Chapter 11: Onboarding
Chapter 11: Onboarding
September 1st.
Onboarding time.
Felix, the quintessential lazybones, predictably used Floo Powder to arrive at the Deputy Headmistress's office. Dressed in a vibrant emerald robe, his hair neatly groomed, he stepped out of the fireplace with a small suitcase in hand.
"Professor Mcgonagall", Felix greeted with a smile.
Professor Mcgonagall was busy organizing the day's schedule. The start-of-term feast was her responsibility, and these were some of the busiest days of her year.
"Oh, thank heavens, you're finally here."
"Is something wrong?" Felix asked.
"I need you to help me with some of the tasks."
"I'm at your service, ma'am", Felix replied with perfect manners.
After assigning him a series of tasks, Professor Mcgonagall hurried off, muttering to herself, "Dumbledore never bothers with these things... it's all on me..." Clearly, she had some grievances with the Headmaster.
Felix examined the parchment in his hand with interest. "Let's see, the first task is to decorate the Great Hall, right?"
The Great Hall (dining hall).
Felix waved his wand, hanging decorations around the walls and arranging the four long tables neatly, ensuring the spacing between each chair was perfect.
Next was the weather above the Great Hall.
"To be honest, I've wanted to play with this for a long time", Felix mumbled, waving his wand.
The clear midday sky above the Great Hall suddenly turned overcast, with thick black clouds pressing down so low it felt like they were about to touch his face.
Then, Felix continued to wave his wand, and the dense black clouds dispersed, revealing a large expanse of eerie green light that illuminated the entire Great Hall, making it look like a cursed land.
"Ah", Felix was in high spirits and even conjured a large snake. Through the green light, the snake opened its massive jaws, and a twisted green figure emerged, resembling a certain professor.
"Is this how you view the professor who taught you for seven years, Felix?" a sinister voice suddenly interrupted his fun.
Felix turned around to see his Potions Professor and Head of House, Snape, gliding over like a ghost.
Snape's face was expressionless, his eyes as calm as a well, showing no emotion. He slowly sprayed a venomous mist, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Are you expressing your dissatisfaction with me? Or has your head been filled with outdated Muggle ideas over the past three years, making you arrogant and impolite?"
"Ahem!" Felix was embarrassed, caught in the act.
To make matters worse, the snake above him lowered its head, and the green figure inside its mouth was writhing and twisting.
Felix waved his wand, turning the snake into nothingness. He quickly adjusted his expression, as if he had just noticed Professor Snape, first showing surprise, then walking forward to greet him politely.
"Professor, it's been three years, and your magic has become even more refined and powerful."
Snape gave him a dispassionate once-over, his voice rhythmic and measured, "It's been three years, and you've certainly given me a show. If I hadn't taught you, I would have thought you were just a foolish lion."
Felix adopted an "awkward" expression, his eyes awkwardly shifting away, then suddenly turning to look behind Snape, "Oh, Professor Mcgonagall, when did you arrive?"
Snape was startled and quickly turned around, but the corridor was empty.
Turning back, he saw Felix with a puzzled look. "Huh? Did I just imagine that?"
Snape was too angry to speak.
This was happening again.
This boy had always found excuses to escape ever since school days, making jokes and spouting nonsense, but Snape knew him well enough to recognize how dangerous he was.
In fact, when he learned this morning that Felix was coming to Hogwarts School to teach, he had a major argument with Dumbledore and had just left the Headmaster's office.
Snape crept closer and spoke in a tone only the two of them could hear: "Felix Hepworth—"
"You can call me Felix, Professor!" Felix interjected.
Snape: "……"
There it was again! Always interrupting, always cutting him off!
But who could blame him? Snape always spoke slowly, with a singsong tone. Others might be too intimidated by Snape's oppressive presence to interrupt, but Felix knew him too well!
Well enough to know his deepest, darkest secrets!
Snape quickened his pace. "Felix, I don't care what your intentions are for coming to Hogwarts, but I will keep an eye on you. If you plan to use the students here to spread your dangerous ideas—"
"Professor, you've read my works? What an honor!"
Snape was momentarily speechless.
"Professor Mcgonagall! What brings you here?" Felix suddenly turned his head and said.
"Don't play your games!" Snape snapped, then felt someone quickly approaching from behind.
Emmm, this time it was real... Felix subtly pointed behind him, and before Snape could turn around, he heard Professor Mcgonagall approaching briskly, her tone stern and urgent.
"Professor Snape, you're just in time. I need to discuss something with you."
And so, Professor Snape was led away by Professor Mcgonagall, while Felix waved goodbye, causing Snape to glare at him viciously.
"It seems Professor still holds a grudge against me~" Felix muttered. "Just because I threatened you once? It's been years, and you're still holding onto this grudge. How embarrassing."
Yes, Felix had indeed threatened Snape. More precisely, their overt and covert confrontations during their school years were not a one-time thing but had spanned seven long years.
That was another long story.
In any case, Felix continued to prepare the Great Hall, this time not daring to play around. Waving his wand, he transformed the ceiling into a dazzling starry sky. He deliberately enlarged and brought some stars closer, creating a full moon as bright as a disk, a red Mars like a furnace, and a yellowish-brown Saturn with a ring of debris... In the distance, tiny, bright stars flickered, making the Great Hall look absolutely stunning.
"Excellent spell!" a high-pitched voice exclaimed. Felix looked up, then bowed his head.
He smiled. "Hello, Professor Flitwick!"
"Oh! Felix!" Professor Flitwick looked thrilled, though he was nearly fainting with excitement.
"Brilliant graduate of Hogwarts returns to the school! This is wonderful! I still remember your outstanding performance in the Spell Newts exam, perfect, absolutely perfect!"
Professor Flitwick was very excited. Despite his small stature, he was emotionally expressive and had no bias against any of the houses.
"It's great to see you, Professor!"
(End of Chapter)
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