HP: Too Late, System! I’m Already the DADA Professor

Harry looked utterly aggrieved, his voice thick with frustration.

"But why? I mean, how can there possibly be so much to copy out? I get it with Professor McGonagall—she's our Head of House. And I know Snape can't stand me, so that makes sense, too. But, Professor, why you and Professor Sprout?"

Beside him, Ron wore the same look of utter despair, nodding furiously as he stared at Douglas.

Douglas raised his brows in mock surprise.

"Because I'm the one who suggested it, of course! Naturally, my class has to be included. As for Professor Sprout—don't you know the Whomping Willow you crashed into was planted by her own hand?"

At that, Harry and Ron could only clench their fists and silently howl at the heavens, This is impossible!

Douglas just shrugged, trying to sound encouraging.

"It's really not that hard. If you use the time other people spend sleeping or having fun to study, you'll probably finish your detention before the end of the year. For example, if you get up a couple hours early—start studying at six, go till eight—that's two extra hours right there. After classes, finish your homework early, then study straight through till midnight. That's another five or six hours. Add it up, and you're basically squeezing in an extra day's worth of studying every single day. Little by little, a whole year's worth of work becomes two. And look at Fred and George—they have to come to my office every night for study and copying. You two only have to come in on weekend evenings. Compared to them, you've got it easy!"

Harry perked up, trying to see the bright side.

"I've already memorized the first section of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and I've started on the second. Professor, can I copy it section by section?"

Douglas nodded.

"Of course! As long as you're not copying it line by line, anything else is fine."

Harry and Ron blinked, then exchanged glances. With Fred and George as a comparison, their punishment suddenly didn't seem so bad.

Off to the side, Hermione and Hagrid shook their heads in unison, pity radiating from their eyes.

Eventually, Douglas led the three students back to the castle.

On the way, Ron said, brimming with confidence,

"Harry, I bet we'll finish our detention before Fred and George do. Then we'll be able to gloat for ages!"

Harry shot a sidelong glance at Douglas, then muttered,

"They only have to memorize one subject. We have to do four."

Ron looked at him in surprise, then jabbed a finger at Hermione.

"But we've got Hermione! She's so clever, she must know ways to memorize faster. How else could she have learned all the subjects before term even started?"

Harry's eyes lit up with hope.

As they passed the Quidditch pitch, Douglas noticed the Ravenclaw team practicing on the field. Curious, he asked,

"Don't you have Quidditch practice today? I didn't see Wood at the practical classroom this morning."

Ron stepped forward, still fuming, to explain. Earlier, they'd only mentioned the incident with Malfoy's insults, forgetting to say what started it all.

After listening, Douglas stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"So, Lucius Malfoy's father sponsored the Slytherin team with a whole batch of Nimbus 2001s, and you lot are still using Cleansweep Fives?"

Ron bristled.

"Actually, the rest of us use Cleansweep Fives, but Harry's got a Nimbus 2000. Hmph! Quidditch is about skill, not broomsticks."

Hermione sniffed, her tone sharp.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. Every single player earned their place on merit."

Ron patted Hermione's shoulder, then pointed at Harry with pride.

"Don't worry, Hermione. Harry will turn the Malfoys' sponsorship into a joke!"

Douglas couldn't help smacking his lips. He'd had a decent knack for flying back in the day, but never that wild sporting passion. Maybe that was why he'd never paid much attention to his own House team. As far as he could recall, Hufflepuff had never actually won the House Cup.

"Harry, do you know how much a Nimbus 2001 costs?"

Before Harry could answer, Ron jumped in,

"Two thousand Galleons! I saw it in a shop window once. Professor, are you thinking of sponsoring the school with Nimbus 2001s too? Ha! Then everyone would be on par with the Slytherin team. I bet Malfoy's face would be priceless!"

When Douglas heard it was only two thousand Galleons, he thought it sounded perfectly affordable. With his current finances, buying seven would be a breeze.

Whack!

"Ow!"

Douglas gave Ron a flick to the forehead.

"I'm a Hufflepuff, you hear me? If I sponsor anyone, it'll be Hufflepuff. What is it with the Weasleys—always trying to recruit for Gryffindor? And I never said I'd definitely sponsor anything. Two thousand Galleons isn't pocket change—the Malfoys really do have money. And don't you dare spread rumors about me sponsoring the team. If everyone starts expecting it and I don't come through, I promise your detention will last forever!"

Despite his words, Douglas had already made up his mind—he was definitely going to sponsor. He'd need to discuss it with Professor Sprout first. Maybe he could even wrangle himself a "Most Distinguished Alumni" plaque or something. After all, the most famous Hufflepuff in recent years was Newt Scamander, author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Back in the castle, Douglas sent Hermione off to supervise Harry's memorization, then led Ron toward Professor McGonagall's office.

Behind her desk, Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses and fixed Douglas with a stern look.

"Professor Holmes, may I ask what you did to Mr. Creevey? I saw him come running back in a panic, and he looked even more terrified when your name was mentioned."

Douglas widened his eyes in innocent confusion.

"Professor McGonagall, I didn't do a thing! It was Harry who scared the poor boy—at Hagrid's hut. Ron was there too, if you don't believe me, ask him—"

He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing how ridiculous it was to be nervous in front of Professor McGonagall when he wasn't even a student anymore. He straightened up, only to remember she was now his boss—and he was still just a trainee. Best to play it safe.

He gave Professor McGonagall a sheepish grin.

She raised an eyebrow, ignoring Douglas completely, and turned to Ron with a serious tone.

"I take it Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter have been informed about their detention?"

Ron nodded,

"Don't worry, Professor. Harry and I will definitely finish before Fred and George—we'll copy everything out in record time!"

Professor McGonagall was clearly surprised by Ron's confidence, but she didn't dampen his rare enthusiasm. Blind optimism or not, at least the Gryffindor spirit was alive and well—meeting challenges head-on, courage and all.

Douglas quickly added,

"Professor McGonagall, I'd like to request access to the Floo to Diagon Alley. You know, Mr. Weasley's wand was damaged in that accident. When I tried to repair it, there was a… tiny mishap, and the wand ended up in pieces. So… would that be all right?"

Professor McGonagall gave him a frosty look.

"Come back in an hour. I need to send a letter to the Floo Network Authority at the Ministry of Magic."

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

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