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"Prefects, please hand out the exam papers. Remember to submit your essays next class. Alright, class dismissed!"
William put down his lesson plan and exam papers, feeling quite satisfied—the Self-Writing Chalk Charm was a truly practical bit of magic. That alone was enough to make him happy.
But the classroom was a bit strange today. The prefects didn't take the exam papers as usual, and not a single student stood up to leave.
'This shouldn't be happening. It's only been a month, are they already itching to rebel?'
"Hmm," William drew out the sound, his eyes sweeping over the students. "What's wrong? Why are you all just sitting there dumbfounded? If I recall correctly, isn't your next class with Professor McGonagall?"
The students below grew a little flustered. Their hands fidgeted restlessly under their desks, and they nudged each other, as if trying to pick a spokesperson.
Finally, Nancy from Ravenclaw was pushed to her feet by the person next to her. "Professor, um, we just wanted to ask... it's just, it's just—"
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost inaudible.
'It's just what? Am I that intimidating?'
"What is it, Nancy?"
William adopted a gentle tone—though in theory he should treat all students equally, she was the one with the best grades.
"It's... Ravenclaw's Diadem, Professor. Everyone is saying you've obtained it—"
Perhaps William's gentle demeanor gave her the courage she needed. She blurted out the question in one breath, "There are all sorts of rumors, and we wanted to hear from you if you really did get the Diadem."
'Is the secrecy in this castle on par with a sieve? How did this spread everywhere overnight?'
William covered his forehead and gave a speechless laugh—he hadn't even touched the Diadem, yet the story of him obtaining it had already spread throughout the entire castle.
He estimated that the news would soon spread to the entire Wizarding World through the students' parents. It was a relic of Ravenclaw, after all—an object that even a great scholar like Professor Flitwick would love to bring back to his office!
"Alright," he said with a sigh of resignation. Though in theory it wasn't good to take up the fifth-year students' time like this, as someone who had been a student himself, he knew very well that these kids, bursting with curiosity, wouldn't be stingy with their time right now.
Rather than let them waste time, it was better to just give them an answer. Once they got their fill of gossip, the students would lose interest.
"Due to some peculiar circumstances, the Diadem did appear, and I briefly had the right to use it—"
The students below began to gasp softly, but William couldn't be bothered with them.
"But—and pay attention—in order to protect this precious Diadem from Ravenclaw," William began spinning a tale with a straight face, "all sorts of wondrous and ancient protective magic have been cast upon it. And that magic is so ancient that even Dumbledore must take his time to decipher it."
He certainly couldn't say that Dumbledore planned to destroy the Diadem—any Ravenclaw graduate who heard that would storm the school to duel Dumbledore.
"The deciphering process might take a year, or even longer. During that time, it will remain in Dumbledore's possession." William first passed the buck, then began dangling a carrot. "Of course, if it is returned to me after being deciphered, I promise that the student who scores highest on this year's OWLs exam will be allowed to wear it for an entire day."
"This promise is permanent. And don't think an Outstanding is enough; I can retrieve the exact scores from the Wizarding Examinations Authority."
William added the final touch to his empty promise with a grin—anyway, if the Diadem was destroyed, it wasn't his fault. It would be Dumbledore's problem. It's not that *I* won't let you wear it!
"Hey, still not leaving? Do you want to hear the story of the Diadem? I don't think I'm a very good storyteller, but it might be on your History of Magic exam. Perhaps you could research it and write an essay? I'm on good terms with Professor Binns; I'm sure he'd be willing to help grade it."
"Goodbye, Professor!"
The students, who had still been hesitating, immediately swarmed toward the exit, snatching the exam papers William had left on the desk by the doorway and fleeing, not even waiting for the prefects to distribute them.
---
"Ha, William's here!"
William, who had just stepped into the Staff Room, was spotted by the group of professors gathered inside.
As William joined them and sat down, he realized this group of professors was also talking about the Diadem.
'What's with today? Why is everyone talking about the Diadem?'
"Ravenclaw's Diadem... I was asking about it back when I was a student!"
"Weren't we all? Especially during the OWLs. It was so bad, I'd dream that I had found the magical Diadem in a storage cupboard and then aced those blasted exams with a string of Outstandings!"
"And in the end?"
