[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring":3,"chapter-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-75":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Starting at Hogwarts, Logging into Elden Ring",{"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},1496249,1944,"Chapter 75: Snape and His Longing for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Post","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-75",75,"\u003Cp>Back home, Arthur repeated to Hermione the same analysis he had shared earlier with Draco.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione thought back to Lockhart's demeanor at Flourish and Blotts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had to admit, the man probably was a fraud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange emptiness welled up inside her — the hollow sensation of an idol shattering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her downcast expression, Arthur couldn't resist teasing her further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've got more bad news for you. Guess who our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is this year?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione froze. \"It couldn't be… him?\" she asked in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm-hm. Correct answer — but no reward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione cried out in despair:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh no! My Defense Against the Dark Arts! Am I doomed to learn nothing again this year?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, at least, Quirrell had been tolerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a fellow Ravenclaw graduate and genuinely brilliant — perfectly competent as an academic mentor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he had to disguise himself, he acted timid, even pretended to stammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lessons were dry, just following the textbook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione always felt self-study was more efficient — and if she encountered difficulties, she could ask her cousin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, however, things were even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The professor was a conman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was already preparing to self-study the subject entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur, sipping his afternoon tea leisurely, offered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at it differently. This guy loves vanity. Just flatter him a little, and you'll rack up extra credit. Maybe even get borrowing privileges for the Restricted Section.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Hogwarts, that part of the library required a professor's signed authorization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that Arthur cared. His iPad had already scanned the entire Restricted Section, and in fact, his digital copy was safer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You never knew which cursed defenses might lurk in those books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry, for instance, had once stumbled on one — he'd opened a volume only for a face to scream out of the pages, shrieking loudly enough to summon Filch and force him to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur's words gave Hermione an idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still remembered much of Lockhart's books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he referenced them in class, she could easily answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes — this year's House Cup was as good as hers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Ranni, nibbling on tea cakes, spoke up suddenly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, since Voldemort placed a curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, why doesn't Hogwarts just cancel the course and replace it with another?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur clapped his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As expected of my princess. I've always wondered the same thing. Why don't we ask Professor Snape? He's right next door.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proposal met with unanimous agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the three of them immediately set off to visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Snape's living room, Leah served them tea and snacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur explained their idea, and Snape's expression turned into a silent \"You can do that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true. The wizarding world was stagnant, a pond with no ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even textbooks had gone unchanged for centuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most wizards were mired in inertia, clinging to the past without innovation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, with Voldemort's return, things were bound to get lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Arthur looked forward to stirring the pot himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape mulled over the suggestion, then suddenly darted off in excitement to write to Dumbledore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione, baffled, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why's Professor Snape so eager?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's been eyeing that position for years. But Dumbledore, worried he might be harmed, never let him have it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione nodded in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Snape returned. Since there wasn't much else to do, everyone decided to wait for Dumbledore's reply together — effectively turning it into an impromptu tea party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, Arthur and the girls had declared it a tea party; Snape hadn't exactly agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since Ranni seemed to enjoy Leah's refreshments, Snape decided not to object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Dumbledore's reply arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape took the letter from the owl, opened it, and his face shifted from eager expectation to gloomy disappointment in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching from the side, Arthur couldn't help but marvel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that Hogwarts staff had gone on a cultural tour of Sichuan and Chongqing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor McGonagall always gave him the impression of an old matron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Snape, apparently, could \"change faces\" like a Sichuan opera master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what was Dumbledore's hidden art? A sweet tooth clashing with Sichuanese spice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, judging from Snape's expression, things hadn't gone well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did it go?\" Arthur asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape tossed him the letter in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur took it, with Hermione and Ranni leaning in to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gist was: the suggestion could be considered, but since a new professor had already been hired, any change in appointment would have to wait until next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the meantime, why not try renaming the subject? Did Snape have any suggestions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had Dumbledore refused him the position, he'd even asked him to brainstorm new names for the course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't just rejection — it was salt in the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cheer up. Who knows? Next year the post might be yours,\" Arthur said consolingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what if the new professor manages to last more than a year? Then it'll never be mine,\" Snape muttered bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don't have to worry about that. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year is a complete fraud.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape: \"???\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't even know this. Where did you get your information?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Diagon Alley. He was holding a signing there today. I'm sure tomorrow's Daily Prophet will cover it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Lockhart, he'd definitely announce his Hogwarts appointment — he lived for that kind of publicity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mere mention of a signing, Snape instantly realized who it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he'd moved here, partly to keep Leah from being too bored and partly to expand her knowledge of the magical world, he'd subscribed to the Daily Prophet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a week ago, that very paper had advertised Lockhart's upcoming signing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Snape had no need to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few anonymous reports to the Ministry would see him gone in no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur, almost as if reading his mind, suddenly asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Say, if you get rid of Lockhart, does that count as the curse being broken — or not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't thought about it that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What then — would he really have to let that peacock keep his dream post for another year just to prove the curse still stood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Visit my patreon for more chapters\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advance 30+ Chapters Available\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FWhiteDevil7554\u003C\u002Fp>",1059,"2026-06-06T04:19:46.381Z",1,"novelbin.me","e709052e296a33431049d5e235f5a7dd9af4fa4750dbfec5fc46e99b5f92b0e7","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-76","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-74",281,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-cover.jpg"]