Chapter 297

Compared to emotional issues, homework was clearly more urgent. And just as Harry finished his homework, new matters came one after another.

Early Monday morning, he opened the Daily Prophet as usual, and as usual saw a smiling photo of Jim Hacker—but unlike usual, this time the man shaking his hand was a neatly combed Severus Snape.

The headline read: "Ministry Seeks Educational Reform; Arnold Abinsson Appointed First Senior Investigator."

"During a recent meeting, the Ministry passed new legislation granting it unprecedented control over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"For some time, the Minister has grown increasingly uneasy with Hogwarts' current state. Hacker believes that, for centuries, the school's teaching standards have made no substantive progress and seem to have stagnated entirely."

Headmaster Severus Snape stated at the meeting that Hogwarts lacks administrative talent; teachers work only within their own specialties, and overall school management relies excessively on the Headmaster and House Heads—professors who hold these managerial roles as side duties, each already burdened with their own courses.

The meeting concluded that this management system hinders the school's academic development, yet establishing purely administrative posts would also pose a significant challenge to the school's traditions. Faced with the urgent need for administrative personnel, the meeting formulated a preliminary proposal: to create the new position of Senior Investigator at Hogwarts, to be held by a current professor on a part-time basis.

The Investigator has the authority to review his fellow faculty members, ensuring their teaching standards remain above the minimum threshold. Simultaneously, the Investigator will assess and summarize the school's overall teaching effectiveness and implementation, enabling the Ministry to formulate further plans for future educational reforms aimed at raising Hogwarts' academic standards. Sir Arnold has been granted this position alongside his teaching duties, and we are pleased to announce he has accepted it willingly.

The Ministry's move has received enthusiastic support from the current Headmaster.

"I've long hoped for some way to relieve me of the burdensome administrative duties tied to the Headmaster's position. Now I feel much more at ease," Professor Severus Snape, aged thirty-five, told our reporter at the meeting's conclusion. "Many of our professors are under great strain. I'm greatly relieved to learn the Ministry is closely monitoring this situation."

Take Professor Snape himself as an example: his duties include not only teaching Potions and conducting research, but also managing Slytherin House students and overseeing school administration as Headmaster. In addition, he must represent Hogwarts at diplomatic events and attend meetings of the Wizengamot and the Ministry, leaving him almost no time to rest.

"This is only the first step," an internal Ministry source revealed last night. "We need to free Headmasters like Snape from teaching responsibilities."

A leaked internal document strongly supports this claim: it states that the Ministry plans to expand Hogwarts by adding four new subjects and seventy teaching positions, as well as establishing several administrative roles, which may be filled by outstanding professors serving concurrently, directly appointed by the Ministry, or even include gifted students in school management.

The authenticity of this document remains unconfirmed, but the future it describes is highly promising; parents' representatives and Board members have expressed great anticipation.

Harry gently set down the newspaper. At first glance, the news seemed abrupt and disconnected—but remembering Snape's increasingly dark circles, he perhaps understood a little better. After the great explosion at the end of fourth year, Harry wasn't the only one feeling the pressure; Snape's appointment as Headmaster had been rushed.

Perhaps it had been planned long ago by Death Eaters and the Ministry, but for Snape himself, adapting to such a packed schedule may not have been easy.

"He has the nerve to complain—if he's really overwhelmed, why doesn't he delegate power to Professor McGonagall?" Ron scoffed.

"Don't you realize he already has?" Harry sighed, shaking his head. "Hogwarts is run by McGonagall now. Have you seen Snape anywhere except during Potions class?"

"Huh?" Ron blinked. "Then where's he going?"

"Phoenix member, Death Eater high-ranking official, Headmaster, Potions Master," Harry whispered. "Snape has too many identities, each demanding enormous energy. From the paper, it looks like he plans to split the Headmaster's duties: internal affairs to McGonagall, external affairs to the Ministry."

"He won't give up the first two roles," Harry continued. "I think he's probably out looking for someone else to teach Potions."

"Really? We can get a new Potions professor?" Ron's eyes widened with eager anticipation.

"Don't get too excited. Whoever Snape finds will likely be just as unpleasant as he is," Harry shrugged.

