Chapter 91: End-of-year School Life
After leaving the Professor of Muggle Studies office, Harry, Ron and Hermione walked back to the Common Room, pockets stuffed with snacks given by the professor, the portraits on the wall not yet asleep, Sir Cadogan getting beaten up by the nuns again, that pony blocking his escape route.
Watching the lively portraits while discussing the earlier conversation.
“I want to learn that magic that destroys Howlers, then quietly destroy Malfoy’s homework.” Harry imagined the scene and grinned.
Hermione recalled the ideas she noted in her notebook, muttering: “Professor McGonagall mentioned Transfiguration of Living Beings with certain dangers, Professor Flitwick once told as an interesting anecdote about summoning bison, and Quirrell briefly mentioned the Goblin Curse…”
Ron stayed silent, head down watching the road.
Passing the Staircase Entrance, Harry keenly noticed his low mood, put an arm around his shoulders and shook him hard: “Don’t worry, Ron, once I learn cool and fun magic, I’ll definitely share it with you, then we can prank Malfoy together.”
Ron was shaken until his brains rattled, dazed and unable to speak.
Hermione timely added: “If he can’t learn it, I’ll tutor you both.”
“…”
Arrogant know-it-all miss.
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance, eyes full of tacit understanding.
At twelve or thirteen years old, worries come and go quickly, listening to Sir Cadogan’s pained yells from being beaten, laughing and chasing up a few staircases, the sad thick wall barrier was broken.
Saying the password to the Fat Lady, they climbed through the Portrait Hole, the three found a spot by the lounge window to sit, eating and chatting.
The grounds outside the castle were bathed in star and moonlight, silvery glow spreading on the ground, the lawn dotted with starry wildflowers.
Crumpling the just-unwrapped candy wrapper, Ron’s mind flashed to Professor Levent’s words and actions tonight, thoughtfully saying: “Don’t you think Professor Levent is different from the other professors?”
“You mean the office? He decorated it to Muggle aesthetics.” Hermione didn’t look up, flipping through her notes.
“I mean, he himself is different from the other professors.”
“How is he different?” Harry asked curiously.
“Didn’t you notice?” Ron smoothed the candy wrapper on the table, slightly frowning, expression profound, “He’s a bit like Headmaster Dumbledore, doesn’t treat us as kids, when encountering doubts or confusions, doesn’t just solve surface issues, but guides us from deeper levels.”
He paused: “Hagrid’s matter was like that, and tonight’s matter… you two actively gave up the film fee, normally he should have asked my intentions, but the professor acted like he didn’t think of it.”
Hermione turned a page of notes, humming.
Harry slanted him a faint look: “You just noticed?”
“What’s that look! Don’t think I can’t see you’re despising me!” Ron couldn’t keep it up, crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and threw it at him, irritably saying, “Did you notice anything before?”
“My birthday candy, Neville’s Summoning Charm, Halloween troll, Forbidden Forest patrol night advising Malfoy, Quirrell’s matter…” Hermione’s gaze left the notes, she looked up, “Noticing only now, it’s strange how slow you are.”
Harry nodded in agreement.
…
The quill made from Thunderbird feather carried a faint coolness.
Melvin dipped the gray-black ink, copying the exam questions onto parchment, deliberately slowing his writing to ensure neat handwriting.
The window was open, wind from the Forbidden Forest and Black Lake whooshing into the room, paper flapping trying to escape the ink bottle’s suppression, but in vain, summer had officially arrived, the castle hot and stuffy, such coolness very pleasant.
The ink dried quickly, Melvin finished copying and checked twice, put the questions in an envelope, sealed it with special wax seal, added two anti-leakage spells, and wrote Madam Marchbanks’ address.
Thinking, he changed it to the Department of Magical Examinations address.
These were Muggle Studies fifth year and seventh year exam questions, corresponding to two Wizarding Level Exams, Madam Marchbanks had urged several times in letters, delayed until now to submit.
