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Chapter 52: The School's Welfare is Pretty Good
A baffling ghost.
This was William's only assessment of the encounter he just had.
After such an encounter, William completely lost interest in going to the Great Hall. After all, the introductions were over, and the Headmaster had already given his speech—surely he wouldn't give another one after the feast, right?
With this in mind, he headed towards the office assigned to him. His trunk should have been delivered by now, making it the perfect time to unpack and get his bed ready.
---
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knock sounded at the door. William, who was struggling to pull a stack of books from his trunk, quickly glanced around to make sure there was nothing unfit for company. Then, hand on his wand, he opened the office door.
To his surprise, it wasn't a guest at the door, but a house-elf.
"Sorry, Professor, we shouldn't Apparate into an occupied room, but I need to prepare your bedding now."
"Prepare my bedding?"
"Yes, Professor. We also provide cleaning services every day when the room is empty."
"Can that be canceled?"
William didn't like the idea of anyone entering his room freely—he knew a few Cleaning Spells himself.
"As you wish, Professor. You can summon us at any time for cleaning or other services. My name is Bart, and you can call for me simply by shouting my name."
"Other services? Could you bring some food?"
William asked tentatively.
"As you wish, Professor."
With a loud crack, the house-elf named Bart vanished on the spot.
Apparition?
William was completely stunned.
If he remembered correctly, Apparition was strictly forbidden on school grounds—this was clearly stated in both the notice he had received from the school authority and the books he'd bought about Hogwarts.
While he stood there stunned, the house-elf named Bart reappeared, holding a bamboo basket. Inside were roast chicken, bread, and sausage.
"Apologies, Professor. According to the school rules, the Headmaster forbids house-elves from providing alcohol to anyone on the school grounds, unless it is for a feast."
Bart apologized with a bow, simultaneously using magic to move the basket onto the desk.
"No problem, I'm more than satisfied with this."
William said gratefully.
"Then, shall I help you make your new bed, Professor?"
"Could you just bring it over for me?"
Bart looked a little unhappy, but he still quickly brought William his unopened bedding.
"Is there anything else I can help with? Help you move your books to the bookshelf? Hang the portrait on the wall? Clean the floor?"
"None of that is necessary, thank you. What should I do with the dishes when I'm finished?"
"You can summon me, Professor. I will take care of everything, Professor."
William had to be firm to persuade the house-elf, who was desperate to unpack his trunk, to leave. Bart kept staring at William's open trunk, as if it pained him not to put everything in its proper place.
'I finally understand why that house-elf named Jinbi was so popular in the prison at first.'
William thought as he tore into the roast chicken.
Judging by that level of service, this was probably what the most perfect servant was like—unless someone wanted to develop other uses for them.
Although he hadn't received his first month's salary, William had already truly experienced the benefits provided to a Hogwarts professor.
Considering his position was essentially a one-year disposable post, every professor at Hogwarts must receive such meticulous care from these elves. It was even possible that permanently appointed professors had their own personal house-elf.
Recalling the look of anticipation on his Fellow Prisoner's face in Azkaban when he spoke of house-elves, William now wanted nothing more than to tell him that house-elves were nothing special.
After Bart had cleared away the basket and taken his leave, William began to examine his office again.
It was a good-sized room. The office contained a large desk and several chairs. Two tall bookshelves occupied the left wall, and to the right was a partitioned-off space serving as a sitting room—which William hadn't had a chance to look inside yet.
The floor was spotless, and there was no dust in the room; the house-elves had obviously cleaned it thoroughly beforehand.
After using magic to arrange the books he needed on the shelves, William carried the still-heavy trunk into the side room.
This area was much smaller, containing a wardrobe, a partitioned-off bathroom, and an oversized single bed. The house-elf had just delivered the bedding.
Room and board were covered, and they even provided a house-elf.
To be honest, William was starting to feel a bit envious—aside from the matter of personal safety, he felt he had found one more reason to stay on as a professor.
Just as William was putting his clothes in the wardrobe, another knock came from the office door.
He closed his trunk, wand in hand, and opened the door again.
It was Bart again.
The house-elf, who wore a tea towel around his waist, had a regretful expression.
"Apologies, Professor, I forgot to bring the toiletries over. Here is your complete set!"
"Also, Professor, do you require a wake-up service? I will be here to wake you at your appointed time."
"Thank you. If you could, please wake me at six-thirty tomorrow morning."
"Of course, Professor." Bart's voice was filled with joy.
After the house-elf disappeared, William glanced at the books on the bookshelf, then thought about the rest of his unpacked belongings. He decided to leave them for a while. For some reason, he suddenly felt the urge to organize his materials.
Having to leave due to a broken leg would be one thing—and though there was a precedent set by the old professor, William chose to ignore that possibility—but getting expelled from Hogwarts for being a poor teacher? That would be an utter betrayal of the wonderful treatment he'd received from the moment he arrived!
William hauled thick books down from the bookshelf. The textbooks chosen by previous professors were spread out, revealing pages covered in dense notes.
"No classes tomorrow morning, but the first lecture in the afternoon is for the sixth-years—I can relax a bit for that one."
"The day after, the first morning lecture is for the fifth-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and the first afternoon lecture is for the fifth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins."
"These classes are the most critical. Compared to the sixth-years, the fifth-years' final exams, the O.W.L.s, are far too important. I have to give those students enough confidence to accept my theories and diligently work through the problems."
He worked late into the night. William didn't even bother to take a bath before collapsing onto his bed and falling asleep.
