"HP: Too Late, System!"Chapter 328: Director of Academic Affairs (Not a Single Person Guessed Right)
As soon as Douglas stepped through the door, a cheerful voice rang out:
"Douglas, about time you showed up!"
He looked up to see Sirius Black beaming from behind the desk, striding forward with his usual infectious energy.
Douglas scanned the room, taking in the sight of Sirius in all his newfound authority, and arched an eyebrow. "Did you move the Black family patriarch's study in here?"
Sirius flopped onto the sofa beside the bookcase with a dismissive wave. "It was just collecting dust back there anyway. Who knows when it'd end up overrun by Doxies or Bundimuns. At least moving it here gives poor old Kreacher a break."
The story of how Sirius became Hogwarts' very first Director of Academic Affairs was, as Douglas well knew, a tale in itself.
After a certain incident involving Douglas, Headmaster Dumbledore—that wise and compassionate elder—had resolved to dedicate the remainder of his years fully to education, determined to usher in a new era of vitality for Hogwarts.
And as Dumbledore's most trusted right-hand man, Douglas naturally shared in his professor's sense of urgency and vision. After much contemplation, he'd proposed the creation of an Academic Affairs Office.
Hogwarts, for all its ancient glory and storied tradition, was beginning to show cracks in its educational system as the times changed. Professors not only had to teach complex magical theory and spellwork, but were also saddled with a mountain of administrative chores: scheduling classes, organizing exams, ordering textbooks, assigning classrooms, patrolling the grounds, handing out detentions, enforcing discipline—the list went on. Even with the help of Prefects and the student council, it was often overwhelming.
The result? Professors barely had time to properly prepare lessons, falling back on rote routines rather than tailoring their teaching to students' needs.
Douglas understood: only by freeing the professors from these endless distractions could Hogwarts' education truly flourish. And if Hogwarts improved, so too would the magical world—the next generation of witches and wizards would be stronger, and the pool of magical talent deeper than ever.
There was another problem, too. Since the founding of the four houses—Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw—students had always grown up in their own little worlds. Healthy competition was fine, but the rift between houses, especially Gryffindor and Slytherin, had become almost hereditary, threatening the harmony and stability of the wizarding world.
What was missing was a challenge that united all students, something to bring them together—besides the occasional chaos caused by Peeves, there was little at Hogwarts to foster true inter-house cooperation.
After all, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Give the students a common "enemy," and they'd naturally cross house lines and work together. It was the perfect way to build teamwork and break down barriers.
That's why the Academic Affairs Office, in Douglas's mind, was designed as the students' "imaginary adversary"—something to pit their wits and energy against, instead of squabbling endlessly with other houses.
Choosing Sirius to run the show was no accident, either. Both Dumbledore and Douglas had thought it through. Sirius was not only a steadfast supporter—"one of us"—but also carried the formidable weight of the Black family name. His influence in the wizarding world was unmatched.
And when it came to school reforms, nothing got done without the Board of Governors' approval. Most of those old fossils hailed from traditional pure-blood families, stubborn and set in their ways. Persuading them to budge was no easy feat—but with Sirius's family prestige and vast network, he could open doors that would otherwise remain firmly shut, smoothing the way for change. He could even shield Hogwarts from the inevitable complaints of parents.
There was another crucial benefit: once running, the Academic Affairs Office would need lots of staff, creating jobs for talented, ambitious witches and wizards. Sirius had even made a generous donation to fund these new positions, ensuring competitive salaries and attracting the best to help build Hogwarts' future. Everyone won.
Douglas cast a glance at the photographs on the desk and reminded Sirius:
"Don't forget, the Academic Affairs Office won't officially launch until next term. This new exam system is just a trial run. Right now, I'm the one taking all the heat for you. There's less than a month till summer break—use this time to meet with the Heads of House, get a feel for how things work around here. Ask them to recommend some soon-to-graduate students who want to stay on; they can help share the workload later. And for Merlin's sake, don't go announcing your identity to the students just yet. If they decide to make trouble for the Academic Affairs Office and you end up fighting alone, the whole thing could collapse before it even gets started."
Sirius frowned, remembering the recent meeting in Dumbledore's office when the Academic Affairs Office was formally established.
The headmaster's office glowed with the warmth of a crackling fire, ancient portraits lining the walls. The faces of past headmasters flickered in the shifting light, as if silently eavesdropping on the momentous announcement.
Sirius stood tall, black hair tousled as ever, his heart surging with ambition at being named the first Director of Academic Affairs.
The office door swung open with a whisper, and Professor Snape swept in, his trademark scowl in place, black robes trailing across the floor with a soft, menacing hiss.
The moment he entered, his eyes locked onto Sirius with a glare sharpened by years of resentment and disdain. When he heard Dumbledore announce Sirius's appointment, Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"Hmph," Snape snorted, his voice dripping with frost. "Letting him run the Academic Affairs Office? Hogwarts education is doomed."
Anger flashed in Sirius's eyes, but remembering his promise to Dumbledore not to stir up trouble, he kept his temper in check—though his reply was edged with defiance.
"Snape, if you've got a problem, spit it out. Don't just stand there sniping. The Academic Affairs Office is here to make Hogwarts better, and I'll give it everything I've got."
Snape tilted his head back, gaze sliding past Sirius to Dumbledore. "Headmaster, do you really believe he's fit for this? Reckless, impulsive—he and Potter were always causing chaos in their school days. The Academic Affairs Office is about detail, precision, and the foundation of Hogwarts education. How can you trust him with that?"
Sirius's fists clenched as he stepped forward. "Snivellus—"
Snape's wand was out in a heartbeat, but before he could even aim it, Dumbledore, Douglas, and the other three Heads of House raised their wands together. A massively reinforced Protego barrier sprang up, separating the two men before sparks could fly.
Snape shot Douglas a venomous look. Douglas just shrugged—what could he do? Snape was still his professor, after all.
Douglas offered, "Professor, the Academic Affairs Office serves all four houses. If you're worried Sirius will play favorites or target Slytherin, why not assign some Slytherin students to the office? That way, you'll know he can't work against your house behind your back."
"Douglas!" Professor Sprout called out in protest.
Professor McGonagall addressed Sirius with grave formality: "So long as you can guarantee fairness and justice for every student at Hogwarts, I have no objection to this decision. After all, with your plans, it's we Heads of House who stand to benefit most from the Academic Affairs Office."
PS: Magical Creatures Supplement
Doxy (Ministry of Magic Classification: XXX) Origin & Distribution: Doxies are found worldwide. Appearance: At rest, a Doxy looks like a slightly green-tinged fungus with eyes; when startled, it scurries off on countless thin legs. Habits: They thrive under floorboards and behind baseboards, infesting homes in swarms and feeding on dust. When rot and foul smells appear, so do Doxies. Abilities & Uses: Doxies secrete a substance that corrodes building foundations. A Scouring Charm can handle a few, but if they get out of hand, contact the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures' Pest Advisory Board before your house collapses. Notes: Diluted Doxy secretions are used in some magical cleaning products.
Bundimun (Ministry of Magic Classification: XXX) Origin & Distribution: Found worldwide. Appearance: At rest, looks like a patch of slightly greenish fungus with eyes; when disturbed, it scuttles away on numerous legs. Habits: Infests homes, feeds on dust, and can damage building foundations with its secretions. Notes: See above for magical cleaning product use.
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