"Hufflepuff?"
Dracula uttered a soft "Huh" and looked at the Sorting Hat curiously.
How come he remembered that the hat just said that Rolf was not suitable for Hufflepuff house, but when he turned around, it contradicted itself
However, Rolf and Newt had no complaints about this at all.
Rolf had already jumped up and embraced Newt heavily.
"Grandpa, I was really sorted into Hufflepuff!" Rolf shouted excitedly, "I just thought I couldn't enter the house that nurtured you."
"I'm proud of you, Rolf." Newt smiled and patted Rolf on the back.
Both grandfather and grandson looked happy. Newt said words of encouragement to Rolf, while Rolf asked Newt to tell him again about the story that happened in Hufflepuff when he was in school.
"Well... can you two wait a moment before talking?" The Sorting Hat said weakly on Rolf's head, "Can you put me down from your head first?"
The excitement of the two was suddenly interrupted, and their expressions immediately became somewhat awkward.
Dracula chuckled and waved his hand, causing the Sorting Hat to fly over Rolf's head and took it in his hand.
"Didn't you just say that Mr. Scamander wasn't suitable for Hufflepuff?" he asked with interest. "It's only been a few minutes. Why did you change your mind?"
"Don't blame me this time, Professor Dracula." The Sorting Hat said innocently, "This little wizard really wants to go to Hufflepuff. There's nothing I can do. Although I'm in charge of the Sorting, I'm usually very reasonable and take the opinions of the little wizards into consideration."
"Is that so?" Dracula smiled noncommittally, "But he still has some Hufflepuff traits, right? I don't think you would assign a little wizard who doesn't belong to a certain house to an inappropriate house."
"As expected of you, Lord Earl, you saw through the truth of the matter immediately." The Sorting Hat flattered Dracula, "Although Rolf Scamander's personality is more suitable for Gryffindor, his character of loving animals and his kind heart are still in line with Hufflepuff."
Dracula nodded in understanding and looked at Newt and Rolf.
"Then congratulations to you two, Mr. Scamander," he smiled.
"Thank you for your help, Professor Dracula." Newt put his arm around Rolf's shoulders and said to Dracula and Dumbledore, "Albus, Professor Dracula, since Rolf has already gone through the Sorting Ceremony, this can be regarded as the fulfillment of his wish."
"Thank you for taking care of Rolf at Hogwarts during this period. I will take him back to Invermorny tomorrow. There is no need to trouble the professors at Hogwarts anymore."
Rolf seemed to have finally been convinced by his grandfather. He took two steps forward and bowed to Dumbledore.
"Thank you for letting me into the school, Mr. Headmaster," he said. "After I graduate from Invermorny, I will definitely come back to Hogwarts to visit you often!"
With Newt's reminder, Rolf already knew that the reason he was able to enter Hogwarts Castle and even the Hufflepuff common room was not only due to his own wit and luck, but also the tacit approval of the old headmaster.
Without the old headmaster's nod, he would never have been able to deceive so many smart, powerful, and wise Hogwarts professors for more than a month! Snape alone could have exposed him!
Dumbledore smiled and shook his head.
"There's no need to wait until graduation to visit me," he said softly, "I'm too old, and I'm not sure if I can live to see you graduate."
"Don't say that! A great wizard like you can live to be 200 years old without any problem." Rolf was shocked by Dumbledore's words. "How about I come to visit you every holiday?"
"That's not what I meant." Dumbledore smiled, "What I meant was... Rolf, you can stay at Hogwarts to study."
Luo Fu suddenly raised his head, his eyes instantly filled with surprise.
"Are you telling the truth?!"
"Albus, but..." Newt was stunned when he heard Dumbledore's words.
"Don't rush to refute, Newt." Dumbledore raised his hand to interrupt Newt's words, "Tell me, what is the fundamental reason why Tina did not allow Rolf to come to Hogwarts to study?"
"As far as I know, a witch as good and wise as Tina would not ignore Rolf's future and force him to study at Infamony just because her alma mater is Infamony, right?" There was a shrewd gleam in his eyes.
"Indeed, Tina is mainly worried about the Defense Against the Dark Arts class at Hogwarts." Newt said, and couldn't help but glance at Dracula. "Tina feels that studying an important course like Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts is not conducive to Rolf's development."
"But this is no longer a problem, is it?" Dumbledore said with a smile, "Professor Dracula is an excellent professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. With his ability, he will not be affected by Voldemort's curse and can continue teaching until Rolf graduates!"
