Patch for book 7

I've read many of the comments about logical inconsistencies in book 7; it's a real hoot that there's a "continuity editor" credit in the back of the book. After reading a number of the unexplainable problems, I finally got around to submitting my corrections. I printed them out and stuck them in my book, which made my latest reading more enjoyable. Some ideas, such as Voldemort's wand, may be more speculative than error-correcting, but I left them in. Note: my original text was indented for paragraphs, but that option is not available here.
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Here are relevant threads. When I find others I'll put those links here too.

Feedaback to this thread... http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113850
"Book Mistakes v2".......... http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=108649
"Questions about Wands"... http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=111070
The Trace
"Hundreds of Students"..... http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=109325

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I'm going to separate my posts into three or more:

1) Error-correction for book 7,
2) Speculative answers for book 7, and
3) Error-correction for books 1-6.
Trailer suggestion for Deathly Hallows
Quirrell's Story (pre-book 1)
=====================
Under Consideration:

The Protego spell changed to block people besides spells;
[book:] protego horriblis? protego totalus? [mine:] protego corpus?

The size of the passage to the Shrieking Shack (in they had to duck to run, out three were tied together, in book7 they had to crawl).

Why didn't Harry see Ron if he was close enough to rescue him?

Harry puts on dry clothes after the dragon, but when he comes to his clothes are wet.

Hermione put the Horcrux in the bag, but Harry has it when following the doe.

Hermione put the Cloak in the bag, but asks Harry to give it to her at the Lovegoods.

[Thestrals, we’re told are predator-scavengers. So rummaging through a dumpster behind a restaurant fits, but grazing does not.]
CHAPTER 5: FALLEN WARRIOR
As he crossed the dark yard, the great skeletal thestral looked up, rustled its enormous batlike wings, then resumed its grisly feeding on what Harry saw was the carcass of a garden gnome.

[Hermione used memory modification to hide her parents.]
CHAPTER 9: A PLACE TO HIDE
“You’re the boss,” said Ron, sounding profoundly relieved. “But I’ve never done a Memory Charm.”
“I have,” said Hermione somberly.
She took a deep, calming breath, then pointed her wand at Dolohov’s forehead and said, “Obliviate.”

[The Fidelius Charm did not work in this book as previously described.]
CHAPTER 24: THE WANDMAKER
...ideas both fascinating and terrible. When Harry entered the hall of the cottage, he felt a wave of dizziness pass over him. He suddenly felt panic that all of them had left. He put his hand out to steady himself and found a note from Bill pinned to the back of the door.
“Shell Cottage is a hiding place for people who oppose Voldemort.
-Bill”
As if a spell had been lifted he could hear and see them all sitting in the living room, their attention focused on Bill, who was talking, but looked as exhausted as Harry felt. Harry pulled the note off the door.
...
He looked around and saw Harry standing there.
“I’ve been getting them all out of the Burrow, he explained. Bill’s lips continued moving in a blur and Harry couldn’t hear anything he said for a moment. Others seemed perplexed by his actions as well.
Fleur spoke up, “We can’t hear you, Bill.”
“Right, Dad’s already done it. The Death Eaters know Ron’s with you now, so they’re bound to target the family – don’t apologize,” he added at the sight of Harry’s expression. “It was always a matter of time, Dad’s been saying so for months. We’re the biggest blood-traitor family there is.”
“How are they protected?” asked Harry.
“Fidelius Charm. Dad’s Secret-Keeper.” Again Bill’s lips moved in a blur and Harry heard nothing. He blinked and moved his head as if he had water in an ear. “And we’ve done it on this cottage too; I’m Secret-Keeper here, as you no doubt saw from my note. None of us can go to work, but that’s hardly the most important thing now. Once Ollivander and Griphook are well enough, we’ll move them too. There isn’t much room here. Griphook’s legs are on the mend, Fleur’s given him Skele-Gro; we could probably move them in an hour or –”

CHAPTER 25: SHELL COTTAGE
In a short time, Bill left and returned with a note from his father revealing that they were safe at Aunt Muriel’s, protected by the Fidelius Charm with him as Secret-Keeper. After that, they was able to speak about the family and the house without the charm interfering.

[Madam Pomfrey is said to lead the evacuation, but she’s seen in the Hall later. I think it should read thus:]
CHAPTER 31: THE BATTLE OF HOGWARTS
“...evacuation will be overseen by Mr. Filch and Madam Pince. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organize your House and take your charges, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point.”

