Ancient Wizards Return to Hogwarts...

Chapter 328 Helga's Big Deal (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"I think you might land a big order," Rice shared his thoughts with Hufflepuff.

Azkaban's imprisonment strategy was simple: let Dementors feed on the prisoners' happiness, putting them in a semi-mad state and greatly reducing their mobility.

Even the most powerful wizard, after being thrown into Azkaban for a period of time, would have his spirit broken. A wizard whose mind is exhausted and who has been stripped of his wand has no chance of escaping from Azkaban.

The decrease in the number of Dementors could indeed weaken the guarding force of Azkaban, requiring the replacement of guards. However, Dementors cannot reproduce, and normal wizards are unlikely to be willing to take up posts in Azkaban, creating a dead end.

Let's think outside the box. Why insist on sending wizards to strengthen Azkaban's defenses? Aren't Hufflepuffs, who are right next to us, very skilled at making alchemical dolls?

"That's interesting..." Helga said thoughtfully after hearing Rice's idea.

She could indeed produce a batch of dolls to strengthen Azkaban's defenses, but how much would the Ministry of Magic charge for such dolls? She didn't want to be seen as a scapegoat again.

After sharing his troubles with Salazar, Rice looked at her with a surprised expression: How am I supposed to know how much these things are worth?

The level of alchemy in the modern magical world has regressed considerably, and the market for alchemical items is extremely sluggish. These items simply cannot be priced—because no one has ever sold them before.

"How about 1,000 Galleons each?"

Rice glanced at Helga; he didn't think the Ministry of Magic could allocate such a large budget. One thousand each, ten would be ten thousand. How many puppets would be needed to rearm Azkaban? Ten? Fifty? Or a hundred?

"How about this, you sell them a batch of dolls at a low price, and then sell after-sales services? Like replenishing the dolls' magic or something," Rice suggested to Hufflepuff.

Hufflepuff could certainly make permanent dolls that last for over a thousand years, but that model is clearly more profitable.

Hufflepuff ultimately accepted Rice's proposal.

"I will make a batch of eternal dolls, but I will also put a seal on them so that they will 'lose their powers' after a period of time. As for how to replenish mana and remove the seal, shall we leave it at Hogwarts and let the headmaster pass it on by word of mouth?" Helga sought Rice's opinion.

Rice naturally wouldn't object. This was good news for Hogwarts; Helga had essentially secured another long-term meal ticket for the school.

After the two reached an agreement, Helga decided to put it into action.

Just then, the school bell rang. Hufflepuff looked up and sighed, "Why is it time for class again? This schedule is way too packed..."

The pressure of modern teaching is so great that even Helga is finding it difficult to cope.

The school has four houses, each with seven years. Except for the sixth and seventh years, the other five years each have two classes, with each class having two lessons per week—meaning Hufflepuff teaches a total of twenty-two lessons per week and also has to grade homework for all seven years! This is far more demanding than the workload a thousand years ago.

Therefore, she admired Minerva McGonagall even more; she was the Transfiguration professor, the head of Gryffindor House, and also the vice-principal...

When Helga was too tired to go to class, she would think of Minerva in her heart, and then she would have the motivation to continue attending class.

If Minerva made it through, so can I!

After complaining about the pressure at work, Helga glanced at Rice, who had clearly heard the school bell but showed no sign of moving, and couldn't help but feel a little curious.

"Don't you have class?"

"have."

Helga: ?

"I'm planning to skip this."

Helga: ? ? ?

Before Hufflepuff could react, Rice had already quickly disappeared from her sight.

It wasn't until Helga walked into the classroom and saw that familiar silver hair that she suddenly realized the old viper had skipped her class!

Shock and confusion lingered in Helga's mind. After a brief clash, it turned into anger—Sarcazar, you have to listen to the lesson I prepared with so much effort, whether you like it or not!

"Please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Without hesitation, Hufflepuff turned and left the classroom, then began searching for Rice. She quickly located Salazar with magic and appeared before him with astonishing speed.

"Professor White, don't you have class?" Rice looked up and asked in surprise.

Helga sneered, grabbed Rice's shoulder, and made it clear that he had to attend the class today.

"We've been waiting for you." With that, she grabbed Rice from his seat and led him to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

Amidst the bewildered gazes of all the students, Rice calmly and without batting an eye sat down in the empty seat next to Daphne.

"Why are you so late?" Daphne asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I'm lost, I'm lost," Rice gave a rather absurd answer.

"If your role in class is that of a teaching aid, then you'll also want to skip class," Rice thought to himself.

Daphne looked at him suspiciously, convinced that Rice had skipped class and been caught by Professor White.

With Rice in, everyone was present, and Helga began her lesson. To prepare for the upcoming collaboration, Helga decided to demonstrate her puppet magic to her students.

She conjured up a half-human-sized doll with a flick of her wrist, controlling it to walk, run, and jump, and even casting various spells.

Just as she was about to call Salazar to the podium to demonstrate the doll's limits to the students, a series of chaotic footsteps came from outside the classroom.

Dumbledore appeared at the classroom door with a large group of parents.

Hearing the noise, the students in the classroom instinctively looked towards the door, then froze in place—why were their parents at school?

Due to the nature of Slytherin students, most of the people who came to the school today were parents of Slytherin students, which made the impact on the students present particularly strong.

For example, Malfoy was listening to the lesson in a very relaxed posture, but when he casually glanced towards the door, he met his father's gaze.

Then he froze.

Under Lucius Malfoy's watchful gaze, Draco slowly turned his body back and sat down in his seat with an extremely upright posture.

"Alright, Smith, you can continue the lesson." Dumbledore smiled and waved, letting Helga continue her class. He stood outside the classroom and quietly introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to the parents.

Many parents have heard of Smith White, and they are naturally very curious to see him in person today.

They stood outside the classroom, listening in on Hufflepuff's lessons.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The second update is here. The author is off to write more.

(End of this chapter)