Chapter 15: Drawing a Big Pie
Chapter 15: Drawing a Big Pie
In the professor's chair.
Felix watched the scene, feeling a bit strange. He didn't think he had done anything particularly terrifying, so why were the Slytherin students so afraid of him?
He had been cultivating his character and tempering his nature since his sixth year, and these young wizards were at most second-year students back then.
This is just tarnishing my reputation!
If this gets out, it would be like a mafia boss impersonating a newbie teacher at school.
The other professors also had somewhat peculiar looks on their faces. Most of them had been witnesses to Felix's "glorious seven years", and the fact that his influence was still strong after three years was truly admirable!
Their gazes made Felix want to punch someone!
Dumbledore, however, remained smiling the entire time, as if what had just happened was the most normal thing in the world.
Felix felt like time was dragging on, but he still pretended nothing had happened and awkwardly chatted with Lockhart.
Bang, bang, bang!
A loud knocking sound echoed, and then the door was pushed open. A giant walked in, followed by a line of first-year students who looked like quail.
Professor Mcgonagall, who had left earlier, returned, leading the new students to a small stool and placing the tattered Sorting Hat on it.
The next moment, the Sorting Hat began to sing.
Felix smirked; it was still so unconventional...
The annual performance ended, and the Sorting Hat began sorting the young wizards, one by one, placing the hat on their heads and determining their houses.
How nostalgic!
Once the sorting was over, the entire school began enjoying their dinner. However, Felix noticed that Snape still hadn't returned, and no professor mentioned him. Well, Professor, your social skills aren't great...
Fortunately, Professor Snape returned halfway through, putting Felix's mind at ease. The worry that the professor had been captured by some unknown monster turned out to be unfounded.
But Snape took Professor Mcgonagall away, which was a strange turn of events.
Felix let his imagination run wild. He was in a good mood, and even the sight of the ghostly Baron Blood was pleasing to the eye.
After a while, Mcgonagall and Snape returned. Felix quickly approached, pulling Professor Mcgonagall aside to explain the clever (lazy) trick he had come up with for his class.
"An open class?" Professor Mcgonagall repeated, her eyes filled with distrust.
"Yes, I'm a new professor, and the first class is very important. I spent a lot of time preparing during the holidays. It would be a waste to divide the students into five different grades."
"But if you gather all five grades together, they won't learn anything."
Felix explained, "My first class won't cover any theoretical knowledge; it will be a demonstration. They just need to bring their eyes and watch. My goal is to show them the magic of Ancient Runes. If they're interested, teaching them later will be much easier."
Professor Mcgonagall pursed her lips. She didn't like breaking the rules, but she asked, "When do you plan to hold the open class?"
"Thursday afternoon!"
"Alright, I agree." Professor Mcgonagall had the air of a Deputy Headmistress.
"Um..." Felix felt a bit embarrassed.
"Is there any other problem, Mr. Heap?"
"Call me Felix", he quickly replied, "Thursday afternoon is a carefully chosen time, but there is a conflict with another class."
Professor Mcgonagall sighed, "Whose class is it?"
"Professor Snape's."
Mcgonagall's eyes widened, and she glared at him, "I'll talk to him!"
Felix let out a long breath of relief.
Back to eating... continue eating...
When everyone was nearly done, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and led the assembly in singing the school song before dismissing everyone.
Felix, having had his fill, prepared to return to his professor's office to watch a movie and go to sleep.
For the next week, he only needed to prepare for the open class. What was there to prepare? Off to the library tomorrow!
Dear Hogwarts Library, I've missed you so much!
His reverie was interrupted when Professor Mcgonagall pulled him aside.
They walked to a corner where three young wizards were already standing—two boys and one girl, all wearing Gryffindor robes.
As he got closer, Felix found it even more amusing. The two boys looked identical and were frowning, while the girl was someone he had met during the summer.
He had a hunch.
Were these the assistants Professor Mcgonagall had mentioned? So, they were the Weasley Twins and Hermione Granger?
Sure enough, Professor Mcgonagall introduced both parties and then explained Felix's need for "assistants (minions)."
