Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 575, Section 573: The Next Headmaster of Hogwarts

Many young wizards in the hall were unwrapping their gifts.

But strangely, they, who were usually so noisy, have become inexplicably quiet today.

A large portion of the young wizards were looking down, excitedly fiddling with something.

Administrator "Minerva McGonagall" has added the Daily Prophet (Magic Hand Mirror Special Edition) to the local magic network.

]

[Daily Prophet Mirror News Flash:]

Peter Pettigrew remains at large. The Ministry of Magic has confirmed again today that the notorious murderer Peter Pettigrew is still at large.

Auror Office Director Scrimgeour stated that Dementors patrols have been increased nationwide.

It is said that Peter once killed thirteen Muggles with a curse.

Additionally: The Azkaban jailers have been repatriated, and the mysterious Mr. Hermes expressed satisfaction with this move.

Lee Jordan: Can anyone see this? Does this thing even work?

George Weasley: I can see that, Jordan. You better say something impressive, or this might go down in history.

Fred Weasley: I suspect someone is spying right now—by the way, I've named peeping at mirrored screens "spying," what do you think?

Angelina Jensen: So this thing is visible to the whole school? What can we even talk about on it?

Fred Weasley: I just want to confirm one thing, Filch doesn't have a mirror, right?

[Administrator] Minerva McGonagall: Mr. Argus Filch certainly doesn't have a mirror, but if you think I won't be looking at this mirror, you're sorely mistaken.

George Weasley: Good morning, Professor McGonagall. We're just helping test the Magic Web —

[Administrator] Minerva McGonagall: Perhaps. Merry Christmas, Mr. Weasleys.

"Merlin—"

Ron stared intently at the mirror, forgetting to even take a bite of the ham on his fork, which had gone cold. "You all saw that?"

"certainly!"

Harry was bursting with excitement, and anyone could tell how fun this was going to be.

At this moment, messages kept pouring in from the Hogwarts intranet.

The wizards soon discovered that if they wanted to receive messages for a certain period of time, they had to pause receiving subsequent messages.

Because messages scroll so fast, they often disappear before people can even see them clearly.

"Damn it, I didn't see anything."

Ron frantically flipped through the messages, receiving them one moment and stopping the next.

Harry and the others were clearly facing the same predicament, and it seems they weren't the only ones.

Sheen looked up and saw a large group of young wizards with worried expressions, some even scratching their heads.

If they choose to read the message they just read, they won't be able to read the later messages.

It's really a headache.

[Side quests now available on the Hogwarts intranet—]

Just then, this notification appeared in everyone's magic mirror.

The young wizards were all taken aback, and the hall fell silent for a few seconds.

Six branch lines have been connected. Please select the appropriate branch line to proceed.

Hogwarts Great Hall;

The Gryffindor sword;

Ravenclaw door knocker;

Hufflepuff Kitchen;

Slytherin's Scepter;

Faculty and Staff Area

"What is this?"

Ron immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Why can't I get in?"

"I'm already inside, what are you talking about?"

Hermione looked at him suspiciously; on her own reflection, a line of words stood out prominently:

[You have entered the "Hogwarts Great Hall". There are currently 332 people in the room. You can choose any wizard to create a small magic network side quest.]

"I've joined Hufflepuff Kitchen. By the way, can I join anywhere else?"

Justin, curious, tried it out by standing up and looking at Ron's mirror.

The group of young wizards, including Sheen, moved closer.

Sheen didn't know what the others were thinking, but he wondered if the third-generation magic hand mirror had encountered new problems.

[You are denied access to the faculty area, Mr. Ron Weasley.]

"Oh, Ron—"

1

Upon seeing the words on the mirror, Hermione glared at Ron and then looked away.

"Can the magic mirror also identify us?"

Justin asked Sheehan in a low voice, clearly intrigued.

"Hmm. But it's not very useful in most cases; it's only used in special situations."

Sheen said slowly.

For example, the administrators in the Great Hall of Hogwarts are not there to allow professors to manage the behavior of young wizards, but simply to remind them that professors are still present.

