Marvel's Hogwarts Wizard

Chapter 220 The New Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor (Fourth Update)

Due to the time constraints, the four of them briefly explained the situation to the Weasleys and hurriedly boarded the train with their luggage without waiting for them to ask for details.

There were less than two minutes left before departure.

Walking down the aisle of the carriage, the four found that the carriages were almost full. It wasn't until they were almost at the front of the train that they found an empty carriage.

However, it can't be considered empty, because there's already someone sitting inside.

It was an unfamiliar adult wizard, dressed in a tattered wizard's robe with several patches, who was fast asleep leaning against the car window.

For some reason, although the strange male wizard was asleep, he gave off a sickly feeling, as if he had no strength at all.

Although he looks very young, his light brown hair is already turning gray.

"Should we sit here? It seems there aren't enough seats!"

The carriage has two rows of seats, which is just right for four people. If there are more people, it's not impossible to sit, but it will be a bit crowded.

"Let's squeeze in, we were late after all!"

Hermione went in first and sat down opposite the wizard by the window, followed by Ron. But before he could sit down, Hermione said in a flat voice:

"You move over there! I need to discuss magic with Jerry on the way here!"

"Okay, I don't want to have to learn magic for the next semester before I even start school."

Upon hearing this, Ron immediately sat down opposite the unfamiliar male wizard.

Jerry had no choice but to sit next to Hermione.

Since the wizard was an adult and was sleeping by the window, he took up a lot of space, and after Ron sat down, there was almost no room left there.

So Harry had no choice but to sit next to Jerry.

However, it was still a bit cramped for three people to sit in a two-seater, which forced Jerry and Hermione to stand quite close together.

The young wizards who had just boarded the bus were almost all wearing their own clothes and hadn't changed into their wizard robes yet. And given the current weather, it was impossible for them to wear anything too thick, so getting too close together could be a little awkward.

The awkwardness here doesn't refer to Harry, of course; what's awkward about two men? The main awkwardness comes from Hermione, who's sitting at the very back.

"This damn puberty!"

Feeling his body begin to stir instinctively again, Jerry quickly activated "Refreshing and Awakening" to forcefully calm himself down.

Hermione, sitting at the very back, turned her head to look out the window, a hint of smugness on her slightly flushed face.

Hermione will be thirteen in just over twenty days. Girls usually enter puberty at ten and boys at twelve, but girls in other countries may start even earlier. So, Hermione will naturally have some of the little thoughts that girls her age have.

"Won't it be a bit crowded? Should I go check other carriages for empty seats?"

Jerry, afraid of embarrassing Hermione, whispered.

Hermione replied without hesitation:

"It's okay, I'm fine!"

At 11:00 a.m., with a whistle, the Hogwarts Express began to slowly move away from the station, heading once again toward the mysterious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Who do you think he is? Why is there an adult wizard on the train? I heard George say that this train only accepts passengers, except for the grandma who sells snacks; it's a student-only train!"

Ron looked curiously at the unfamiliar male wizard who was still fast asleep and asked everyone.

"He should be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this semester!"

Jerry straightened up and replied, trying his best not to touch Hermione.

"How do you know he's our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this semester?"

Ron looked surprised.

He admitted that Jerry was very capable, even beyond his imagination, but he couldn't possibly know at a glance that the other party was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Did Jerry learn divination and prophecy before summer vacation?

"His suitcase had a note that read, 'Professor RJ Lupin!'"

Hermione pointed to the box above the strange wizard's head and explained to Jerry.

"That doesn't prove he taught us Defense Against the Dark Arts!"

"Ron, do you remember the newspaper you read a few days ago?"

Harry offered a reminder.

Ron suddenly realized:

"Then he really could be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, but can he really teach us? I feel like he's not even as good as Professor Quirrell!"

The Daily Prophet reported a few days ago that Gilderoy Lockhart, the great author, has been convicted of multiple crimes by the Ministry of Magic's Aurors and has had all his property confiscated and sent to Azkaban for ten years of imprisonment.

The report also stated that Hogwarts publicly dismissed Lockhart from his position as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor after learning of his conviction.

They also began recruiting new senior wizards from the wizarding world to serve as professors for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class at Hogwarts.

Now, a new professor they don't recognize has appeared on the train. What else could he be teaching if not Defense Against the Dark Arts?

"A wizard's ability isn't determined by their physical strength, but by their magical abilities. I think he must be a very powerful wizard!"

Jerry shared his opinion.

Remus John Lupin, a contemporary of Harry's father, Professor Snape, was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and participated in the Wizarding War.

In terms of actual strength, he may be slightly inferior to Snape, but he is definitely above the top level in the wizarding world, at least much stronger than the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic.

Unexpectedly, this wizard, who was originally scheduled to teach next year, entered Hogwarts a year earlier because of him.

However, it's understandable. In such a short time, it wouldn't be easy for Dumbledore to find a wizard who was willing and capable enough to serve as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts.

You should know that a legend has been circulating in the wizarding world, including at Hogwarts School.

That is, the position of Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is cursed by the Dark Lord; whoever holds it will be doomed.

Although everyone outwardly denies such unfounded rumors, they can't help but feel apprehensive if they are actually invited.

Moreover, Lupin seems to be doing poorly in the wizarding world because of his werewolf identity, so it seems reasonable to bring him over to serve as a professor in advance.

The train sped along, passing through Muggle farms and towns, gradually entering dense forests far from human habitation, and finally stopping at the small Hogsmeade station just as darkness was falling.

Just like last year, Hagrid was still holding the magic lamp and calling out to the first-year wizards to assemble and take the ferry to the castle at the Black Lake.

Jerry and his three friends, now in their second year, walked out of Hogsmeade Station, boarded a carriage pulled by Thestrals, and arrived early at the Great Hall of the castle with a large group of wizards from the second to the seventh year.

This year, they are no longer newcomers.

(End of this chapter)