"Professor McGonagall is awake."
Fleur gently sat up and turned to face the Hogwarts professors.
"Minerva, you have about fifteen minutes, and you should know what happened," Slughorn said, glancing at the quartz clock hanging on the wall.
"Call Filius over," Professor McGonagall said.
Professor Flitwick's voice wasn't as loud now. Even when forcibly suppressed with a spell, it was still manageable, and the spasms in his throat were no longer as severe. However, he still couldn't speak a complete sentence.
Professor McGonagall was in exceptionally good spirits, perhaps as a side effect of the poison, which had concentrated all her energy into a particular period of time.
"Let's discuss the arrangements for what comes next." She sighed, looking deeply troubled.
"Severus is definitely…" Professor McGonagall asked again, still somewhat incredulous.
"The only explanation is that he fled to avoid punishment."
"Okay."
McGonagall closed her eyes. Her mood instantly became heavy.
"Filius, if you want to speak, write it on the parchment."
Flitwick could only stand on the chair and nod, because the moment he opened his mouth, a series of uncontrollable, manic laughs would burst out.
Because of this interference, he now found it difficult even to cast a simple spell completely.
"First is Transfiguration. There are several members of the Order of the Phoenix who could fill in, but they aren't very useful for our activities outside the school right now."
"Maybe Sirius could do it?"
"You can contact him later."
"How is Tonks doing with Charms?"
"Not very well…"
Flitwick shook his head and wrote on the parchment.
"Tonks's spellwork is only so-so."
"Then let's switch them. Sirius is pretty good at most subjects."
"Okay."
Flitwick nodded. Tonks's ability to change her appearance was quite impressive, especially when it came to disguises. She was a natural-born Metamorphmagus.
"What about Defence Against the Dark Arts?"
The group exchanged glances.
Jokingly speaking, one could say that Voldemort's curse on the position was incredibly powerful.
This time, Snape hadn't even lasted half a school year before abandoning the post.
And he had left under the worst possible circumstances.
"What about Moody?"
"His leg hasn't fully healed yet."
"Lupin?"
Flitwick scribbled on the parchment, the words almost dancing across the page.
"He also wants to infiltrate the werewolves as a spy."
"What about Kingsley?"
"He's in charge of the Order of the Phoenix's activities outside the school."
"Then there's no one left."
"What about Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall suddenly asked, mentioning a rather unexpected name.
"Although I don't want to doubt a student, but…"
Flitwick hesitated, his pen hovering over the parchment.
"He's been acting very strangely this semester. He doesn't pay much attention in class and often falls asleep, but there really isn't anything in the textbooks that's difficult for him."
"I just suspect that he and his Head of House may be connected."
Flitwick continued writing, his pen moving rapidly.
Professor McGonagall rubbed her temples in pain.
She also seemed to remember that Snape and Malfoy had left the school together.
"Is something wrong with him?" Slughorn had quite an impression of this outstanding student, especially since Malfoy had turned down an invitation to join his Slug Club.
"Is it related to the hostage situation that caused such a stir a few days ago?"
"Yes. The hostage was the nurse, Miss Delacour."
Professor McGonagall nodded.
"That's quite a coincidence."
Slughorn clapped his hands, only to be glared at by Fleur.
"Keep quiet. This is a hospital."
Her face was filled with coldness.
"Yes, a tragic fate."
"But this student is very talented."
Flitwick nodded and wrote on the parchment.
"Yes."
Slughorn nodded.
"I want to consider him a core member of the Slug Club."
"Are you setting up your little clique again, Horace?"
"Uh… Minerva, your time is limited."
Slughorn quickly changed the subject.
"In short, that student has a lot of problems."
Flitwick left those distrustful words hanging in the air.
"In his second year… he also…"
"He's a good student," Professor McGonagall suddenly said.
"That's what Dumbledore said."
"Call him over. I want to talk to him."
Professor McGonagall's voice carried a hint of helplessness.
"Okay."
Flitwick threw the pen onto the ground and walked out.
A few minutes later, Malfoy arrived at the ward.
Professor McGonagall scrutinized Malfoy with her sharp eyes.
"Professor McGonagall, are you feeling better?" he asked, maintaining the utmost politeness.
"Not bad."
Professor McGonagall nodded.
"Severus probably thought I was too tired, so he gave me some sleeping pills. Perhaps he simply didn't control their effects properly."
She actually still had enough energy to make a joke.
"Dumbledore told me that you are a good student," she suddenly said.
Malfoy narrowed his eyes slightly, finding the statement somewhat amusing.
"Why, Professor? I don't even consider myself trustworthy."
He shrugged, clearly showing his lack of interest.
"Neither do I."
"But I believe in Dumbledore."
"Could you take over the position of your former Head of House?"
"Replace a teacher?"
Malfoy frowned.
This old lady was more creative and daring than he had imagined.
"I'll try."
However, he did not refuse.
After a strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, he finally accepted the old lady's request.
Being a teacher sounded like a pretty good job, didn't it?