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Chapter 147: The Old Professor's Dream
Although the matter of the Diadem was spreading like wildfire among the students, the true version was mixed with other rumors, making it impossible for even the professors in Hogwarts Castle to distinguish the truth.
Although Professor Flitwick disdained spreading inflammatory remarks like how the Diadem should belong to Ravenclaw House, he was certainly unwilling to tell others that Ravenclaw's daughter had given the Diadem away—not to mention there was a high chance Dumbledore would destroy it, which nearly drove the old Head of House to despair.
However, the uninformed clearly did not include Professor Kettleburn, who was standing right before him. He cheerfully pulled William away, showing no intention of explaining to his other colleagues.
"Professor Kettleburn, that thing is really dangerous. It's not that I won't let you touch it, but at the very least, we have to let Dumbledore deal with all the Dark Magic on it, right?"
On the way, William tried to persuade the old Professor with painstaking earnestness.
He couldn't possibly refuse the Professor outright. When he first started at the school and found himself in an awkward position, it was this very Professor who had personally introduced him, the newcomer, to the other professors, allowing William to integrate into their circle.
After that, Professor Kettleburn had invited him to join the professors' games on several occasions, preventing him from being left out because he hadn't been a student at the school himself.
To be honest, if there was nothing wrong with the Diadem, William would have given it to the old Professor after only a moment's heartache, let alone the fact that the old Professor just wanted to fulfill a childhood dream.
As a child, William had loved watching Doraemon. If a blue, chubby cat had really emerged from his drawer, he would probably have been even happier than Professor Kettleburn was now, so he completely understood the old Professor's actions.
"Really, Professor Kettleburn, that's no simple Curse. Ginny Weasley, a First Year student, was able to knock Mr. Filch down after putting it on—" William said, describing the terrifying Magic on it while steadying the old Professor, who was so excited his wooden leg was starting to wobble. "Just imagine, if a Professor like you were to put it on, what would happen if you ended up taking down Dumbledore?"
"Take down Albus?"
Not only did the old Professor show no hint of worry, but his eyes also brightened, making William feel the urge to slap himself a few times.
*'So, you think taking down Dumbledore and wearing the Diadem are both things to celebrate? Double the joy?'*
While steadying the excited old Professor to keep him from slipping, William racked his brain for other words of persuasion.
But he came up with nothing. A huge and ugly stone monster soon appeared before them.
"Ha, young William, we've arrived at Dumbledore's Office. Let's see what he has to say this time!"
The old Professor declared triumphantly, shouting at the stone monster, "Chocolate Frog!"
*'I like this one!'*
Just as this reaction surfaced in William's mind, the monster came to life and sprang aside, revealing a splitting wall behind it.
As the crevice in the wall widened, a spiral staircase appeared.
"Let's go, young William. I'd like to see what excuse Albus has to hide from me now!"
After the old Professor pulled William onto the staircase, it began to ascend automatically, carrying them ever upward.
About two or three minutes later, a gleaming oak door appeared before them.
The old Professor strode forward and grabbed the brass door knocker, which was shaped like a Griffin.
"Albus, I'm here again! Look who I've brought with me!"
The door opened silently, revealing Dumbledore's face, etched with a look of resignation William had almost never seen before.
"Professor Kettleburn, I've told you, it's too dangerous. You can't just put it on."
"Albus, you know I don't care about danger—is there anything more dangerous than my job?"
The old Professor held out his wooden arm. "Is it really like young William said? That if I put it on, I could give you a good thrashing?"
*'I wasn't trying to get you into trouble, Professor! You can't just throw me under the bus like that!'*
But Dumbledore smiled. "Don't even think about it, Professor Kettleburn."
"So what's there to worry about, Albus?" the old Professor laughed along. "A First Year student could wear it, but an old Wizard on the verge of retirement like me can't handle a problem that a little girl could?"
"But she couldn't handle it, Professor Kettleburn."
"That's why I'm here! There are plenty of Ravenclaw graduates, you can't just keep the Diadem locked up in your office, Albus." He laughed, knocking his wooden arm on the table, making a rapping sound. "As for destroying it, Albus, you'll be the next Headmaster to be impeached."