The letters temporarily set aside, to be mailed on the way out to the meeting.
Special Advisor is not the question setter, these topics just suggestions, questions submitted for Administration scrutiny and verification, confirm standard answers correct, then select a few for the exam paper, finally batch print, seal for opening at exam time.
Other years just ordinary Final Examinations, initially planned to modify past papers, after careful review, Melvin felt those questions had no merits, so decided to make his own.
Good news is no scrutiny from others, free creation progressed quickly.
Melvin finished designing sixth year exam questions, looked up to relax, found the cool wind had stopped, wall clock hands just at two fifteen.
“Meeting time notified by Professor McGonagall is two thirty, fifteen minutes left…”
Tidied the slightly messy desk, Melvin took the envelope to attend the professors’ end-of-term meeting.
…
Great Hall Antechamber, meeting room with round table.
Wall grandfather clock pendulum swinging back and forth, hands slowly turning, doorway constantly opening and closing, professors entering one by one, seats around the round table gradually filling.
Seeing the Muggle Studies professor enter, Professor Flitwick cheerfully called: “Melvin, come quick, sit here!”
Two seats beside, the other already taken.
Professor Sprout looked up with a smile.
Melvin happily sat beside, this Charms goblin-halfblood professor loved slacking and chatting, especially during meetings or meals, a bit chatty, but not annoying at all.
Well-informed, exceptional duelling technique and magical proficiency, chatting with him always brought unexpected gains, very enjoyable.
Snape sat on the other side, cold-faced flipping through documents.
Headmaster still absent, center seat taken by Professor McGonagall, or rather Deputy Headmaster, wearing square black-framed glasses, black curly hair in a high bun, summer still in deep green robe.
Seeing professors seated one by one, only Divination seat empty, she slightly frowned.
“Sybil can’t attend, she said this morning’s inner eye had special omens, she needs to study what the phenomenon foretells.” Professor Sinistra of Astronomy explained.
“…”
The professors present showed knowing looks, hmm, she’s drunk again.
Professor McGonagall somewhat displeased, but didn’t delay, started on the main matter:
“Second Year elective results are out, lists and results in the documents before you, professors in charge of electives can check, Professor Levent, Muggle Studies class elective results are special, prepare ahead for next year’s class schedule.”
“?”
Melvin flipped the parchment before him, Professor Flitwick and nearby Professor Kettleburn leaned over.
Other elective subject student lists were long strings, some densely a full page, some sparsely a small block, only Muggle elective special, list just a simple line.
「All students」
Melvin heard Professor Kettleburn snort a laugh from his nose, then all attending professors couldn’t help laughing, air filled with schadenfreude.
Everyone not surprised by the result.
At start of term, Melvin’s attire was hot topic among students, exquisite Muggle books and textbooks sparked heated discussion, novel class interactions started a trend, not to mention later projection mirror and moving pictures.
To second years, Muggle Studies was the most fun and special elective, if school voted most popular professor, Melvin would definitely take first.
Result was all students chose Muggle Studies, good elective became mandatory.
“Hope you don’t disappoint the students’ expectations, Professor Levent.” Professor McGonagall’s mouth also had a smile, “Go back and think seriously, split into two classes like mandatory classes, or whole year together, reply before September term starts, to arrange classrooms.”
“…”
Melvin nodded, a bit numb.
Professor McGonagall looked to other professors: “Rest is Final Examination arrangements, submit subject questions ASAP, school uniform print… subjects with practical exams, declare needed props ASAP, school uniform procurement…”
“Got it.”
Melvin nodded along, absent-minded, Professor Flitwick drawing an ancient magic casting gesture on paper, very special.
“For Wizarding Level Exams, pay extra attention in class to fifth and seventh year students’ moods, scold and criticize in measure, don’t apply too much pressure.”
“Understood.” Melvin pondered the gesture seemed linked to Paracelsus.
