Azkaban to Hogwarts: Professor Of Defense Against Dark Arts

Since it was impossible to recruit only one person for hard labor, the prisoners on the scene didn't seem overly tense.

There were only so many people available. Even if a few were eliminated during the final review, there was no need to make such a big fuss; recruiting just two prisoners for labor was a joke. Did they think the Ministry of Magic was running a job fair?

If it weren't for the guards in the room forbidding it, the prisoners might have thrown a party to celebrate.

As William was still savoring the feeling of holding a wand, a sudden sound snapped him out of that pleasant reverie.

[A magical creature has acknowledged you. You have received a treasure chest x1.]

What a useless system.

William muttered under his breath. The comforting feeling of holding the wand was gone, and without the mood to do anything else, he simply opened the system panel and unlocked the new treasure chest.

A pinewood chest inlaid with silver edges suddenly burst open in mid-air. Three silver-edged cards slowly floated out of the chest and appeared before William.

[Transfiguration Master McGonagall (SR): Even on a global scale, Minerva McGonagall's mastery of Transfiguration remains in the top ten. She is, without question, a Transfiguration master. When she's holding a wand, stay far away.

Skill: Permanent Transfiguration -- Destroy this card to make your next Transfiguration exceptionally easy, with irreversible effects.]

[Animagus McGonagall (SR): Few registered Animagi exist in the Ministry of Magic, but Minerva McGonagall achieved this rare feat. So, you should know; don't provoke cats, and definitely don't think you can feed every cat you meet with a bit of fish.

Skill: Animagus -- Destroy this card to transform into an animal anytime within the next 24 hours without a wand. In Animagus form, you are immune to most magical curses.]

[Transfiguration Master McGonagall (SR): True masters turn the mundane into the extraordinary, and Transfiguration itself is a grand discipline. People have limits; Transfiguration does not. Start small; like making a 1:1 Gundam model?

Skill: Transfiguration Puppet -- Destroy this card to transform any specified material into a puppet. The puppet's mass and combat power depend on the material and the creator's magical power.]

Two cards with the same name but different effects. It seemed like "Transfiguration Master" might be a whole series of cards.

But William didn't have time to complain about that. The three cards in front of him made him want to shout a classic catchphrase.

Unfortunately, he couldn't. The three-choice situation left him genuinely stuck in indecision; should he go for the puppet or the transformation?

The first card was strong but didn't appeal to him, so he discarded it immediately. His dilemma lay between the second and third cards.

After a long internal debate, he reluctantly gave up on the third card. He couldn't afford to waste resources on building a Gundam right now. Still stuck in prison, with his wand confiscated upon entry, the ability to transform without a wand seemed far more practical.

[Minerva McGonagall: Magic 2, Transfiguration 2, Learning 1, Quidditch 1.]

Below that was a list of zero-level skills so long that William gave up reading.

Then came a series of locked cards.

William exited the system interface, feeling dazed. Everything had seemed fine; why had things suddenly turned friendly?

***

Meanwhile, in the room, the newly arrived prisoner was nearly banging on the table in an argument with two professors.

"That was research! Academic research! It's my legitimate work!"

His tone had a touch of a roar, showing no restraint despite being imprisoned.

"I admit the centaurs weren't happy with my research, but I only conducted it with proper consent! Those centaurs chasing me because of my papers aren't even from the same tribe as my research collaborators. I have no idea why they're angry!"

"Yes, I know Hogwarts has a centaur tribe, but I can get along with them. I'm also willing to forgive their violent actions caused by misunderstanding, but I refuse to abandon my research!"

"Alright, Headmaster, I've read many of your papers. Although some, like your research on dragon blood, involve harm to magical creatures, I still believed you could understand a researcher's dedication to their work. But I was wrong."

"My collaborators are already trying to break into Azkaban. I'll never abandon my research, not even here in Azkaban!"

He stormed toward the door and, under the watchful eyes of William and the others, sat down without saying another word.

The guards were stunned as well. It took them a long moment to remember to bring in the next prisoner. After all, even the current Minister of Magic treated the two people in that room with respect, so slamming doors was beyond their imagination.

William gave up trying to guess what had happened. Shaking off the distraction from the new cards, he closed his eyes and started reviewing the potion he had studied yesterday.

Although the sudden appearance of the system was unexpected, it didn't offer any attribute points or techniques; just cards. While they seemed powerful, they were only useful in critical moments. Every card used was one less in his possession. Day-to-day survival still depended on his own efforts.

The system wasn't some kind of cheat that allowed infinite progress with a simple click.

If he didn't make full use of his time in Azkaban to thoroughly study everything related to the magical world, surviving after his release would be difficult, even if he didn't starve. Thriving would be even harder.

Other wizards at least had a Hogwarts diploma. But for someone like him, self-taught and without formal credentials, if he couldn't even make a living in the field of potions, he'd have no other options. Was he supposed to rely on prison connections and turn to smuggling after his release?

What a joke! He had gone through all the trouble of crossing over to a world with extraordinary powers. If he ended up constantly teetering on the edge of imprisonment, he might as well stay in Azkaban. Wasting such potential would be a crime in itself!

By the time William fully absorbed the potion recipe in his memory, he realized a lot of time had passed. The room; Azkaban's best-lit space; was already dimming.

***

As the door closed again, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall walked out with the last prisoner.

"Well, today's review is over," Dumbledore announced with a smile, addressing everyone before turning to the guards.

"Bart, thank you and your team for your hard work today."

"No trouble at all, Professor Dumbledore. We only helped a little," Bart replied quickly.

"Please take them to rest for a while. Professor McGonagall and I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Bode, Mr. Gil, and this Mr. William."

The three prisoners named were left behind, while the rest, disappointed, were escorted away by the beaters.