After returning to Number Thirteen, Privet Drive, Lucifer immediately said, "Howl, hurry and set up your previous shielding magic. We are about to cross Germany."
Howl stretched, then flopped onto the sofa, "Alright, let me rest for a bit."
Germany is also a major magical nation, and its border control is quite strict. When Lucifer takes action, his concealment magic weakens by several levels.
So, whenever this happens, Howl has to go outside the Castle to reinforce some powerful concealment magic.
The reason those Goblins broke in last Christmas was because some of the arrays Howl had set up during the holiday had gradually become ineffective.
After resting for a good while, Howl twisted the door's passageway and came to the mountain forest outside, beginning to set up the array.
Harry, meanwhile, continued with his daily homework.
…
…
Early the next morning, in the bathroom, Howl had just showered and was wrapped in a robe, trying out a new smooth hair conditioner in front of the mirror.
Maine Coons have large ruffs, like little lions, long and thick, and managing them had become a major project recently.
However…
"It really works well!" Howl combed his ruff, exclaiming in satisfaction.
However, his grooming was soon interrupted!
"Howl, someone's here!" Lucifer said, emerging from the fireplace pipe in the bathroom.
"Who?!"
"A white-bearded old man, looks more normal than that Giant from yesterday…" Lucifer said.
Howl frowned and went downstairs to open the door.
Sure enough, Dumbledore was standing outside!
Howl still had some foam on his face, looking displeased, "What are you doing here?!"
Dumbledore looked at Howl's attire and opened his mouth, clearly a bit astonished.
Although he knew Howl had a disguise magic on his face when they first met, this was the first time he had seen Howl in this form.
"What kind of look is that? Is my fur more exaggerated than your beard that trails to your waist?" Howl said, displeased.
"No, nothing, I just didn't expect your appearance to be like this," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile.
"So what are you here for?" Howl looked at him unkindly, "Are you here to test me again?"
Dumbledore shook his head and said calmly, "No, I just want to talk. Also, I must say, I truly didn't anticipate yesterday."
Howl's lips curved into a slight smile, "Unpure fellows like you, whose minds are only filled with thoughts of profit and entanglement. How could your methods possibly predict my thoughts?!"
Saying that, Howl turned around, "Come in, if an outsider sees, they'll think I'm bullying an old man."
Dumbledore entered the house and looked around. It was a simple, clean room, not at all cluttered, completely unlike a Wizard's.
At the same time, he also felt the magic constantly emanating from all around the house.
No wonder the Book of Admittance couldn't pinpoint Harry's exact location.
After sitting down, Dumbledore spoke first, "Your face is?!"
"An Animagus mistake." Howl leaned back on the sofa. Lucifer had disappeared somewhere, clearly terrified by Hagrid's performance yesterday.
Now he was not very willing to show himself in front of strange Wizards, in case he encountered another "pervert."
"So what's your purpose for being here?" Howl glanced at him.
"Oh, yes, back to the point. After Hagrid returned to Hogwarts yesterday, he spoke highly of you, so I was thinking, would you mind coming to Hogwarts?"
Howl stroked his chin, "I admit that although I look very young, I am indeed past the age for schooling."
"Uh… no, I meant, have you considered working at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore said, "Coincidentally, there's an open position at Hogwarts.
It's in the library, the best in all of Europe, with a thousand years of collections—the Hogwarts School Library!"
Howl's face broke into a smile upon hearing Dumbledore's words, and he straightened up slightly on the sofa.
"An open position? I can browse freely?!"
Dumbledore nodded. He understood that this had piqued the interest of the person before him.
For a Wizard who had reached their level, there weren't many things that held attraction.
Coincidentally, valuable knowledge was one of them.
"Go!" Lucifer's voice also rang out in Howl's mind.
"Living here is truly lonely and boring," Lucifer said, "Go to a place with many excellent Wizards, make some friends, and it might even be effective for your Curse.
You have indeed slowed down now, but Howl, humans are social animals, and you are still confining yourself within the Castle.
I think this is wrong."
Howl pondered for a moment. Since even Lucifer said so…
"Alright then, I accept this job," Howl nodded and said.
Dumbledore pulled a parchment scroll from his sleeve and slowly unrolled it. At the top of the parchment, there was a unique fiery red feather imprint.
"This is the contract," Dumbledore said, pushing the parchment towards Howl.
Howl took it, examining it carefully, and immediately discovered the surging magic within.
Clearly, this contract possessed extraordinary power. However, its terms were relatively lenient.
The term was one year, and in case of an emergency, the position could be resigned early. Hogwarts, in turn, would provide a series of employee benefits, including accommodation and meals.
As for the salary, Howl just glanced at it and didn't pay it any mind.
After reading through everything, he didn't hesitate much longer and signed his name.
The next moment, he felt a thread connected to him, pointing to a distant place.
His spirit followed this thread, and in a haze, he saw a massive Castle standing in the Scottish mountain meadows.
"Upon signing the contract, you have gained admission to Hogwarts. You also now know the address of Hogwarts.
Owls sent and received by you will also automatically gain permission to enter Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained, then carefully rolled up the contract.
"I, on behalf of Hogwarts, welcome your arrival," Dumbledore smiled.
"When do you plan to go to Hogwarts? If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express with Harry, you can!"
"We'll see," Howl shook his head.
"Good, then I will take my leave. Oh, and please say hello to Harry for me," Dumbledore said, standing up.
After walking to the door, he turned back once more.
"Oh, and I will ask my friends at the Ministry of Magic to erase some of your minor mistakes from a year ago."
With that, he opened the door and stepped out, then Apparated away, disappearing from sight…
Lucifer shot out of the fireplace, "This guy… he's strong."
"Indeed," Howl nodded approvingly, "And very shrewd."
Dumbledore must have known when he first met Howl that he was the Wizard who had caused such immense destruction in Knockturn Alley a year ago.
After all, when he fought Dumbledore, he had once taken out that uniquely striking wand.
It was just that from the beginning, Dumbledore had never thought of bringing up this matter.
Because if he had done so, it would likely have only created ill will.
So he waited until the contract was signed before finally saying those words…
"When do you plan to go to that Hogwarts school?" Lucifer asked.
"I don't know, but I'll definitely go early. That Castle has very strong magic, and to 'open a door' there, I'll definitely need to go and see it first."
Howl let out a long breath, muttering under his breath:
"Finally, something proper to do…"