Upon hearing the Sphinx's words, Newt showed an unbelievably shocked expression.
"Merlin? Is Merlin really a student of Slytherin?" Newt asked in shock, "But wasn't Merlin around the fifth century? How could he be a Slytherin student? Oh my god..."
"Because Merlin also time-traveled, it's that simple." The Sphinx waved her lion's paw, speaking nonchalantly.
Newt lowered his head and mouthed "Wow" silently.
He really didn't expect that Merlin was actually a Slytherin student—he had always thought it was just some Slytherins trying to make themselves look better.
Turns out it was all true!
It's true!
"Hey!" Harry raised a finger, thinking of a new job for the Sphinx: "Why don't you replace Lady Pang and guard the Gryffindor entrance—this way Hogwarts could be even safer."
Of course, he wasn't just randomly suggesting it, believing the Sphinx should be better at guarding the door than Lady Pang.
Not to say Lady Pang was bad, but she did get a little hyper and sometimes forgot to open the door while busy with her own things—for instance, the other day she was practicing her soprano, keeping the waiting students in annoyance before finally allowing them through.
"Guard the door?" The Sphinx seemed intrigued.
She didn't think guarding a door was a bad thing. In fact, what Hera had her do before wasn't much different from guarding a door.
"Exactly, like the doorknocker at Ravenclaw College," Newt added from the side, "Students can only enter the common room by correctly answering the doorknocker's question... I think Gryffindor could adopt a similar practice, at least it might make you lions less reckless."
The Sphinx, who initially frowned, quickly became resolute after hearing "make you lions less reckless."
Yes, as a lion, how could she sit by and let lions with the same trait as hers be labeled as "reckless"?
"I think it's a great suggestion," the Sphinx said casually, "The next issue is how we convince the school principal."
"Principal Dumbledore is a very approachable person," Harry said with a laugh, "But our current issue isn't just this, there's also... Sebastian."
Having said that, he reached out and patted Sebastian's petrified soul.
He was amazed to find that the petrified Sebastian's soul had a solid form, feeling as if he had patted stone.
"Perhaps you could carry him; anyhow, I think you need to fix your little snake so it doesn't petrify anyone else next time," the Sphinx said mischievously, hoping he'd find enough Mandrake Potion.
"I still have some in stock," Harry said, carrying Sebastian off to Madam Pomfrey's hospital wing.
In the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was applying medicine to an injured student when she saw Harry enter carrying a gray ghost, her hands didn't stop moving.
"Oh my, Mr. Potter, has the Slytherin Secret Chamber been opened again?"
"No, just a minor accident," Harry said to Madam Pomfrey. "Do you have any Petrification Antidote left? My ghost friend is petrified..."
"I have a bit left, just place him here," Madam Pomfrey replied, "Remember to pick him up this time tomorrow, the petrification reversal takes time."
"Okay, ma'am," Harry said politely, bowing to Madam Pomfrey as he placed Sebastian's ghost on the bed.
He patted Sebastian on the shoulder, whispering, "I'll check on you tomorrow, buddy."
With that, he left the hospital wing and headed to the Headmaster's Office.
Inside the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore was resting his eyes. Even as Harry entered, he didn't open them, softly asking, "Harry?"
"It's me, Professor," Harry said, waving to Phineas on the side.
Phineas waved back, looking very buddy-buddy.
Dumbledore rubbed his eyes, looking wearied.
"What's the matter, Professor?" Harry asked with concern.
Dumbledore sighed.
"Newt was here already, saying he wants the Sphinx you brought back to be Gryffindor's guardian."
Harry: ?
What, how did you get here so fast?!
Clearly, Professor Scamander really wanted to keep the Sphinx.
"What do you think about it?" Harry asked uncertainly.
"I don't oppose it, but we can't let Lady Pang lose her job; she's been guarding the Gryffindor common room entrance for hundreds of years," Dumbledore said with a smile.
He added, "But we could consult Lady Pang's opinion—perhaps she doesn't want to guard it anymore?"
"I seriously doubt Gryffindor students could even enter the dormitories if the Sphinx were guarding the door," Harry said, holding his head.
"I think Newt's idea is good, it could train Gryffindor's thinking skills and make you less reckless," Dumbledore said leisurely, "Besides, Gryffindor isn't without smart kids. If I'm not mistaken, Hermione is a very clever witch. I'm confident the Sphinx won't stump her."