Virtual Brain Machine?
After Wayne mentioned "reward", most people were utterly confused, having no idea what it was for.
But that was fine, as Wayne patiently explained it to them.
When the young wizards heard there was a virtual Hogwarts inside the helmet where they could move freely, they grew excited.
Those ranked at the bottom were especially thrilled. They had thought it would be punishment, but it turned out to be a genuine reward.
Just then, however, Wayne's tone shifted:
"However... the version I have is specially made. The activity area inside is limited to the library, and all you can do is read the books there."
A sense of foreboding rose in everyone's hearts.
"Then why don't I just go to the library to read?" one young wizard wailed. Clearly, he was among those with significant room for improvement.
"Of course it's different," Wayne said with a smile. "In the virtual space, the flow of time changes. Ten minutes of reading inside equals only one minute in the real world."
"That means you'll have ten times the study time."
Hermione and some Ravenclaw top students' eyes lit up, as did the professors' on the podium.
But some began to cry.
"Such a wonderful thing..." Professor McGonagall murmured under her breath.
"Each person gets one week. After that, there will be another exam. If you're still below average, you'll continue studying. I believe everyone will have a bright future."
With that, Wayne dismissed the group and took Professor McGonagall back to the Headmaster's Office.
He handed her all the helmets he had made recently—only twenty, meaning they would have to be used in shifts.
The Sands of Time were intended for the Virtual Brain Machine, allowing him ten times more time to digest the Dragon King's inheritance. However, using them to "help" students improve their grades was also part of his plan.
They must be moved to tears, right?
"Professor, where is Professor Dumbledore now?" Wayne asked after finishing with school matters.
"He's at Aberforth's shop," Professor McGonagall said, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Last time I went, I saw the two brothers arguing."
"Hmm." Wayne thoughtfully stroked his chin. "Then I'll go see him tomorrow."
"Wayne, the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor..." Professor McGonagall looked at him.
The young man waved his hand. "Something came up today. They'll arrive tomorrow."
"Them?"
"Exactly. I plan to have one professor handle students from first to fourth year, and another take the higher years. That should reduce the pressure considerably."
Professor McGonagall immediately gave Wayne a strange look.
Seven years, twelve classes (with sixth and seventh years combined for advanced lessons), and each class having two to three sessions—wouldn't that be exhausting?
Especially for the lower years, where class sizes were growing larger. Just memorising all the students' names would take considerable effort.
Sometimes, grading assignments meant working late into the night, even until dawn.
"I know you're anxious, but don't be," Wayne reassured her. "I'm also considering professors for other subjects. Let's test this out for half a semester. If it works well, you and the other professors will have a much easier time next school year."
Only then did Professor McGonagall show a satisfied smile.
Returning to the common room, the previously bustling badgers all fell silent, staring intently at Wayne until he felt rather unnerved.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
The badgers exchanged glances, and eventually Norman stepped forward. "Um... Wayne, maybe you should head back to the dormitory and get an early night?"
"Why?" Wayne found this even more baffling.
"We feel awkward doing our homework with you here," Justin Finch-Fletchley scratched his head. "Who'd have the nerve to copy homework under the Headmaster's watchful eye..."
The group nodded frantically in agreement—that was exactly what they were thinking.
Wayne didn't know whether to laugh or cry, never expecting this to be the reason. Instead of returning to his dorm, he went directly to the backyard of the Hogsmeade shop where Nagini lived.
The serpent woman was delighted to see Wayne, excitedly licking her lips as her snake tail extended to close the door securely.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Wayne went to collect the two new professors and bring them to Hogwarts.
Neville watched, tears streaming down his face, as the round-faced couple wept while looking at him. Just as Harry and Ron looked utterly confused beside them, Wayne introduced:
"Frank Longbottom, Alice Longbottom. The Longbottoms are former senior Aurors - Professor Moody mentioned their deeds last year."
"They were both heroes in the fight against Death Eaters. Now that they've recovered from their physical injuries, I've invited them to the school. Mr Longbottom will teach years five to seven, while Mrs Longbottom will handle years one to four."
The Great Hall immediately erupted into enthusiastic applause—both welcoming the couple's arrival and expressing admiration for their past heroic deeds.
They also understood why Neville and the Longbottoms were crying so intensely.
Many knew they had been tortured into madness by Death Eaters, never expecting they could recover.
Professor McGonagall was equally overjoyed, taking Alice's hand. "Alice, when did you recover?"
"A month ago," Alice smiled while wiping tears from the corner of her eye. "After recovering, Mr Lawrence, no, the Headmaster provided us with rehabilitation training. We're perfectly fine now."
Though Frank and Alice appeared much as they had before, they were essentially personalities regenerated through extensive memory infusion from others.
All their emotions were genuine, just slightly different from before.
But this was enough—regardless, they had gained a new life.
Since regaining consciousness, the Longbottoms had been relearning magic. Though not back to their peak strength, with instinct and talent aiding them, they were already considerably stronger than ordinary adult wizards.