From their expressions, the twins seemed somewhat uninterested, while Hermione Granger appeared a bit intrigued, though not overly so.
What's so attractive about a temporary worker, anyway?
This won't do...
Felix decided he needed to say something. He believed that after his speech, they would completely change their attitudes.
Now, watch me work my magic!
Felix gave Professor Mcgonagall a meaningful look, then cleared his throat twice. He looked at the three young wizards and spoke gently, “Hello, I am your new Ancient Runes professor,” then glanced at Hermione, “and possibly your future professor.”
Hermione seemed a bit nervous, while the twins were much bolder. One of them asked excitedly, “Professor, did you really beat up the entire Slytherin House when you were a student? And chase away the Zabini Family?”
Well, Felix was exactly seven years older than the twins. He graduated just as they were about to start school, so they missed each other by a perfect margin.
They sure are bold... Felix was a bit surprised.
However, he didn't directly respond, instead brushing it off lightly, “Hogwarts is full of bizarre rumors. When I was a student, I heard there was a portal on the eighth floor of the castle that connected to Hogsmeade!”
To his surprise, the twins looked noticeably disappointed, and Professor Mcgonagall subtly rolled her eyes.
“Let's get back to the topic at hand. For a long time to come—until you all graduate, at least—I will be teaching Ancient Runes at Hogwarts. Therefore, I plan to train an assistant who can help me with some tasks, like grading papers.”
Seeing the twins' lack of interest, he quickly skipped over the less appealing part.
“Of course, with every loss comes a gain. As my assistant, you will receive some hidden benefits. For example, extra guidance from me. Besides Ancient Runes, I am also very skilled in Spellcasting, and Professor Mcgonagall can vouch for me.”
“Secondly, extra points. Given that the assistant work will take up some of your free time, Professor Mcgonagall and I have agreed to award fifty points each semester.”
The twins exchanged a glance, realizing that meant one hundred points per year!
Hermione's eyes also lit up. In fact, she was already intrigued by the first benefit.
“Third, the opportunity to participate in my research. You will be exposed to many advanced magical concepts that won't be covered in class.”
“Fourth, priority to join my Ancient Rune Club next year.”
“Fifth, my personal friendship. If you become my assistant, I won't refuse to help you with small favors,” Felix winked, his voice dripping with allure, “like accessing the Restricted Section of the library, weekend trips to the Forbidden Forest, or late-night castle explorations...”
“Cough, cough, cough!” Professor Mcgonagall suddenly started coughing violently, as if trying to cough up her lungs.
“Alright, let's forget the last two,” Felix said regretfully. He had always yearned to do these things openly when he was a student, rather than sneaking around—there was a significant difference in experience.
However, the benefits he had mentioned were enough to get the three young wizards excited.
Sure enough, when he finished speaking, the twins and Hermione were full of anticipation, seemingly ready to say “I do” at any moment.
“Of course, becoming my assistant won't be easy. You are among the best students in Hogwarts below fifth year, which is why Professor Mcgonagall recommended you.”
“However, a necessary evaluation is still required,” Felix said slowly, like a cunning and experienced hunter. He drew his wand and transformed two strands of hair into parchment and a quill. The quill began writing in the air on the parchment.
The three young wizards sneakily glanced at it, and it seemed to be a very long book list...
The twins' faces immediately turned sour, even more so than before.
When the quill finished writing, it silently turned to fire. Felix then tapped the parchment with his wand, and it split into three pieces, floating toward each of them.
“Here is a reference book list. Read as much as you can, but by next Monday at the latest, I expect a paper on the History of Ancient Runes.”
Felix looked at them, feeling a sense of mischief, “There’s no word limit, but the more, the better; no limit on the number of sections, but the more, the better; no limit on the number of reference books, but again, the more, the better.”
“You have one week.”
The three “the more, the better” clauses left them a bit bewildered, but that wasn't his concern. His expectation was at least two parchments, with not only summaries but also their own thoughts, and they should read at least half of the reference books.
(End of Chapter)
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