. It was evening.
Summer was drawing to a close, and the Scottish Highlands were still sweltering . The orange sunset shone hazily through the windows, casting dappled light and shadows on the castle's third-floor room.
The room was even more spacious than expected, divided into two main areas: an office area with a desk and bookshelves, and a living area with a sofa and coffee table, perfect for entertaining visiting professors or confined students.
Further down the hallway was the living area, complete with a bedroom, storage and workspace, and even a bathroom, perfectly suited to apartment-style suites.
The bedroom was spacious and well-equipped with cabinets. The bed was an oak four-poster, its carvings and patterns in Elizabethan style, oxidized to a deep amber hue.
"All-inclusive accommodation, two days off for holidays, and winter and summer vacations every year. It's a truly exceptional package..." Melvin stood on the bed, then sat sideways and rocked a few times, pleased with the results of his busy day.
The bed was neatly made, the mattress a perfect size. Despite the slightly clash in color between the springs and the room, it was still quite comfortable overall.
It was a new Mill Creek mattress, with cloth-wrapped independent springs and coconut latex filling, offering just the right amount of firmness.
Hogwarts provided a full set of amenities, but he wasn't used to them, so he brought his own.
There was also a gas-operated office chair, a Panasonic portable record player, a clockwork clock, and plenty of books, stationery, snacks, and drinks.
"After all, I'm a professor of Muggle Studies, so it's only natural to carry around some Muggle items..."
Melvin sighed, looking up at the now-filled room.
He couldn't live without the comforts of technology, but he also couldn't live without the wonders of the magical world.
Nine months had passed since he left Ilvermorny, and he returned to the wizarding school as a professor at Hogwarts. Compared to his days on Broadway, even though it was his first time setting foot in the castle, he felt a sense of stability and security.
He was a bit worried. If Headmaster Fontana knew he was leaving Ilvermorny without even receiving his diploma, only to head straight for Hogwarts, he'd be furious and bury him under the snakewood.
As he sat at Hogwarts, reminiscing about Ilvermorny, the sun had already set, and the clock's pendulum thrummed dully.
The start-of-term dinner was about to begin. Melvin stood, took off his coat, and pulled his suit from his suitcase.
According to Dumbledore, Hogwarts held several prestigious dinners each year, one of which was the start-of-term dinner. Professors were expected to arrive at the Great Hall before the students, and it was best to dress formally.
The wizarding world also has suits, though the styles aren't as elaborate as those of Muggles. In the minds of most wizards, suits are uniforms for Ministry of Magic employees, making them more accessible to Muggles. Formal wizarding attire is wizard robes, with formal gowns worn on particularly formal occasions. Diagon Alley boasts shops like Tofan's and Madam Malkin's Robes. Hogsmeade boasts a boutique dedicated to elegant wizard clothing, and for those on a tight budget, there's always a secondhand robe shop.
Melvin wore a suit and tie for the start-of-term dinner.
This professor has a bit of a Muggle vibe.
...
Learning about this castle from film footage and written stories is completely different from actually walking its corridors and staircases.
The castle's primary colors are dark, with walls and domes constructed of sandstone and limestone, weathered by time, creating a bluish-gray hue interspersed with mottled black and gray. The marble staircases offer a less stark, neutral hue. The hallways are straight, lined with hollow suits of armor and busts of wizards, their biographies engraved on pedestals.
Next to the hollow relief hung a green ribbon with the Slytherin House emblem printed on it. They were the champions of the House Cup last year, and this color scheme will continue for the entire year until a new champion is decided next summer.
Melvin slowed down his pace as he walked down the stairs. Memories of Hogwarts kept emerging in his mind. The real scene in front of him gradually overlapped with the scenes in his distant memories, becoming vivid bit by bit. He
stayed at the corner of the stairs for half a minute to understand the pattern of the stairs' turning before continuing down the stairs.
There are a total of 142 staircases in Hogwarts, of varying widths, lengths, and lengths. Some steps will suddenly disappear, and some will suddenly turn. If you rush in in a hurry, it is normal to be stuck for half an hour.
The last step, not far ahead is the Great Hall, with two doors open and brightly lit.
"You must be the new Professor Lewynter."
