#614 - Three years later (asking for monthly ticket recommendation ticket)

More than three years have passed since the shocking division incident in the German Ministry of Magic, and it is now June 1991.

Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office.

"Albus, are you really determined?" Professor McGonagall, sitting across from the headmaster's desk, looked at the old man in front of her, her right hand involuntarily grabbing a few Fizzing Whizbees from the candy dish in front of her and stuffing them into her mouth.

"Didn't I already ask everyone's opinion at the school staff meeting about this decision? No one objected at that time," Dumbledore, behind the headmaster's desk, pushed up his half-moon spectacles, revealing a gentle smile, "Except for Severus, of course."

"Minerva, you should have heard that not only Durmstrang and Beauxbatons in Europe, but even Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States are considering opening specialized training programs. After several years of verification by the Ministries of Magic of various countries, the training methods recorded in 'Tactical Training' can indeed improve a wizard's 'magical sensitivity'!"

"Hogwarts shouldn't fall behind, should it? After all, the founder of this training method graduated from here," Dumbledore said, stuffing a handful of sweets into his mouth.

"You know that's not what I meant!" McGonagall couldn't help but roll her eyes at Dumbledore for changing the subject. "There's naturally no problem with offering tactical training courses; it's beneficial to the growth of all students. But the problem is, are you really going to invite 'him' back to teach this course in person?"

"What's the problem? I remember you liked him very much when he was at school..." Dumbledore looked at his old friend curiously.

"There's naturally nothing wrong with him as a person. I'm still proud to have taught such an outstanding student to this day." McGonagall couldn't help but raise a smile at the thought of a certain person.

"But the problem is his identity!" McGonagall's expression became serious again. "You should be clear about his reputation in the international wizarding world. Not to mention his recent victory in the 'International Wizarding Dueling Competition.'"

"Even now, he is also a training consultant for Aurors in multiple countries' Ministries of Magic, as well as a supplier of equipment to various countries, a senior researcher at the International Alchemical Research Center, not to mention his identity as the founder of tactical training. In the eyes of outsiders, he is simply another young Dumbledore!"

At this point, McGonagall glanced at Dumbledore with a look of complaint. "Don't blame me for not reminding you, do you think that such a busy person can be invited back to Hogwarts as a professor with just your words? Don't get turned down and lose face."

"Hahaha..." Dumbledore couldn't help but grin when he heard this. "Minerva, it's gratifying to see that you still care about me so much, but your worries are a bit unnecessary."

"It's true that his achievements are very brilliant now. Sometimes even I can't help but sigh at how far this guy has come. But it's precisely because he is good enough that Hogwarts needs him even more."

"Alas..." Dumbledore sighed with some melancholy. "You also know what the Defense Against the Dark Arts class is like at school now. The quality of teaching is always uneven, and new professors are becoming more and more difficult to recruit year after year."

"If this continues, Hogwarts students will inevitably be left behind by other magic schools. As for whether I can truly invite him back, I am confident to a certain extent. I believe the conditions I offer will definitely move him."

"So you're inviting him back not only to serve as a tactical training professor but also to make up for the shortcomings caused by the decline in the quality of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class?" McGonagall nodded thoughtfully. "That is indeed a good way. He has always had a knack for managing students. I still remember the changes he brought to the various houses in the two years before he graduated, although things have gone back to how they were now."

"However..." McGonagall was still somewhat skeptical at this time. "Even so, is it really necessary to invite him back in person? Inviting an Auror who has received his training seems like it could also solve the problem."

Speaking of this, McGonagall looked at Dumbledore with a suspicious look. "Have you heard some strange rumors recently that made you so interested in him, such as a prophecy from a divination professor?"

"Hehe, you don't always have to be prejudiced against Trelawney, Minerva. She's actually doing a good job in her position," Dumbledore said with a shake of his head and a smile.

"Are you saying that she's doing a good job because she always curses students to die every year?" McGonagall couldn't help but roll her eyes. "If that's the reason, I don't think it's necessary to make such a big deal out of it."

"Minerva!" Dumbledore suddenly looked at McGonagall with some seriousness. "That boy will also be entering school next year. He needs him!"

"He..." After hearing Dumbledore's words, McGonagall choked back the words she was about to say and could only shake her head helplessly. "Okay, I can't argue with you. Just make sure you know what you're doing."

