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Chapter 50: A Double Blessing?
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
"Headmaster Dumbledore must have been truly frightened by what happened last term; otherwise, he wouldn't have said that."
"It's hard to say. I think it's more likely that Professor McGonagall forced Dumbledore to make that statement."
William had just finished acknowledging the students' welcome when he heard the younger professors begin to comment on Dumbledore's earlier speech.
However, Dumbledore had just announced the start of the feast, and the entire Great Hall was abuzz with noise. So even though they were sitting at the same long table, they didn't have to worry about the Headmaster, who sat in the middle, overhearing their discussion.
"This is the first time I've been so nervous in front of a group of students that my hands are sweating. How did you all get through it?"
William asked half-jokingly as he used his wand to clean the sweat from his hands.
"How else? Everyone goes through it. You're nervous for a bit, and then it passes. In any case, when it comes time for class, that small number of students won't make you feel nervous at all."
The speaker was a wizard of about twenty with slightly thinning hair, Professor Singeade, one of the Alchemy Professors.
"Oh, come on. The Alchemy course is only open to Sixth Years and above. My very first class was for the First Years. Honestly, I was more nervous than the students sitting in front of me."
Several professors around them laughed. Apparently, first-lesson jitters was a malady common to both students and teachers.
Seeing everyone's agreement, Professor Adams, the one who had spoken, chuckled. He was one of the Herbology professors, and the constant labor in the greenhouses had left him quite muscular.
"Do you want to guess how I eventually stopped being nervous?"
Professor Adams paused dramatically, then began reaching for the roasted potatoes on the table.
"A goblin ran into the greenhouse?"
"A student got bitten by a plant?"
...
After a good long while, Adams triumphantly announced the answer.
"At the time, I didn't even know what to say. Then, a mischievous first-year stepped in a pile of dragon dung. Being the impatient sort, he stumbled and fell right into it. By the time I'd used my wand to clean him off, I wasn't nervous at all anymore."
He spoke with great animation while cutting a roasted potato in half. The potato, with its sandy, golden texture, was split in two, revealing an enticing sheen in the candlelight.
William, who was just about to tackle a piece of roast beef, quietly set down his knife and fork.
The same thing happened to the circle of professors around him.
"Adams!"
William saw a wand aimed at the young Herbology professor, but Professor McGonagall's gaze swept their way.
Peace was instantly restored.
"Heh heh," the professor chuckled, his prank successful, and reached for the plumpest cut of lamb. "If you all aren't eating, I won't be polite. I already have to eat at least one meal a day in the greenhouse as it is."
"Go on, eat. Look at your table manners. Then look over at Professor Lockhart. He's much better than you are. I'd bet he wouldn't be nervous at all during his first lesson."
"Of course he wouldn't be. He's the first person at Hogwarts to introduce himself again right after the Headmaster already did. Honestly, have you seen that book list of his?"
"I saw it. It was like reading a report in The Daily Prophet. Honestly, I never thought he'd choose to come to the school to teach—"
The professor who was speaking glanced at William. "Sorry, Professor William. I'm so used to the old subject's name that for a moment, I completely forgot the new one."
"In any case, I suspect he's here to deal with that curse. Maybe there's actually some hope this time, eh, Professor William?"
These few professors who were speaking were all very young; some were even still in a further learning phase and hadn't officially started teaching. It was only for the Wizarding Self-Defense course, due to the extreme scarcity of professors, that a teacher would be allowed to instruct directly without on-the-job training or mentorship from a senior professor. (Hagrid had many years of experience raising magical creatures, and judging by the preferences of the previous professor, Kettleburn, Hagrid had likely been learning from him on a regular basis.)
*'Is that Professor Lockhart really so highly regarded among the younger professors?'*
William couldn't help but revise his opinion of Professor Lockhart. Judging solely from the comments of the young professors around him, the man who looked more like a bookseller was actually a remarkable figure.
While boastfulness can be somewhat off-putting, having enough strength to back it up completely changes the impression.
Someone with ability who loves the spotlight isn't a braggart—that's just someone with enough confidence in themselves!
Unfortunately, Professor Lockhart didn't notice this corner of the table. He was currently pulling the older professors into a discussion—if William wasn't mistaken, they were likely Lockhart's own teachers from his student days.