"Wait, Dumbledore, I remember I never said how long I would teach, right?" Dracula interrupted Dumbledore, "Maybe I will be tired of teaching next year and quit by myself?"
Dumbledore's mouth twitched.
Don’t even mention next year. This year you’re already feeling bored and you actually let the teaching assistant take your place in class while you go out for a stroll…
"Um... Professor Dracula, I don't mean to offend you." Newt said from the side, "I remember that the Defense Against the Dark Arts class at Hogwarts did not perform well in the wizard level exam last school year. Tina will still not agree to Rolf's transfer after seeing this result."
"Newt, that's not Professor Dracula's fault." Dumbledore quickly made amends, "The professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts changed too frequently in the past few years, and the students at Hogwarts don't have a solid foundation, so the results are a bit weak."
He didn't mention the poor result at all, which was actually because Dracula rarely assigned homework.
"Newt, you should have known something about Professor Dracula. His magic level is absolutely unquestionable!" Dumbledore continued, "Believe me, in this school year's wizard level examination, Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts will definitely be among the best in the wizarding world!"
Dumbledore was very confident.
This is because Dracula has been conducting devilish training in the dueling club and even in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class for a long time, and the students' defensive skills have improved rapidly through practice.
How many schools have great wizards who personally help students practice magic? I'm afraid there aren't any! This is the biggest advantage of Hogwarts.
Seeing that Newt seemed to be still a little hesitant, Dumbledore added one last point -
"How about this? Let Rolf stay at Hogwarts for the entire school year, and he can return to Invermorny to take the exam during the final exam week." He said, "If Rolf's grades are better than last year, it means that the teaching at Hogwarts is more suitable for his development!"
"It's just like being an exchange student at Hogwarts for half a year. Tina shouldn't refuse, right?" Dumbledore looked at Newt with a smile.
Newt frowned and thought for a moment, then finally nodded.
"If it's only half a year, I think I still have a chance to convince Tina and Rolf's mother," he said.
After hearing Newt's words, Rolf jumped up suddenly.
"Grandpa, did I hear you right? Can I really go to Hogwarts?" He asked hopefully, shaking Newt's arm.
"It's only been half a year," Newt looked at him helplessly, "and I haven't completely convinced your mother and your grandmother yet!"
However, Luo Fu showed an extremely happy smile regardless of the consequences. "I don't care. Anyway, since you said so, it means that the matter has been settled!"
"Great! I can stay in Hogwarts!"
Rolf circled around Fox who was combing his feathers and cheered, and as expected, he received a look of contempt from the phoenix.
…
Newt and Rolf, grandfather and grandson, quickly left the principal's office.
One of them was going to contact his wife and convince her to let Rolf stay in Hogwarts for half a year; the other one had an appointment with Luna to analyze the possibility of the existence of the Harassment Fly and the Bubble Snot Monster in the evening.
Both had things to do.
After the two left, only Dumbledore and Dracula were left in the principal's office.
"Stealing students from Invermory?" Dracula looked at Dumbledore and teased.
"It's just a matter between the headmasters. How can this be called stealing students?" Dumbledore said righteously, "I just want my old friend's child to have a better development in the future!"
"Come on, I think you just think that young Mr. Scamander's potential is no less than that of Newt back then, so you want to poach him." Dracula immediately exposed Dumbledore's thoughts, "You used Mr. Scamander as a tool and it was very comfortable for you back then, so now you are setting your sights on his grandson?"
"Hehe... The weather is nice today." Dumbledore smiled awkwardly and changed the subject stiffly.
Dracula looked back at the foggy weather outside the window and curled his lips speechlessly.
"You're doing this for Potter again, right?" He crossed his arms, leaned against the bookcase behind him, and glanced at Dumbledore. "Among the three saviors, we have the courage, the wisdom, and the comedy. Is there anything else missing?"
"Ahem... Professor Dracula, Mr. Weasley may not be too happy with what you said." Dumbledore coughed twice, "I don't mean to force a combination. Well, but Harry does lack a friend who is good at dealing with magical creatures."
Dracula was silent for a moment and sighed softly.
"So... you haven't completely abandoned your own plan?" He asked softly, "What you said to Newt's grandson was not a joke, right? Why use yourself as a pawn just to eliminate Voldemort?"
"There must always be a backup plan." Dumbledore smiled gently, "I believe in your ability, Professor Dracula, but I want to make this matter safer."
He smiled gently, looking at Dracula's wine-red eyed boy.
There was one more thing he didn't say:
'I have faith in your abilities, Professor Dracula, but I cannot fully trust your character.'