"I don't think my fate will be quite so tragic—" Dumbledore replied with a rather relaxed smile.
"It won't? If the Diadem is really destroyed, the Ravenclaw students will go mad. Even if you are Dumbledore, they'll drive you out—" the old Professor laughed as well. "I remember very clearly how Armando was driven out."
"Young William, I recall the Diadem belongs to you, doesn't it?" The old Professor turned his head, his smile exceptionally bright. "You wouldn't want those fellows from the Ministry of Magic to pick a new Headmaster for the school, would you? I think I'm very well-suited to wear that Diadem—I'm an old man about to retire. Surely this small request can be fulfilled, can't it?"
"Professor, I think we have time to deal with the Diadem," William said, choosing his words carefully. "After all, it's still at Hogwarts. Besides, ownership of the Diadem was given to me, not the school. Personal items won't be pursued so harshly."
"You young people," the old Professor said with a look of exasperation. "Don't forget your background. You think you can resist? Believe it or not, you'll be sent back to rot in Azkaban!"
...
William fell silent at the old Professor's words. Although he was still young, if the matter of the Diadem truly fell on his shoulders, the issue of his parole from Azkaban would definitely be dredged up. It was entirely possible he would be sent back for 'further study'.
"You see, the school can't afford to lose its new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, can it? And the Headmaster can't afford that loss either, right?"
The old Professor gave a sly chuckle. "If I run into danger, you'll save me, won't you, Albus? It would be far too embarrassing if I lost my remaining arm right in front of you."
"Don't be so disheartened, young William. The school finally has a good Professor—besides, this thing just knows how to bewitch people. It's not as dangerous as you two make it out to be."
The old Professor wore a confident expression. "Don't act like I'm some kind of martyr. I'm telling you, Albus, if I get myself killed because you failed to protect me, I'll become a Ghost and come to your office to spit on you every single day until you retire!"
"Don't either of you try to stop me," the old Professor said, pointing at them with his one remaining arm. "This has been my greatest dream since my first year at Hogwarts!"
(end of chapter)
Although the matter of the Diadem was spreading like wildfire among the students, the true version was mixed with other rumors, making it impossible for even the professors in Hogwarts Castle to distinguish the truth.
Although Professor Flitwick disdained spreading inflammatory remarks like how the Diadem should belong to Ravenclaw House, he was certainly unwilling to tell others that Ravenclaw's daughter had given the Diadem away—not to mention there was a high chance Dumbledore would destroy it, which nearly drove the old Head of House to despair.
However, the uninformed clearly did not include Professor Kettleburn, who was standing right before him. He cheerfully pulled William away, showing no intention of explaining to his other colleagues.
"Professor Kettleburn, that thing is really dangerous. It's not that I won't let you touch it, but at the very least, we have to let Dumbledore deal with all the Dark Magic on it, right?"
On the way, William tried to persuade the old Professor with painstaking earnestness.
He couldn't possibly refuse the Professor outright. When he first started at the school and found himself in an awkward position, it was this very Professor who had personally introduced him, the newcomer, to the other professors, allowing William to integrate into their circle.
After that, Professor Kettleburn had invited him to join the professors' games on several occasions, preventing him from being left out because he hadn't been a student at the school himself.
To be honest, if there was nothing wrong with the Diadem, William would have given it to the old Professor after only a moment's heartache, let alone the fact that the old Professor just wanted to fulfill a childhood dream.
As a child, William had loved watching Doraemon. If a blue, chubby cat had really emerged from his drawer, he would probably have been even happier than Professor Kettleburn was now, so he completely understood the old Professor's actions.
"Really, Professor Kettleburn, that's no simple Curse. Ginny Weasley, a First Year student, was able to knock Mr. Filch down after putting it on—" William said, describing the terrifying Magic on it while steadying the old Professor, who was so excited his wooden leg was starting to wobble. "Just imagine, if a Professor like you were to put it on, what would happen if you ended up taking down Dumbledore?"
"Take down Albus?"
Not only did the old Professor show no hint of worry, but his eyes also brightened, making William feel the urge to slap himself a few times.
