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Chapter 79: Ah, Delicious
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
"Brilliant, Professor William! Your Impediment Jinx was absolutely fantastic."
On the way out of the kitchen, the caretaker, whom William didn't know well, was lavish with his praise. It was as if William had dealt with the man's mortal enemy, not Peeves.
Professor Taylor, unable to exact his own revenge, seemed a bit dispirited. Although he expressed his gratitude solemnly, he didn't say much on the way back, as if he were plotting some kind of retaliation—which William could completely understand.
If it had been him, he probably would have wanted to immobilize Peeves with a Petrification Charm and display him as an office decoration for a week.
But no matter what revenge Professor Taylor was planning, the operation to strike at Peeves was a complete success.
As a poltergeist who had existed longer than most of the castle's staff, Peeves shouldn't be driven out of the castle without a special reason—especially since it was impossible to drive him out anyway.
The caretaker, Filch, bid William and the others farewell midway and returned to his office.
"William, you're back? Did you find Peeves?"
"That's right. Professor Taylor successfully smashed Peeves's head in with an Impediment Jinx. Once he recovers, he'll have no choice but to curse and swear as he scrambles out of the kitchen—of course, my contribution was significant. I had a hard time getting that fellow under control."
William boasted shamelessly, his expression exaggerated, much like a drunk patron at The Leaky Cauldron.
Adams had no desire to call his bluff, but from under a nearby table came the sound of stifled laughter.
William instinctively looked toward the source of the laughter and saw little Afra, whose wizarding robe had been magically dried, squatting in a corner to avoid everyone's gaze. She had just made a sound because she couldn't hold it in any longer.
As William and the others turned to look at her, Afra shifted her position and then squeezed her eyes shut.
Professor Taylor shot her an exasperated glance, then huffed and walked back to his desk, leaving behind a bewildered William and a smirking Adams.
"What's this? Is she angry with Professor Taylor?" William asked in a hushed voice.
"No, she's chanting a spell. This way, she can become invisible."
"Invisible?"
William took another serious look, then found that he didn't seem to have x-ray vision. He asked in confusion, "But she's clearly not invisible now."
"Of course not now," Adams explained. "Afra has a great talent for magic, like a Metamorphmagus. She was born knowing the Disillusionment Charm. Last time we played hide-and-seek with her, we only found her when she got hungry."
So she just came out on her own!
"To prevent us from losing her, a special spell was cast on her robe—but she doesn't know about it yet."
"So?"
"Professor Taylor didn't hit hard enough today. She still thinks she's a mushroom, but she's also afraid of being hit, so she's hiding."
...
Bullying a little girl like this is going too far.
To demonstrate his own noble character, William pulled out a reference book from the table he usually occupied and began to read it earnestly.
Once he started, William became engrossed. Adams, having found a partner for wizard's chess, didn't come over to disturb him.
Just as William solved a difficult problem, he suddenly felt something poke his leg.
"Legs gone numb from reading for too long?"
William changed his position, and then he felt something gently poking his other calf.
This made him look down, where he saw a timid little face.
"Chocolate Uncle, you can't see me."
Afra had a serious expression on her face.
William suppressed his laughter and pretended to look around, acting as if he hadn't noticed anything.
"Stop looking, Chocolate Uncle. It's me, Afra."
She gently poked William's leg again.
"Chocolate Uncle?"
The little head nodded emphatically. Then, as if she had suddenly realized something, Afra's face took on a look that clearly said, *I'm an idiot.*
"Um, it's me, Afra. I'm invisible!"
The last sentence was delivered with a hint of pride, like a child who had just received full marks.
"Oh, you're invisible? What's wrong? Are you angry with your dad?"
She quickly shook her head and said in a tiny voice, "I want to grow up fast!"
"Want some chocolate?" William habitually pulled out his stock—ever since leaving Azkaban, his pockets had never been short of chocolate.
It was only then that he remembered what the little girl had called him.
Just as Adams had said, the child was hungry.
She carefully unwrapped the foil, then, as if remembering something, whispered "thank you" to William before taking a small bite of the chocolate. Like a squirrel, she held the rest of it in both hands.
