Chapter 41. Breakfast Time
When Adrian Wesson arrived at the Great Hall, some students were already there.
Of course, there were hardly any first-years among them.
That wasn't surprising; to them, Hogwarts was no different from a maze, and those shifting staircases would give most new students a headache.
Unless a senior student led the way, very few people could find the Great Hall on the very first morning of term.
It was the same every year.
However, this year seemed a bit different.
Halfway through Adrian Wesson's breakfast, he sensed a change in the Great Hall's atmosphere.
Heads lifted towards the doors as whispers broke out one after another.
Harry Potter had arrived.
At that moment, Harry was entering the Great Hall with Ron Weasley.
What drew attention was the greyish piece of parchment in Harry's hand.
"We actually did find the way—who on earth designed the staircases at Hogwarts like this!" Ron said, baffled and a little cross.
"I think it's rather fun," Harry smiled casually.
But when he looked around, his expression stalled for a moment.
He had steeled himself for it, yet when he noticed everyone's eyes on him, he still couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable.
Ron also felt the surrounding stares and hunched his shoulders, leaning to Harry's ear to whisper, "Harry, where did you get that map?"
"Secret," Harry replied mysteriously.
Yes—Harry had been able to bring Ron to the Great Hall so quickly entirely thanks to the map in his hand.
He had found it in the little pouch Adrian Wesson had given him.
He hadn't expected the teacher to have even prepared a map. Harry marvelled inwardly and couldn't help feeling rather fortunate, lowering his gaze once more to the map in his hand.
The map looked very old; the edges of the parchment were slightly yellowed—clearly a few years old.
But the routes and text on it were very clear, and it even marked some secret passages.
In the upper-right corner of the map, a small line of text read: "Hogwarts Map — Seventh Edition, produced by a Hufflepuff who prefers to remain anonymous."
Obviously, this was made by Adrian Wesson himself.
Putting the map away, Harry and Ron carefully made their way to the Gryffindor table and sat down.
By now, the stares and whispering around them had diminished a good deal; clearly, those students also thought it impolite to disturb others while they were having breakfast.
This, obviously, let Harry breathe a sigh of relief.
Then Harry picked up a slice of golden toast, while Ron had already begun to tuck in heartily, his mouth stuffed with sausages as he mumbled something or other.
While eating, Harry finally had time to look around.
He cast a casual glance about the Great Hall and at last noticed Adrian Wesson at the staff table; for a moment, he didn't react.
Only when Adrian Wesson gave him a small wave did Harry suddenly come back to himself.
Harry hurriedly put down his half-eaten toast, wiped his hands, and said quietly to Ron beside him, "I'm stepping away for a bit—back soon."
With a rasher of bacon still between his teeth, Ron mumbled, "Huh? Where're you going?"
Before Ron could get an answer, Harry had already risen from his chair.
Under Ron's curious gaze, he stood and quickly skirted the long table, heading for the staff table.
Adrian Wesson was still sitting there, sipping his tea at leisure.
When Harry came up to him, he drawled, "Good morning, Harry. Looks like you slept well."
"Sir," Harry said hesitantly, "how did you…"
"…come to Hogwarts, was it?" Adrian Wesson finished with a smile, saying what Harry had wanted to ask.
Harry nodded.
Adrian Wesson set his teacup down lightly, the corner of his mouth curving in a faint, half-smile. "I suddenly took an interest in teaching, so I came."
Harry blinked, looking at him in disbelief. "Just… like that?"
"Of course," Adrian Wesson shrugged, easy in tone. "You know I'm rather good at teaching. And Professor Kettleburn trusts me a great deal—you should have heard of him; he was the former Care of Magical Creatures professor."
At this reply, Harry nodded as if enlightened.
Indeed, his teacher was very good at teaching.
He had already learned quite a lot of Potions and Charms from Adrian Wesson.
As facts had proved, Adrian Wesson taught very well.
Harry hesitated a little, then couldn't help asking, "Then… sir, will you still teach me Potions and Charms?"
Adrian Wesson chuckled and tapped Harry on the head with his wand.
"Professor Flitwick is far better than I am at Charms—he's your Charms professor. And Professor Snape… well, let's not talk about him. In short, you've nothing to worry about with Hogwarts' teaching. Of course, if you have any questions, you can come and ask me."
"Then… what about Care of Magical Creatures?" Harry asked next. "Can I go?"
"That's an elective for third-years," Adrian Wesson shook his head, "and I've already looked over your timetable—it happens to clash with your Potions class."
"All right." Harry felt very disappointed, but he still nodded.
Even so, he was already planning in his head when he might sneak off to sit in on Adrian Wesson's class.
Skipping Potions once in a while… should… be all right, shouldn't it?
What was his Potions professor's name again?
Ah, right—Professor Snape; he'd seen him on the day of the Start-of-Term Feast.
Here's hoping that Professor Snape would be a bit easier to talk to…
…
When Harry returned to his seat, Ron had already cleared away the food in front of him.
"Do you know Professor Wesson?" Ron couldn't wait to ask the moment Harry sat down. "I saw you—you two were chatting quite happily."
"More or less," Harry thought for a while before answering.
That didn't seem like something that needed to be hidden.
Ron's eyes gleamed; he lowered his voice and said excitedly, "Hey, mate—you know a professor! That's something to be jealous of."
Harry looked at Ron in puzzlement and frowned. "What's that got to do with anything?"
"What's that got to do with anything?" Ron's eyes went wide. "He's a professor!"
Ron grew a bit worked up and said under his breath, "That'll surely get you all sorts of advantages! Think about it—when you're in trouble… I've heard from my two brothers, they often get nabbed by professors for pranks, but if you're on good terms with a professor, you can…"
"Stop!" Harry hurriedly cut him off and shook his head. "I don't want to trouble Professor Wesson. That would cause him trouble."
As he said this, Harry cast his eyes back towards Adrian Wesson.
Adrian Wesson had already risen to his feet; in his hand was a silver pocket watch gleaming with lustre, and he seemed to be checking the time.
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