"In the end, I just had to study myself to death and ended up with seven Outstandings."
...
William was a little surprised. It was one thing for the students, but this group of professors, who had been adults for who knows how long, were also this obsessed with the Diadem?
"Professor William? Why are you so quiet? Tell us, what does the Diadem look like? Back in my school days, the top Ravenclaw in my year used to boast that he got such good grades with the help of the Diadem. I should write him a letter and ask what it looked like."
"Exactly, I heard that too, but it was a Gryffindor lad."
'Did your old classmates all use the Diadem for their boasting? Was extracurricular life at Hogwarts really that dull? Back in Azkaban, I used to boast about my Hypnotizing Glasses.'
"The Diadem's appearance is a bit hard to describe, but isn't it on display in Dumbledore's office now? You could go have a look—just find any excuse."
There were too many curious professors, and William really didn't have the heart to personally shatter their childhood dreams. He decided to push it all onto Dumbledore.
"We already tried. Professor Dumbledore has refused all visitors—" William recognized the professor who was speaking; it was Professor Taylor.
'Your own child is already grown, don't be so childish, Professor.'
William complained inwardly.
Just then, the office door was pushed open again. Before anyone could turn their heads, the newcomer began to shout, "Albus is being outrageous!"
'Who's being so arrogant?'
William turned his head along with the crowd—oh, it was Professor Kettleburn.
The elderly, near-retired professor raised his wooden arm to the sky in protest. "Albus wouldn't even open the door for me!"
"What dangers haven't I seen? 'The magic on the Diadem is too dangerous'—what kind of excuse is that!"
"You tell me," the old professor clattered into the middle of the group on his wooden leg. "What danger haven't I faced! I even have a plan to raise a dragon after I retire, and he has the nerve to tell me it's too dangerous!"
"Hey, young William!"
The old professor exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "Take me to Albus, let's go have a word with him!"
"It's no use grabbing Professor William. All that talk is just student gossip. Professor Flitwick is over there," a professor at the side offered helpfully, as the old professor was genuinely well-liked. "Though, Professor Flitwick doesn't look like he's in a good mood..."
ps: Writer's block is so frustrating...
(end of chapter)
William put down his lesson plan and exam papers, feeling quite satisfied—the Self-Writing Chalk Charm was a truly practical bit of magic. That alone was enough to make him happy.
But the classroom was a bit strange today. The prefects didn't take the exam papers as usual, and not a single student stood up to leave.
'This shouldn't be happening. It's only been a month, are they already itching to rebel?'
"Hmm," William drew out the sound, his eyes sweeping over the students. "What's wrong? Why are you all just sitting there dumbfounded? If I recall correctly, isn't your next class with Professor McGonagall?"
The students below grew a little flustered. Their hands fidgeted restlessly under their desks, and they nudged each other, as if trying to pick a spokesperson.
Finally, Nancy from Ravenclaw was pushed to her feet by the person next to her. "Professor, um, we just wanted to ask... it's just, it's just—"
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost inaudible.
'It's just what? Am I that intimidating?'
"What is it, Nancy?"
William adopted a gentle tone—though in theory he should treat all students equally, she was the one with the best grades.
"It's... Ravenclaw's Diadem, Professor. Everyone is saying you've obtained it—"
Perhaps William's gentle demeanor gave her the courage she needed. She blurted out the question in one breath, "There are all sorts of rumors, and we wanted to hear from you if you really did get the Diadem."
'Is the secrecy in this castle on par with a sieve? How did this spread everywhere overnight?'
William covered his forehead and gave a speechless laugh—he hadn't even touched the Diadem, yet the story of him obtaining it had already spread throughout the entire castle.
He estimated that the news would soon spread to the entire Wizarding World through the students' parents. It was a relic of Ravenclaw, after all—an object that even a great scholar like Professor Flitwick would love to bring back to his office!
"Alright," he said with a sigh of resignation. Though in theory it wasn't good to take up the fifth-year students' time like this, as someone who had been a student himself, he knew very well that these kids, bursting with curiosity, wouldn't be stingy with their time right now.
Rather than let them waste time, it was better to just give them an answer. Once they got their fill of gossip, the students would lose interest.