Before Melvin entered the Great Hall, a short, plump, middle-aged witch with flowing gray hair approached from the entrance hall. A kind smile graced her face. "Nice to meet you, Professor Lewynter. I'm Pomona Sprout, the Herbology teacher."
She was the same witch he'd seen busy in the greenhouse upon entering the school.
"Hello, Professor Sprout."
"I saw you in the greenhouse this morning, but I was covered in mud and the smell wasn't pleasant, so I didn't call you. Come on, come on, I'll introduce you to the other professors."
"Yes, ma'am..."
Melvin couldn't help but smile and followed her into the Great Hall.
The banquet hadn't begun yet, and the four long house tables were empty, with only simple fruit and snacks on them. The guest of honor table was also vacant. As he approached, he heard a voice coming from the adjacent lounge.
Following the direction of the voice, he entered the side door next to the guest of honor table and saw the other three Hogwarts Heads of House.
The witch standing in front stood straight, wearing a crisp emerald green robe with her collar buttoned to the top. Her gray and black hair was combed into a tight bun. The calm gaze behind her square glasses lingered on his suit for a few seconds and nodded at him:
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Professor Lewyn. I am Minerva McGonagall, Professor of Transfiguration."
"Nice to meet you, Professor McGonagall."
A thin figure with a straight hooked nose and greasy black hair hanging on both sides of his cheeks was expressionless next to him. When he looked at Melvin, he gave a cold look and squeezed out a name from his mouth:
"Severus Snape, Potions."
Melvin nodded: "Hello, Professor Snape."
"Look here! Filius Flitwick, I'm the Professor of Charms!"
Professor Flitwick was a half-elf, short, only a little over three feet tall, but very agile. He came up to him in the blink of an eye and looked at his suit with interest: "This is Muggle clothes, right? It's really beautiful!"
"Yes, formal suits for Muggle men can be customized according to body shape. If Professor Flitwick is interested, we can go to London together this weekend. I happen to know a very good ready-to-wear store."
"London? I thought it would be New York."
"Professor Flitwick knows me?"
"Of course, it's been reported in the newspapers. I want to hear you talk about Ilvermorny. What are your Charms classes like? What do you teach?"
"I also want to know more about Hogwarts..."
The four heads of school and the new professor of Muggle Studies got together to chat. They asked about Melvin's experiences, and Melvin also asked about their pasts indirectly.
The four heads of school at Hogwarts all had their own stories. One professor was reluctant to reveal them, so the topic turned to Professor McGonagall's youth.
Professor McGonagall was a half-blood wizard. Her father was a priest of the Muggle Church, and her mother was a witch who hid her identity and fell in love with a Muggle.
Minerva showed outstanding wizarding talent shortly after she was born. As a baby, she was unable to control her own magic, which soon exposed her mother Isobel's identity as a witch. However, the family did not break up because of this. They still lived together. Not long after, Minerva had two younger brothers, who were also wizards.
There was no unrest during that time, and Minerva successfully entered Hogwarts and graduated successfully.
Talking about the past, several professors became interested. Flitwick reminisced with emotion:
"I still remember the Sorting Party that year. When the Sorting Hat was placed on her head, it hesitated between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, and it took five and a half minutes to make a decision. The result was Gryffindor. What a pity... Just by a hair's breadth, Ravenclaw could have had this outstanding witch."
Sprout added with reverence, "I enrolled during Minerva's fifth year. She was Gryffindor Head Girl, top of the class, and displayed incredible talent in Transfiguration, being voted the best newcomer by Transfiguration Today..." McGonagall
pursed her lips, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Filius was also quite good. The Sorting Hat almost put him in Gryffindor. By fifth year, no student his age could last more than three minutes in a duel practice with Filius, not even the seniors. Shortly after graduation, he became the Wizard Dueling Tournament Champion, a title he held for several years in a row."
"And Pomona. She was only twelve when I graduated, and she had already tamed every dangerous plant in the greenhouse."
"That was decades ago."
"Those wonderful school days—how nostalgic..."
Snape remained silent, glancing at the few people chatting and laughing. He had been listening in, but suddenly spoke up: "It's a shame Professor McGonagall left something to regret when she graduated."
Melvin asked subconsciously, "What regret?" "
As the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, I lost the last game to Slytherin before graduation. Until now, I still want to win it back, but unfortunately I have never succeeded."