[Corrections for Snape's memories:]

CHAPTER 33: THE PRINCE’S TALE
[Snape had been forbidden to speak of Lupin's curse, and Lupin's excuse was:]
“His mum’s ill,” said Lily. “They say she’s ill –”
Snape clearly wanted to respond but held his tongue, and Harry remembered Snape had promised Dumbledore to keep Lupin’s secret.
“I know your theory,” said Lily, and she sounded cold...[etc.]

[Dumbledore met Snape near the forest before Snape gave Harry detention every Saturday and almost a year after Umbridge did.]
Dumbledore looked weary.
“Why? You have already learned nearly all the boy’s secrets during your Occlumency lessons; certainly you know by now he is not his father.”
[or:]
Dumbledore looked weary.
"Why? Are you afraid we are telling tales about you?"

[The scene of Snape at Grimmauld Place is out of order as reported by J.K.R. It should immediately follow:]
“Always,” said Snape.

[After which comes the correction for Snape talking to Dumbledore's portrait before he became headmaster:]
And the scene shifted. Now, Harry was in a room which he didn’t recognize, full of bookcases. He saw Snape talking to the only portrait there – that of Dumbledore.

[Neville was bending over a body when Harry revealed himself.]
CHAPTER 34: THE FOREST AGAIN
The suffocating feeling extinguished the end of the sentence; he could not go on. Neville did not seem to find it strange. He patted Harry on the shoulder, released him, and crouched down to grab hold of the body.

[There is no indication Harry ever learned Lily’s Patronus was a doe. Lupin could have told Harry, but he would have mentioned that Snape’s was the same since Snape likely contacted him by talking Patronus at Grimmauld Place when Harry was heading to the Department of Mysteries.]
CHAPTER 36: THE FLAW IN THE PLAN
“Snape’s Patronus was a doe,” said Harry, “the symbol of my mother, because he loved her for nearly all his life, from the time when they were children. You should have realized,” he said as he saw Voldemort’s nostrils flare, “he asked you to spare her life, didn’t he?”

[Once under attack, why could Harry use magic but not disapparate?]
CHAPTER 4: THE SEVEN POTTERS
“I don’t –”
“The Trace, the Trace!” said Mad-Eye impatiently. “The charm that detects magical activity around under-seventeens, the way the Ministry finds out about underage magic! If you, or anyone around you, casts a spell to get you out of here, Thicknesse is going to know about it, and so will the Death Eaters. The Ministry could use your Trace to intercept your portkey, or even force you to apparate there!”
Harry remembered ruefully the time when he got off the Knight Bus and Fudge was waiting there for him.

[Why didn't anyone use the Firebolt, since it was the best broom? TO BE ADDED: Why didn't they cast gemino on Hedwig to avoid a spell tracking an owl?]
CHAPTER 4: THE SEVEN POTTERS
Harry hurried into the hall to fetch his rucksack, Firebolt, and Hedwig’s cage before joining the others in the back garden.
One of his doubles stared at his broom and spoke up, “Can I borrow your Firebolt, Harry? It’s supposed to be jinx-proof and I’d rather not repeat the time You-Know-Who controlled your Nimbus 2000!”
Several people shuddered as Harry swapped brooms; no one else had considered that Dark magic might be able to stop their brooms in flight.
“Well since we’ve got an extra,” said another double pointing at him, “let me use that one.”
“No, Ron,” said Mr. Weasley. “We’ve been through this. Your first long-distance flight by broomstick will not be during potential combat.”
[In succeeding sentences, replace the word “Firebolt” with “swapped” or “borrowed broom.”]

CHAPTER 5: FALLEN WARRIOR
“Well, at least we got you back okay,” said George. “Sorry, I’m afraid I lost your Firebolt. Why aren’t Ron and Bill huddled round my sickbed?”
...
“Snape?” shouted Harry. “You didn’t say –”
...
Harry felt sick with guilt. He had loaned George his broom, and Snape must have followed George because he was the only one on a Firebolt.
Silence fell...

[As written, the Potters could have Disapparated to escape.]
CHAPTER 17: BATHILDA’S SECRET
The gate creaked a little as he pushed it open, but James Potter did not hear. His white hand pulled out the wand beneath his cloak and flicked it at the roof. His anti-apparation spell descended on the house like a fine mist. He then pointed it at the door, which burst open.