“Defence Against the Dark Arts special, theory exam use past papers, practical by rotation invigilation, second, third, fourth and sixth years by us deans, first year to Professor Levent, any issues?”
“No issue… hmm?”
Melvin snapped back, realized he was assigned overtime again, indignant.
This kind of thing, shouldn’t it be assigned to the idlest Dumbledore?!
Unnoticed, end-of-year work arrangements smoothly laid out, mostly Professor McGonagall speaking, other professors occasional responses, no real discussion.
This process time-tested and retained, except Melvin, other professors old French fries, very familiar.
“That’s it, any opinions find me privately, meeting adjourned.”
“…”
Professor Flitwick snapped shut the documents, calmly left.
Similar meetings he’d attended dozens of times, earlier under Dumbledore chairing, he’d chat with Minerva drawing casting diagrams, back then Minerva could chat idly with him.
Now, old slacking partner became chairing Deputy Headmaster, a sad thick wall barrier between them.
All Dumbledore’s fault!
Melvin had business with Professor McGonagall, stayed seated waiting.
Professor McGonagall at head seat sorting documents, no expression, unknown if inwardly cursing some irresponsible headmaster, after others left, slid documents on table twice, looked up to find someone still there:
“Melvin, something?”
Melvin nodded: “Easter Holiday ended, moving picture profits settled, about 100,000 Galleons, Hogwarts has a share.”
“…”
Professor McGonagall frowned: “Melvin, Hogwarts isn’t like those greedy shameless outside institutions, projection mirror matter, school taking Quidditch share profits somewhat justified, this time’s profits forget it.”
“Isn’t the moving picture filming background Hogwarts?”
Melvin blinked, smiling: “Many wizards buy tickets multiple times to rewatch, not just kids’ play-like adventure story, many adult audience can see those level designs not for guarding against Dark Wizards, willing to rewatch for the Hogwarts scenery inside, spending Galleons to relive student days.”
“…”
“This profit is school’s due.” Melvin paused, “Also, goal to replace brooms for four teams not achieved? Use this money during end-of-term exam procurement for teaching aids, update brooms, still catch last match this year. Gryffindor locked House Cup, first win in five years, finishing with new brooms should be more exhilarating.”
Professor McGonagall recalled Snape’s snide words, somewhat tempted: “I need to consult Dumbledore.”
“Reply ASAP.”
“…”
Professor McGonagall’s gaze complex, usually her urging professors for quick replies, now urged by another, not in decades.
Her heart flashed that thought again, this clearly headmaster’s duty, all Dumbledore’s fault!
Melvin not overthinking, his wealth ample, Galleons piling up, temporarily unspendable, more Galleons incoming future, giving some back to Hogwarts nothing.
This castle and people in it truly helped him greatly.
As Melvin prepared to leave, suddenly remembered: “One more thing, Ron Weasley’s film fee, need you to pass to Mr. Weasley.”
He paused briefly, still reminded: “If convenient, remind them to get that first year student a proper wand.”
Professor McGonagall watched his departing back, puzzled, found the reminder odd.
Family kids’ wands all broken, soon-enrolling daughter probably only old textbooks, what parent gets rich and prefers family travel over new wand and textbooks for kid?
…
Sunny weekend.
Red-haired witch Molly Weasley received Professor McGonagall’s letter, notifying to meet at Gringotts in Diagon Alley, seeing Deputy Headmaster with Ron behind, face instantly paled, thought kid caused trouble at school to be expelled, hurriedly went to apologize.
Pale face quickly turned flushed, then head dizzy, full face smile, muttering Galleons.
“Can go Egypt see Bill! Stay best hotel, taste local food…”
Ron’s eyes brighter, echoing his mother: “Also pyramid adventure, visit Alchemy Research Center, try fastest brooms!”
“…”
Professor McGonagall listened to Order of the Phoenix old friend’s mutterings, watched her House student, silent for long.
Melvin understands students’ parents.
