Chapter 122 "Breakfast"

Early the next morning, the storm outside the window had subsided.

The castle grounds still bore the dampness of the downpour.

Matthew noticed a dark cloud hovering above the enchanted ceiling as he entered the Great Hall.

"Matthew!" A voice called his name.

Prefect Gemma trotted over, handing a piece of parchment to Matthew.

She said, "This is the second-year curriculum. I didn't catch you last night."

"Apologies, after the school banquet ended yesterday, I headed straight back to the dormitory to rest," Matthew explained swiftly.

Indeed, after returning to the Slytherin common room last night, he had promptly stretched out on the plush bed he hadn't seen in over two months.

However, sleep had eluded him for a while as he pondered the identity of the new Transfiguration Professor.

Prefect Gemma didn't seem particularly concerned. "No worries... How was your summer? I heard you were alone in Diagon Alley?"

"Not too shabby," Matthew replied.

"It's always beneficial to immerse oneself in the magical world," Gemma murmured.

Gemma Farley, a sixth-year student, and a responsible prefect, was well-liked by the younger students.

Matthew had taken a liking to her when he first joined Hogwarts in his first year.

After exchanging a few words, several senior students called her over.

Prefect Gemma waved to Matthew before departing.

...

At breakfast, while spreading jam on bread slices, Matthew glanced toward the head table.

As expected, the central spot remained vacant. Professor Grindelwald was nowhere in sight.

For some unknown reason, the headmaster seldom stayed at the school—always preoccupied.

Matthew had become accustomed to it.

Meanwhile, several unfamiliar faces caught Matthew's attention at the head table.

Around five or six strangers... including Aurors whom Matthew had interacted with during the capture of Professor Trocar a year ago and Neville's father, Mr. Longbottom.

Most likely all Aurors?

Matthew surmised that these five or six wizards were likely the Aurors Neville had mentioned, responsible for guarding Hogwarts this semester.

Curiously, he pondered further.

Aurors were the Ministry of Magic's elite force, their recruitment stringent and training rigorous.

Despite the lack of specific numbers, Matthew estimated their ranks didn't exceed 30.

Moreover, Aurors held a prestigious status in the wizarding world.

Neville's recognition in the Slug Club was partly due to his parents' status as Aurors.

He stood out as one of the rare first-year students invited to the exclusive club.

Of course, his family's reputation, stemming from their well-known pure-blood lineage, contributed as well.

The presence of so many Aurors and the increased number of dementors clearly underscored the Ministry's heightened vigilance toward Hogwarts' security.

There was a palpable sense of caution.

This raised a pertinent question, "Who were these three "criminals" who escaped Azkaban?"

"Why was the Ministry so convinced that they would target Hogwarts?"

"Conventional logic dictated that escapees from Azkaban would steer clear of the authorities. So why were they drawn to Hogwarts?"

These questions looped in Matthew's mind, a perplexing puzzle with no visible pieces.

Regrettably, he possessed only scant information, a morsel of clues, if at all.

Besides, this wasn't likely a matter pertinent to a junior student like himself.

...

Suddenly, a new figure appeared at the head table.

Matthew's brow furrowed involuntarily.

The new arrival was none other than Professor Severus Snape, their new Transfiguration Professor for the semester.

The frequency of teacher turnovers in the Transfiguration department was indeed unusually high, reminiscent of the Defense Against the Dark Arts position's notoriety in the original books.

But what truly puzzled Matthew was the enigma surrounding this "Severus Snape."

Severus Snape was someone Matthew knew quite well.

Greasy hair, the distinctive hooked nose, those oversized, dark-rimmed glasses...

His demeanor, detached yet intense... Matthew's memory painted a vivid portrait of Snape.

And now, the person seated at the head table, the one eating breakfast, couldn't be more different in appearance and behavior from the Snape of his memory!

Moreover, "Snape" wasn't even a wizarding surname, Snape was a half-blood wizard; his Muggle father was named Tobias Snape.

The likelihood of two individuals sharing the same first name and surname was incredibly slim.

After pondering for hours the previous night, Matthew had failed to uncover any plausible explanation.

Was this merely the consequence of the altered timeline?

...

"Good morning, Matthew!" A groggy voice interrupted his thoughts.

Draco had entered the hall with drowsy eyes, seemingly struggling to adjust his internal clock after the summer break.

"Morning!" Matthew turned to greet him.

Malfoy glanced at Matthew, then inquired with a hint of confusion, "You really like jam, huh?"

Matthew was taken aback, glancing at his bread slice...

Absorbed in thought, he'd inadvertently slathered several layers of jam.

"Yes," he responded with a nod. "It's delicious."

"Huh, didn't expect you to have such a hearty appetite," Malfoy remarked, scooping another helping of butter onto his bread.

"Speaking of which, Draco!" Matthew suddenly addressed him, recalling something.

Draco's family in the original books had a cordial relationship with Snape.

Upon entering Slytherin in his first year, Snape had been his house prefect, under the patronage of Lucius Malfoy.

"What is it?" Malfoy asked without halting his actions.

"The new Transfiguration Professor... this Professor Snape... do you know anything about him?" Matthew inquired casually, "What's he like?"

Malfoy, while munching on his buttered bread, considered the query.

"Give me a moment," he muttered.

"I sort of remember... might have heard his name somewhere... but it's not that significant," Malfoy admitted.

"Got it," Matthew sighed inwardly.

Once more, he glanced toward the head table, observing the new Transfiguration teacher's departure from the hall.