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Chapter 20: The Donkey of Hogwarts
Chapter 20: The Donkey of Hogwarts
Filch led Sherlock to an office on the third floor and handed him the key.
"This office was previously used by the former Defense Professor, Quirrell. However, I cleared all his belongings out during the summer, and the house-elves have thoroughly cleaned it. You can rest assured that it's ready for you to move in."
Sherlock took the key from him, and Filch's weathered face broke into a smile as if a chrysanthemum had blossomed.
"Please go ahead and settle into your room, Professor Forrest. I'll go prepare some things and check on you again later when I patrol the castle."
With that, he turned and left.
After watching Filch's figure disappear around the corner, Sherlock inserted the key into the door and entered his new residence at Hogwarts.
The outer office was spacious, with a bookshelf that took up half a wall. A coat stand stood by the door, and a large desk was placed directly opposite the entrance.
Just as Filch had said, the room had been cleaned spotlessly, with not a speck of dust on the bookshelf or the desk.
Sherlock's suitcase was neatly placed beside the desk.
He took out his books and notes and arranged them on the bookshelf. Then, he carried the robes for changing from his suitcase to the bedroom at the back of the office.
The bed had already been made by the house-elves, and the bathroom and living supplies were well-stocked, making it ready for immediate occupancy.
Life at Hogwarts was indeed a blissful one for the students. Sherlock now even wondered if the house-elves also washed the students' clothes, ensuring they lived a life of ease and comfort, better than at home.
After tidying up his office and bedroom, he sat down at the desk and picked up the Defense Against the Dark Arts class schedule that Professor Mcgonagall had given him at the end of the feast.
To be honest, being a professor at Hogwarts was no easy task.
Especially for core subjects like Spells, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, History of Magic, Astronomy, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The castle had seven years of students, and each year's core subjects had at least one major class per week (about an hour and a half, except for Astronomy). This meant that the seven professors were busy from Monday to Friday.
It might sound manageable and not too strenuous, right?
But don't forget that Hogwarts is divided into four Houses.
Students from the same year do not take classes together. Instead, two Houses usually share a class, which means that each year's classes need to be taught twice, doubling the workload!
To put it in terms of a Muggle school:
Imagine a seven-year elementary school where each year has two classes, and the entire school has only one math teacher. This teacher would be responsible for teaching all fourteen classes and grading all the students' homework!
Fourteen classes a week, each lasting over an hour, plus grading and checking all the students' homework after class.
While the students at Hogwarts might not have an overly strenuous academic life, the professors of these seven core subjects are busier than workhorses.
Starting today, Sherlock would join the ranks of these overworked professors at Hogwarts, becoming a donkey that dare not rest.
He looked at the schedule for the next day. In the morning, his first class was with the first-year Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. In the afternoon, he had another class with the second-year Gryffindors, including Harry.
The schedule suited him perfectly. He could start with two lower-year classes to gauge the students' reactions and then make adjustments for the higher-year classes.
After preparing the materials needed for the next day's class, a knock suddenly came from the door of the office. At the same time, Filch's fawning voice rang out from outside.
"Professor Forrest, we can set off now."
Sherlock glanced at the time; it was just past eight o'clock. According to the original owner's diary, the Curfew was supposed to start at nine.
He tidied up his Robe, his expression returning to its usual coldness, and opened the door.
"Are we starting the Curfew patrol before nine?"
Filch explained to him.
"Patrolling the castle doesn't necessarily mean checking for Curfew violations. Since it's not yet Curfew time, there might be students using Spells in the corridors, which is against the school rules. Your previous students were well-behaved, but the ones who have entered in recent years are becoming more and more unruly, especially the Gryffindor students."
As he spoke, his face darkened, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.
"To be honest, Professor Dumbledore is too lenient. The old castle management system should be reinstated, and unruly students should be disciplined with handcuffs and whips! That would teach them not to misbehave!"
Well, well, didn't expect you to be such a grumpy old man.
Sherlock silently mocked him but didn't respond. Instead, he turned to close the office door and began the night's patrol of Hogwarts with Filch.
"Where should we go first?" Sherlock asked.
Without hesitation, Filch replied, "Let's start near the Gryffindor Common Room. On the first night of each term, I always catch students misusing magic around there, especially since those two troublemakers started attending!"
The last part was said with a clenched jaw, and Sherlock didn't need to think hard to guess who he was referring to.
The only Gryffindor students who could make Filch this resentful were the Weasley Twins.
Sherlock didn't really care where Filch wanted to patrol. He had only asked to come along to familiarize himself with the layout of Hogwarts Castle.
He didn't need to know every nook and cranny, just the general locations of the four House Common Rooms, the offices of the various professors, and the commonly used classrooms.
This way, he wouldn't be completely lost in the castle tomorrow, like a first-year who doesn't even know which way the main doors open.
As they walked up the stairs leading to the tower where the Gryffindor Common Room was located, they had just reached the fifth floor when they heard two people talking around the corner.
"At least Professor Dumbledore didn't expel us."
"But even so, it's still embarrassing. I can't imagine how people will look at us when we return to the Gryffindor Common Room in this state."
"Hey, what are you afraid of? These bandages are badges of honor for heroes!"
"That's true. During the day, we were treated like heroes, but now everyone will call us cowards. And Professor Forrest, I waved at him in the car. I don't know if I have his class tomorrow, but I think we should get a note from Madam Pomfrey, otherwise, I'll be too embarrassed to attend his class in this state."
Harry, with a bandaged head, and Ron, with a cast on his arm, were talking as they walked around the corner.
Then they saw Professor Forrest and Filch standing there, looking at them with strange expressions.
(End of Chapter)
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