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Chapter 69: Looking at it This Way, It Seems William Could Be a Professor of Anything
"Hey, George, why didn't you protest just now?"
Fred pressed one hand on his brother's shoulder while the other began trying to undo the Leg-Locker Curse on himself. His mouth wasn't idle either.
"Protest? And end up copying History of Magic?"
George gave him an "are you kidding me" look, staring at his brother with disgust.
"I'd rather scrub toilets than copy History of Magic!"
Fred said, his face full of indignation.
"Chamber pots, not toilets, though I don't think there's any fundamental difference."
George wore a rare look of melancholy. "But what do you think would happen if we complained to a professor that we'd rather scrub chamber pots than copy books? Scrub them for three months, or half a year?"
"That's what I was thinking, so I wanted to see if you'd complain."
The two looked at each other, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.
After laughing for a few minutes, the two began to study the Leg-Locker Curse together and successfully undid it.
"Let's go. A professor who catches students in a pub... I don't think he's messing with us."
"Copying History of Magic! What was he thinking to come up with such a form of torture? I thought Filch's punishments were bad enough!"
"My only hope is that Professor McGonagall doesn't get any inspiration from this—copying History of Magic is miserable enough. If most punishments were changed to copying things, I'd probably never lose our House another point."
"Don't worry, George. Filch would never agree. He doesn't think copying lines is a serious punishment. What we need to do is make sure Professor McGonagall doesn't get any ideas."
"Then it's settled. When we see Professor McGonagall, we'll just say we were caught by a professor for leaving the school grounds on a weekday and got a month's detention."
The two brothers' dismay at being caught had already vanished. They chatted as they walked, full of laughter and cheer, as if it weren't them who had just been caught, but someone from Slytherin.
...
"Speaking of which, which professor was that?"
"Yeah, which professor?"
...
—
"You're back, William?"
"You're awake?"
William looked at Adams with surprise. The latter had clearly been drunk, but he had now fully recovered.
"Herbs. Kudzu root plus asphodel root. Not exactly a Potion, but if you chew them together, it's very easy to sober up."
As if he'd answered this question more than once, Adams quickly gave William the answer he was looking for and handed him a portion.
The Alchemy Professor was still peacefully enjoying his tranquility. Compared to the chatter back at the castle, this quiet, nearly invisible time was more important to him.
"By the way, William, aren't you going to buy anything? The Hog's Head Inn is the only place around here where you can buy prohibited goods. You know, a lot of magical experiments can't do without that stuff."
That was a difficult topic to respond to.
William was well aware that ever since the turmoil in the Far East, the British Ministry of Magic had issued a series of policies listing many important Potions, raw materials, and magical items as embargoed goods.
An ordinary wizard wouldn't use such precious Potions and ingredients in their daily life, but any wizard with a bit of ambition would dabble in magical experiments to some extent. One of the most famous achievements of the foremost light wizard, Dumbledore, was discovering the Twelve Uses of Dragon's Blood.
'Excluding me, the professor who was hired just so the school would have a full staff, all the other professors at Hogwarts are probably conducting experiments in secret.'
"What, first time here, a bit scared to buy? Don't worry, the Ministry of Magic turns a blind eye to it. They only catch the smugglers and occasionally clear out the sellers. There's no problem with buying."
Adams probably thought William was a little unsure since it was his first time and kindly began to explain.
...
What the hell? My hands are trembling, I'm cold with rage! When will we smugglers ever stand up for ourselves!
William was embarrassed for a moment, then he started to get angry at the Ministry of Magic—so was this how he had been targeted and thrown in?
Also, he had thought that all the professors in the school knew he had graduated from Azkaban. Now it seemed that, aside from the professors at the job fair, the rest were probably in the dark.
William couldn't help but recall the people who had gone to Azkaban back then. If his deduction was correct, they must have been the group of people Professor Dumbledore trusted the most.
Then he couldn't help but think of his interviewer—he hadn't seen that professor since he'd arrived at Hogwarts.
If his memory served him right, it was a professor.
Although it was a bit rude to say so, even a little ungrateful—he was genuinely curious how that eccentric-looking Divination professor became one of Dumbledore's most trusted people.
When Professor McGonagall was chatting with him yesterday, she had specifically mentioned that professor—judging from her tone, it was obvious Professor McGonagall disliked the Divination professor from the bottom of her heart.