There was nothing strange about it. What's the point of becoming rich and famous if you don't return to your old stomping grounds to show it off?
Dumbledore, the Chief White Wizard himself, hadn't said a word against it, which proved the man must really have some skill. He himself, a professor out of Azkaban, was just here to make up the numbers. Could it be that such a famous figure was also just filling a spot?
With this thought, William's appetite suddenly returned. The curse had already been weakened once, and now the teammate bound to him by it seemed quite capable. If he also put in a bit more effort, perhaps they could dispose of the curse ahead of schedule!
Thinking of this, William quickly filled his stomach, then made an excuse about needing the lavatory and slipped away.
Setting aside the three new chests for the moment, the achievement that had popped up was worth investigating. Perhaps today was a day of double blessings: not only had he gained a teammate with a good chance of dealing with the curse, but maybe he'd also unlock a new Special Card that would directly increase his strength.
Avoiding those around him, William opened the System. He skipped past the Treasure Chests and tapped directly on the achievements interface, which had previously been grayed out.
【If You've Got a Problem, Fight Me: Be disliked by five or more people.】
【Description: You can activate or deactivate this achievement at any time. When the achievement is active, your chances of being provoked will increase slightly.】
I'd have to be sick in the head to activate this.
William ignored the achievement entirely—it wasn't like he was some invincible hero, and he certainly lacked that kind of combat power. Why would he activate it and make things difficult for himself?
【The Villain's Origin: Way to go. You're now hated by The Savior officially recorded in the history books.】
【Description: You can activate or deactivate this achievement at any time. When active, your efficiency in researching Dark Magic will increase, and you will not need to pay any cost. —To be honest, you've already paid the cost in advance.】
Recorded in the history books?
William was suddenly reminded of all the Defense Against the Dark Arts books he had purchased. Any book published within the last ten years would solemnly mention a child named Harry Potter and the being known as the Dark Lord, whom he had stopped.
For crying out loud, we've never even met. Where did all this hatred come from?
PS: I owe a chapter, will post it tomorrow. I'm really not feeling it today.
(end of chapter)
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
"Headmaster Dumbledore must have been truly frightened by what happened last term; otherwise, he wouldn't have said that."
"It's hard to say. I think it's more likely that Professor McGonagall forced Dumbledore to make that statement."
William had just finished acknowledging the students' welcome when he heard the younger professors begin to comment on Dumbledore's earlier speech.
However, Dumbledore had just announced the start of the feast, and the entire Great Hall was abuzz with noise. So even though they were sitting at the same long table, they didn't have to worry about the Headmaster, who sat in the middle, overhearing their discussion.
"This is the first time I've been so nervous in front of a group of students that my hands are sweating. How did you all get through it?"
William asked half-jokingly as he used his wand to clean the sweat from his hands.
"How else? Everyone goes through it. You're nervous for a bit, and then it passes. In any case, when it comes time for class, that small number of students won't make you feel nervous at all."
The speaker was a wizard of about twenty with slightly thinning hair, Professor Singeade, one of the Alchemy Professors.
"Oh, come on. The Alchemy course is only open to Sixth Years and above. My very first class was for the First Years. Honestly, I was more nervous than the students sitting in front of me."
Several professors around them laughed. Apparently, first-lesson jitters was a malady common to both students and teachers.
Seeing everyone's agreement, Professor Adams, the one who had spoken, chuckled. He was one of the Herbology professors, and the constant labor in the greenhouses had left him quite muscular.
"Do you want to guess how I eventually stopped being nervous?"
Professor Adams paused dramatically, then began reaching for the roasted potatoes on the table.
"A goblin ran into the greenhouse?"
"A student got bitten by a plant?"
...
After a good long while, Adams triumphantly announced the answer.
"At the time, I didn't even know what to say. Then, a mischievous first-year stepped in a pile of dragon dung. Being the impatient sort, he stumbled and fell right into it. By the time I'd used my wand to clean him off, I wasn't nervous at all anymore."
He spoke with great animation while cutting a roasted potato in half. The potato, with its sandy, golden texture, was split in two, revealing an enticing sheen in the candlelight.