Sheen didn't want to see any of the young wizards being put in solitary confinement every day.

For example, Sheehan found it hard to believe that Gryffindor wouldn't offend Professor Snape in front of him.

—The cellar can't hold that many people.

"oh----"

Justin seemed to be deep in thought.

He easily came up with this idea.

The wizards should be separated so that everyone can be more free.

"And you, Sheen, which group did you join?"

Justin glanced restrainedly at Sheehan's mirror.

He was soon captivated; next to the name Sean Green, there were several other words.

"Hmm, Sheen, you now—"

Hermione also came closer, and very easily, she saw those words.

1. [Highest Authority in the Magic Network: Hermes].

"What does this mean?"

Hermione opened her mouth slightly.

"Quick, check the news from Hogwarts Great Hall!"

Before Hermione could finish speaking, Ron started yelling again.

Hogwarts Great Hall

Roger Davis: Cho Chang, are you free this weekend?

Qiu Zhang: No time.

Pansy Parkinson: Slytherin students, watch your words. This mirror is visible to the whole school; don't embarrass the House. Also, Draco, are you up there?

Draco Malfoy: Here. Haven't seen Potter yet. It's a shame the guards of Azkaban left so early.

Harry Potter: Shut your mouth, Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy: Oh, Potter's here. What, you saw that Daily Prophet article? Peter the Murderer seems quite interested in you. Are you having trouble sleeping every night?

Ron Weasley: Get out of here, Malfoy. Stop making things up.

Michael Corner: I just looked through the member list, and guess what I found?

Anthony Goldstein: Did you find Headmaster Dumbledore? I saw him.

Michael Conner: That's way more exciting! Anthony.

Terry Booth: Yes, Your Excellency Mr. Hermes.

For a moment, Sheen thought the auditorium was about to explode.

The gasps of surprise at the dinner table grew louder and louder, and many people stood up. Even some professors were carefully examining the mirror.

Hogwarts Great Hall

Roger Davis: It's true!

Fred Weasley: I can't believe it!

Draco Malfoy: Look at you, so unsophisticated.

Ron Weasley: Come on, you know, why don't you tell everyone?

Draco Malfoy: Of course I know more than some people do—but why should I tell you?

Hannah Abbott: Good heavens, it really is Mr. Hermes, he's here, watching us?

Ernie McMillan: To be precise, he was looking at his creation.

Padma Pettier: Is that Hermes? The greatest wizard of the future?

Parvati Petil: Who else could it be!

Padma Petit: I really want to know who he is.

Ernie Macmillan: You could ask Mr. Hermes to create a small side quest in the magic network; perhaps he'll agree?

At the same time, Sheen's magic hand mirror vibrated incessantly.

He simply created a separate "high-privilege management terminal" with the intention of obtaining the most stable communication or privacy functions of the Magic Network.

When necessary, he can also use the authority of "Hermes" to cut off the magic network communication.

But unexpectedly, the first problem didn't arise from the third-generation magic hand mirror, but from him himself.

Sheen glanced silently at the magic mirror and declined all the invitations.

"Oh, Sheen!"

Hermione stood up, a gesture that was not unusual in the Great Hall at the time.

Sheehan looked at her, puzzled. Hermione picked up a palm-sized magical mirror, on which a line of words shone brightly:

Sheen Green has declined to join your "Hope House" mini-magic web side quest.

Sheen suddenly realized that his magic hand mirror's communication was completely messed up.

Michael created a small web quest called "Ravenclaw 404"; Professor Slughorn repeatedly invited him to join a small web quest called "The Slug Club"; Headmaster Dumbledore also sent an invitation to a small web quest called "Hogwarts Headmasters' Council," which only included himself and Professor McGonagall.

Wait a moment----

Hogwarts Headmasters' Council?

Dumbledore is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, and Professor McGonagall is the Vice-Headmaster.

Sheen, however, had no recollection of being a principal.

Hogwarts Headmasters' Council

Sheehan Green: Headmaster Dumbledore —

Albus Dumbledore: Ah, I've wanted to retire for a long time.