Thinking about it this way, the Divination professor must be highly trusted by the Headmaster. Professor McGonagall was the Deputy Headmistress with real power, after all!
Although William had only been working at the school for four days, he had already come to fully understand just how much authority Professor McGonagall wielded at Hogwarts.
Reviewing lists, approving funds, assessing professors, setting rules, organizing activities... all sorts of matters of real authority were in the hands of the Deputy Headmistress. If Dumbledore didn't still hold the title of Headmaster, the Opening Ceremony speech would probably be given by someone else.
And for Trelawney to be disliked by the Deputy Headmistress for so long and still be fine—if that wasn't Dumbledore's trust, what was?
"William? William?"
Adams's voice rang out, interrupting William's reverie.
"Sorry, I suddenly remembered something," William said, snapping back to his senses and quickly apologizing.
"It's fine, it's fine. For a moment, I thought you were like Singeade, also fond of just spacing out in the pub without moving."
Adams let out a long breath—clearly, his worry wasn't just for show. Having a colleague who liked to zone out in a pub as your only teammate was not a pleasant experience.
Aside from the Dark... er, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor position, Hogwarts might not hire a new professor for two years. And because of special reasons, the professors hired for the Defense Against the Dark Arts course were often not in the same age group as newcomers like them. To finally get a new partner, only for them to be another daydreamer... he'd really drown himself in a barrel at the Hog's Head Inn.
"Actually, you don't need to be in such a hurry. The prices for things on the market are a bit high right now. It's mainly for broadening your horizons. The recent Hogwarts graduates have just established themselves in society, so this is when the market consumption of materials is at its peak. The prices will drop by the end of the year."
"But you have to keep your eyes peeled no matter what. This isn't like the shops in Diagon Alley where you can go back to the owner if you buy counterfeit goods. It's hard to find regular merchants at the Hog's Head Inn, but I do know a few..."
Adams enthusiastically started sharing his experience. William fought to hold back his laughter, listening with a serious expression—if he hadn't become a professor, he'd probably be majoring in counterfeiting in Azkaban right now, right? After getting out, maybe he could even become a professor for this bunch of counterfeiters?
(end of chapter)
"Hey, George, why didn't you protest just now?"
Fred pressed one hand on his brother's shoulder while the other began trying to undo the Leg-Locker Curse on himself. His mouth wasn't idle either.
"Protest? And end up copying History of Magic?"
George gave him an "are you kidding me" look, staring at his brother with disgust.
"I'd rather scrub toilets than copy History of Magic!"
Fred said, his face full of indignation.
"Chamber pots, not toilets, though I don't think there's any fundamental difference."
George wore a rare look of melancholy. "But what do you think would happen if we complained to a professor that we'd rather scrub chamber pots than copy books? Scrub them for three months, or half a year?"
"That's what I was thinking, so I wanted to see if you'd complain."
The two looked at each other, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.
After laughing for a few minutes, the two began to study the Leg-Locker Curse together and successfully undid it.
"Let's go. A professor who catches students in a pub... I don't think he's messing with us."
"Copying History of Magic! What was he thinking to come up with such a form of torture? I thought Filch's punishments were bad enough!"
"My only hope is that Professor McGonagall doesn't get any inspiration from this—copying History of Magic is miserable enough. If most punishments were changed to copying things, I'd probably never lose our House another point."
"Don't worry, George. Filch would never agree. He doesn't think copying lines is a serious punishment. What we need to do is make sure Professor McGonagall doesn't get any ideas."
"Then it's settled. When we see Professor McGonagall, we'll just say we were caught by a professor for leaving the school grounds on a weekday and got a month's detention."
The two brothers' dismay at being caught had already vanished. They chatted as they walked, full of laughter and cheer, as if it weren't them who had just been caught, but someone from Slytherin.
...
"Speaking of which, which professor was that?"
"Yeah, which professor?"
...
—
"You're back, William?"
"You're awake?"
William looked at Adams with surprise. The latter had clearly been drunk, but he had now fully recovered.
"Herbs. Kudzu root plus asphodel root. Not exactly a Potion, but if you chew them together, it's very easy to sober up."
As if he'd answered this question more than once, Adams quickly gave William the answer he was looking for and handed him a portion.
