Chapter 14: Being a Teacher Is About Having Fun
It was ten o'clock in the morning the perfect hour for students and teachers to get moving.
The corridors of Hogwarts Castle were unusually quiet, especially those near the library, where only the soft echo of footsteps could be heard.
Several Muggle Studies students were curious. Being called out in the middle of class to move textbooks was something they had never experienced before.
Melvin walked leisurely beside them.
"Sir," Cedric from Hufflepuff turned to look at him. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Do these textbooks have some special magical power? How many people does it take to move them?"
The others slowed their pace, equally curious.
"No magic. They're all Muggle publications."
"Then… can't we move them with a Levitation Charm?"
"I suppose you could."
"Then why " Cedric trailed off. Excluding the possibility that the professor didn't know the charm, no other explanation came to mind.
He glanced at the three students beside him. Since leaving the classroom, he'd noticed the professor's selection wasn't random one student from each house.
"Because I need someone to lead the way."
Melvin blinked. "I arrived at Hogwarts only a few hours before the first years. I don't know where the library is yet, and these staircases and doors are confusing. If anything unexpected happens… you'll all be talking about how Professor Lewyn got lost in the hallways during class for weeks."
Cedric couldn't help laughing. "No way."
The others joined in, amused. Even Cassius Warrington of Slytherin smirked faintly.
Lee Jordan still looked puzzled. "If you just needed a guide, you could've asked Cedric alone. Why four of us?"
"Didn't I tell you? We have to move the books."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"No Levitation Charms?"
"Headmaster Dumbledore once emphasized not casting spells in the school corridors," Melvin said lightly. "That was Filch's suggestion to make students suffer and there's no reason for teachers to follow it."
He grinned. "Now hush, and save your energy for carrying the books."
"Ah… fine."
Madam Pince, the librarian, signed off the Flourish and Blotts shipment.
Unlike enchanted textbooks, Muggle books didn't move or scream. She stored them with care near the other magical volumes though she worried the encyclopedias might get torn, so she kept them in the storage room beside the library.
Their bindings were very different from wizarding books: yellowed parchment, Oxford cloth or linen covers, and pages made of glossy paper printed with soy ink. The fonts were crisp and neat, the edges clean, and each cover was wrapped in a transparent plastic film smooth to the touch and brightly colored.
They looked nothing like ordinary spellbooks.
So when Cedric and the others entered the storeroom and saw the pristine, gleaming books, their eyes widened.
"Are these our textbooks?"
Melvin smiled. "Not textbooks reference books, I suppose."
"I'll take good care of them," Lee Jordan said, carefully touching one without daring to press too hard.
"I recall you're a half-blood, so you've probably seen books like these before."
"I've been at Hogwarts I've only ever used magical textbooks."
"Didn't you read any other books during the holidays?"
"You said it yourself they're holidays. Who reads on vacation?" Lee replied proudly.
"I'm not sure why you sound proud of that…" Melvin chuckled. "Enough touching. Grab the books and let's go. We'll take our time in class."
"Yes, Professor!"
The encyclopedias were quite large, but since the third-year elective class was small, four students carrying them together wasn't much of a burden.
With surprising enthusiasm, the four counted quickly, each taking a pile and wobbling back toward the classroom.
By the time they returned, the classroom was buzzing.
Hogwarts classrooms were well soundproofed, and since Muggle Studies didn't have assigned seats, the students had naturally gathered by house, talking about Ilvermorny, the new subject, exams, and homework.
Some had even started gossiping about Professor Lewynter's outfit.
Cedric and the others entered with four tall stacks of books. As they set them down with a thud on the front desks, the chatter stopped instantly.
Seeing their eager faces, Melvin walked calmly to the front row, gestured for the four to sit, and asked, "How's everyone getting along so far?"
"…"
The students blinked.
What kind of question was that?
"You're not going to answer? Then I'll just pick a few to test how well we know each other."
At once, tension filled the room. Melvin scanned the students and continued:
"You don't have student numbers, so we'll number your seats. First person on the left is Number One, next is Two, then Three… understood?"
They nodded uncertainly.
"Good. Number Two Miss Johnson you're first."
Angelina looked confused.
"What's the name of the Slytherin boy in the second row?"
Angelina's mind went blank. She could picture his face he was a Slytherin Chaser but his name…? Not Warrington, not Flint…
"Five seconds. There's a penalty if you can't answer."
Her eyes widened. She stared hard at the Slytherin, trying to remember their Potions lessons together.
"Five, four, three "
"Rageham Montague!"
She exhaled in relief. She'd remembered just in time Snape had yelled at him once in class.
"Pass," Melvin said, smiling. "Now, let's see who's next…"
The students' eyes gleamed with anticipation. This random game was unexpectedly thrilling.
"Number Six Mr. Lagerfuss. What's the name of the Ravenclaw girl in the third row?"
"…"
"…Time's up. Unfortunately, you'll have to take your penalty. Please come up front and perform for us, Mr. Lagerfuss."
"I I can't act."
