Sherlock was completely stunned by Professor McGonagall's words.
He never imagined that the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts would actually fall to him.
Let's set aside whether there was a confirmed candidate for this year's position.
Even if there wasn't, with the original owner's problematic personality, it was unthinkable that he would be chosen!
He was full of issues himself—how could he possibly teach students effectively?
The shock Sherlock felt didn't go unnoticed by Professor McGonagall.
However, she assumed that his reaction was exactly what it should be.
After all, Sherlock had applied for this position for three years, only to be turned down each time by Dumbledore.
Even when he came back to Hogwarts three months ago, he didn't get a satisfactory response.
Now, though, he was suddenly handed a letter of appointment. If he wasn't surprised, it would have been odd.
"I know you're surprised," Professor McGonagall began, explaining. "Three months ago, after hearing about Quirrell's accident, you went to Dumbledore to apply for the job. Dumbledore did have another candidate for Defense, and the person had agreed to the position."
Sherlock stared at her, still processing, before asking hesitantly, "So, the professor who had already been confirmed for the new semester… there's been an issue?"
Professor McGonagall nodded, continuing.
"That's right. The professor who was appointed was Gilderoy Lockhart. A month ago, he was exposed as a fraud. He used a memory charm to steal the experiences of other wizarding adventurers, falsely claiming their stories as his own. He made a fortune writing about these fabricated adventures, which turned him into a star in the wizarding world."
"However, not long ago, one of his victims exposed the truth. Lockhart has now been arrested by the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic. In two days, the Wizengamot will hold a trial for him in the wizarding court."
"Though the official verdict hasn't been declared yet, the evidence is overwhelming. His future is looking bleak, and he's likely headed for Azkaban."
With the new semester less than two months away, Dumbledore, faced with a sudden vacancy, concluded that only you could fill this position."
Despite McGonagall's diplomatic explanation, Sherlock understood that Dumbledore's decision to appoint him as the new professor was born out of necessity.
With the start of the school year fast approaching, and the professor who had been confirmed before now unavailable, the classes couldn't just be skipped.
So, among the few remaining candidates, Sherlock was the one chosen—someone who had long aspired to this very position.
While Sherlock was far from perfect, he did possess solid knowledge of magic. After all, it had been this knowledge that allowed him to be accepted into the Auror Command, an elite and highly selective department in the Ministry of Magic.
But despite the recognition, Sherlock, now in a new body, was bewildered.
Not only did he not know half of the magic necessary, but he was also in no position to teach students.
There was a huge issue with the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position.
Who would dare to take up such a role?
Even Sherlock, someone who had never read the original book or seen the movies, knew the infamous reputation of the Defense professor role—it had been filled by seven different professors in seven books!
But refusing the offer was not an option.
The original owner's desperate attempts to return to Hogwarts and his annual harassment of Dumbledore had effectively sealed his fate.
Now, Sherlock couldn't come up with a good excuse to turn down this offer.
Professor McGonagall never expected that Sherlock would refuse the position. She handed him the appointment letter and a train ticket, then issued a few instructions.
"You need to finalize the textbooks for your class and send me the list by owl before August. If you plan to take the Hogwarts Express, you can use this ticket to board the train on the first day of school."
After delivering these words, Professor McGonagall rose from her seat, drawing out her wand at the same time.
Before leaving, she smiled and said, "May Sally bless you, Sherlock. See you at Hogwarts."
With that, she vanished from the living room.
Once she was gone, Sherlock remained standing, staring at the letter of appointment in his hand, the words "Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts" glaring at him.
After a long silence, three words slowly escaped his lips.
"What's going on?!"
Hogwarts, Summer Vacation
With the students gone, the usually bustling halls of Hogwarts were eerily silent.
Professor McGonagall, having just returned to the castle, made her way to Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore, dressed in dark blue pajamas and sporting a grey beard, was bent over his desk, sorting through paperwork.
Upon seeing McGonagall enter, he straightened up and removed his crescent-shaped glasses, his face showing signs of exhaustion.
"Has Forrest received the appointment letter?" he asked.
"I delivered it to him personally," McGonagall replied, but hesitated before adding, as if unsure about something.
Dumbledore, sensing her unease, smiled gently.
"Don't worry, Minerva. If you have any concerns, you can always share them with me."
"Do you really think Sherlock is suitable for the position?" McGonagall asked, her brow furrowed slightly.
Given her relationship with Sherlock's mother, she was genuinely pleased that he was about to fulfill his dream of becoming a professor at Hogwarts. However, she couldn't help but worry about his suitability for such an important role, considering his problematic personality.
Dumbledore, ever calm, replied, "Sherlock has always sought to prove that he is no longer the lonely, unaccompanied child he once was. The recognition he seeks has never come from me, but from himself."
"Teaching students, sharing his knowledge, witnessing their efforts, and earning their gratitude will help him realize this sooner."
"Besides," he added, "his defensive magic skills are superior to those of many other wizards."
He rose from his chair and walked slowly to the wall lined with portraits of former headmasters, his hands clasped behind his back.
As if speaking to the portraits or perhaps to McGonagall, Dumbledore continued softly, "His talent is undeniable, much like his mother's. His personal flaws shouldn't be an obstacle to his future. We need reliable allies, and this experience teaching at Hogwarts will help him mature quickly."