"Hey, by the way, aren't you a mushroom?"
"Yes, Afra is a mushroom, but Dad won't let me water myself."
"But if a mushroom eats chocolate, it will get poisoned."
William wore a dead-serious expression.
Afra was instantly dumbfounded. She looked at the chocolate, then at herself, her expression turning to one of panic.
"You're poisoned, but you can be saved. A shot at the Hospital Wing will do it. You know, with those long, thin needles, plus some bitter potion."
The Hospital Wing in the wizarding world should have injections, right?
William was getting into character. He reached out, ruffled Afra's head, and then took out another piece of chocolate.
"Since you're getting a shot and drinking a potion anyway, one more piece won't make a difference."
The six-year-old girl looked at the chocolate, her face showing an expression of someone contemplating the meaning of life.
With a look of resolve, she quickly ate both pieces of chocolate, then squatted by the table in silence.
"Go on now, or you'll have to get a few more shots."
William packed up his book, ruffled her little head, and walked quickly toward the Staff Room door.
"Dad, save me! I don't want a shot! I don't want to drink the potion!"
Even through the door of the Staff Room, William could hear the sound of crying in her voice.
He wouldn't get beaten for this, would he?
William was a little unsure.
---
Diary
"Fifth day at Hogwarts, and I've resumed my habit of keeping a diary.
Let's count today as the first day, for now.
If I had to find a lofty reason, perhaps it's that over there, I was trying to convince myself I was still human, while here, I'm recording the joys of life?
Professor Taylor is surprisingly gentle. He only hoped I wouldn't give Afra too much chocolate, as it's not good for such a small child.
(Should I have an owl place an order for me, or should I find some time to go to the nearby village and buy some?)
Many professors appeared unexpectedly in the Staff Room. Even Professor McGonagall was unusually gentle today. I just didn't see the Headmaster.
Hmm, today was a day full of hope.
Also—I hope I don't get drunk tomorrow and miss an entry."
PS: More tomorrow during the day. That's all for tonight.
(end of chapter)
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
"Brilliant, Professor William! Your Impediment Jinx was absolutely fantastic."
On the way out of the kitchen, the caretaker, whom William didn't know well, was lavish with his praise. It was as if William had dealt with the man's mortal enemy, not Peeves.
Professor Taylor, unable to exact his own revenge, seemed a bit dispirited. Although he expressed his gratitude solemnly, he didn't say much on the way back, as if he were plotting some kind of retaliation—which William could completely understand.
If it had been him, he probably would have wanted to immobilize Peeves with a Petrification Charm and display him as an office decoration for a week.
But no matter what revenge Professor Taylor was planning, the operation to strike at Peeves was a complete success.
As a poltergeist who had existed longer than most of the castle's staff, Peeves shouldn't be driven out of the castle without a special reason—especially since it was impossible to drive him out anyway.
The caretaker, Filch, bid William and the others farewell midway and returned to his office.
"William, you're back? Did you find Peeves?"
"That's right. Professor Taylor successfully smashed Peeves's head in with an Impediment Jinx. Once he recovers, he'll have no choice but to curse and swear as he scrambles out of the kitchen—of course, my contribution was significant. I had a hard time getting that fellow under control."
William boasted shamelessly, his expression exaggerated, much like a drunk patron at The Leaky Cauldron.
Adams had no desire to call his bluff, but from under a nearby table came the sound of stifled laughter.
William instinctively looked toward the source of the laughter and saw little Afra, whose wizarding robe had been magically dried, squatting in a corner to avoid everyone's gaze. She had just made a sound because she couldn't hold it in any longer.
As William and the others turned to look at her, Afra shifted her position and then squeezed her eyes shut.
Professor Taylor shot her an exasperated glance, then huffed and walked back to his desk, leaving behind a bewildered William and a smirking Adams.
"What's this? Is she angry with Professor Taylor?" William asked in a hushed voice.
"No, she's chanting a spell. This way, she can become invisible."
"Invisible?"
William took another serious look, then found that he didn't seem to have x-ray vision. He asked in confusion, "But she's clearly not invisible now."