After ending this conversation, Professor McGonagall left the headmaster's office thoughtfully.

Dumbledore, however, was in a pensive mood. He slowly strolled to the window, looking at the young wizards who were reveling under the tower as the end of the term approached.

"I'm afraid your good days are coming to an end," Dumbledore looked at these young children with slight remorse, and then remembered McGonagall's mention of rumors earlier. "I'm sorry, Minerva, as I get older, I can't help but become superstitious."

Thinking of this, Dumbledore couldn't help but mutter the prophecy he had heard before, "Will the blessing of the seventh star of the Big Dipper lead the savior to see through the darkness? Will the silver lightning finally cut through the night sky?"

After muttering to himself, Dumbledore's eyes became firm again, and then he disapparated from the spot.

When Dumbledore reappeared, he had already arrived in the bustling Diagon Alley, and then walked straight into the business that always seemed so lively here.

"I finally know why Minerva would use the word 'grand' to describe him," Dumbledore looked up at the Silver Gleam Emporium, which had expanded to over a thousand square meters but was still crammed full of various goods.

Inside the Silver Gleam Emporium, a pleasant, melodious music filled the air, and colorful, magical animal light projections swirled in the sky, as if one had entered a small magical zoo in an instant.

Around him, nearly a hundred wizards smiled, weaving back and forth between counters filled with various strange alchemical gadgets, always discussing the latest small items on the shelves, or crowding around the record counter, carefully selecting their favorite records. Some people could even be seen wandering around the store every day; these guys didn't buy anything, they were purely taking advantage of the music and air conditioning.

"Is this scene just the off-season? It's hard to imagine what it will be like when those little ones are on summer vacation," Dumbledore shook his head with a touch of emotion, and then walked straight to the innermost counter.

Inside the counter of the emporium, a husky wearing a dress was deftly calculating bills for customers, and even the regulars here were always curious as to why his dog paws were so skilled at operating the cash register.

"Hogg," Dumbledore, coming to the counter, was a little reluctant to interrupt the busy dog in front of him, but if he continued to wait, he might have to wait until the emporium closed, so he couldn't help but call out to him.

"Woof?" Hogg, who was busy calculating bills, was startled by the call from the side, and then grinned and said, "It's Headmaster Dumbledore. Why are you here today? I remember school doesn't seem to be on vacation yet. Sorry, I'm too busy here to come out and greet you."

"It's okay." Dumbledore couldn't help but smile at Hogg's cute appearance. "I'm here to see Anduin. Is he in the shop today?"

"You're asking about Master, he's receiving guests on the third floor right now, but they're all people you know. Please wait a moment, I'll have someone take you up to find him." Hogg replied while taking a break from his busy schedule, and then turned his head and roared, "Ibu! Ibu! Where the hell are you running off to?"

"Coming! Coming!" Ibu, who had graduated for more than a year, was still as shy as ever. He was running over from the side in a flustered manner, still holding a box of alchemical amulets in his hand.

"You kid, why are you still so long-winded after being employed for more than a year? Didn't you see Headmaster Dumbledore is here? Don't you know to greet him? Quickly take the headmaster to the office on the third floor, and be quick about it!" At this time, Hogg was pointing fingers at Ibu like a dog, completely in the posture of a superior ordering a subordinate.

"You were the one who told me to go to the warehouse to restock..." Ibu muttered with a grievance on his face, but after Hogg glared at him fiercely, he immediately shut his mouth, then quickly put down the box of goods in his hand and approached Dumbledore.

"Sorry, Headmaster, I wasn't in the shop just now, I didn't see you come in, please come up with me." After apologizing in a panic, Ibu led Dumbledore up the stairs.

"It's okay, you don't have to be so nervous." Seeing the former prefect of the school being ordered around by a dog, Dumbledore couldn't help but find it a little funny. "Ibu, haven't you been working at the Silver Gleam Emporium for almost two years now? Why are you still doing these chores?"

"Hehe... it's not like that." Ibu scratched his head a little embarrassedly. "Actually, I'm usually in charge of the entire operation of the British main store alone. Recently, Anduin and Hogg came back from abroad, so they have time to help out in the store. Don't look at Hogg acting so fierce towards me, that's only because the store is too busy right now, and if it weren't for his help, I would actually be even more flustered in the store."