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nAs time passed, the sky turned dark.

nThousands of candles were lit in the Great Hall, the ceiling is adorned with beautiful starry sky, and the tables and chairs were set up in an orderly manner.

nAll the professors have arrived, even Dumbledore, and Hagrid is the only one who is away to pick up the first-year wizards.

nNot far away, Professor Lockhart stood with Professor Flitwick and Headmaster Dumbledore, and his self-promoting words could be heard throughout the great hall, “Yes … it’s a simple matter, my badge is not a fake hahaha… …”

nFelix and Snape were in a corner all alone, watching everything that is happening in the Great Hall close to them.

nFelix felt very puzzled at this moment, just now he had spent some effort in guiding Professor Lockhart to speak comfortably, he was even willing to share his own knowledge in exchange, provided he even made a proper comic relief on the sidelines.

nBut … had a very little harvest.

nIs Lockhart wary of him? Not at all. Is he acting? Gathering information through exaggeration and bragging?

nFelix is puzzled, as well as a certain professor.

nSnape stood in the other corner with a mocking smile on his face, not knowing who he was laughing at.

nWhat had happened to Professor Snape?

nHe hadn’t had such a grim and sarcastic face last time he was at school?

nHad something happened in the last three years?

nFeeling that his normally clever brain is not working well enough, Felix became more and more cautious, and then he joined Professor Sprout’s conversation, talking to her about magic plants.

n“Felix, I have to say, you didn’t put too much thought into your Herbology when you were in school.”

n“Professor, I was distracted by other things, I was too busy.”

n“I don’t think so, you were asking me all sorts of questions about those dangerous plants and what their weaknesses were …” Sprout remembered this vividly.

nAnother black history, Well, he truly wasn’t interested in Herbology back then.

nDid Herbology offer him strength?

nNo? He didn’t know what to say.

nSo he never did well in Herbology, hovering between an A (pass) and a P (poor), but he was very good at dealing with dangerous magic plants, even going to great lengths to identify their weaknesses and try to solve them in the least stressful way possible.

nThis was also his philosophy for his Care of Magical Creatures course, too.

nLet’s just say that he did get a little carried away during those years.

nThere were a lot of clamours in the distance.

n“The students are here!”

nProfessor McGonagall stood up and departed in a hurry. Felix tried to join Professor Snape in an attempt to see how he had changed over the years, but he dodged fast.

nFelix had no choice but to aim for a seat next to Lockhart as his second target.

nProfessor Flitwick, who seemed to have been pestered by Lockhart, saw Felix approaching to free himself and without hesitation, he gave Felix his seat.

nAfter sitting down, Felix started the conversation with ease, “Professor Lockhart, your book ‘Travels with Vampires’ describes the vampire species very well, but I have a few questions …”

nNow it seems Lockhart’s turn to fidget, he’s a bit of a fence-sitter, always missing the mark, and Felix has to wisely stop the conversation.

nAm I hated now? …

nThe atmosphere became a little awkward, but soon Professor McGonagall led the students into the Great Hall, where the young wizards from Year 2 to Year 7 were seated on either side of four long tables according to their houses.

nProfessor McGonagall seemed to be in a very bad mood, though, as she quickly approached Dumbledore and whispered something, and the Headmaster’s face immediately turned serious. He said a few words to McGonagall, she nodded, then she called Snape and the two of them left the great hall.

nIs something wrong? Felix is tempted to intervene, but this is not the right occasion for snooping.

nOn the other side of the great hall, the young wizards, who had just enrolled at school, were very excited, chattering away and making the great hall very lively. The professors were quite open-minded and did not step in to stop them, and Headmaster Dumbledore’s face became smiling again as he watched the proceedings, as stroked his silvery-white beard.

nFelix also looked around with interest, there were a lot of people he knew here, after all, he had just graduated three years ago, in other words, all the students from the fourth year onwards had met him before.

nSlytherin House.

nThe tall Marcus Flint is talking about his summer holiday like nobody’s around, and his voice can be heard across the three seats, and as he’s speaking happily, a fellow student quietly tugs his sleeves.

nMarcus Flint got a little impatient, why? Don’t interrupt me, muggins! Don’t interrupt me from sharing my fascinating experience!

nWhen his companion pulled him harder for the second time, he finally turned his head and saw the boy with a frightened look on his face, shooting frantic glances at the professor’s seat.

nDid something interesting happen?

nA new professor? Isn’t that normal, isn’t there a certain course where professors get changed every year?

nMarcus Flint looked over at the professor’s seat, his eyes glance over the place, looking for an unfamiliar figure.

nWell, a handsome-looking male wizard, and so he is their new professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts?

nNothing special …

nWait!

nWho did he see?

nMarcus Flint suddenly let out a short cry, as if he had been bitten by a mouse, and his expression became equally terrified, in sync with his companion beside him.

nIt is that guy!

nHow could he be here?

nFor a moment, his already dull brain became even duller.

nWith a cry from Marcus Flint, the rest of the Slytherin students followed his gaze to the professor’s seat and drew in a cold breath.

nAlmost instantly, silence fell over the majority of the Slytherin table.

nThe remaining minority of junior students quickly noticed the unexplained silence of the senior students and also stopped talking, staring at them in confusion.

nMalfoy looked at this strange scene at his house and wondered, “What’s going on?” as he tugged the senior next to him.

n“Shh…, shut up and keep your voice down!” The senior rebuked in a low voice, lowering his head and not daring to look at the young man’s figure, but pretending to look at a silver tray with keen interest.

nThen he whispered, “Draco, keep your voice down, that sir is back.”

n” That Sir?” asked Malfoy, somewhat puzzled by what sounded like the honorific title of a nobleman.

nThe senior spat out a few words in a low voice, “The 8-7 duel.”

n“Hiss!” Malfoy also took a long breath and couldn’t help but look at the young professor in the professor’s seat quietly.

nIs that him?

nAnd as the Slytherin’s suddenly settled down, the other houses noticed something strange about them as well.

nHermione had already noticed the figure of Felix earlier, and with her excellent memory, she immediately recognized him as an odd guest she had met during the summer holiday.

nSo he is a wizard too? No wonder he had such strange requests!

nI wonder what course he’ll be teaching?

nThe two unfamiliar faces this year, Lockhart was already acquainted with them, the new professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, and she had read all his books.

nHis experience is fantastic!

nAnd the other professor looks young, not too far ahead from their age … Huh? Why is everyone so quiet?

nHermione looked around, the students of Slytherin House were as quiet as a royal guard, the other three houses were also silent for a moment, and then the discussion started with a more intense tone, the whole great hall totally exploded.

nThe seniors were all talking about something, with a “I have a big secret” look on their faces.

nShe had been worried about Harry and Ron’s safety, but she had already informed Professor McGonagall, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?

nHermione stretched her neck and listened without making a sound.

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