[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-279":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hogwarts Learning Panel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250517,4210,"Chapter 279: A","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-279",279,"\u003Cp>“Move aside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short-tempered, squat man raised a large black camera and shouted at Ron,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is for the Daily Prophet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He jumped back and forth, snapping photos; each blinding flash sent a puff of purple smoke spewing from the camera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remarkable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron rubbed his sore foot where the man had stepped on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Severus did not look at Lockhart; he took the entire set of books and headed to pay, quickly encountering Justin as he moved away from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor seems rather… unreliable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin frowned; Severus followed his gaze and saw Lockhart behind the table, having somehow grabbed Harry and was speaking passionately:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ladies and gentlemen,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lockhart shouted, waving for silence,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What an extraordinary moment! I wish to use this splendid occasion to announce a small matter I’ve held back for some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Harry came into Flourish and Blotts today merely to buy my autobiography—I’m happy to give him this book free of charge on the spot—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd burst into applause,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—but he didn’t know,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lockhart continued, shaking Harry slightly until his glasses slid down to the tip of his nose,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“that he will soon receive something far more valuable than my humble work, ‘My Magical Self’—in fact, he and his classmates will receive a real, magical me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted and proud to announce that this September, I shall become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd cheered and clapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course, there’s another vital piece of news: I shall locate and teach the mysterious Mr. Hermes Defense Against the Dark Arts, helping him achieve greater mastery in it than in Alchemy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted completely, cheering and jumping as if they had been waiting for this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few deeply composed wizards showed disdain—did he even know what he was saying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was Quirrell, who had arrived too late to buy the exclusive interview with the Sage Master; he cast a deep, piercing glance at Lockhart, then tried to find any remaining copies of the newspaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Severus, I think you should keep your distance—the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors all seem… a bit off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Severus nodded; his only surprise was that Justin had so quickly noticed the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will naturally earn his respect—oh, just like Master Professor Tela—proving this will be the simplest thing imaginable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flashed a set of gleaming teeth,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See, this beautiful young lady from Hogwarts is already eager for my arrival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The excited Hermione was invited up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione was so flustered she was barely coherent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, and this gentleman here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately spotted Severus, quiet among the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Lockhart was in high spirits—he knew full well why Master Professor Tela had been featured on the Chocolate Frog card: naturally, because of the mysterious Hermes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Dumbledore came to him, he had nearly moved into Hogwarts on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curse? Just a rumor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to be immortalized on a Chocolate Frog card—that would be such a intoxicating honor—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, are you one of my fans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked with a beaming smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Severus remained silent, meeting his gaze—and suddenly, he felt an inexplicable unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, let me rephrase—does your arrival excite you greatly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Severus was speechless; so many people, and he’d been dragged up like this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for excitement…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well—we’ll take the next one—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lockhart, unfazed, called up the next wizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He doesn’t seem like a professor at all—more like…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin walked over to Severus, his frown deepening,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A clown from a circus.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was startled by his own words—yet to his surprise, Severus was also staring at him in astonishment, then nodded silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, a loud argument broke out below the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I actually saw you enter the shop, Weasley.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Malfoy sneering,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suppose your parents will be starving next month to afford all this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron’s face flushed red; he threw the book into his cauldron and lunged toward Malfoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry and Hermione grabbed his clothes from behind, holding him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ron!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur Weasley pushed through with Fred and George,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing? This place is too chaotic—let’s go outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, Arthur Weasley.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Lucius Malfoy; one hand rested on Draco’s shoulder, his face wearing the same sneer as his son’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lucius.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur Weasley nodded coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hear you’re terribly busy with your duties,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius Malfoy said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All those raids… I suppose they pay you overtime?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached into Ginny’s cauldron and pulled out an old but neatly kept copy of “Beginner’s Making Guide to Transfiguration” from among the shiny new Lockhart books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apparently not. My goodness—if you can’t even earn a decent wage, what’s the point of being a wizarding disgrace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have entirely different views on what constitutes a wizarding disgrace, Malfoy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius Malfoy replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pale eyes flickered, landing on the anxious Grangers, then on Severus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at the friends you keep, Weasley… I thought your family had already sunk to its lowest depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now on stage, there was even a mute…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished, Arthur Weasley roared and charged at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But faster than him appeared a black-robed wizard via Apparition; his expression was twisted, his wand pressed against Lucius’s throat, emitting a faint green glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—dare utter one more word of disrespect toward my master—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quirrell’s aura terrified a large portion of the crowd; everyone panicked at this sudden turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malfoy had no idea what he’d done; his mind went blank, but the killing intent in the other’s eyes was unmistakable—his face turned deathly pale:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dare—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I apologize for my mistake!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malfoy collapsed to the ground; only then did Quirrell’s bloodshot, crimson eyes calm slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation had spiraled into a phase no one could have foreseen; only now did Malfoy remember who stood before him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t important—what mattered was that he was the acting shopkeeper of the Fairy Tale Shop…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then that gentleman… as his trembling gaze shifted toward him, the future greatest wizard, the thrice-great Hermes, publicly praised and supported by Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel, was calmly watching him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1054,"2026-06-19T10:00:41.888Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b255caa7cbe683d3e724a641853128bb28069ff178e91c2c416a773bbd9c0c16","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-280","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-278",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]