More than qualified for teaching positions.
After settling the couple, Wayne hurriedly left the school again.
The first lesson was History of Magic - attending would mean catching up on sleep, so he might as well visit Dumbledore instead.
Arriving at the Hog's Head, Wayne could hear Aberforth's roaring even before entering:
"Fool! I just told you last night not to put beer mugs and whisky glasses together - it's very inconvenient when I reach for them!"
"Sorry, Aberforth, what's the difference?"
"Of course, there's a difference! Your arrangement disrupts my habits!"
"I think you could get used to a new system."
'So full of energy,' he thought.
Wayne marvelled at how two centenarians could still be so full of vitality as he pushed the door open.
Upon seeing him, Dumbledore had just begun to smile in greeting when Aberforth cut in first, "Wayne, take him away quickly! Even the cheapest waiter I could hire would be more professional than him!"
Hearing his brother's sarcasm, Dumbledore wasn't angry either, playfully blinking his eyes as he said, "Aberforth, the waiters you hire wouldn't have as good a temper as mine - aren't you afraid they might poison your food?"
"I'd accept being poisoned," Aberforth snorted lightly. "Just get out already."
"I'm homeless now," Dumbledore said pitifully. "The Headmaster's Office no longer belongs to me."
"If you're willing, you can continue staying there," Wayne said naturally as he took out a twenty-year-old rum from behind the bar, opening it under Aberforth's furious glare.
"It's better to drink less alcohol," Dumbledore advised as well.
"Actually, I can't tell good alcohol from bad," Wayne shook his head, pointing at Aberforth. "But seeing him like this makes it taste absolutely delicious."
The old man and young man burst into laughter, while only Aberforth threw his cleaning rag onto the table and asked irritably:
"Had breakfast yet?"
"Ate at school before coming," Wayne waved with a smile.
"Solved the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor problem?"
"I've invited the Longbottoms."
Dumbledore's face lit up with joy, "Have they recovered already?"
"Mostly. It'll take some time for their strength to fully return."
Dumbledore sighed, "That's enough. Frank and Alice have given too much to the wizarding world. Being professors at the school is a good choice too."
Wayne told him about the method to break the curse. Although he found it too cruel, what's done was done, and he didn't understand the deal between Wayne and Fudge, nor did he want to get involved, so he could only accept it silently.
This was Dumbledore's character flaw - he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless when facing problems, always hesitant and indecisive.
Perhaps only when things reached their absolute desperate end would he calculate everything into his plans, even including his own life.
When Wayne mentioned the idea of having two professors for the subject, the old Headmaster strongly agreed, even wondering if he should return as a professor himself. After all, as he had said earlier, now that he had left Hogwarts, he truly didn't know where to go.
"Professor, I plan to flip the table," Wayne said after taking a sip of alcohol, his words making both men change expression.
"Don't be impulsive, Wayne."
He knew why this was happening - the Death Eaters' attack on Greengrass Castle had thoroughly enraged this young man.
"I've found Voldemort's hiding place. I have someone close to him," Wayne said, his fingers cracking loudly. "I don't have the patience to keep playing hide-and-seek with this sewer rat."
"What do you plan to do?" Dumbledore frowned.
"In a few days, the Ministry of Magic will launch an operation against the Death Eaters. You should come along too."
After thinking for a long time, Dumbledore slowly nodded. "Notify me before the operation."
"Need my help?" Aberforth asked.
Wayne shook his head. "You should stay at the bar. With the two of us, Voldemort won't be able to kill anyone - he won't even be able to kill a chicken."
Aberforth thought it was true – with his brother and Wayne joining forces, even Grindelwald would turn tail and run if he saw them. Whether he went or not made little difference.
Dumbledore was still hesitating. During his conversation with Harry at St Mungo's, he had confirmed that Voldemort had turned the Basilisk into another Horcrux.
Exactly how many he had created still remained unknown.
What mattered more was Harry – how to destroy the fragment of soul within him without causing Harry harm. Dumbledore still hadn't found a safe method.
Wayne could see what was troubling him and spoke up, "This operation mainly targets the Death Eaters. As long as we cut off Voldemort's wings, the Horcrux issue can be dealt with later."
"Once he's completely isolated, Voldemort won't be able to cause much trouble. You can keep an eye on him indefinitely now."
After leaving the Hog's Head, Wayne thought for a moment and summoned Ho-Oh, stepping into a burst of flame.
When he reappeared, he was in a secluded corner of Diagon Alley.
Taking out the elder wand that Grindelwald hadn't chosen, Wayne's body began to slowly transform, soon becoming the white-haired, unruly first Dark Lord.
Then, he changed again into an ordinary-looking middle-aged man before stepping out onto the street.
The alley was bustling with people. Even though school had started, there were still plenty of pedestrians about. Wayne slowly made his way to the centre of Diagon Alley and stepped through the doors of Gringotts.
"Sir, how may I help you?" a Goblin approached him.
"Hello, I'm here to rob the place," Wayne said succinctly.