The Alchemy Professor was still peacefully enjoying his tranquility. Compared to the chatter back at the castle, this quiet, nearly invisible time was more important to him.
"By the way, William, aren't you going to buy anything? The Hog's Head Inn is the only place around here where you can buy prohibited goods. You know, a lot of magical experiments can't do without that stuff."
That was a difficult topic to respond to.
William was well aware that ever since the turmoil in the Far East, the British Ministry of Magic had issued a series of policies listing many important Potions, raw materials, and magical items as embargoed goods.
An ordinary wizard wouldn't use such precious Potions and ingredients in their daily life, but any wizard with a bit of ambition would dabble in magical experiments to some extent. One of the most famous achievements of the foremost light wizard, Dumbledore, was discovering the Twelve Uses of Dragon's Blood.
'Excluding me, the professor who was hired just so the school would have a full staff, all the other professors at Hogwarts are probably conducting experiments in secret.'
"What, first time here, a bit scared to buy? Don't worry, the Ministry of Magic turns a blind eye to it. They only catch the smugglers and occasionally clear out the sellers. There's no problem with buying."
Adams probably thought William was a little unsure since it was his first time and kindly began to explain.
...
What the hell? My hands are trembling, I'm cold with rage! When will we smugglers ever stand up for ourselves!
William was embarrassed for a moment, then he started to get angry at the Ministry of Magic—so was this how he had been targeted and thrown in?
Also, he had thought that all the professors in the school knew he had graduated from Azkaban. Now it seemed that, aside from the professors at the job fair, the rest were probably in the dark.
William couldn't help but recall the people who had gone to Azkaban back then. If his deduction was correct, they must have been the group of people Professor Dumbledore trusted the most.
Then he couldn't help but think of his interviewer—he hadn't seen that professor since he'd arrived at Hogwarts.
If his memory served him right, it was a professor.
Although it was a bit rude to say so, even a little ungrateful—he was genuinely curious how that eccentric-looking Divination professor became one of Dumbledore's most trusted people.
When Professor McGonagall was chatting with him yesterday, she had specifically mentioned that professor—judging from her tone, it was obvious Professor McGonagall disliked the Divination professor from the bottom of her heart.
Thinking about it this way, the Divination professor must be highly trusted by the Headmaster. Professor McGonagall was the Deputy Headmistress with real power, after all!
Although William had only been working at the school for four days, he had already come to fully understand just how much authority Professor McGonagall wielded at Hogwarts.
Reviewing lists, approving funds, assessing professors, setting rules, organizing activities... all sorts of matters of real authority were in the hands of the Deputy Headmistress. If Dumbledore didn't still hold the title of Headmaster, the Opening Ceremony speech would probably be given by someone else.
And for Trelawney to be disliked by the Deputy Headmistress for so long and still be fine—if that wasn't Dumbledore's trust, what was?
"William? William?"
Adams's voice rang out, interrupting William's reverie.
"Sorry, I suddenly remembered something," William said, snapping back to his senses and quickly apologizing.
"It's fine, it's fine. For a moment, I thought you were like Singeade, also fond of just spacing out in the pub without moving."
Adams let out a long breath—clearly, his worry wasn't just for show. Having a colleague who liked to zone out in a pub as your only teammate was not a pleasant experience.
Aside from the Dark... er, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor position, Hogwarts might not hire a new professor for two years. And because of special reasons, the professors hired for the Defense Against the Dark Arts course were often not in the same age group as newcomers like them. To finally get a new partner, only for them to be another daydreamer... he'd really drown himself in a barrel at the Hog's Head Inn.
"Actually, you don't need to be in such a hurry. The prices for things on the market are a bit high right now. It's mainly for broadening your horizons. The recent Hogwarts graduates have just established themselves in society, so this is when the market consumption of materials is at its peak. The prices will drop by the end of the year."
"But you have to keep your eyes peeled no matter what. This isn't like the shops in Diagon Alley where you can go back to the owner if you buy counterfeit goods. It's hard to find regular merchants at the Hog's Head Inn, but I do know a few..."
Adams enthusiastically started sharing his experience. William fought to hold back his laughter, listening with a serious expression—if he hadn't become a professor, he'd probably be majoring in counterfeiting in Azkaban right now, right? After getting out, maybe he could even become a professor for this bunch of counterfeiters?
(end of chapter)
