The diary is missing again.
Hmm... William was already numb to it.
If it were before yesterday, his reaction might not have been as... indifferent as it is now. Because he knows, even though the Basilisk in the Secret Chamber was probably half-dead thanks to the roosters throughout the castle, the soul in that diary is not something a little wizard can handle. After all, that thing swallowed the Defense Magic he left in Ginny's mind.
Since he didn't pay much attention to the diary during their first encounter, William didn't put a restriction on his magic power...
But who would have thought that there's a Dark Lord stuffed in there?
William is very aware of the purity of his own magic power.
But now… whatever Dumbledore does, he doesn't care anymore, since that old guy won't agree to let him directly become a professor anyway.
Tsk, his cover is blown, there's a waste sitting in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class professor's seat, wouldn't it be good to kick him out and let me fill the vacancy?
Although letting a fifteen-year-old wizard teach students in sixth and seventh year does sound a bit odd.
But exams are troublesome, right? Potions or Charm are naturally okay, the main issue is memorization-heavy subjects like Magic History. When he took that exam a hundred years ago, he barely got an A, just passed, and now there's an addition of another hundred years of history. The problem is, this period is especially troublesome—
World War I, World War II, Grindelwald's rise, the first Wizard War...
They're all important points and just thinking about them gives me a headache... Tsk, back then I should have been harsher, wiped out all those Pure-Blood Clans that pissed me off. That way, it would at least halve the content of modern Magic History.
William stabbed the bread in the onion soup with a fork angrily because he was rejected bluntly by Dumbledore yesterday, so he's been in a bad mood today.
"...William?"
After waiting for a long time without hearing more, Hermione gently reminded him.
"Oh, that diary book... yes, that thing is the key Lucius Malfoy sent." William nodded, stuffing the hard bread soaked in soup into his mouth.
Hmm... savory.
However, eating like this reminds him of lamb soup with bread.
"Just as expected..."
Though he had guessed it long ago in his heart, hearing William's confirmation, Harry still subconsciously made a face, finally, he hadn't suspected incorrectly this time.
"Yes, so what should we do now? Volde... You-Know-Who's diary is at school..." Hermione asked quietly.
"What to do?" William shrugged, "Of course, don't do anything. After all, that Basilisk snake can't get near the castle anyway..."
...
In the end, Harry and Hermione left the Hufflepuff Long Table disappointed.
And soon, Cedric returned to sit next to William.
"Why, not accompanying your little girlfriend?" William raised an eyebrow, joking.
On Valentine's Day, Cedric did send that love letter, and rumor has it that a dwarf blocked the girl in front of Cho Chang and read the letter aloud, blocking almost forty to fifty little wizards at the entrance of the hall... The embarrassment level nearly matched that of messing up in public.
Just thinking about it, even without putting yourself in Cho Chang's shoes, William felt goosebumps.
"...She, she's ignoring me."
Cedric said tearfully; he had gone over to the Ravenclaw Long Table when Harry and Hermione came, but obviously, it was a fruitless trip.
"With your writing skills, it's a wonder she didn't bury you with a spade as fertilizer in the Forbidden Forest."
"Then what should I do?"
"You want me to teach you how to romance? Apologize, buy some gifts, and go for a trip to Hogsmeade this afternoon, then..."
William squinted his eyes, his knife and fork cutting hard into the bread, "Take down her best friend."
"?"
"Hello, William..."
Before William could explain, a sharp voice suddenly came from behind him, and instinctively, he turned to look—nobody was there.
"Here."
Then, a hand reached into William's view.
"Oh—"
William lowered his gaze, finally seeing the person who came to find him, the Head of Ravenclaw, and Hogwarts Charm Professor—Filius Flitwick, though short in stature, was a greatly respected professor.
Because he genuinely treated all little wizards equally, even Professor Meow, as dedicated as she is, couldn't help showing a nasty face to a particular troll pretending to be a sixth-year student from Slytherin.
"What's the matter, Professor?" William turned around, wiped his mouth, and added.
"Oh, well, I was wondering if you'd be free tonight?"
Glancing at Cedric, who had again made way, although a bit puzzled, Flitwick hesitated for a moment and then sat down beside William.
"Tonight?"
"Yes, tonight at the Duel Club—"
Yes, after the first gathering, the Duel Club was not canceled. Despite how William almost embarrassed that old bat face, maybe due to Dumbledore's request or for other reasons, Snape was still hosting the club, every week without fail.
"?"
William hesitated, although the club was not canceled, but he hadn't attended again after the first time. After all, it was the old bat's turf; it would be too much to repeatedly go and challenge him—besides, there wasn't much there for him to learn.
So what Flitwick meant was...
"Yes, Professor Snape has some things to attend to, temporarily leaving the club in my hands for now, tonight is the first time."
Flitwick nodded, he waved his wand, and a cup filled with juice floated over to him from the middle of the table, "So I hope there's a demonstration match tonight, but Minerva, being the Deputy Headmistress, has got lots to do; Pomona is taking care of the soon-to-mature Mandrake; and as for Professor Lockhart..."
The Half-Blood Goblin pursed his lips and didn't continue, "But, Minerva recommended you to me, saying your duel skills are remarkable—"
"Yes."
"And rest assured, it's just a demonstration nature... Ah?"
Still wanting to elaborate, Flitwick paused, stunned, evidently not expecting William to not display a bit of humility or evasiveness.
"I mean, I agree."
William nodded; precisely the platform he needed. Once he succeeded in demonstrating his prowess and earning all the students' admiration, even Dumbledore couldn't stop him from ascending to a professor's position!
By then, the great ambition would be realized, hehehe...
"Oh, you're agreeing? That's truly..." Flitwick touched his sparse hair, seeming quite delighted, "Tonight at eight, I'll be waiting for you in the hall."
With these words, the little old man joyfully leapt off the bench, not forgetting to take his half-drunk juice with him.
"...What did Professor Flitwick want from you?"
Yes, a certain NPC with the last name Diggory refreshed next to William again.
"Tonight's practical training is canceled too; this afternoon, just go on your date in peace." William patted the boy's shoulder, suddenly tossing an unexpected remark.
"Canceled again?" Cedric paused.
"Why, not happy?" William raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, no... No, I mean, obviously, I'm happy, it's just... Could you help me with one more small favor?"
"Say it."
"I was just thinking, under these circumstances, Cho's best friend is indeed quite bothersome, could you… take Marietta away, all you need to do is flaunt just a bit of charm..."
"Get lost."
"Okay then."