What if Dracula left the scene halfway through the plan because he felt bored, just like he did during this period? What if something unexpected happened to the plan and Dracula was attracted by other interesting things and didn't want to return to the scene
Dracula could not care about anything Voldemort did, but Dumbledore could not.
He has been pushed to the position of the pillar of the wizarding world for a long time, and he must be responsible for this wizarding world no matter what!
…
The semester, which only had a few days left, was quickly coming to an end, and next came the long-awaited Christmas holiday for the little wizards.
Most of the students chose to go home for Christmas, and the castle seemed to be quiet all of a sudden, as quiet as the snow on the ground.
Dracula leaned against the window, looking at the little wizards laughing and playing in the snow below.
During the Christmas holidays when there were few people in the castle, the little wizards who stayed in school seemed to have let themselves go, playing snowball fights, playing with fireworks, and practicing duels in private...
Dracula easily saw a group of red-haired little wizards on the white ground. They were obviously the children of the Weisley family. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were also among them.
The twins Fred and George came to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office a few days ago. They told Dracula that their parents went to Romania to visit their second brother Charlie last year, and this year they would go to Egypt to visit their eldest brother Bill.
This is the trouble with having many brothers and sisters. If you want to visit several children, you have to go in batches...
The reason the Westley twins told Dracula this was actually to ask him if there was anything he needed the Westleys to help him take to Egypt.
Last Christmas holiday, Dracula asked the Toves to help him bring a crystal ball that could communicate with the vampire community to Bran Castle.
It was also because of this favor that Dracula exchanged the modified old Ford for a brand new luxury car.
It was obvious that Fred and George had been deeply impressed by Dracula's wealth, and this time they asked if he needed to bring anything with them with the intention of taking advantage of him.
But this year Dracula really didn't have anything to bring along, and he wasn't particularly familiar with any of the places in Egypt, so he just kicked the twins out of the office because they were so obsessed with money...
"Dong Dong Dong."
There was a sudden knock on the office door.
Dracula snapped his fingers lightly, and the door opened automatically. A handsome young man with black hair walked in with a bandage wrapped around his arm.
"Are you almost healed?" Dracula looked back at him and asked casually.
"Yes, there is no problem with normal work." Riddle nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "I have failed your trust, Professor Dracula. I was careless some time ago and was ambushed by a little wizard."
"Are you sure you were just injured by the little wizard's sneak attack and not for any other reason?" Dracula chuckled.
Riddle was silent.
"Indeed, I should still be affected by the curse of my main soul on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." He sighed, "When that little wizard Scamander attacked me, it was as if all my luck had left me..."
"When searching the bushes where Scamander was hiding, you have to search until the last one is his hiding place; the stunning spell cast on him just hits the curled-winged demon he carries with him; the spell used casually hits the unicorn's horn accurately..."
"Everything that happened at that time was too weird!" Riddle said gritting his teeth.
"So this curse actually ruins the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's luck?" Dracula said with interest, "It imposes a negative state on people, making things go wrong and increasing the likelihood of accidents, right?"
"That should be the case." Riddle nodded slightly.
"What a creative curse." Dracula praised, and then felt a little regretful, "Is this the best student of Hogwarts this century? How did he make himself look so tasteless now..."
Riddle stood by and said nothing, looking a little embarrassed.
He and Voldemort share the same memories before the age of sixteen, so he can certainly roughly understand why Voldemort abandoned his image and the integrity of his soul in favor of strength and immortality.
But Dracula, the immortal, is extremely disgusted by this choice!
"Tell me, why did you go to the Forbidden Forest?"
Dracula was no longer interested in listening to anything about Voldemort, so he left the window and sat back in the chair behind his desk.
He put his long straight legs on the desk and looked back at Riddle.
"I remember I told Headmaster Dumbledore about this. I need some magical animals as teaching materials for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class." Riddle came back to his senses and said, "Didn't you use captured magical animals to teach at the beginning of the semester?"
"There's no need to make up stories in front of me, right?" Dracula raised his eyebrows and stared straight into Riddle's eyes. "When did teaching materials require dozens of magical animals?"
"Mr. Scamander said he remembered clearly that several magical creatures of some types were knocked unconscious at the same time. This is not the situation we need to face when capturing teaching materials! Isn't it enough to collect one or two of each magical creature?"
"Or, is there another secret in the Forbidden Forest?"
Dracula raised the corner of his mouth and looked at Riddle's slightly changing expression with a sneer.
…
…