[Dumbledore is gay? Part 1]
CHAPTER 20: XENOPHILIUS LOVEGOOD
He looked at the book still clutched in her hand. It was The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore.
“What?” he said apprehensively. It flew through his mind that there was a chapter on him in there; he was not sure he felt up to hearing Rita’s version of his relationship with Dumbledore.
“It says he was queer,” remarked Hermione to the others.
“Yeah, he was always an odd duck,” replied Ron. “A genius though...”
“No - gay,” she said.
Ron clearly didn't get it.
“It means he was the type to shack-up with and snog other blokes,” she explained.
After a moment of silence, Ron exclaimed, “No way, who'd do that?”
Harry didn't know what to think; was this another of Rita Skeeter's inventions? He barely paid attention as Hermione explained to Ron as if he were a child, the lifestyles people lived openly in the Muggle world.
“You probably have met other gay people at Hogwarts, you just don't know about it,” Hermione said.
Ron sputtered but couldn't formulate a reply other to shake his head.
Hermione addressed Harry. “I want to go and see Xenophilius Lovegood.”
He stared at her.
“Sorry?”

[Why did Hagrid's wand still work after being snapped, but not Harry's?]
CHAPTER 24: THE WANDMAKER
“No,” whispered Ollivander. “I am sorry, very sorry, but a wand that has suffered this degree of damage cannot be repaired by any means that I know of.”
“But Hagrid’s wand still functions, sort of, and it was snapped in two!” Harry pleaded.
Ollivander responded after a moment, “His wand was exceptionally long and custom-made. I didn’t have any wands the required length in stock. It’s possible that even half of his wand would be long enough to operate. But I can’t see how your normal-length wand could be repaired.”

[How did Voldemort get his wand back?]
“The Dark Lord,” said Ollivander in hushed and frightened tones, “had always been happy with the wand I made him – yew and phoenix feather, thirteen-and-a-half inches – until he discovered the connection of the twin cores.”
“How did he get that wand back after the night he... disappeared?”
“Wormtail said he recovered it before the Ministry arrived and hid it. But now the Dark Lord seeks another, more powerful wand, as the only way to conquer yours.”

[What happened to all of Ollivander's wands?]
CHAPTER 26: GRINGOTTS
Mr. Ollivander had sent Luna a new wand that morning...[etc.]
Luna told them that when Ollivander fled Diagon Alley, he’d hired someone to destroy his entire stock of wands so they wouldn’t fall into the hands of the Death Eaters; he couldn't bear to do it himself or witness it.

[Dumbledore is gay? Part 2]
CHAPTER 35: KING’S CROSS
“...I have no secrets from you anymore. You know.”
“What do I know?” Harry refrained from adding, “that you were gay?”

[Twice previously, it is recounted to Harry that Regulus left Voldemort’s service but only lived a couple of days. Yet his death in book 7 is a contradiction. Who knew he’d deserted? Why leave a note and choose to die if you’re trying to protect the family? How does one know if a wizard is dead? Can a death be faked? I can’t answer. Since it is such an emotional scene in book 7, I can’t easily modify it to fit what came previously or to my preference – that a Death Eater killed him in Knockturn Alley while he was looking for a book on destroying the Horcrux. Instead we have to assume at least one Death Eater knew he’d left them, say by his not answering a summons of the Dark Mark, then Voldemort gave up looking for him when he died a couple days later. So much to my loathing, we’ll have to go back to books 5 and 6 for the fix.]

BOOK 5, CHAPTER 6: THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK
“Oh no,” said Sirius. “No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort’s orders, more likely, I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well you don’t just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It’s a lifetime of service or death. And the family never recovered his body.”
“How do you know for sure? People thought Wormtail was dead, but not that Ministry witch he killed in Albania –”
“Bertha Jorkins.”
“Yeah, no one knew she was dead for months.”
Sirius frowned, “Usually a wizard’s death resonates magically – triggering his will for instance. This should occur immediately, but Voldemort must know how to block it. As for faking a death, Dumbledore hinted –”
“Lunch,” said Mrs. Weasley’s voice.

