Tver had expected his status as a Durmstrang alumnus to be a hurdle, but he hadn’t anticipated it becoming the very thing Dumbledore was most suspicious of.
It wasn’t as if he could admit he was after the headmaster’s Philosopher’s Stone…
“To learn,” Tver said, maintaining a warm smile despite the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.
“I have no desire to slander my alma mater, but Durmstrang’s research into certain areas of magic has fallen somewhat behind.”
“That is why I wanted to come to Hogwarts.
By serving as a teaching assistant, I hope to acquire the knowledge I currently lack.”
Dumbledore leaned forward, his slightly squinted eyes gleaming with a sharp intensity.
“But as far as I know, you declined Hogwarts seven years ago, choosing instead the wizarding school furthest from your home in Europe.”
“Now, seven years later, you have decided to return to Hogwarts.
This makes it quite difficult for me to believe your claim that you are merely seeking to learn.”
“Furthermore, Durmstrang’s curriculum is by no means substandard.
It is, at the very least, more than sufficient to prepare you for life in the wizarding world.”
Dumbledore’s implication was clear: Tver had chosen Durmstrang back then, yet now he was calculating his way back into Hogwarts, especially right after graduating.
He remained deeply suspicious of Tver’s motives.
Tver’s smile faded slightly.
It was as though the gentle Dumbledore from moments ago was a mere illusion, replaced by an overwhelming, crushing pressure.
This sharp, formidable figure before him was the true greatest wizard of the Light!
Tver had anticipated that today’s interview would be difficult, but he hadn’t expected the pressure to mount so quickly.
Fortunately, he still had a card left to play—the book.
Calmly, Tver pulled his wallet from his pocket, retrieved the book from its magically expanded interior using a Summoning Charm, and handed it to Dumbledore.
“I truly did come to study magic—specifically, the deeper levels of magic recorded in this.”
Sitting nearby, Quirrell noticed Dumbledore’s eyes narrow in surprise.
Intrigued, he couldn’t help but crane his neck to get a look.
But Dumbledore tilted the book slightly, perfectly angling it away from Quirrell’s line of sight.
For a moment, the headmaster’s office was filled only with the sound of turning pages.
Tver closely observed Dumbledore’s expression, ignoring the suspicious and uneasy Quirrell beside him.
Dumbledore’s reaction was exactly as Tver had anticipated.
At first, his face showed wonder at the contents of the first page, but as he instinctively flipped to the next, his expression fell into the expected disappointment.
However, Dumbledore was clearly not mentally ensnared as Tver had been; instead, he detected the anomaly immediately.
“This book possesses a very…
peculiar magic,” Dumbledore said, pausing to offer a smile reserved for students.
“The claims written here are quite intriguing, but I find it hard to believe a wizard of your caliber wouldn’t see through the childish nature of these arguments.”
*That’s the normal reaction,* Tver thought with a light chuckle.
He pointed a finger at the words re-emerging on the first page. Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
And specifically, at the name written there—Rowena Ravenclaw.
Dumbledore’s smile froze on his face, his breath hitching for a fraction of a second.
As the Headmaster’s smile gradually faded, Tver grew increasingly relaxed.
After a long silence, Dumbledore let out a slow, deep breath.
“I would like to borrow this book for a while.
Would that be acceptable?”
“Of course,” Tver replied.
He had already memorized the entire book anyway.
“But I wonder, is this reason of mine sufficient?”
“Hogwarts welcomes anyone who is sincere, Foley.
However, I still need to determine if you possess the capability to teach here, even if only as an assistant.”
Dumbledore set the book down but kept his hand over the text.
Quirrell was still only able to catch a few stray letters.
Tver reached for his wallet again.
“If you require my academic transcripts from Durmstrang—”
“No, I have already spoken with Headmaster Karkaroff about that.
He was full of praise for your professional knowledge.”
Dumbledore raised a hand to stop Tver’s movements, his expression turning solemn.
Instantly, Tver felt as though he were standing before an examiner during an exam.
The next words would undoubtedly be the test itself.
“I need to know what you plan to teach in this school, and I require your assurance that you will not bring Durmstrang’s permissive attitude toward the Dark Arts into Hogwarts.”
*Now this is an interview,* Tver thought, relaxing.
He had prepared for this long ago.
“I applied for the position of teaching assistant.
Will I also be responsible for the curriculum?” Tver looked toward Quirrell with anticipation.
He still held a keen interest in teaching students, especially the famous Harry Potter.
Quirrell had barely stammered out a couple of words before Dumbledore cut in.
“Professor Quirrell and I have discussed this.
He is more than happy to hand over the students from the third year and below to you.”
Quirrell showed no annoyance at being interrupted; instead, he forced another smile.
“Yes, I am…
more than happy…
“Then, may I ask, Professor Dumbledore—how do you believe one should defend against the Dark Arts?” A smile played on Tver’s lips, and he watched with interest as Dumbledore smiled back.
The question was simple—so simple that Dumbledore would not reject it—so Tver had no intention of waiting for an answer.
“Offense,” Tver said, clasping his hands on the desk and leaning forward slightly to meet Dumbledore’s gaze.
“As long as you defeat the enemy, you naturally defend against any Dark Arts.”
“Offense alone cannot defeat an enemy.”
Dumbledore was indeed intrigued; he had his own reasons for needing to elevate the students’ combat capabilities.
And this was precisely what Tver had come for.
“Of course.
And learning how to defend before attacking is equally vital.”
“Would you believe that half of the Ministry’s employees cannot cast a decent Shield Charm, let alone master combat techniques?”
“Therefore, in my Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, I will do my best to teach the students how to avoid danger and defeat their opponents.”
“Not just when facing the Dark Arts, but also when facing enemies filled with malice.”
Tver turned to Quirrell, who was watching from the side.
“Don’t you agree, Professor Quirrell?”
“Of…
of course,” Quirrell stammered, caught off guard by Tver’s sudden question.
“However, we…
cannot teach…
the Dark Arts.”
Tver let out a soft sigh.
Because of Durmstrang’s tolerance toward the Dark Arts and the emergence of the previous Dark Lord, people always held hostility and misconceptions toward the school.
“It’s a persistent misunderstanding.
My alma mater does not just teach the Dark Arts; it teaches us how to defend against them as well.
How can you defend against something you do not understand?”
“This is precisely why I agree to you becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts assistant,” Dumbledore said, nodding in approval.
“I hope you can impart your understanding of the Dark Arts to our students in the correct manner.”
Tver offered a delighted smile.
“Does that mean my interview today was a success?”
“To be precise, it was highly successful.”
Dumbledore extended his hand to shake Tver’s once more, though his gaze drifted toward Quirrell.
“Quirinus, if you wouldn’t mind leaving us for a moment.
I have a few things left to discuss with Tver.”