(end of chapter)
A baffling ghost.
This was William's only assessment of the encounter he just had.
After such an encounter, William completely lost interest in going to the Great Hall. After all, the introductions were over, and the Headmaster had already given his speech—surely he wouldn't give another one after the feast, right?
With this in mind, he headed towards the office assigned to him. His trunk should have been delivered by now, making it the perfect time to unpack and get his bed ready.
---
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knock sounded at the door. William, who was struggling to pull a stack of books from his trunk, quickly glanced around to make sure there was nothing unfit for company. Then, hand on his wand, he opened the office door.
To his surprise, it wasn't a guest at the door, but a house-elf.
"Sorry, Professor, we shouldn't Apparate into an occupied room, but I need to prepare your bedding now."
"Prepare my bedding?"
"Yes, Professor. We also provide cleaning services every day when the room is empty."
"Can that be canceled?"
William didn't like the idea of anyone entering his room freely—he knew a few Cleaning Spells himself.
"As you wish, Professor. You can summon us at any time for cleaning or other services. My name is Bart, and you can call for me simply by shouting my name."
"Other services? Could you bring some food?"
William asked tentatively.
"As you wish, Professor."
With a loud crack, the house-elf named Bart vanished on the spot.
Apparition?
William was completely stunned.
If he remembered correctly, Apparition was strictly forbidden on school grounds—this was clearly stated in both the notice he had received from the school authority and the books he'd bought about Hogwarts.
While he stood there stunned, the house-elf named Bart reappeared, holding a bamboo basket. Inside were roast chicken, bread, and sausage.
"Apologies, Professor. According to the school rules, the Headmaster forbids house-elves from providing alcohol to anyone on the school grounds, unless it is for a feast."
Bart apologized with a bow, simultaneously using magic to move the basket onto the desk.
"No problem, I'm more than satisfied with this."
William said gratefully.
"Then, shall I help you make your new bed, Professor?"
"Could you just bring it over for me?"
Bart looked a little unhappy, but he still quickly brought William his unopened bedding.
"Is there anything else I can help with? Help you move your books to the bookshelf? Hang the portrait on the wall? Clean the floor?"
"None of that is necessary, thank you. What should I do with the dishes when I'm finished?"
"You can summon me, Professor. I will take care of everything, Professor."
William had to be firm to persuade the house-elf, who was desperate to unpack his trunk, to leave. Bart kept staring at William's open trunk, as if it pained him not to put everything in its proper place.
'I finally understand why that house-elf named Jinbi was so popular in the prison at first.'
William thought as he tore into the roast chicken.
Judging by that level of service, this was probably what the most perfect servant was like—unless someone wanted to develop other uses for them.
Although he hadn't received his first month's salary, William had already truly experienced the benefits provided to a Hogwarts professor.
Considering his position was essentially a one-year disposable post, every professor at Hogwarts must receive such meticulous care from these elves. It was even possible that permanently appointed professors had their own personal house-elf.
Recalling the look of anticipation on his Fellow Prisoner's face in Azkaban when he spoke of house-elves, William now wanted nothing more than to tell him that house-elves were nothing special.
After Bart had cleared away the basket and taken his leave, William began to examine his office again.
It was a good-sized room. The office contained a large desk and several chairs. Two tall bookshelves occupied the left wall, and to the right was a partitioned-off space serving as a sitting room—which William hadn't had a chance to look inside yet.
The floor was spotless, and there was no dust in the room; the house-elves had obviously cleaned it thoroughly beforehand.
After using magic to arrange the books he needed on the shelves, William carried the still-heavy trunk into the side room.
This area was much smaller, containing a wardrobe, a partitioned-off bathroom, and an oversized single bed. The house-elf had just delivered the bedding.
Room and board were covered, and they even provided a house-elf.
To be honest, William was starting to feel a bit envious—aside from the matter of personal safety, he felt he had found one more reason to stay on as a professor.
Just as William was putting his clothes in the wardrobe, another knock came from the office door.
He closed his trunk, wand in hand, and opened the door again.
It was Bart again.
The house-elf, who wore a tea towel around his waist, had a regretful expression.
"Apologies, Professor, I forgot to bring the toiletries over. Here is your complete set!"
"Also, Professor, do you require a wake-up service? I will be here to wake you at your appointed time."
"Thank you. If you could, please wake me at six-thirty tomorrow morning."
"Of course, Professor." Bart's voice was filled with joy.
After the house-elf disappeared, William glanced at the books on the bookshelf, then thought about the rest of his unpacked belongings. He decided to leave them for a while. For some reason, he suddenly felt the urge to organize his materials.
Having to leave due to a broken leg would be one thing—and though there was a precedent set by the old professor, William chose to ignore that possibility—but getting expelled from Hogwarts for being a poor teacher? That would be an utter betrayal of the wonderful treatment he'd received from the moment he arrived!
William hauled thick books down from the bookshelf. The textbooks chosen by previous professors were spread out, revealing pages covered in dense notes.
"No classes tomorrow morning, but the first lecture in the afternoon is for the sixth-years—I can relax a bit for that one."
"The day after, the first morning lecture is for the fifth-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and the first afternoon lecture is for the fifth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins."
"These classes are the most critical. Compared to the sixth-years, the fifth-years' final exams, the O.W.L.s, are far too important. I have to give those students enough confidence to accept my theories and diligently work through the problems."
He worked late into the night. William didn't even bother to take a bath before collapsing onto his bed and falling asleep.
(end of chapter)