At the start of the first class, some students who had read the paper glanced around hopefully, expecting Arnold to reform Binns' lifeless History of Magic lessons—but they were disappointed: Arnold never showed up.

He didn't appear in the first class, nor in any subsequent ones—until his own class, when Arnold finally sat calmly behind the desk, sipping black tea and smiling at each student who entered.

"Sir Arnold, I read in the paper that you've become the Investigator," a girl asked. "But why aren't you investigating other professors' classes?"

"I never said I wouldn't investigate. I simply need to wait for the right opportunity. Everything must be in place, conditions mature, all necessary procedures completed—no hasty investigations," Arnold said calmly. "You might think the Investigator's role sounds prestigious, but in truth, it carries immense responsibility. Every action must be taken with the utmost caution."

"We sincerely hope you'll review Divination," another boy said. "Professor Trelawney predicts a student's death in every class."

"Is that so bad? It's just a prediction. Everyone dies eventually—I will, you will. Don't take it too seriously." Arnold spoke indifferently. "If I investigated her without cause, at best, it would unsettle her and harm her teaching; at worst, it might offend her and provoke faculty resentment toward the Ministry."

Amid disappointed student glances, Arnold pulled out the textbook and announced class had begun. This so-called Senior Investigator, as Zhang Qiu put it, was all thunder and no rain.

"I don't understand—if he has no intention of investigating, what's the point of creating this Investigator position?" Over lunch, Harry and Zhang Qiu walked together, naturally discussing the issue.

"Well, perhaps the situation is far more complex than it appears," Zhang Qiu said. "Who truly wanted to create the Investigator position? What was their goal? Does it somehow serve Arnold's interests, explaining why he's doing nothing?"

"For example, if Hacker created the Investigator position, what do you think he's trying to accomplish?" Zhang Qiu continued. "We know Hacker loves using reform to showcase his achievements. So this Investigator role, as the paper says, is merely groundwork for his future reforms."

"Then Arnold should cooperate with him," Harry questioned.

"Ah, right—no matter how Hogwarts changes, it won't touch Arnold's interests, so he's not deliberately slacking off out of defiance. He must have some reason preventing him from acting—" Zhang Qiu quickly found a new explanation. "Yes—it must be that Snape doesn't want Hacker meddling here. Under Snape's opposition, the original reform plan became this watered-down Investigator role."

"But I don't think Snape would strongly oppose it," Harry shook his head. "If the Ministry could find a way to ease his workload, I think he'd welcome it."

"If Snape just wanted things easier, he could simply hire new teachers—he has that authority," Zhang Qiu narrowed her eyes. "This Investigator position might be the opposite: Snape is using the Ministry to remove one or even several teachers."

"Yes," Harry nodded gravely. "Compared to direct hiring, the Investigator focuses on reviewing existing faculty. But current professors have no grudge against the Ministry or Arnold—so the only possible motive is that Snape wants to sideline someone. But who…?"

"Snape isn't popular, but he's not hated either. I can't imagine who he dislikes," Zhang Qiu shrugged. "Unless he plans to replace key positions with his own people—but Snape, I mean, does he even have loyal allies?"

"Or there's another possibility: the Investigator position isn't a real move—just a setup, a test," Harry stroked his chin. "Like when you took Hermione to the photo studio without telling her about Cassandra. The Ministry or Snape has placed this Investigator here—but hasn't launched an investigation yet."

"It's a warning to certain professors," Harry nodded thoughtfully. "To make them know: if they overstep, Snape has the power to fire them."

"Then the professor being warned is undoubtedly Professor Hype," Zhang Qiu paused. "We all know he's paid in dollars, but since Anglo-American relations are still cooperative, this is just a mild warning."

"You said Anglo-American relations are still cooperative. But what if, since there's Hype being paid in dollars, there's another professor being paid in rubles?" Harry's thoughts opened again. "Perhaps the Investigator is meant to warn that professor—or to uncover him."

"One thing to note: Arnold is elderly. If they truly intended to launch some thrilling spy-hunting operations," Zhang Qiu smiled, "they wouldn't have chosen him as Investigator."