Chapter 16: Two Good Students
Previously, the professor taught through cases, telling a few stories in the first half of the class and explaining the role of appliances in the stories in the second half.
For example, a wizard from Devon was leisurely vacationing at home, enjoying the coolness brought by the Freezing Charm, when one day he heard cursing from the neighbor next door. After listening for a while, he realized the neighbor’s refrigerator had broken, and the food in the refrigerator had spoiled too…
From this, it was concluded that the refrigerator is a Muggle appliance for preserving food, prone to breaking, while wizards can solve the trouble with a simple Freezing Charm.
It couldn’t be said there was a problem, but inexplicably, something felt off.
Cramming education—these students had never seen anything like this.
The two classes ended quickly, but the students weren’t in a hurry to leave, still buried in copying the blackboard notes, their heads a bit dizzy, stuffed full of knowledge.
Melvin threw down the chalk, cleared his throat: “This week’s homework: choose a common appliance, draw a structural diagram with correct proportions, complete components, clearly label the functions of the main parts, hand it to me before next week’s class…”
He unhurriedly packed up his materials and strode away.
There was a kind of casual indifference that didn’t care if the students lived or died.
Melvin hadn’t been out of the classroom long when he heard someone shouting ahead.
“Professor!
“Mister!
“Mr. Lavent!”
Walking straight along the corridor and turning the corner, Melvin saw two students waiting here, two red-haired heads, two identical faces, grinning cheekily.
Melvin stopped, pretending to be puzzled: “Who are you?”
“I’m George Weasley.”
“I’m Fred Weasley.”
The twins took turns speaking, their voices indistinguishable.
“Gryffindor’s twins… What can I do for you?” Melvin calmly observed the two, trying to find some differences.
“We’re friends with Lee Jordan. We read his encyclopedia and had some questions, so we’re waiting here for the professor to ask you.”
“Professor, you’re heading to the Great Hall for dinner, right? We’re going to the Great Hall too. Could you spare a few minutes to answer our questions?”
George and Fred looked expectant, appearing completely like eager, inquisitive good students.
“We can talk while walking.”
“Long live the professor!”
The twins cheered in unison, walking one on each side.
“The book says there’s a metal substance called sodium that burns or even explodes when it meets water—is that true?”
“Yes, this involves a chemical reaction. Active metals react violently with water, producing hydrogen gas and an alkaline solution.” Melvin noticed the twin brothers were indeed quite studious, having read the encyclopedia up to the chemistry section.
George and Fred only heard the professor’s affirmation; the mumbling afterward wasn’t important.
“The book also says there’s a liquid called ammonia water that gives off a foul smell, like fermented urine—is that true?”
“It’s true…” Melvin paused briefly, then explained, “Ammonia water is a weakly alkaline solution formed by ammonia gas dissolved in water. It spontaneously decomposes and releases free ammonia gas. Urine decomposition also produces ammonia gas, so their smells are highly similar.”
George and Fred’s eyes sparkled, and they asked in unison: “So if we add sodium to ammonia water, can we make a pee stink bomb?”
“…”
Melvin involuntarily fell silent.
At the Great Hall entrance, still some distance from the high table, he looked up and saw Dumbledore had attended dinner. Professor McGonagall sat to the right, whispering with Professor Flitwick, seemingly discussing tonight’s lamb. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the twins standing on either side of him and frowned.
“Thanks, professor!”
“See you, professor!”
George and Fred waved and ran to the Gryffindor long table, sitting together chattering, seemingly discussing the feasibility of a pee stink bomb.
Melvin suddenly somewhat understood Professor McGonagall’s feelings.
……
Dinner time.
Ron brought Harry two servings of lamb stewed with onions and radishes, added ketchup, butter, and parsley—delicious. Mouth full, he mumbled: Try it, it’s so tasty! Our home kitchen doesn’t have this many spices combined.
“You eat it. I can’t eat.”
Harry sighed: “I’m wondering why Snape targeted me in the first Potions class.”
“Did you know him before?”
“I only learned a month and a half ago that this world has wizards.”
“Then don’t think about it. George told me the old bat just targets Gryffindor students. He’s worried we’ll score higher than Slytherin and take the House Cup.”
“But why me specifically?”
“Because you’re unlucky?”
“Maybe.” Harry sighed again, spooning a mouthful of lamb soup.
Hermione beside him suddenly said: “You should have previewed.”
“What?”
“You should have previewed that book, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, so you could answer the professor’s questions.
“…”
Harry was speechless, feeling a bit weary.
Just this afternoon, Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years had their first Potions class. Professor Snape precisely picked him out of dozens of students, grilled him with several questions, humiliated him, and deducted five points from Gryffindor.
When would Granger realize not everyone memorizes textbooks before term starts?
Even if you memorized the textbook, Professor Snape would always find other ways to make trouble.
He harbored such clear malice.
Harry put the spoon in his mouth; the warm lamb soup brought some comfort. At least Hogwarts food was much better than at the Dursleys’ home.
……
“Screech screech!”
“Screech screech!”
Silver metal steak knives cut through steaks, scraping ceramic platters, making a slightly grating sound. The professors at the high table didn’t mind, enjoying food while exchanging notes on the first week of term.
Professor Sprout sipped wine, then turned and asked: “Melvin, are Muggle chemical fertilizers effective on magical plants?”
Melvin was a bit surprised inwardly but kept cutting with knives and forks, answering: “Professors at Ilvermorny have experimented, with no definitive results. A very few fertilizers work; some hinder growth. Magical plants differ from ordinary ones. Rather than pondering what fertilizer they lack, it’s more important to satisfy their preferences.”
“Can I ask for specifics?”
“I only know one: when the Boggart Bulb pus is at its stinkiest, add some foul-smelling nitrogen fertilizer, and they’ll be more active and mature earlier.”
“Amazing. I must try it.”
“…”
Dumbledore listened to their chat while savoring overly sweet mousse cake, relishing it.
After more exchange, talking about returning students, the professors always had endless common topics: theses going in circles, forgetting them in Egypt while traveling out…
“Melvin’s arrival has brought new vitality to Hogwarts.” Professor Flitwick raised his glass in toast.
“Thanks, Hogwarts.”
“Thanks, Hogwarts.”
Melvin raised his wine glass and clinked with the professors one by one. Only Snape kept a cold face, reluctantly clinking when the glass was raised to him, looking extremely disdainful.
