In a sense, Minerva McGonagall's career at Hogwarts was special from the very beginning.

As the Transfiguration professor and Gryffindor Head of House after Dumbledore's promotion to Headmaster, people would unconsciously view Professor McGonagall as Dumbledore's chosen successor—not just in terms of courses and the House, but also for the future position of Headmaster of Hogwarts. This became completely clear as Minerva McGonagall began to serve as Deputy Headmistress: barring any unforeseen circumstances, she would be the next Headmaster after Dumbledore.

In fact, for over a decade, Minerva McGonagall had gradually taken over various daily tasks of the Headmaster from Dumbledore.

For example, the owl post for incoming first-year students, invitations to special students, arrangements for trivial matters within the school...

For quite some time, Professor McGonagall had a small, unnoticed sense of pride. She once thought she understood most of the Headmaster's work. However, with the enrollment of a certain half-Veela witch last year, Minerva McGonagall finally began to understand what she was lacking:

That responsibility as Headmaster of Hogwarts, or rather, the mentality and ability to face crises head-on.

Whether it was the mortgage on Hogwarts, magical education reform, political interference in the classroom...

Even the conflict that occurred in the Transfiguration classroom yesterday, if it hadn't been for that child, Elena, acting first, she might have impulsively fallen into the trap set by that Senior Undersecretary under Umbridge's verbal provocation. Fortunately, Professor Dumbledore stepped in to save the day in the end.

When the real pressure condensed and came down, it was ultimately that seemingly idle old man who shouldered everything.

However, Minerva McGonagall was well aware that Professor Dumbledore might not have much time left.

During this period, she had seen Dumbledore clutch his chest and a flash of pain in his eyes more than once.

Even with Elena and Madam Pomfrey deliberately guiding and controlling his diet and medication, Dumbledore's condition only slightly improved. There was almost no possibility of reversing and curing this magic applied by time. Minerva McGonagall had to seriously consider whether she could fill the void left by that old man and keep Hogwarts running as usual if Dumbledore suddenly left one day.

And now, Dumbledore's choice to go out "hunting" Voldemort might be a good opportunity.

As the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, she would temporarily act as Headmaster and preside over the work until Professor Dumbledore returned.

Minerva McGonagall could take this opportunity to discover her shortcomings, so that when the "Dumbledore-less" Hogwarts truly arrived, she wouldn't be flustered and at a loss. And the beginning of everything would naturally start with questioning that "little shadow" at the very core of Hogwarts.

"So, can we have an open and honest conversation? Miss Kaslana."

In Professor McGonagall's office, Professor McGonagall glanced at the sleepy little witch in front of her and gently waved her wand.

The next moment, steaming hot tea, coffee, juice, as well as Salamander Gingersnaps, fruit candies, and chocolate cream appeared on the table in turn.

After spending more than half a semester alone, she had also mastered the art of communicating with Elena—as long as there was food, this child's obedience would increase greatly—Dumbledore said this stemmed from a bloodline preference, although McGonagall never understood what this had to do with Veela blood.

"Regarding the events that occurred at the Ministry of Magic, and Professor Dumbledore's temporary departure from school... Professor Dumbledore should have informed you of these matters in advance, right? I want to know if Professor Dumbledore has any additional instructions besides what is in this letter?

"If there's anything you can't say, you can also tell me directly frankly—"

Professor McGonagall looked serious, pushing a letter in front of Elena and continuing sincerely.

"This is the note left by Professor Dumbledore. You can take a look first. As the acting Headmaster of Hogwarts during this time, I need to understand the situation as comprehensively as possible in order to better ensure that the school's faculty and students are not threatened by the outside world, and to better regulate various affairs within the school."

"Ugh, so... I understand. I will fully cooperate with your work."

Elena yawned and perfunctorily glanced at the explanation that Dumbledore and she had cobbled together.

"Yes, I did know these news in advance - but you're wrong about one thing, it wasn't Professor Dumbledore who told me, I was the one who told Professor Dumbledore these things." She looked at Professor McGonagall, "I have a little bit of precognitive talent, I can see fragments of the future."

"Precognitive talent?" Professor McGonagall's eyebrows twitched.

"Yes, similar to the Third Eye that Professor Trelawney talks about, but what I see is more distant and clearer—"

Elena shrugged, single-mindedly searching for lemon candies in the plate of fruit candies, explaining casually.

