HP: I'm Not Here to Rule the Wizarding World

Dumbledore pulled out a box of sweets from his desk drawer and asked in his usual lighthearted tone, "Fancy a Cockroach Cluster? You all seem rather tense sweets are the best remedy for a troubled mood."

Snape let out a cold laugh, his tone laced with sarcasm. "No one here is in the mood for those dreadful, sickly sweet candies."

Ariana glanced briefly at Snape's cold, stony face and had no interest in exchanging pleasantries with Dumbledore. She got straight to the point.

"Professor Dumbledore, I want to drop out. Before, you could brush me off with excuses, but now I've used dark magic. Surely that's enough reason to let me go?"

Dumbledore didn't respond directly. Instead, he turned to Professor McGonagall with a gentle smile. "Forgive me, my memory isn't what it used to be. Do Hogwarts regulations say that using dark magic is grounds for expulsion?"

"There's no such rule," McGonagall answered promptly.

His message was clear he didn't want Ariana to leave.

Ariana's performance in class over the past week had been exceptional, something everyone could see. As an open-minded educator, Dumbledore was naturally more inclined to be tolerant toward her.

Besides, Hogwarts had no precedent of expelling students for simply using dark magic. Even when dark magic caused harm, students hadn't been expelled.

Frustrated, Ariana pressed on. "But Snape still looks at me like he's about to eat me alive."

Given Ariana's behavior this past week, Snape found that comment particularly galling. He snapped, "Even if I'm as fierce as a demon, I've yet to see you show the slightest fear of me."

"Enough. Let's set the dropout issue aside for now. Miss Corrine may I call you Ariana?" Dumbledore asked gently, trying to ease the tension.

Ariana was no longer as impulsive as before. Even though she knew Dumbledore was softening his approach, she didn't feel any resentment toward him.

"Of course, Headmaster," she replied with a nod.

"A week ago, you asked Professor McGonagall about improving the student housing. After consulting the Board, they've approved additional funding. I've decided to start the renovations with Slytherin. What do you think?" Dumbledore smiled kindly.

"So each student can have their own bedroom and bathroom?" Ariana pressed.

Dumbledore chuckled awkwardly. "That depends on the number of students in each house, but I can tell you that the Slytherin girls will now share a room between two, and each room will have a private bathroom."

Ariana pursed her lips. This year's Slytherin first-years only had nine students just four girls and still, they wouldn't get private rooms.

Sensing her dissatisfaction, Dumbledore added, "Roommates often develop precious friendships during their school years."

Then he glanced at Draco, who was standing quietly in the corner, and winked at Ariana with a playful smile. "Of course, close friendships don't have to be limited to roommates. Bonds between boys and girls can be just as strong, wouldn't you agree?"

Dumbledore was clearly skirting the issue, but Ariana wasn't about to let him dodge so easily. And she hadn't forgotten the real reason she'd dueled Snape to push for her dropout.

If using dark magic wasn't enough, she would press on with her other complaint.

"I still want to drop out," Ariana said firmly.

"You were unhappy with the housing, which we've now improved. Is there anything else you're dissatisfied with at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked patiently.

Ariana shrugged, smiling as she said, "I'm extremely dissatisfied with Professor Snape's teaching. He's been teaching here for ten years now has he ever studied educational psychology?"

"Hogwarts professors don't need to study educational psychology," Dumbledore replied with a helpless sigh, already sensing Ariana's argument.

But Ariana didn't know the meaning of holding back. She continued, "So not only are Hogwarts' dormitories stuck in the Middle Ages, but your teaching methods can't keep up with modern standards either?"

As a man who deeply loved this magical school, Dumbledore had every confidence in Hogwarts.

"I believe Hogwarts has produced many outstanding witches and wizards. I don't think our professors' teaching is as bad as you claim, wouldn't you agree?" His tone remained calm, his gaze steady.

It's no wonder people say there's a generation gap every three years. Even though Ariana had lived to twenty in her past life and was now eleven in this one, the gap between her and the over-a-hundred-year-old Dumbledore was practically a chasm.

Ariana sneered and shook her head. "No, some Hogwarts professors are downright terrible teachers. I think it's because none of you have studied educational psychology."

Dumbledore glanced at Snape, then carefully asked, "Could you give me an example of which professors are particularly terrible at teaching?"

He already suspected she would name Snape. Truthfully, Dumbledore also had concerns about Snape's teaching methods.

But he needed Snape's help. Every time this topic came up, Snape would push back. Maybe hearing it from Ariana would finally make him reflect.

Sure enough, Ariana's first target was Snape.

"Obviously, the first is Professor Snape. Let's not even get into the details. Headmaster, why don't you investigate how many excellent Potions students he's produced over his ten years here? How does that compare to the previous professor?"

Dumbledore opened his mouth but found himself unable to argue.

Snape's predecessor had been Horace Slughorn, whose teaching skills were considerably better.

During Slughorn's tenure, many outstanding Potions students had emerged. Several came to mind immediately.

There was Snape himself, as well as Tom Riddle and Lily Evans names Slughorn had loved to brag about.

Even Sirius Black and his younger brother Regulus had apparently been quite talented in Potions.

But in Snape's ten years as Potions Master, Dumbledore couldn't think of a single standout student. Surely, there had to be at least one with talent in that time?

Seeing Dumbledore at a loss for words, Ariana shot Snape a mocking glance and pressed on. "See? You can't even think of a single outstanding student under Professor Snape."

As Snape's temper flared, Dumbledore quickly stepped in. "Professor Snape is one of the most brilliant Potions Masters in recent years. The Ministry is even considering awarding him the Order of Merlin. I can't think of anyone more qualified."

Before Ariana could counter, Dumbledore smoothly changed the subject. "Aside from Professor Snape, is there anyone else you're dissatisfied with?"

His topic shift was obvious, but Ariana didn't mind. In her view, the issue wasn't over yet.

"Professor Quirrell, the stuttering one do I really need to list all his flaws?"

Hearing Quirrell's name, Dumbledore looked a little awkward. After all, Quirrell was his carefully planted pawn a spy for Voldemort.

"Professor Quirrell should have explained the reason for his stutter in his very first class. I believe he'll adjust soon. His academic record is outstanding. We can't afford to lose such an excellent Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, can we?" Dumbledore attempted to defend him.

Ariana was completely unimpressed. "He went adventuring, encountered a vampire, and ended up cursed, which is why he stutters. That's his burden to bear. Why should we have to adapt to his stutter? And why should we waste our time enduring that awful garlic stench?"

Her words were sharp, but they weren't wrong. Whatever the reason for Quirrell's condition, it wasn't fair to make the students pay for his mistakes.

Dumbledore knew exactly why Quirrell had ended up this way, and he also knew the stutter was a deliberate act.

Looking at the unrelenting Ariana, Dumbledore realized that ordinary explanations wouldn't convince her. He decided he would have a serious talk with Quirrell.

If Quirrell couldn't produce some real, valuable lessons for his students, then perhaps it would be time to consider removing him from Hogwarts though Voldemort likely wouldn't approve.

"Very well. I'll speak with Professor Quirrell and urge him to quickly get himself back on track. I won't let him waste your time," Dumbledore promised, his tone firm.

Seeing that Dumbledore seemed eager to wrap things up, Ariana quickly followed up. "What about Professor Snape's teaching methods?"