After dealing with Karkaroff, Tver's final doubts about Voldemort were finally resolved.
Unfortunately, Dumbledore, having come back to his senses, caught Tver trying to slack off. Faced with an angry Dumbledore, Tver could only be dragged to the Headmaster's office to discuss the restoration of Hogwarts' Protective Enchantments.
"The matter with Voldemort proves only one thing. No matter how many Protective Enchantments are placed around Hogwarts, the ones who ultimately protect the students are still adult wizards like professors and Aurors."
"So," Tver said righteously, slapping the desk, "rather than setting up Protective Enchantments, we should train more young and capable professors and improve their personal benefits."
Dumbledore rolled his eyes and did not answer, much less pay any attention to Tver's little scheme to slack off and get a raise.
"However, Albus," Professor McGonagall said thoughtfully, "now that Hogwarts' location has been exposed, do we still need to hide it?"
"Isn't that simple?" Sirius asked curiously.
"We just need to cast a large number of Muggle-Repelling Charms, Confundus Charms, and the like, and the school can be hidden from muggles again."
"I expected that empty head of yours to be incapable of understanding such a simple problem, but I didn't expect your head to be even simpler than the problem itself." Snape's sarcasm arrived late, but it arrived all the same.
"Hogwarts was never merely hidden in terms of location. It comprehensively shielded itself from all kinds of muggle technological detection."
"To put it plainly, with those protections in place, even if the wizarding world were exposed, Hogwarts itself would have no problem at all."
Sirius shrugged, entirely unconcerned.
For the sake of Snape going alone to face Voldemort in order to save Harry, he could selectively endure him for one day. No, half a day. Forget it, just this once.
"As you said, The Statute of Secrecy has been abolished. Although the official procedures have not yet been carried out, the exposure of the wizarding world is already inevitable."
"So does Hogwarts still need to think about how to hide itself? I imagine that is what Professor McGonagall was really asking."
Professor McGonagall nodded in relief.
For people like Tver, remaining rational under Snape's mockery was normal. But for Sirius, it was truly rare.
On this point, Tver had no choice but to step forward.
"Although I support showing the wizarding world to the public, everyone, because of the publication of the Harry Potter series, curiosity about Hogwarts around the world will absolutely rise to a level you can hardly imagine."
Just thinking about it was enough. If children all over the world learned that Hogwarts truly existed here, then all of Scotland would probably be occupied by enthusiastic fans.
"So, including other parts of the wizarding world, openness is the trend, but appropriate concealment is also very necessary..."
"Exactly right!"
Tver's words seemed to flip some sort of switch. Dumbledore immediately perked up, and Tver sensed that something was wrong.
"In that case, I'll leave this work to you, Tver."
Tver widened his eyes, looking at the delighted Dumbledore and the others, whose expressions were full of meaning.
Why did it feel as if he had fallen into a trap?
And after handing the task to him, these people very skillfully began discussing how to prepare the students for their final exams.
Yes. Even though they had gone through a great battle, and even though they had performed exceptionally well in that battle, it still did not change their identity as students.
And students were destined to take final exams.
At that thought, Tver could not help showing a satisfied smile.
Although he had been tricked, the moment he thought of the students being even more unlucky than him, he instantly stopped caring about those small details.
At worst, he would turn Hogwarts into an amusement park and have Dumbledore collect the tickets.
Still, no matter how much they cared about the students' exams, that was a matter for later.
At this wonderful moment after the war's end, Dumbledore naturally would not be so cruel as to ruin the students' good mood.
On the contrary, once the Great Hall had been repaired, he immediately announced a grand banquet to commemorate the victory of the war, the hard-fought efforts of all teachers and students, and the historic moment of The Statute of Secrecy's abolition.
So after discussing matters until evening, when it was nearly time for the banquet, Dumbledore led the professors to the Great Hall.
"By the way, Tver." Professor McGonagall pulled Tver aside and whispered to him.
"Now that The Statute of Secrecy has been abolished, there will certainly be a great deal of work to do afterward, but what about you? What do you plan to do next?"
She knew Tver too well. In the past, there had not been many people to help him. Or rather, compared with what he had to do, there were too few people who could help.
But now, with The Statute of Secrecy abolished, the entire wizarding world's focus would follow in the footsteps of Tver and Dumbledore.
Given such a good opportunity, she was certain that Tver would take the chance to throw the work to his subordinates.
"What do you mean?" Tver did not quite understand Professor McGonagall's thinking.
Delegating work was a given, but from the way Professor McGonagall spoke, there was always a hint of forcing him into service.
Thinking that, Tver could not help becoming cautious.
"Your teaching position, of course," Professor McGonagall said as if it were obvious. "Karkaroff will most likely be going to Azkaban. What about you? Will you return to the school next academic year and continue teaching the students?"
So that was it.
Tver suddenly understood.
"That should be fine. Most of the work involved in abolishing The Statute of Secrecy is trivial anyway. At worst, it can be handed over to Babajide and the Wizarding Confederation..."
"In fact, there is another candidate for Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts professor," Snape suddenly said.
Not only did he startle Tver and Professor McGonagall, even Sirius and Dumbledore, who had been walking ahead discussing Harry, turned back in surprise.
"Ahem. I mean, if you paid any attention to the other professors at the school, you would know that Professor Slughorn has decided to remain at Hogwarts and continue teaching."
"Then... what about you?" Sirius asked foolishly.
Snape immediately pulled out a smile that was clearly meant to be gentle, but on his face, it looked terrifying.
"Of course I will take over the Defence Against the Dark Arts position."
Those words were even more terrifying than his smile.
"Who are you? What exactly are you planning by disguising yourself as Snape?" Sirius immediately drew his wand and shouted from the entrance of the Great Hall.
Seeing the curious little faces peering over from inside the Great Hall, Snape's face instantly turned cold. Or rather, it returned to its usual state.
"If even a simple-minded idiot like you can teach this subject, why can't I?"
"That feels right." Sirius put away his wand in satisfaction.
But the surprise on Dumbledore's face had not faded.
He looked at Tver, then at Snape. Seeing that the students' curiosity was about to overflow, he finally said with some hesitation, "We'll discuss it when the time comes, but Severus is indeed quite suitable."
To be honest, for this position, aside from Tver, he truly could not think of anyone more suitable than Snape.