Chapter 136: The Debut of Professor Ma Jun

Upon entering Hogwarts Castle, one is greeted by the Great Hall, where students dine at four long tables, one for each house. The sheer length of these tables is truly astonishing. The ceiling of the Great Hall is quite fascinating; enchanted to mimic the sky, it shifts and changes at will.

After taking a moment to admire the surroundings, Ma Jun approached the faculty seats at the front to greet his colleagues. Below, senior students were trickling in, everyone preparing to welcome the newcomers and celebrate the start-of-term feast. Although Ma Jun did not understand why Professor Snape was so desperately eager to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, he could clearly perceive the man's resolve. When Dumbledore introduced him, that perpetually grim-faced man made no effort to conceal his jealousy.

"Hello, Professor Ma Jun!"

The other professors, including McGonagall, Flitwick, and Dumbledore himself, welcomed Ma Jun warmly. Taking advantage of the time before the ceremony began, Ma Jun whispered to Dumbledore about Harry. From the old fox's expression, it was clear that he already knew the whereabouts of Harry and Ron. He nodded and replied, "I understand. Thank you for the reminder. Perhaps we shall see Harry after the opening ceremony concludes."

"I certainly hope so," Ma Jun remarked, noncommittally.

The four long tables filled with more and more students, who gathered by their respective houses, creating a sea of people that seemed to stretch on forever. Soon, the opening ceremony commenced. This was a routine affair for both the professors and the students, all of whom could recite the proceedings by heart. With no particularly famous students like Harry joining this year, the ceremony felt rather mundane.

Yet, Ma Jun watched with genuine interest, observing the tattered Sorting Hat as it sang its exaggerated song and sorted the new students.

"Professor Flitwick, what exactly does the Sorting Hat rely on to sort the students?" Ma Jun asked, leaning toward the professor beside him. "Can it probe into a student's mind?"

"To some extent..." Flitwick replied uncertainly. "It is a relic left by the founders of the school. The Sorting Hat is likely not powerful enough to delve into one's mind without reservation, but it can detect certain things..."

"So, if a person has mastered Occlumency, the Sorting Hat would be unable to sort them?" Ma Jun asked curiously.

"For younger students, even if they have learned it, their strength is usually insufficient, so they would still be detected," Flitwick explained.

As the Sorting Hat swiftly assigned each new student to their appropriate house, the senior students offered them a warm welcome whenever a new member joined their table.

Once the sorting ended, Headmaster Dumbledore stood to address the assembly. He began with a speech welcoming the new students—a task he performed every year, though he always tried to vary his delivery, which was no easy feat.

"This year, we are honored to welcome a new professor..." Dumbledore said, turning toward Ma Jun. "He is Professor Ma Jun, who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts! Let us welcome him."

Ma Jun stood, offered a polite smile to the students, nodded, and sat back down. Gryffindor, the most rowdy of the houses, responded with enthusiastic applause, while the other houses offered a modicum of courtesy with scattered clapping.

Without further ado, Dumbledore announced the start of the feast. Instantly, all manner of delicious food appeared on the students' and professors' tables. Hogwarts was wealthy and lavish, employing a host of house-elves. Ma Jun, having never tasted their cooking, began to eat with great gusto. As he ate, he chatted with the surrounding professors, who were quite curious about him and kept asking about the stories from his travels.

Toward the end of the feast, Snape suddenly rose and departed, as if he had discovered something. By the time he returned, the banquet was nearing its conclusion. He leaned down and whispered into Dumbledore’s ear, "Harry and Ron have been found. They have caused quite a bit of trouble."

"Professor McGonagall, as the Head of Gryffindor House, perhaps you should be the one to deal with these two students?" Dumbledore suggested.

"Of course."

"Has Harry been found? May I go and see?" Ma Jun asked quickly.

Dumbledore did not object. He stood up, announced that the feast was over, and hurried out of the Great Hall with Ma Jun and the others. Halfway there, Hermione and Ron's sister, Ginny, approached and stopped Ma Jun. "Professor, how is Harry?"

Ginny, who had just entered the school this year, had always idolized Harry, to the point where she hadn't even asked about her brother, Ron.

"Don't worry, they are fine!" Ma Jun said with a smile. "You two head back to the common room; they will return shortly."

In Snape's office, the professors found Harry and Ron. The two boys looked disheveled, and Ron had sustained some minor injuries. Unsure of what punishment awaited them, they both wore nervous expressions.

After offering Harry a few words of comfort, Ma Jun chose to remain a bystander, opting not to get involved in the matter. With Dumbledore, who was exceptionally protective of Harry, present, the incident was ultimately downplayed.

As he left, Harry was no longer worried. He congratulated Ma Jun once more and remarked that he couldn't wait to attend the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

"Professor Ma Jun, I hope you have a pleasant first night at Hogwarts!"

Soon after, Dumbledore and McGonagall departed as well. Having no interest in lingering with Snape, Ma Jun headed toward his own quarters. Snape’s office was in the dungeons, much like the man's profession as an undercover agent—the entire environment was dark and gloomy, which made Ma Jun, who favored the light, feel quite uncomfortable.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was on the second floor, and attached to it was an office that also served as Ma Jun's living quarters. The previous professor, Quirrell, had shared his body with Voldemort—a rather morbid thought. The mere idea that his room had once belonged to such a person made Ma Jun feel uneasy.

Fortunately, upon his arrival, he discovered the room had been completely refurbished. It looked nothing like an old, stale chamber, and aside from a few vibrant potted flowers, there were no other decorations. Clearly, the space had been tidied up in anticipation of his arrival.

Standing at the doorway, Ma Jun nodded in satisfaction. He drew his wand and gave it a flick, pulling items from his Qiankun ring and arranging them neatly. Soon, a sofa, a desk, and other furnishings filled the room.

Finally, Ma Jun walked to the narrow window, gazing at the scenery outside while lighting a cigarette. *It's not too late,* he mused to himself. *If I go to the library now, will that old man Dumbledore think I have ulterior motives? Well... I'll take it slow. I'll browse the general section first, and later I can explore the Restricted Section. The school forbids students from going there, but it doesn't forbid professors!*

Hogwarts had a thousand-year history, and its collection of books was incredibly vast. Even the books in the general section would be of great help to him. He could find specific spells and methods for things he wanted to learn, such as Apparition and the Animagus transformation. At the thought of this, he felt a surge of anticipation.