[I think p118 was the first time the book refers to Harry dreaming about corridors. Previously, he was dreaming about the graveyard, and Hagrid introducing him to weapons. Therefore one word should be changed to "now."]
BOOK 5, CHAPTER 6 THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK
Despite the fact that he was still sleeping badly, now having dreams about corridors and locked doors that made his scar prickle, Harry was managing to have fun for the first time all summer. [etc.]

BOOK 6, CHAPTER 6: DRACO'S DETOUR
“There have been another couple of dementor attacks,” he announced, as Mrs. Weasley passed him a large slice of birthday cake. “And they’ve found Igor Karkaroff’s body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it – well, frankly, I’m surprised he stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; Sirius’s brother, Regulus, only managed a few days as far as I can remember. But we didn’t know he’d deserted until the trials.”


[Hermione did not punch Malfoy in Book 3.]
BOOK 6, CHAPTER 9: THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Malfoy looked rather as he had done the time Hermione had slapped him in the face. Hermione turned to Harry with a radiant expression and whispered, “Did you really tell him I’m the best in the year? Oh, Harry!”

[I think at least two more of Snape’s memories should have been added.]

CHAPTER 33: THE PRINCE’S TALE
The scene shifted back to Snape’s room full of bookcases.
“I am disappointed,” said Dumbledore softly from his lone portrait. “To risk your position for Lupin...”
“So I should have let him be killed from behind?” replied Snape, angrily.
“I thought I made it clear that your duty is to remain in Voldemort’s good graces to protect the students of Hogwarts.”
“So, you’d have sacrificed them all your plan: Order members, the Weasley’s, Potter’s friends? What of your loyalty to those who believe in you?”
“It is not a question of loyalty to me but to our goals. They joined the Order to stop Voldemort. If I must risk or demand their sacrifice to protect the innocents in Hogwarts or to destroy Voldemort than I shall.”
Snape was shaking his head. “The Wizarding World in Britain is about to fall to the Dark Lord, and you did little this past year to stop him.”
Dumbledore put his hands together, his right showing no sign of last year’s injury. “It is a gambit: to offer the sacrifice of a powerful piece now, in the hope of a much greater gain later.”
“This isn’t Wizards’ chess,” snarled Snape. “Many will suffer under the Dark Lord’s rule.”
“You are right, but I am comfortable with the analogy for strategy, though much is left to chance. Preventing or delaying Lord Voldemort from siezing the Ministry was a fair plan before my injury. Even now, the exposure of Thicknesse could set him back weeks, but to what end? It won’t defeat Lord Voldemort, and many more lives would be lost.”

The scened changed to the Headmaster’s office. Snape is pacing before Dumbledore’s portrait.
“Ten! Ten Muggle-born students were taken to the Department of Mysteries today, and you want me to do nothing,” Snape said accusingly.
“That is unfortunately correct,” Dumbledore answered sadly. “The staff warned as many Muggle-borns as they could. But now you have a duty to protect the hundreds of students arriving tonight. You must let these few go as if their fate does not concern you.”
“There comes a point, Dumbledore, where there is no difference between acting and the real thing.”
Dumbledore sighed and closed his eyes. “If it is redemption you seek, you will not find it by saving others, but by playing your part in the downfall of Lord Voldemort.”
Snape turned away from Dumbledore, his eyes focusing on the Sword of Gryffindor in its glass case. “If you wanted Potter to have the sword you took a risk that Scrimgeour wouldn’t keep or hide it.”
“The Minister chose not to trust me enough to pass it along to him. Now getting it to Harry will be more difficult.”
“And you really think Potter might come to Hogwarts tonight under his invisibility cloak to try and take it?”
“We shall know by the end of the Feast. Have you prepared your start-of-term speech, Severus? The students must be impressed not to risk the wrath of the Carrows.”
Phineas Nigellus spoke, “Start strong, Headmaster. Really put the fear into them. It will be more difficult this term to maintain discipline after these whelps tasted rebellion against Umbridge.”
Snape nodded.

[Hopefully coming soon: A story for a chapter between the last thirty-(?) and the epilogue]

I posted this elsewhere, but thought I'd add it here too for fun.

DEATHLY HALLOWS TRAILER

SCENE 1:
Tinkling bells- Harry Potter Theme.
Two children sitting in a thicket.
GIRL> Hogwarts is real isn't it?
BOY> It's real for us.
GIRL> And the letter, will it really come by owl?
BOY> Normally. But you're Muggle-born, so someone ... will ... explain to your parents.
GIRL> Does it make a difference, having non-magical parents?

