Chapter 16: Two Good Students
Professors usually taught through practical examples telling stories in the first half, and then explaining the functions of Muggle appliances in the second.
For example, a wizard from Devonshire once enjoyed a peaceful vacation at home, keeping cool with a simple Freezing Charm. One day, he heard a curse coming from his neighbor's house. After listening for a while, he realized that the refrigerator had broken down, and all the food had spoiled…
From this, it was concluded that refrigerators are Muggle appliances used to preserve food, but that they are prone to malfunction whereas wizards could simply use a Freezing Charm to solve the same problem.
It wasn't wrong, but something didn't quite fit.
It was all rote learning these students had never actually seen any of the devices they were learning about.
The two classes passed quickly. When the lesson ended, the students didn't rush to leave. They stayed behind, still copying the notes from the blackboard, heads spinning, their minds overflowing with new information.
Melvin put down the chalk and cleared his throat.
"For this week's homework," he said, "choose a common household appliance and draw a diagram of it. Make sure the proportions are correct, the components are complete, and the main parts are clearly labeled. Submit it before next week's class."
He calmly gathered his materials and walked out his indifference toward student life almost casual.
He hadn't gone far when he heard someone call from ahead.
"Professor!"
"Sir!"
"Professor Lewynter!"
Turning the corner, Melvin saw two students waiting for him two identical redheads, both grinning from ear to ear.
Melvin stopped, pretending to be confused.
"And who might you be?"
"I'm George Weasley."
"I'm Fred Weasley," the other said, their voices perfectly alike.
"Ah, the Gryffindor twins… What can I do for you?" Melvin asked, watching them with calm amusement as he tried to tell them apart.
"We're friends with Lee Jordan," said Fred. "We've been reading your encyclopedia, and we had a few questions so we waited here to ask you."
"Professor, you're heading to the Great Hall for lunch, right? We are too! Could you spare a few minutes to answer them while we walk?"
Their faces were full of anticipation the very picture of earnest, eager students.
"Very well," Melvin said with a faint smile. "Let's talk as we walk."
"Cheers, Professor!" the twins chorused, one on each side of him as they set off down the corridor.
"The book says," began George, "that there's a metal called sodium that burns even explodes when it touches water. Is that true?"
"Yes," Melvin replied. "It's a chemical reaction. Reactive metals like sodium react violently with water, producing hydrogen gas and an alkaline solution." He noticed, with mild surprise, that the twins had already read into the chemistry section of the encyclopedia.
Of course, George and Fred only heard the exciting part "burns" and "explodes." The rest hardly mattered.
"The book also says there's a liquid called ammonia that smells terrible like fermented urine. Is that true?"
"Yes…" Melvin began, then added an explanation. "Ammonia is a slightly alkaline solution of ammonia gas dissolved in water. It decomposes easily, releasing free ammonia gas. Urine does the same, which is why they smell so similar."
The twins' eyes lit up.
"So," they said together, "if we add sodium to ammonia can we make an exploding urine stink bomb?"
Melvin fell silent.
By the time they reached the entrance to the Great Hall, he was questioning every career choice he had ever made.
From the high table at the far end, he noticed Dumbledore was, as usual, present for dinner. Professor McGonagall sat to his right, whispering something to Professor Flitwick likely about the evening's lamb stew. When she caught sight of the redheaded twins beside Melvin, her eyebrows arched in alarm.
"Thank you, Professor!"
"Goodbye, Professor!"
George and Fred waved cheerfully, darting off toward the Gryffindor table, where they sat together heads close, clearly debating the feasibility of their newfound "stink bomb" experiment.
Melvin suddenly understood exactly how Professor McGonagall must have felt all these years.
Dinner Time.
Ron brought Harry two servings of lamb stew with onions and carrots, flavored with tomato sauce, butter, and parsley. It smelled delicious. He stuffed his mouth full and mumbled, "Try it smells amazing! You don't get spices like this all at once in our kitchen."
"You have it," Harry sighed. "I'm not that hungry."
He leaned on his elbows. "I just don't get why Snape was on my case during our very first Potions class."
"You knew him before Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"I only found out this world even existed a month and a half ago," Harry said dryly.
"Forget it," Ron replied. "George told me that old bat's always after Gryffindors. He's terrified we'll beat Slytherin in points and take the House Cup."
"But why me?"
"Bad luck?"
"Maybe."
Harry sighed again, spooning up a bit of the hot lamb soup.
Hermione, seated nearby, suddenly said, "You should've studied ahead."
"What?" Harry looked up.
"You should've read One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi before class that way you could've answered his questions."
Harry went speechless.
Earlier that day, Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years had their first Potions lesson. Snape had singled Harry out among dozens of students, fired off one question after another, and then deducted five points from Gryffindor after thoroughly humiliating him.
When would Hermione Granger understand that not everyone could memorize a textbook before classes even began?
Even if they could, Snape would always find something else to make miserable.
He had such a distinct talent for spite.
Harry sipped his soup again. The hot broth brought a little comfort at least Hogwarts food was leagues better than the Dursleys'.
Crunch. Crunch.
The sound of silver knives against ceramic plates filled the guest table, faint but constant.
The professors dined leisurely, chatting about the first week of term.
Professor Sprout took a sip of wine, then turned to Melvin. "Melvin, do Muggle chemical fertilizers have any effect on magical plants?"
Melvin, slightly caught off guard, paused with his fork and knife midair. "Professors at Ilvermorny have conducted experiments," he said. "The results aren't conclusive. Very few fertilizers are beneficial, and some actually hinder growth. Magical plants differ from ordinary ones it's more important to meet their preferences than to guess what nutrients they lack."
"Can you give a specific example?" Sprout asked eagerly.
"I only know one," Melvin said with a hint of amusement. "When the pus of a Bubotuber reaches its most pungent stage, adding a foul-smelling nitrogen fertilizer makes it more active it matures faster."
"Incredible! I must try that!" Sprout exclaimed.
"…Please do," Melvin muttered under his breath.
Dumbledore, meanwhile, listened in good humor, savoring an excessively sweet mousse cake.
The conversation at the staff table carried on drifting from repetitive essay assignments to tales of misplaced luggage in Egypt.
"The arrival of Professor Lewynter has truly revitalized Hogwarts," Professor Flitwick declared, raising his glass.
"Cheers to Hogwarts!"
"Cheers," Melvin replied, clinking glasses one by one with the staff.
Only Snape remained stone-faced. When Melvin's glass reached him, he touched it reluctantly his expression one of deep, abiding disgust.
(End of Chapter)