William, who was just about to tackle a piece of roast beef, quietly set down his knife and fork.
The same thing happened to the circle of professors around him.
"Adams!"
William saw a wand aimed at the young Herbology professor, but Professor McGonagall's gaze swept their way.
Peace was instantly restored.
"Heh heh," the professor chuckled, his prank successful, and reached for the plumpest cut of lamb. "If you all aren't eating, I won't be polite. I already have to eat at least one meal a day in the greenhouse as it is."
"Go on, eat. Look at your table manners. Then look over at Professor Lockhart. He's much better than you are. I'd bet he wouldn't be nervous at all during his first lesson."
"Of course he wouldn't be. He's the first person at Hogwarts to introduce himself again right after the Headmaster already did. Honestly, have you seen that book list of his?"
"I saw it. It was like reading a report in The Daily Prophet. Honestly, I never thought he'd choose to come to the school to teach—"
The professor who was speaking glanced at William. "Sorry, Professor William. I'm so used to the old subject's name that for a moment, I completely forgot the new one."
"In any case, I suspect he's here to deal with that curse. Maybe there's actually some hope this time, eh, Professor William?"
These few professors who were speaking were all very young; some were even still in a further learning phase and hadn't officially started teaching. It was only for the Wizarding Self-Defense course, due to the extreme scarcity of professors, that a teacher would be allowed to instruct directly without on-the-job training or mentorship from a senior professor. (Hagrid had many years of experience raising magical creatures, and judging by the preferences of the previous professor, Kettleburn, Hagrid had likely been learning from him on a regular basis.)
*'Is that Professor Lockhart really so highly regarded among the younger professors?'*
William couldn't help but revise his opinion of Professor Lockhart. Judging solely from the comments of the young professors around him, the man who looked more like a bookseller was actually a remarkable figure.
While boastfulness can be somewhat off-putting, having enough strength to back it up completely changes the impression.
Someone with ability who loves the spotlight isn't a braggart—that's just someone with enough confidence in themselves!
Unfortunately, Professor Lockhart didn't notice this corner of the table. He was currently pulling the older professors into a discussion—if William wasn't mistaken, they were likely Lockhart's own teachers from his student days.
There was nothing strange about it. What's the point of becoming rich and famous if you don't return to your old stomping grounds to show it off?
Dumbledore, the Chief White Wizard himself, hadn't said a word against it, which proved the man must really have some skill. He himself, a professor out of Azkaban, was just here to make up the numbers. Could it be that such a famous figure was also just filling a spot?
With this thought, William's appetite suddenly returned. The curse had already been weakened once, and now the teammate bound to him by it seemed quite capable. If he also put in a bit more effort, perhaps they could dispose of the curse ahead of schedule!
Thinking of this, William quickly filled his stomach, then made an excuse about needing the lavatory and slipped away.
Setting aside the three new chests for the moment, the achievement that had popped up was worth investigating. Perhaps today was a day of double blessings: not only had he gained a teammate with a good chance of dealing with the curse, but maybe he'd also unlock a new Special Card that would directly increase his strength.
Avoiding those around him, William opened the System. He skipped past the Treasure Chests and tapped directly on the achievements interface, which had previously been grayed out.
【If You've Got a Problem, Fight Me: Be disliked by five or more people.】
【Description: You can activate or deactivate this achievement at any time. When the achievement is active, your chances of being provoked will increase slightly.】
I'd have to be sick in the head to activate this.
William ignored the achievement entirely—it wasn't like he was some invincible hero, and he certainly lacked that kind of combat power. Why would he activate it and make things difficult for himself?
【The Villain's Origin: Way to go. You're now hated by The Savior officially recorded in the history books.】
【Description: You can activate or deactivate this achievement at any time. When active, your efficiency in researching Dark Magic will increase, and you will not need to pay any cost. —To be honest, you've already paid the cost in advance.】
Recorded in the history books?
William was suddenly reminded of all the Defense Against the Dark Arts books he had purchased. Any book published within the last ten years would solemnly mention a child named Harry Potter and the being known as the Dark Lord, whom he had stopped.
For crying out loud, we've never even met. Where did all this hatred come from?
PS: I owe a chapter, will post it tomorrow. I'm really not feeling it today.
(end of chapter)