"Due to some peculiar circumstances, the Diadem did appear, and I briefly had the right to use it—"
The students below began to gasp softly, but William couldn't be bothered with them.
"But—and pay attention—in order to protect this precious Diadem from Ravenclaw," William began spinning a tale with a straight face, "all sorts of wondrous and ancient protective magic have been cast upon it. And that magic is so ancient that even Dumbledore must take his time to decipher it."
He certainly couldn't say that Dumbledore planned to destroy the Diadem—any Ravenclaw graduate who heard that would storm the school to duel Dumbledore.
"The deciphering process might take a year, or even longer. During that time, it will remain in Dumbledore's possession." William first passed the buck, then began dangling a carrot. "Of course, if it is returned to me after being deciphered, I promise that the student who scores highest on this year's OWLs exam will be allowed to wear it for an entire day."
"This promise is permanent. And don't think an Outstanding is enough; I can retrieve the exact scores from the Wizarding Examinations Authority."
William added the final touch to his empty promise with a grin—anyway, if the Diadem was destroyed, it wasn't his fault. It would be Dumbledore's problem. It's not that *I* won't let you wear it!
"Hey, still not leaving? Do you want to hear the story of the Diadem? I don't think I'm a very good storyteller, but it might be on your History of Magic exam. Perhaps you could research it and write an essay? I'm on good terms with Professor Binns; I'm sure he'd be willing to help grade it."
"Goodbye, Professor!"
The students, who had still been hesitating, immediately swarmed toward the exit, snatching the exam papers William had left on the desk by the doorway and fleeing, not even waiting for the prefects to distribute them.
---
"Ha, William's here!"
William, who had just stepped into the Staff Room, was spotted by the group of professors gathered inside.
As William joined them and sat down, he realized this group of professors was also talking about the Diadem.
'What's with today? Why is everyone talking about the Diadem?'
"Ravenclaw's Diadem... I was asking about it back when I was a student!"
"Weren't we all? Especially during the OWLs. It was so bad, I'd dream that I had found the magical Diadem in a storage cupboard and then aced those blasted exams with a string of Outstandings!"
"And in the end?"
"In the end, I just had to study myself to death and ended up with seven Outstandings."
...
William was a little surprised. It was one thing for the students, but this group of professors, who had been adults for who knows how long, were also this obsessed with the Diadem?
"Professor William? Why are you so quiet? Tell us, what does the Diadem look like? Back in my school days, the top Ravenclaw in my year used to boast that he got such good grades with the help of the Diadem. I should write him a letter and ask what it looked like."
"Exactly, I heard that too, but it was a Gryffindor lad."
'Did your old classmates all use the Diadem for their boasting? Was extracurricular life at Hogwarts really that dull? Back in Azkaban, I used to boast about my Hypnotizing Glasses.'
"The Diadem's appearance is a bit hard to describe, but isn't it on display in Dumbledore's office now? You could go have a look—just find any excuse."
There were too many curious professors, and William really didn't have the heart to personally shatter their childhood dreams. He decided to push it all onto Dumbledore.
"We already tried. Professor Dumbledore has refused all visitors—" William recognized the professor who was speaking; it was Professor Taylor.
'Your own child is already grown, don't be so childish, Professor.'
William complained inwardly.
Just then, the office door was pushed open again. Before anyone could turn their heads, the newcomer began to shout, "Albus is being outrageous!"
'Who's being so arrogant?'
William turned his head along with the crowd—oh, it was Professor Kettleburn.
The elderly, near-retired professor raised his wooden arm to the sky in protest. "Albus wouldn't even open the door for me!"
"What dangers haven't I seen? 'The magic on the Diadem is too dangerous'—what kind of excuse is that!"
"You tell me," the old professor clattered into the middle of the group on his wooden leg. "What danger haven't I faced! I even have a plan to raise a dragon after I retire, and he has the nerve to tell me it's too dangerous!"
"Hey, young William!"
The old professor exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "Take me to Albus, let's go have a word with him!"
"It's no use grabbing Professor William. All that talk is just student gossip. Professor Flitwick is over there," a professor at the side offered helpfully, as the old professor was genuinely well-liked. "Though, Professor Flitwick doesn't look like he's in a good mood..."
ps: Writer's block is so frustrating...
(end of chapter)
