's [already] been written into the history books," Harry said with heavy emphasis, gazing at the radiant Ethan on the podium.
The former Savior felt like he had lost all his strength. He sighed weakly, "Great. With Ethan in charge, we don't have to wait for Voldemort or some personification of Death. We'll be seeing the afterlife soon enough."
Up on the stage, Ethan sensed the chaos and trepidation radiating from the students.
Ah, of course, he thought. Such an outstanding talent suddenly becoming their Headmaster... they must be so overwhelmed with joy they don't know how to react.
Perhaps they're worried they won't meet the high standards of such an excellent Headmaster.
"It's alright, don't be nervous," Ethan said gently.
His pleasant gaze swept over the little lambs... ahem, his dear students.
"I will guide you like a compassionate father, ensuring you reap a wealth of knowledge while basking in happiness~"
Ethan suddenly let out a heavy sigh, his expression shifting to one of deep regret. He clenched his fists and rested them on the podium, looking like a man pained by the failures of his peers.
"Durmstrang is already using Dark Wizards for experiments. Beauxbatons is actively exploring the secret mysteries of bloodlines. Ilvermorny in America, Uagadou in Africa—every school is breaking tradition and exploring the frontiers of the unknown!"
"And us? What do we have at Hogwarts?"
"—We have a sinister, crazy artist," Ron muttered under his breath.
Thump! Ethan slammed his fist onto the table, his voice rising in a stirring, thunderous shout: "We, at Hogwarts, are still clinging to tradition! To this day, we don't even know how many secrets are hidden within this castle. We allow the marks of time to slowly erode these stone walls!"
"Of course, I'm not saying Professor Dumbledore wasn't good. This is a generational issue, an accumulation of problems passed down through the ages!"
Ethan turned his head and gave a polite nod to Dumbledore, who was standing nearby. The latter maintained his gentle, twinkling smile, looking entirely relaxed, as if he were thinking: Hehe, I'm retired now.
"Therefore!"
Ethan pumped a fist in front of his chest. Beneath his pure white mask, his cobalt-blue eyes shined with intensity.
"During my tenure, I will not only change the way we teach to ensure your curriculum is up to date, but I will also thoroughly excavate the secrets of this castle and subject it to a complete transformation!"
"We will make Hogwarts—the vessel of our precious memories—into our strongest fortress to protect us in the coming Great War."
—Make Hogwarts Great Again.
Ethan's eyes burned with resolve. He wasn't just talking; he already had a clear blueprint and plan in mind. The "Personal Doll Assistant" was just one part of this grand design.
In the original story, during the various battles, Hogwarts had almost no defensive measures. In the end, only a few suits of armor and stone statues were put to use, and they were mostly blown to bits.
"How can a thousand-year-old school be so fragile? It needs a comprehensive upgrade."
"It's perfect. I'll use my newly acquired Level 4 Painting skill to give Hogwarts a new lease on life."
This time, his canvas would be the entire castle!
Ethan's lips curled into a smirk, eager to realize his grand vision. He still held the blueprints for the fortresses forged by the goblins during the Goblin Rebellions. Along the way, he might even find clues regarding the other half of the remains of Death.
Ethan's gaze shifted slightly, glancing toward the corner of the Slytherin table.
There sat a "familiar" figure.
A hunchbacked girl he had once glimpsed in Diagon Alley. Ethan didn't recall seeing a child with such a unique appearance in this year's Book of Admittance...
"Things are becoming more and more interesting~"
Ethan's eyes crinkled behind his mask as he withdrew his gaze. Ignoring the frantic whispering from the crowd, he continued:
"On a side note, Professor Slughorn will be taking over our Potions classes this year. Additionally, our distinguished graduate, Miss Gemma Farley, has been invited to assist Professor Snape in managing Slytherin House."
"Let us give a warm round of applause to welcome these two newcomers!"
A sparse, scattered pattering of applause rose from below. The students looked utterly bewildered, as if they were watching a mountain troll try to recite poetry.
Gemma Farley & Professor Slughorn: "..."
Are we just an afterthought?
Great introduction. Please don't do it again.
As the hall buzzed with discussion, no one noticed a ghostly, pale blue figure peeking out from the edge of the Ravenclaw table.
The Grey Lady gazed at the youth on the stage with eyes full of sorrow and longing. Her lips parted slightly as she murmured:
"If it is him... perhaps it can be done..."
--
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