SCENE 2:
Theme becomes twisted, dark, fearful, driving - played by organ, cello, or tuba.
SHACKLEBOLT’s voice> The Ministry has fallen... They're coming.
People start screaming and running.

SCENE 3:
In the Ministry of Magic as Runcorn walks through, people are afraid.
Zoom in on the statue there of a witch and wizard on thrones over mounds of people.
Witch whispers, "Muggles in their place."

SCENE 4:
Harry and friends at the table in Grimmauld Place.
HERMIONE??> But surely people realize what's going on?
LUPIN> They are scared to speak out, in case... their families are targeted.

SCENE 5:
Bella is shown arrogantly marching down Diagon Alley past a poster of Harry Potter titled, "Undesirable Number One."
MAN> ...My Children? What has he done with them?
Man is blasted out of the way.

SCENE 6:
Harry and Lupin on broomsticks being pursued by Snape and another.
SNAPE> Sectumsempra!
Harry is struck in the ear, screams, grabs the side of his head, and falls.

SCENE 7:
Courtroom.
LUPIN voice-over> The Ministry has started moving against Muggle-borns.
Umbridge is seen smiling.
MAN> I tell you - my father was a wizard, he was.

SCENE 8:
Music changes to match Harry's sense of wonder and obsession.
MR.LOVEGOOD> Three... Hallows which if united will make the possessor Master of Death.

SCENE 9:
HERMIONE> It’s a fairy tale, Harry! – it can’t exist.
HARRY> The Deathly Hallows are real... It’s a Quest!
HERMIONE> I thought it was You-Know-Who we were supposed to be fighting?
HARRY> We could bring back Sirius... Dumbledore... My Parents.
HERMIONE> No Magic can raise the dead!
HERMIONE> Find and destroy the Horcruxes... forget the Deathly Hallows.

SCENE 10:
LUPIN voice-over> ‘The boy who lived’ remains a symbol... the Triumph of good, the power of innocence, the need to keep resisting.
Harry is seen casting stunning spells with three wands at the same time.

SCENE 11:
RIDDLE voice-over> All you desire is possible.
Harry’s mother is shown living and smiling.
Cut to Ginny kissing Harry.
Cut to Gringotts vault filled with treasure.
Cut to wicked-Hermione wrapping arms and a leg around wicked-Harry and kissing him.

SCENE 12:
RIDDLE voice-over> But all that you dread is also possible.
A view of bodies is seen in the Great Hall,
then two people in robes are shown from afar standing in the snow-covered graveyard.

SCENE 13:
RIDDLE voice-over> I have seen your heart and it is mine.
Ravenclaw common room. Harry’s face is enraged.
HARRY> Crucio!
Amycus screams and is blasted into the wall.
HARRY> Bella was right – you’ve really got to mean it.

COMING HALLOWEEN 20XX

SCENE 14:
BOY IN PUMPKIN SUIT> Nice costume.
Lord Voldemort glares at him.

Strictly speaking this isn't a Patch, but since I'm using this thread for my stuff, I thought I'd share what I wrote the other night.