*'So, you think taking down Dumbledore and wearing the Diadem are both things to celebrate? Double the joy?'*
While steadying the excited old Professor to keep him from slipping, William racked his brain for other words of persuasion.
But he came up with nothing. A huge and ugly stone monster soon appeared before them.
"Ha, young William, we've arrived at Dumbledore's Office. Let's see what he has to say this time!"
The old Professor declared triumphantly, shouting at the stone monster, "Chocolate Frog!"
*'I like this one!'*
Just as this reaction surfaced in William's mind, the monster came to life and sprang aside, revealing a splitting wall behind it.
As the crevice in the wall widened, a spiral staircase appeared.
"Let's go, young William. I'd like to see what excuse Albus has to hide from me now!"
After the old Professor pulled William onto the staircase, it began to ascend automatically, carrying them ever upward.
About two or three minutes later, a gleaming oak door appeared before them.
The old Professor strode forward and grabbed the brass door knocker, which was shaped like a Griffin.
"Albus, I'm here again! Look who I've brought with me!"
The door opened silently, revealing Dumbledore's face, etched with a look of resignation William had almost never seen before.
"Professor Kettleburn, I've told you, it's too dangerous. You can't just put it on."
"Albus, you know I don't care about danger—is there anything more dangerous than my job?"
The old Professor held out his wooden arm. "Is it really like young William said? That if I put it on, I could give you a good thrashing?"
*'I wasn't trying to get you into trouble, Professor! You can't just throw me under the bus like that!'*
But Dumbledore smiled. "Don't even think about it, Professor Kettleburn."
"So what's there to worry about, Albus?" the old Professor laughed along. "A First Year student could wear it, but an old Wizard on the verge of retirement like me can't handle a problem that a little girl could?"
"But she couldn't handle it, Professor Kettleburn."
"That's why I'm here! There are plenty of Ravenclaw graduates, you can't just keep the Diadem locked up in your office, Albus." He laughed, knocking his wooden arm on the table, making a rapping sound. "As for destroying it, Albus, you'll be the next Headmaster to be impeached."
"I don't think my fate will be quite so tragic—" Dumbledore replied with a rather relaxed smile.
"It won't? If the Diadem is really destroyed, the Ravenclaw students will go mad. Even if you are Dumbledore, they'll drive you out—" the old Professor laughed as well. "I remember very clearly how Armando was driven out."
"Young William, I recall the Diadem belongs to you, doesn't it?" The old Professor turned his head, his smile exceptionally bright. "You wouldn't want those fellows from the Ministry of Magic to pick a new Headmaster for the school, would you? I think I'm very well-suited to wear that Diadem—I'm an old man about to retire. Surely this small request can be fulfilled, can't it?"
"Professor, I think we have time to deal with the Diadem," William said, choosing his words carefully. "After all, it's still at Hogwarts. Besides, ownership of the Diadem was given to me, not the school. Personal items won't be pursued so harshly."
"You young people," the old Professor said with a look of exasperation. "Don't forget your background. You think you can resist? Believe it or not, you'll be sent back to rot in Azkaban!"
...
William fell silent at the old Professor's words. Although he was still young, if the matter of the Diadem truly fell on his shoulders, the issue of his parole from Azkaban would definitely be dredged up. It was entirely possible he would be sent back for 'further study'.
"You see, the school can't afford to lose its new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, can it? And the Headmaster can't afford that loss either, right?"
The old Professor gave a sly chuckle. "If I run into danger, you'll save me, won't you, Albus? It would be far too embarrassing if I lost my remaining arm right in front of you."
"Don't be so disheartened, young William. The school finally has a good Professor—besides, this thing just knows how to bewitch people. It's not as dangerous as you two make it out to be."
The old Professor wore a confident expression. "Don't act like I'm some kind of martyr. I'm telling you, Albus, if I get myself killed because you failed to protect me, I'll become a Ghost and come to your office to spit on you every single day until you retire!"
"Don't either of you try to stop me," the old Professor said, pointing at them with his one remaining arm. "This has been my greatest dream since my first year at Hogwarts!"
(end of chapter)