"Of course not now," Adams explained. "Afra has a great talent for magic, like a Metamorphmagus. She was born knowing the Disillusionment Charm. Last time we played hide-and-seek with her, we only found her when she got hungry."
So she just came out on her own!
"To prevent us from losing her, a special spell was cast on her robe—but she doesn't know about it yet."
"So?"
"Professor Taylor didn't hit hard enough today. She still thinks she's a mushroom, but she's also afraid of being hit, so she's hiding."
...
Bullying a little girl like this is going too far.
To demonstrate his own noble character, William pulled out a reference book from the table he usually occupied and began to read it earnestly.
Once he started, William became engrossed. Adams, having found a partner for wizard's chess, didn't come over to disturb him.
Just as William solved a difficult problem, he suddenly felt something poke his leg.
"Legs gone numb from reading for too long?"
William changed his position, and then he felt something gently poking his other calf.
This made him look down, where he saw a timid little face.
"Chocolate Uncle, you can't see me."
Afra had a serious expression on her face.
William suppressed his laughter and pretended to look around, acting as if he hadn't noticed anything.
"Stop looking, Chocolate Uncle. It's me, Afra."
She gently poked William's leg again.
"Chocolate Uncle?"
The little head nodded emphatically. Then, as if she had suddenly realized something, Afra's face took on a look that clearly said, *I'm an idiot.*
"Um, it's me, Afra. I'm invisible!"
The last sentence was delivered with a hint of pride, like a child who had just received full marks.
"Oh, you're invisible? What's wrong? Are you angry with your dad?"
She quickly shook her head and said in a tiny voice, "I want to grow up fast!"
"Want some chocolate?" William habitually pulled out his stock—ever since leaving Azkaban, his pockets had never been short of chocolate.
It was only then that he remembered what the little girl had called him.
Just as Adams had said, the child was hungry.
She carefully unwrapped the foil, then, as if remembering something, whispered "thank you" to William before taking a small bite of the chocolate. Like a squirrel, she held the rest of it in both hands.
"Hey, by the way, aren't you a mushroom?"
"Yes, Afra is a mushroom, but Dad won't let me water myself."
"But if a mushroom eats chocolate, it will get poisoned."
William wore a dead-serious expression.
Afra was instantly dumbfounded. She looked at the chocolate, then at herself, her expression turning to one of panic.
"You're poisoned, but you can be saved. A shot at the Hospital Wing will do it. You know, with those long, thin needles, plus some bitter potion."
The Hospital Wing in the wizarding world should have injections, right?
William was getting into character. He reached out, ruffled Afra's head, and then took out another piece of chocolate.
"Since you're getting a shot and drinking a potion anyway, one more piece won't make a difference."
The six-year-old girl looked at the chocolate, her face showing an expression of someone contemplating the meaning of life.
With a look of resolve, she quickly ate both pieces of chocolate, then squatted by the table in silence.
"Go on now, or you'll have to get a few more shots."
William packed up his book, ruffled her little head, and walked quickly toward the Staff Room door.
"Dad, save me! I don't want a shot! I don't want to drink the potion!"
Even through the door of the Staff Room, William could hear the sound of crying in her voice.
He wouldn't get beaten for this, would he?
William was a little unsure.
---
Diary
"Fifth day at Hogwarts, and I've resumed my habit of keeping a diary.
Let's count today as the first day, for now.
If I had to find a lofty reason, perhaps it's that over there, I was trying to convince myself I was still human, while here, I'm recording the joys of life?
Professor Taylor is surprisingly gentle. He only hoped I wouldn't give Afra too much chocolate, as it's not good for such a small child.
(Should I have an owl place an order for me, or should I find some time to go to the nearby village and buy some?)
Many professors appeared unexpectedly in the Staff Room. Even Professor McGonagall was unusually gentle today. I just didn't see the Headmaster.
Hmm, today was a day full of hope.
Also—I hope I don't get drunk tomorrow and miss an entry."
PS: More tomorrow during the day. That's all for tonight.
(end of chapter)
