A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts-Chapter 643: Pre-Holiday Party
Chapter 643: Pre-Holiday Party
The next few days were uneventful, as students enthusiastically discussed how to celebrate the upcoming New Year and began packing their bags. However, this had little impact on the members of the 'Animagus' class, as they collectively chose to stay at school.
The practice of Animagus transformation had a significant impact on their daily studies, and no one wanted to waste two weeks of vacation. In the common room, Harry and his friends were still struggling with a small leaf, trying to make it obedient.
"Christmas is just two days away," Hermione said impatiently.
Harry's heart suddenly skipped a beat. "So, we're going to get the Mandrake leaf?" he asked. Christmas night would be a full moon, meaning they had to try, whether they were ready or not.
"Yes," Hermione said, looking at a piece of parchment. "But on the way to that tiny, lovely leaf, there are two banquets waiting for us... right at the crucial moment! I've never found banquets so boring before." She roughly crossed out a line of notes on the paper.
Harry knew that Hermione had a fervent preference for preparation. In recent days, she had collected advice from various sources, but none of the methods were foolproof. She even forced Harry to have an early conversation with Sirius and then casually appeared, performing magic as she presented a pre-prepared list of questions.
"Professor Slughorn just won't stop, I wonder what tricks he has this time," Harry remarked with a touch of nostalgia.
Ron shrugged. In addition to the Christmas banquet, they also had to attend a personal dinner hosted by Professor Slughorn tonight, as most students would be going home the next day.
"Actually, his small parties are not bad. Not only is there good food, but also prestigious wizards to meet..." Ron reminisced with narrowed eyes. "Do you know Gwennog Jones? The captain of the Holyhead Harpies? You should hear how he addressed me, 'Dear Weasley'... he even praised my potential! Although it's true, it felt good. Too bad you weren't there."
Unlike Ron, who attended several Slug Club dinners, Harry's attitude was to escape whenever possible.
At first, he used Quidditch training as an excuse. However, when the players couldn't take it anymore and rebelled, protesting while blocking him in the changing room, Harry, fearing that Gryffindor Quidditch Captain would become the headline of tomorrow's Daily Prophet, had to humiliatingly promise to stop the terrifying punishment of daily training.
Fortunately, he soon found an alternative – claiming to have an appointment with Professor Bathsheda and going to her office for tea. Sometimes, he would also bring along Neville, who was equally uncomfortable with the atmosphere of banquets.
Harry was somewhat regretful because Professor Bathsheda now only discussed magic and current affairs with him, avoiding topics related to his past experiences—especially those concerning the Dark Wizard Grindelwald. Last time, their conversation revolved around the Muggle ban on firearms, and the time before that, the impact of the appearance of personalized wands on the next few decades.
"... I personally support it, after all, I benefit from it. Just look..." Grindelwald pointed to a bronze puppet of an ancient runic professor, "I'm just a bit worried..."
At one point, Harry felt like he was sitting in the History of Magic classroom, and Neville shared the sentiment. Privately, they believed that if Professor Bathsheda replaced Professor Binns in teaching, they might pass their O.W.Ls exams.
However, Professor Bathsheda hinted to Harry that she had found a travelogue deep in the library, recording "some interesting things."
"Probably left by students of that era," she explained.
Harry planned to search carefully during the holidays, at least to pass the time. He had a feeling that this holiday would become quite boring, as many activities couldn't be carried out, such as snowball fights.
"... Sirius and Professor Snape's suggestions are quite similar," Hermione muttered to herself, "but personally, I think using protective runes is more effective... Fred and George... oh, their suggestion of the Fainting Fancies is too silly. But if it can be improved... No, absolutely not! Madam Pomfrey's suggestion is not bad; Dreamless Sleep Potion can significantly improve sleep... it's just not very safe, as for the Elixir of Life..."
"Elixir of Life?" Harry looked at her in surprise, exclaiming, "Hermione, you're not falling for Snape's nonsense, are you?" Ron was also startled.
"Oh, no, I'm not," Hermione said, "It would interfere with regular classes."
The discussion in the 'Animagus' class was lively. According to Nearly Headless Nick, "Hogwarts has never been so open about teaching Animagus transformation." Thus, this topic not only became popular among students (resulting in a significant drop in house points for all four houses during this period), but even the professors joined in.
So far, Professor McGonagall had dedicated half of a class to explaining the Animagus learning requirements, using the other half to illustrate the consequences of wizards who overestimated themselves throughout history—this part consisted of a series of horror stories, essentially a condensed version of her notes. Professor Flitwick, a short wizard with fairy ancestry, introduced a spell to prevent eavesdropping—
"It's effective on any living creature and can also prevent insect bites!" Harry suspected the spell was aimed at Rita Skeeter, whose beetle form was no longer a secret.
Professor Bathsheda, going with the flow, temporarily included content about 'Forced Transformation.'
Besides what Harry witnessed, he heard that Professor Trelawney, in her advanced class, talked extensively about using tarot cards to guard against 'sly little people.' She claimed to have seen an insect with six legs approaching her in a crystal ball. Snape, while teaching fifth-year students, mentioned that if it were him, he would prepare a batch of Elixir of Life and sleep for a month.
Ginny told him about it.
"He's up to no good, malicious... anyone with a discerning eye can see it," she said irritably.
Just as Harry was checking the time for the third time, an owl flew in through the window, feathers carrying snowflakes, dropping a heavy package on Ron's head.
"Christmas presents? So early?" Harry asked, surprised.
"No," Ron said as he tore open the wrapping paper, "it's from Collins. Didn't I tell you she's at Hogwarts? I asked her to bring me something, as she had nothing better to do... Oh..." he looked at the small card with a drawn-out tone.
"What's wrong?"
"She's leaving. It seems that Carlotta Pinkstone is really planning to retire with three brooms. After all, the Ministry of Magic won't let two proud Harpies stay idle, right?" Ron pulled out a few quills, magical erasers, and socks from the package, along with various other miscellaneous items. Harry was about to take a closer look when Ron stopped him.
"There's a Christmas present for you in here," Ron warned.
At eight o'clock in the evening, they, along with Neville, appeared in Professor Slughorn's office. Everything was different here. Christmas trees covered in icing and candied fruits were
scattered throughout the room for people to help themselves. Several legless tables were spread around the room, and Harry saw someone waving at him. The nearest floating table carried a load of delicious food to him.
The sound of lively and cheerful music reached their ears, and Harry was one hundred percent sure it was the Weird Sisters band.
But the most significant difference was the number of people. Harry estimated that there were at least a hundred people present, and most of them were adult wizards. He was stunned; did Professor Slughorn invite all the past Slug Club members?
These people dressed in various styles, weaving through the seemingly invisible stretching charms in the office. Some wizards and witches were elegant, while others appeared quite reserved. Harry breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Hermione give a half-surprised, half-terrified groan, "Mom? Dad?"
Harry and Ron followed her gaze, both shocked. There were too many familiar faces. Not only the Granger family, but Professor Slughorn seemed to have invited a considerable number of students' parents, especially those who couldn't go home for the holidays—the Weasley family, the Longbottoms, the Malfoys... Harry even spotted Ernie Macmillan and Cormac McLaggen dressed in refined suits and bowties, standing politely beside a middle-aged couple. Talking to them were none other than Sirius Black and Amelia Bones.
"Hey, you three, long time no see," came a familiar mocking voice from behind.
Harry turned abruptly, and the twin brothers were lazily looking at them, each with a hand in their pockets, the other holding a tall cup, and smiles on their faces, as if they were replicated in a mirror.
"Judging by your expressions, it seems no one told you? Oh, these parents are really incompetent..."
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