Life is hard, even toads sigh.
Faced with the aggressive new Headmaster, Umbridge knew staying would only bring further humiliation. She simply picked up her books and turned to leave.
She had no desire to see Lawrence's smug face either - she simply wouldn't teach this class anymore.
This was the perfect opportunity to conduct surprise inspections of other professors' lessons.
As Senior Inquisitor, she might not have the authority to expel students, but couldn't she fire professors?
[Congratulations, host, achievement 'Expelling a Professor' completed. Reward: one thousand points.]
Wayne nodded to himself, counting this as an unexpected gain.
After Umbridge left, Justin Finch-Fletchley, being closest to the door, quietly opened it a crack, peered out, then pulled his head back and gave everyone a confirming nod.
Immediately, the classroom erupted in cheers and desk-pounding.
Even many Slytherins showed smiles and joined in.
Though Umbridge had treated them well and constantly tried to win over Slytherin, that didn't mean they enjoyed these boring lessons every day.
Blaise Zabini scurried over to Wayne like a lackey: "Wise decision, Headmaster. Umbridge and her nonsense theories are completely useless, just wasting our precious OWL year. You should have dismissed her long ago."
Ever since his 'eight divorces' mother had visited the school that one time, Zabini had completely reformed.
Not only had he stopped opposing Wayne, but he'd also been gathering intelligence on Slytherin.
He secretly recorded who was getting close to Umbridge and who spoke ill of Wayne behind his back, reporting regularly.
Seeing him so compliant, Wayne lost any intention of holding grudges.
Only Malfoy was grinding his teeth in frustration - wasn't this bastard stealing his position as top sycophant?
"Wayne, what are we doing this lesson?" Susan Bones asked, with others turning to look as well.
"Do whatever you want. I'll find a substitute teacher in the coming days."
"What about Umbridge?" someone asked.
Wayne sneered: "Madam Umbridge's teaching standards clearly can't keep pace with Hogwarts students' progress. I'll file a complaint with the Ministry of Magic to have her dismissed and investigate her for academic fraud."
"Academic fraud?" Hannah asked curiously. "What did she fake?"
Facing everyone's curious gazes, Wayne explained: "Back in August, Umbridge published numerous educational papers in academic journals, packaging herself as an education expert to secure the professor position."
"As you all know, these days anyone can call themselves an 'expert' and spout nonsense."
"I suspect those papers were either plagiarised or ghostwritten."
After hearing this, everyone looked surprised.
The double period passed with self-study. Some students used the time to catch up on homework in other subjects, while others simply chatted with friends.
Many suggested to Wayne that he should invite Mrs Weasley back.
In just one month, Mrs Weasley had become the most popular professor for this subject in recent years, with many students fondly remembering her desserts and teaching methods.
Wayne didn't refuse, saying he would contact Mrs Weasley.
But whether it would succeed still depended on her own will.
Leaving the classroom, the students headed downstairs towards the Great Hall, while Wayne went upwards, returning to Dumb... no, to his own office.
"Lawrence boy, how does it feel on your first day as Headmaster? Don't you feel inadequate for the position?"
The moment he entered, Wayne heard a teasing voice.
Without even turning around, he knew no one but Phineas could utter such provoking words.
A series of clattering sounds came from the portrait frame, accompanied by Phineas's cries of pain. Wayne sat in the soft chair, lightly tapped the desktop, and a pot of hot tea appeared. He slowly savoured it.
Only after the successive Hufflepuff Headmasters had beaten Phineas black and blue did he finally speak.
"Phineas, do you remember our agreement?"
"You mean finding a girlfriend for Sirius?" Phineas asked indistinctly.
"No, from my second year." Wayne smiled: "I said that once I became Headmaster, I would hang your portrait in the boys' lavatory."
The assembly of Headmaster portraits first stared blankly, then burst into uproarious laughter.
"That's right! I remember it!"
"Lawrence boy truly lives up to his noble upbringing - a man of his word. I have high hopes for you!"
"Hurry up and move this chatterbox away. I'm tired of beating him up."
All the Headmasters were ganging up on Phineas. Only Phineas gave a start, his figure flickering, all the injuries from the beating instantly vanishing as he hurriedly said:
"Lawrence, didn't I back down back then? Why are you still holding onto this matter?"
"Besides, you're not the official Headmaster now, are you? Isn't it just like when you were in third year, watching over the school for Dumbledore?"
"Who says I'm not official?" Wayne spoke lightly: "Once I become Headmaster, even if Dumbledore returns, even if the four founders revive, this school is under my authority."
The Headmasters' uproarious laughter abruptly ceased. The bearded Headmaster looked at the youth with doubt and uncertainty: "Wayne, are you serious?"
"Of course." Wayne stated with absolute certainty: "You see, the gargoyle has acknowledged my identity as Headmaster, and the entire castle has accepted me."
"As long as I make no mistakes and the school doesn't abandon me, what reason is there for me to step down and yield to Dumbledore?"
Wayne wasn't speaking recklessly, but stating facts.
Rather than the Ministry of Magic choosing the Headmaster, it was more accurate to say this castle selected a suitable administrator.
The Ministry's decrees were merely for external appearance, but without the school's recognition, even someone acknowledged by the Ministry couldn't truly inherit this castle.
For example, in the original storyline, Umbridge, though she received the appointment, could manage students only through authority, unable even to pass the gargoyle's test.
Even after driving out Dumbledore, she could still only handle official business in her own office.
But Wayne was different. When Dumbledore himself chose to leave the school, he had already gained the castle's recognition.