"If you insist, I can offer a little help."
"What kind of help?"
"The Tarantallegra or the Wailing Hex."
"…No, thank you."
The boy trembled slightly, wincing. Neither spell was dark magic, but one forced you to dance uncontrollably, and the other made you shout involuntarily.
Under the class's sympathetic gaze, Lagerfuss sang A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love by Celestina Warbeck apparently his mother's favorite.
"Applause for Mr. Lagerfuss excellent performance," Melvin said cheerfully. "Next…"
The young wizards immediately bowed their heads, holding their breath and silently praying not to be chosen.
Some quickly whispered to seatmates, trying to memorize names before it was their turn.
A few, however, noticed a pattern.
"Number Ten, Mr. Priss from Hufflepuff…"
The Ravenclaws relaxed; Number 18, Samuels, began to tense.
"Next, Number Fourteen, Mr. Appleby from Hufflepuff."
Now most of them understood.
2, 6, 10, 14…
A simple arithmetic sequence, increasing by four. Even without formal math lessons, they got the idea.
"Next…"
Just as Number 18, Samuels, felt his heart hammering, Professor Lewynter suddenly said, "Number Seven Miss Stinson of Gryffindor."
Patricia Stinson froze. Her breath caught, her blood surged, and her heartbeat thundered.
Wait wasn't it supposed to be Number 18!?
Shocked by the "ambush," she climbed to the front and sang You Magic My Heart in a trembling voice.
During her shaky pauses, everyone turned to look at Number 18. Ravenclaw Samuels, who had already braced himself, blinked in disbelief he'd been spared.
Patricia, onstage, looked utterly defeated.
Professor Lewynter is a terrible man…
"Next, Number Thirty-three Mr. Trasfer from Slytherin…"
Fortunately, Trasfer already knew the pure-blood classmate Melvin asked about and escaped unscathed.
Melvin sighed theatrically, as if disappointed.
"Next…"
He paused again, sweeping his gaze across the room.
The students stiffened.
Oh no… he's abandoned the pattern!
Samuels relaxed surely now he was safe. But then came that soft, devilish voice:
"Samuels, Number 18. Your turn."
"Wha ?! I'm not safe?!"
Samuels stumbled forward, his heart pounding like he'd just been thrown off a broom.
"What's the name of the lady in the fourth row?"
"Miss Fawcett."
"Excellent."
"Eh…"
Samuels exhaled, lowering his head. Even though he'd answered correctly, it still felt like punishment like a prank worse than anything Fred and George could pull.
A pity those two hadn't taken Muggle Studies.
After all that excitement, the class felt like they'd just shared an adventure. And indeed they all now knew each other's names.
Before anyone could complain, Melvin handed out the encyclopedias.
They were stunning vivid colors, smooth covers, and pages full of breathtaking illustrations.
A vast, dazzling starry sky.
The intricate connections between molecules.
The detailed anatomy of muscles…
The young wizards were struck silent, seeing such images for the first time. And when they began to read, the logic of Muggle science left them even more astonished.
Later that day, at lunchtime.
After two months of summer break, even the most intimidating classes History of Magic and Potions had felt lively that morning.
Even Snape, once distant and cold, had shown a trace of humor.
The new school year had barely begun, and excitement buzzed in the Great Hall as students chatted about their morning lessons.
Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table.
A little further down, Harry and Ron were eating roasted chicken legs, talking with their mouths full.
"McGonagall's a genius at Transfiguration, but we're not. How were we supposed to turn matchsticks into needles on the first try?"
"But… didn't Granger manage it?"
"She's a know-it-all."
Harry glanced at Hermione and muttered, "Don't say that…"
Hermione cut her steak silently. She'd been just about to explain how to flick their wands properly to make the spell easier
Forget it. Unless they ask, I'm not saying a thing.
Just then, the Weasley twins appeared, each holding a large, beautifully bound book filled with colorful illustrations on every page.
"No wonder Dad's modified lantern doesn't work."
"Oh…"
"What are you reading?" Ron asked, noticing the thick tomes immediately. "And what's wrong with Dad's lantern?"
Fred and George didn't answer. They quickly shut their books, pressing them to their chests protectively, not even letting him glimpse the cover.
"Let me see!" Ron protested.
"Ronnie, peeking isn't polite."
"Come on let me see!"
"Say 'please,' little brother."
"…"
Harry just stared, speechless, as the twins teased Ron mercilessly.
Hermione squinted to read the book title then froze.
All around the Great Hall, students were holding similar encyclopedias, talking excitedly about the most basic Muggle sciences as if simple physics and chemistry were more fascinating than magic itself.
Hermione leaned in to listen.
They were the textbooks distributed by Professor Lewynter. That morning's Muggle Studies class had only been for third-years, so curious students from other years had borrowed copies to see for themselves.
The upper years would start attending in the next few days.
The rest of the chatter was about the young professor his unusual teaching style, his playful "tests," and the songs of a few unlucky classmates.
"Professor Lewynter…" Hermione murmured, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
(End of Chapter)