"..."
Flitwick and Sprout fell silent.
Melvin was also silent. Why did he respond just now?
Snape was a man who knew how to chat.
Professor McGonagall frowned slightly: "That's because a Slytherin player committed a foul, causing me to suffer a concussion and several broken ribs, and I couldn't continue the game."
"He received the penalty he deserved, and Gryffindor still lost."
"Gryffindor defeated Slytherin many times afterwards."
"Just not including the last five years. "
..."
Flitwick and Sprout listened to their chatter, not wanting to interrupt and persuade them. After all, in the past few decades, the House Cup and Quidditch Cup had mostly rotated between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Listening to them quarreling on such topics, they felt a secret joy in their hearts. They
just felt a little guilty for having neglected the new Professor Lewyn.
With mixed feelings, Flitwick's eyes rolled around and he reached out to tug at the corner of Melvin's clothes: "Melvin, do you want to try the Sorting Hat?"
"Huh?"
"It can also help with teaching. We all went to Hogwarts when we were young and experienced the Sorting. Students in the same house are more willing to cooperate with us. How about you try it too?"
It is rare to see an adult wizard wearing a Sorting Hat. When Flitwick mentioned this, Sprout also became interested, even more eager than the person involved:
"Yes, give it a try."
"..."
Two professors surrounded Melvin and walked out of the lounge and came to the open space in front of the guest of honor seats.
Every year at the opening party, a sorting ceremony is prepared for the freshmen. A triangular stool is placed in the open space in front of the guest of honor seats, and the Sorting Hat is placed on the triangular stool.
This is a wrinkled pointed wizard hat. The faded fabric is gray and brown. The folds are a little faded due to starching, like parchment that has been crumpled and dried. The tip of the hat is drooping to the left, and the surface is covered with patches of varying depths. There is a crooked crack on the brim of the hat. The thread ends on the edge of the crack have been worn into fluff, and the composition of the mottled stains is unknown.
The Sorting Hat is dirty and worn. Melvin lifted the brim of the hat and carefully examined it inside and out. After a few turns, he struggled to mentally prepare himself and put it on his head.
The brim of the hat flopped, obscuring his vision.
His mind was a tangle of thoughts.
He hadn't used any Occlumency; those memories didn't reside in this brain, more like they were hidden deep within his soul.
Seven years ago, when he set foot in Ilvermorny, the four house statues reacted simultaneously. While Ilvermorny's house traits didn't strictly correspond to those of Hogwarts, overall, he probably met the requirements of all four houses.
The brim of the hat radiated a cool, faint magical energy, brushing only lightly against his hair. It didn't penetrate deeply, nor did it probe the depths of his mind, as if it were capturing the chaotic thoughts overflowing from his brain.
"Oh!"
a faint voice echoed in his ear. "It's been years since I've worn it on an adult wizard's head, and yet your thoughts are still so chaotic. When will you finally understand that thinking about dozens of things simultaneously doesn't make you think faster or more efficiently; it only makes your mind a mess." "
Melvin was quite helpless: I think so too, but the brain has its own ideas.
The Sorting Hat seemed to sense his thoughts and whispered: "Don't be impatient, control your thoughts, and you can control your magic."
"Thoughts... magic?"
Melvin wanted to ask again, but the Sorting Hat had changed the subject: "Let me see, let me see, oh, complex adult wizards, not lacking in courage, good heart, outstanding talent... complex, very complex..."
Melvin gradually calmed down. Just when he thought the Sorting Hat would hesitate for a while and finally ask for his opinion, the Sorting Hat seemed to sense something extraordinary, and suddenly raised its voice and screamed:
"Slytherin! Absolute Slytherin!"
"? ? "
No, why did you suddenly become a Slytherin?
You haven't asked for my opinion yet?"
Melvin looked up and found Flitwick and Sprout staring at him with complicated expressions, as if they were about to speak.
The other two professors had stopped arguing at some point and came to stand side by side. Professor McGonagall didn't say anything, but her brows were slightly furrowed and her lips were pursed.
Only Snape's expression seemed to soften, and he looked much more pleasing to the eye.
"Woo! Woo!"
The sound of a train whistle came from outside the window.
Just... continue to delay
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(end of this chapter)