"You say you've become the true Headmaster?" Phineas clearly didn't believe it.
"Peeves, correct?"
After Wayne spoke, all the Headmasters' expressions changed. Phineas even cried out in dismay: "Shit, it's actually true? Has the school gone mad?"
If other professors had seen their reactions, they would have found it utterly bizarre.
What's the matter with Peeves? Isn't he just a mischievous ghost? Why such agitation?
But only those who had served as Headmaster knew - Peeves was the school's final line of defence. Only by truly becoming Headmaster could one learn this secret.
Peeves had existed since the school's founding. In the eyes of students and teachers, he was merely a slightly special ghost, because unlike others, he could interact with physical objects.
But in truth, Peeves wasn't a real ghost at all. He was formed from the dissipated magical power of young wizards, combined with and transformed by the castle's unique magic.
Since young wizards tended to be mischievous, this aspect was particularly strong in his personality.
Even Peeves himself didn't know that when the school faced an unstoppable crisis, the Headmaster could sacrifice him to release immense magical power.
Hundreds of young wizards, accumulating over thousands of years - the strength of this power was something Wayne didn't want to experience even now.
It was at this moment that the former Headmasters truly acknowledged Wayne's identity.
Even Phineas reluctantly bowed his head.
These portraits existed solely to serve the Headmaster.
"Speaking of which, should we add another portrait of Dumbledore to hang on the wall?" Wayne propped his chin, suddenly asking.
"No need to rush," said Dilys Derwent with a mix of amusement and exasperation. He was really determined to cement Dumbledore's status as former Headmaster.
"Alright then, we'll discuss it when he returns next time," Wayne said with some regret. But with old Dumbledore not here now, creating a portrait wouldn't be easy anyway.
After a simple dinner, Wayne began making a list of items to purchase for decorating his office.
There was a bedroom upstairs, but the contents were too personal. Since he had his own place to stay, he didn't plan to clear out Dumbledore's belongings from there.
...
After completing these tasks, Wayne finally turned his thoughts to the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor position.
To be honest, Dumbledore's most challenging task every year had been finding a brave professor for this subject - suitability didn't matter as long as someone would take the position.
Voldemort had sought the Defence Against the Dark Arts professorship twice. The first time was when he graduated at eighteen.
The second time was thirty years later, when Tom returned from his travels abroad as the returned dragon king, having become Voldemort.
Using the job application as a pretext, he came to Hogwarts and hid Ravenclaw's Diadem in the Room of Requirement, though his job application was genuine.
Only after being rejected by Dumbledore again did he become enraged and place the curse on the position.
Since then, Defence Against the Dark Arts professors had become expendable, with clear consequences - the British wizarding community had been declining generation after generation.
High-level combat capability wasn't greatly affected, as talented and self-motivated students would always emerge, with professors providing minimal help.
But ordinary people...
Just look at the Ministry of Magic employees who couldn't even properly cast the Shield Charm.
Wayne estimated that when Fudge sent Umbridge to take the teaching position, Dumbledore's first reaction probably wasn't anger, but relief.
This really solved a major problem for him.
Wayne didn't want to suffer like Dumbledore, having to worry about professor appointments every year, so the curse issue absolutely had to be resolved.
Easier said than done.
Voldemort's research into names had reached the pinnacle of mastery. Not only had he enchanted his own name to sense whenever someone spoke it, forcing people to use numerous alternative titles, but the curse on the Defence Against the Dark Arts position operated on a similar principle.
It wasn't as simple as just changing the course name to break the curse - did people really take Dumbledore for a fool?
As long as the teaching content remained similar, the curse's influence was inevitable.
This was why the curse had persisted for over thirty years. If it were easily solvable, Dumbledore would have dealt with it long ago.
After pondering for some time, Wayne came up with two potential solutions.
The first was the most traditional approach: eliminate Voldemort, and the curse would break along with him.
The second... was somewhat more brutal.
Only magic could counter magic.
Only Dark Magic could counter Dark Magic...
Wayne didn't know if Dumbledore had ever considered this method, but he was certain that even if the old Headmaster had thought of it, he would never employ it.
Blood sacrifice.
Using an even more powerful Dark Magic curse to counteract Voldemort's curse - essentially fighting poison with poison.
As for the candidate for this blood sacrifice...
Professor Umbridge, it's time for you to serve your final purpose.
Wayne revealed a warm smile, but the various Headmasters secretly observing him all felt a chill run down their spines.
This boy... what mischief is he brewing now?
Phineas particularly tried to make himself inconspicuous, fearing Lawrence might notice him and hang his portrait in the boys' lavatory.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside as the oak door burst open. Astoria came running in on her short legs, completely out of breath.
"It's... It's terrible!"
"Wayne, Umbridge and Professor Firenze are having a huge confrontation! Professor Firenze has even drawn his bow! Professor McGonagall is trying to control the situation - you need to come quickly."
"Don't panic, have some water first." Wayne first gave the rich young lady a drink to help her catch her breath, then asked: "How did these two start arguing?"
"I'm not entirely sure." The girl shook her head blankly. "When I arrived, I heard Umbridge shouting insults at Professor Firenze and the Centaur tribes. Then Professor McGonagall told me to come find you."
"Since Professor McGonagall is there, there's no need to rush. Wait here for me - I'll be back in a moment."
After speaking, Wayne had the wealthy young lady rest on the sofa while he headed down to the first floor.
Originally, he had thought the conflict between Umbridge and Firenze wouldn't erupt so quickly.
But since it had already happened, he might as well use this opportunity to make that toad permanently exit the stage.