Minerva McGonagall: Stop kidding, Albus, he's still a student.

Albus Dumbledore: Oh, first time meeting you?

Minerva McGonagall: ———— I'm at the principal's office door.

Albus Dumbledore: Just kidding, Minerva. But as the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, I need to consider our plans after retirement—

Minerva McGonagall: He's still in school — open the door!

The Hogwarts Headmasters' Council fell silent.

Sheen was still a little confused.

He didn't understand Dumbledore's intentions. Dumbledore wanted to choose him as the next headmaster of Hogwarts—but as far as he knew, wizards had long lifespans, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, Dumbledore could remain headmaster for at least several more decades.

It couldn't possibly be Dumbledore's Christmas present, could it?

Snowflakes swirled outside the window, pattering against the icy windowpane.

In the distance, beyond the twelve Christmas trees, the stair railings were wrapped with holly and metal foil; ever-burning candles flickered inside the helmets of the armor, and large bunches of mistletoe hung every so often in the corridor.

Sheen saw his breath condense into snowflakes, making the hot pumpkin juice in his hands even sweeter.

He gazed at the familiar castle, a place he had visited more than once.

He knew the professors and staff here very well.

The magic hand mirror is buzzing again.

Logically speaking, very few people could make Sheen's magic mirror make a sound, except for a few specific individuals.

Hogwarts Headmasters' Council

Albus Dumbledore: Merry Christmas, dear Mr. Grimm. I hope you like my Christmas present.

The Ministry of Magic has approved that Sheehan Green will serve as Headmaster of Hogwarts after my retirement. I think no one is more suitable to manage this ancient magical school than a wizard named Green. I know some people who don't usually refer to this place as their workplace or the place to collect Galleons —

Rather, it is—home.

Sheehan tightened his scarf, and Professor McGonagall's hurried face appeared around the corner of the corridor.

"This is utter nonsense! The Ministry of Magic is joining in this nonsense too!"

Professor McGonagall frowned and kept repeating something.

"Professor, Merry Christmas."

Sheehan didn't forget to prepare a Christmas gift for the professor. He took out an exquisite little sky-blue box and watched as Professor McGonagall accepted it with a hint of satisfaction.

Sheen has been exchanging gifts with many people in the castle for a long time.

This includes all the professors, and many, many young wizards.

More than half of the young wizards at Hogwarts Castle were willing to exchange gifts with a wizard named Sheehan Green at Christmas.

Everyone knows that he will spend the whole day unwrapping gifts and carefully preparing return gifts.

Merry Christmas, my child.

Professor McGonagall's expression softened. "I'll go to the Ministry of Magic. After all, making decisions without permission is unacceptable."

"Oh, Professor, I'm willing."

Sheen said without much hesitation.

"He really went too far this time, don't you think?"

Professor McGonagall looked at Sheehan with a hint of surprise but also with a cautious inquiry. "Perhaps there's something else you'd like to do, my child. I must remind you, this is a responsibility."

"I think I might understand, Professor."

Sheen nodded.

The dinner was even more lavish than I had imagined.

As soon as Sheehan entered the Great Hall, he was seated in the guest of honor seat at Dumbledore's prompting.

The little wizards at each long table were making a ruckus; the excitement from the magic hand mirror hadn't faded all day.

There were hardly any empty seats left in the main seating area. Apart from sitting next to Dumbledore, Sheehan could only sit to the left of Headmaster Dumbledore.

"Firecrackers!"

Dumbledore said excitedly, handing Snape the end of a large silver firecracker, which Snape reluctantly tugged at.

With a deafening bang like a cannon, the firecracker exploded, revealing a large, pointed witch's hat topped with a specimen of a vulture.

Snape's lips tightened, and he pushed his hat toward Dumbledore.

-

Dumbledore immediately replaced the wizard hat on his head with it.

Eat to your heart's content!

He called out, smiling as he looked around the table, "After everyone has finished eating, I think I have one more announcement to make."

"Thirteen people again."

Professor Trelawney, who had just arrived, was nearly scared to death.

"Sybil—"

Professor McGonagall quickly helped her up.