"So you are the famous Skyl, then? The youngest Transfiguration master of this age."
Professor Gellert greeted him warmly, pleased that Skyl was playing along with his false identity.
His face was still so pale, faintly tinged with a corpse-like blue. He glanced at the Dementor ash scattered across the floor, gave Skyl an approving smile, and said, "This is my first time seeing that spell. People have always believed that only the Patronus Charm can drive away unclean creatures like Dementors."
"Just an insignificant new spell."
"Then you absolutely must spread this spell for the good of the world," Professor Gellert said meaningfully. "Ideally, every wizard at Hogwarts should learn it. After all, the Dementors sent here by the incompetent Ministry of Magic are the real danger."
Skyl understood the implication behind Grindelwald's words. As a new member of The Tower of Tomes and a veteran expert in rebelling against the magical world, this old wizard was very ambitious. He was suggesting that Skyl expand the influence of the Tower Covenant, and he did not mind doing the work on his behalf.
Controlling the magical world by using a Dark Lord as his subordinate, that was the kind of beautiful dream most people would not even dare to have. Skyl had once considered developing the Harry Potter world into a logistics base.
After all, the gods of this world had all disappeared into the fog of history, and even the creator god was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it was because J.K. Rowling had been fired from the position of author, Skyl guessed with malicious amusement.
In short, Skyl could do whatever he wanted here. Using such a vast universe as a logistics base for the members of the Tower Covenant would be quite a good choice.
But considering that the Tower Covenant was a detached academic organization above worldly affairs, Skyl ultimately dismissed the idea.
"There will be opportunities, Professor. Spreading knowledge is not something that can be done overnight." He politely declined Grindelwald's goodwill, then added, "Besides, I believe Professor Dumbledore will handle the Dementor problem properly, and that will also require the united effort of every teacher and student in the school."
Professor Gellert nodded reservedly. He was carrying a basket of chocolates. "I just went to Honeydukes in Hogsmeade and bought some chocolate. If wizards who came into contact with Dementors eat something sweet, they recover quickly. Mr. Potter, would you mind helping me hand these candies out to the students?"
This counted as a fairly reasonable excuse for his earlier unexplained departure.
Harry maintained surface-level respect toward the suspicious new professor, but many thoughts weighed on his mind. The arrival of the Dementors had given Harry a sense of urgency. The Ministry of Magic was truly willing to use any means necessary to hunt down an escaped prisoner. He began to worry about Sirius, whom he had never met, and hoped that his father's old friend would not have any accidents.
The train started moving again. The young witches and wizards who had eaten chocolate slowly recovered from the fright. This year's first years really were pitiful. Their first impression of Hogwarts was not the ancient castle or the magnificent new buildings, but a group of cold, terrible monsters lying in ambush on the way to school. It really gave them the feeling that they had signed up for a bad deal.
Professor Gellert gently comforted the frightened first years. This old wizard was very skilled at winning people over. Even the annoying Draco Malfoy was involuntarily drawn in by Gellert's aristocratic bearing. However, once he learned that Professor Gellert did not come from a pure-blood family, he immediately resumed his haughty attitude and became lukewarm.
Harry felt despair at Malfoy's intelligence. Ever since old Malfoy had been expelled from the school board, Draco had restrained himself a little, but he was still clinging tightly to the airs of a pure-blood aristocrat. Perhaps that was the only honor he had left to show off.
"Mr. Potter, you must learn to unite your classmates," Professor Gellert said meaningfully. "It will be of great benefit to your future development. Do not let the so-called Sorting Ceremony limit your vision. Who says Gryffindors cannot be friends with Slytherins?"
Harry instinctively showed a look of disgust and muttered, "Being friends with Malfoy? That can wait until the day the world ends."
"It is somewhat difficult to try making peace with your enemies right from the start, but you can begin with the people around you." Professor Gellert lightly waved a finger. "The young Lion King, the Basilisk Slayer, the Savior, Mr. Potter, you must learn to use these reputations skillfully."
"I don't want to become Gilderoy from those stories." Harry was resistant to the idea of making a name for himself. He was more used to studying those shameful spells alone. Only by mastering power could one master fate. This was a truth he had realized on his own, and because of that, it had carved itself deeply into his heart.
"Gilderoy's story may be a negative example, but it is still very educational. Master your reputation, and even if you are a pig, you can fly into the sky. Mr. Potter, you cannot accomplish great things by fighting alone. To do things on a certain level, you must first make friends on that same level."
Harry's expression shifted. He looked at Gellert seriously and said, "Thank you for the lesson, Professor."
The train stopped at Hogsmeade Station. The rain had more or less stopped, and the high-altitude wind scattered the clouds, allowing the light of the stars and moon to fall. From here, one could see the white towers of Hogwarts in the distance, bathed in the quiet radiance of the night sky, like a sacred white birch tree.
Skyl prepared to properly enjoy his final year at Hogwarts, which might even be his final year in the Harry Potter world. Looking back at the past, he was startled to discover that he had never truly explored this colorful magical world in depth. His heart had always been drawn by profound magic and the wondrous sights of other worlds. Now that he had returned after seeing the truth, his state of mind had undergone some subtle changes.
The upper-year students took carriages to the main castle. Dementors were stationed at every entrance to the school, and checkpoints had been set up on the routes students had to take back to Hogwarts, ensuring that Sirius had not mixed into the crowd. When the carriage Skyl was riding approached, all the Dementors flew into the sky and circled overhead, not daring to descend.
The opening feast was relaxed and familiar. Dumbledore introduced the school's staffing changes. This year, there were two new professors, Gellert, who would teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Hagrid, who would teach Care of Magical Creatures.
Hagrid becoming the Care of Magical Creatures professor had taken quite a bit of effort. Because he had a record at the Ministry of Magic, back when he was a student, Tom Riddle had framed him for raising a dangerous creature that caused a student's death. Originally, he would have been locked up in Azkaban, and it was Dumbledore who personally intervened and guaranteed his safety, preserving Hagrid's life.
Originally, Hagrid did not have the qualifications to become a professor, but some evidence showed that he had been innocent. Dumbledore successfully persuaded the Ministry of Magic. As it happened, the previous professor of this subject had been forced to retire due to a physical disability, so Hagrid, who loved magical creatures, filled the vacancy. It could be considered a happy outcome for everyone.
In addition, it was said that Professor Snape had originally very much hoped to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Unfortunately, the post had been snatched away by a newcomer who had popped out from God knows where, which also meant that whenever he looked at Gellert, there was always a bit of displeasure in his gaze.
Skyl maliciously prepared to enjoy the show. Snape's nickname was the old bat, while "Professor Gellert" was a genuine bat spirit. If these two began openly and secretly fighting each other, it would definitely be very interesting.
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