"It's just that my 'vision' is mostly limited within Hogwarts—you've been wanting to ask about the underground vaults, right? Yes, I also participated in it. Because of some wonderful magic, my future and Hogwarts' future have resonated and intertwined. Therefore, compared to those futures that occur outside of Hogwarts Castle, I see more stories that will happen in the castle in the future... For example, those teaching reform suggestions..."

She gently picked up a lemon candy, carefully licked it from above with her tongue, squinting her eyes and softly said.

"You understand, right? I'm not some kind of genius..."

"I'm just telling Professor Dumbledore about the changes that will happen in Hogwarts in the future in advance—if this is an inevitable journey for a magical civilization, then I'm just shortening the distance and taking fewer detours, that's all. It's easy to understand, right?"

"Vision? Precognitive talent? Like Professor Trelawney?"

Professor McGonagall repeated again, the suspicion in her tone was extremely obvious.

As a Hogwarts teacher, Minerva McGonagall's character would not normally be the type to speak ill of colleagues, but...

"Oh, by the way, there is also some content about you in the fragments of the future that I saw—"

Just then, Elena suddenly said, a flash of clever cunning flashing in her eyes.

"After the 'future you' takes over as Headmaster of Hogwarts, a great battle happened at Hogwarts, and you cast a very powerful 'Headmaster magic' to defend the castle. It is said that it is a spell you have always wanted to try. If I remember correctly, it should be like this..."

Elena picked up a chocolate stick with her right hand, struck a pose, and recited in a crisp voice:

"piertotumLootor (Statues Arise)!"

"...Alright, I have always wanted to try that spell."

Professor McGonagall was silent for a few seconds, looking at Elena with a mixture of belief and doubt.

"So, you saw Voldemort's resurrection in advance? That's why Professor Dumbledore..."

"No, prophecy doesn't work that way... I saw Death Eaters pour into Hogwarts and kill Professor Dumbledore in the Astronomy Tower."

Elena raised her finger and said seriously, "Most people's first thought after seeing a prophecy is to change the future, but few people know what to do—if you have carefully studied Divination, you will understand that 'knowing the prophecy' in advance is also part of the future. Cassandra Trelawney once believed that fate is unavoidable, and based on her, I have made some additional extensions..."

"Just as you can never defeat a wizard chess master who sets the rules of the chessboard, the river of fate is the same."

"Instead of pinning our hopes on the future, it's better to detonate it in advance now... We make the stories that will happen in the future happen early, or lose the stage, and then the prophecy will inevitably appear mutually exclusive. No matter what kind of future is born after that, humanity's destructive power is definitely higher than the world's ability to repair."

Elena said softly with a smile, her lake-blue eyes flashing with dangerous light.

"If we can't change the future, then let's destroy it completely—"

"I don't understand, what does this have to do with Voldemort and—"

"My 'grandfather' will join forces with Professor Dumbledore, along with several of the most top-notch wizards in the magical world today, to encircle and suppress the newly resurrected Voldemort. If nothing else, you should see this news in a few days, that's the information I know."

"Your... grandfather? Wait, you don't mean—"

Professor McGonagall was stunned for half a second, and she suddenly remembered the news she had just learned about last night.

About Elena Kaslana's background, and the old Demon King standing behind the girl. At the same time, she began to realize another more serious problem. Compared to Voldemort and the Death Eaters who were still on the run, the potential threat of a certain little witch seemed more direct.

More importantly, if Dumbledore wasn't at Hogwarts, then the safety of this child might even be related to...

"Oh, it seems you finally agree with me—"

Elena smiled sweetly, put down the cup of black tea in her hand, and said politely.

"Obviously, with the news of Dumbledore's departure spreading, Voldemort and his followers might take the risk—"

"But don't worry, the Saints are now arriving in Hogsmeade one after another. We plan to build a batch of temporary fortifications relying on the villages and terrain around Hogwarts, to protect Hogwarts Castle... This is also one of the reasons why Professor Dumbledore suggested temporarily closing the school."

"Well, I'm temporarily responsible for the security outside Hogwarts - it's reasonable for you to take over internal affairs, right?"

Elena narrowed her eyes happily, looking at Professor McGonagall who was slightly hesitant.

"You can smoothly implement your teaching plans and arrangements, as acting Headmaster..."

"And I..."

"Maybe I'll build some small things around the school."

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Grumble~