QUIRRELL’S STORY
(part one: Leaving for Albania)
The professor gazed at one of several maps on his desk. Other than that and a mirror on the wall he was packed for departure. ‘Professor’ was his title for one more day, even though he was a substitute this term.
The ghost entered through the wall, which was the way of ghosts at Hogwarts. It seemed they almost deliberately avoided doorways, except perhaps the one belonging to the Headmaster.
“You wished to speak to me, Professor?” She was beautiful and young-seeming, but her bearing and voice gave an aura of superiority.
“Thank you, Gray Lady” he said with a slight bow of welcome. “I am planning to summer in Albania, quite adventurous I’m told, and I’d like to ask your advice on the area.”
“I’m afraid I can’t help you, Professor Quirrell. Perhaps you should ask someone more informed...”
He imagined she’d cross her arms in front of herself but that had never been a gesture characteristic of her.
“Really? I’d heard that you’d once resided there. Surely you could tell me something of... this place.” He pointed to a small circled section of the map deep inside a large area marked as woodland set aside for magical creatures.
Despite herself she glanced at where he was indicating and her face darkened slightly. Professor Quirrell was watching her carefully and noted her reaction.
“No, I’m sorry,” she said turning away. “Even if I had knowledge of that area, it would have been too long ago to benefit anyone.”
He stood up to watch her misty reflection in the mirror as she passed by it, and said, “Afraid I might find the lost diadem?”
Her ghost body stiffened slightly and Quirrell noted an instant of shock on her face before she glided through the wall.
Shock, not annoyance, he thought with triumph. For years students had been asking her about Ravenclaw’s lost diadem. Her response had always been predictably one of disdain to his fellow Ravenclaws who were bold enough to query her. No doubt past inquiries by staff and headmasters had been rebuffed as well; which is why he hadn’t done so until now.
He had been obsessed since school in the great mystery of what happened to the diadem. He’d completed his researches and nothing new had been written about it in a hundred years. Some sources reported seeing Rowena Ravenclaw with it until her death, at which time it disappeared. But tracking those who’d been with her in her final days or at her funeral had proven fruitless. If it changed hands then, it should have been revealed over the centuries as others passed away and their possessions distributed. No, he suspected that it might have gone to Helena, her daughter, whose ghost was now known as the Gray Lady. Discovering that she’d lived in Albania, and died young without heirs was a revelation. It hadn’t been easy to get the Bloody Baron to recount the location of his demise, and Quirrell still didn’t have the details other than he was sent there to find Ravenclaw’s daughter.
It was worth going to Albania just for the experience of dealing with dangerous magical creatures, anyway. But now he convinced it was there. The lure of the diadem possessed him – fame and glory and the magic power reputed to be in the diadem itself could be his! He would make a name for himself. And if he didn’t make it back by the start of fall term, well, he was only a substitute – Dumbledore hadn’t promised him steady work anyway.

(part two: Quirrell meets Voldemort)
(part three: Breaking into Gringotts)
(part four: Getting the D.A.D.A. job)
It was Dumbledore’s habit to interview prospective staff outside of Hogwarts, at least these past ten years. So it wasn’t out of the ordinary to meet Quirrell at The Three Broomsticks. Strictly speaking, correspondence by owl might have been enough since he’d been a substitute teacher for Professor Kettlebaum last year. But it was Dumbledore’s custom to interview all candidates for permanent staff positions; or as permanent as the Defense Against the Dark Arts post ever was, lately. He knocked on the door and entered the private room which Tom, the barman, had set aside for them.
Quirrel stood up with a start and offered his hand. He took it, Quirrell’s trembling slightly.
“G-Good to see you, again ... H-Headmaster,” he stuttered.
“Likewise,” he said gesturing that they should be seated. “Had a productive summer, I hope?”
“I’m af-fraid, I b-bit off more than,” he swallowed, “could chew.”
Dumbledore gazed at him more thoroughly. Quirrell’s clothing was presentable and familiar, though he was now wearing a turbin. He was evidently trying to control his hands from trembling, but though there was a sense of fear on his face, he met Dumbledore’s probing stare.
“What has happened to you, my good man?” he asked.
“M-Met things, wasn’t... p-p-pre – ready for. Nearly d-died.”
“Pardon me for asking, but have you been checked at St. Mungo’s?”
“N-No. T-Tried p-p-potions. Think it’s j-just nerves.”
“Well, then, let’s begin. Do you think you will be able to teach in your condition?”
“N-Not C-Care of Magical C-Creatures. They w-won’t like – they c-can smell f-fear.”
“Yes, well, Professor Kettlebaum has returned. He once said he could teach the class one-handed, and it looks like he will literally get his chance.” Dumbledore’s mustache quivered.
Quirrell didn’t even attempt to stammer a reply, he just wore a nervous smile and waited for Dumbledore to continue.
“I came here to discuss the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Our last professor got married and informed me she would be going abroad with her new husband. I believe you are most familiar with what’s usually on the O.W.L and the N.E.W.T.”
“I-I w-won’t have to handle D-Dark c-creatures?”
“I’m willing to allow considerable latitude in teaching methods and curriculum for this subject, provided student safety is not compromised and you inform me of anything you attempt that might be cause for concern to the Ministry.”
“Of course,” he gasped.
“In that case, I’d like to offer you the post.”
“Yes, thank you, P-Professor D-Dumble-d-dore. I accept.”
Dumbledore stood and Quirrell rose in response.
He grasped Quirrell’s hand briefly, “Then I’ll see you on the first of September. Please have your book list to me no later than a week before start of term.”
Dumbledore turned and departed.