Chapter 243: The List of Students Staying at School
Chapter 243: The List of Students Staying at School
The next morning, Felix didn't expect his premonition to come true so quickly. He remembered he didn't have any Divination talent, or so he thought. It was hard to say; he had dropped the Divination class because Professor Trelawney always acted like a charlatan.
Back then, Sybill Trelawney had only been teaching at Hogwarts for a few years and hadn't yet developed her stable teaching style. Sometimes she went overboard.
Felix was at the height of his fame—renowned and trouble-prone, making him an ideal choice for her to gain recognition. Trelawney once made over a dozen predictions for him, none of which were reliable.
...
Felix saw Professor Mcgonagall and the toad-faced Umbridge standing face-to-face in front of the spiral staircase. Professor Mcgonagall's expression was decidedly unpleasant, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Umbridge... Inspector! I must remind you that Dumbledore does not allow Dementors to enter the school. Over a month ago, there was a serious incident where Dementors attacked the Quidditch pitch."
Umbridge stepped up one stair, then another, standing above Professor Mcgonagall with a forced smile. "Professor Mcgonagall, I don't want Dementors here any more than you do. I find them as unsettling as you do. To be honest, they remind me of the unfair treatment I endured during my early years as an intern."
"However, I managed to prove my capabilities. Despite my relation to the Selwyn family... my current position is a result of my own efforts."
Professor Mcgonagall snorted, "I only hope you haven't used your position to exact revenge. From what I know..." She trailed off, not continuing.
Umbridge seemed to ignore her, maintaining a saccharine smile. "Given that the dangerous fugitive Sirius Black is still at large, I hope—on behalf of Minister Fudge—to establish a small base at Hogwarts to show the Ministry's commitment to the school's safety. Of course, there will be no Dementors, just myself and two Aurors."
Professor Mcgonagall replied dryly, "I haven't received any notification from Dumbledore."
"I can wait", Umbridge said, waving her hand amiably. "For the safety of those lovely, innocent children, I don't mind wasting a little time."
Professor Mcgonagall glared at Umbridge, her chest heaving with evident anger.
"Pardon me, Minerva?" Felix descended the stairs, passing by Umbridge.
Professor Mcgonagall stepped back, giving him room. Felix's tall frame blocked Umbridge from view.
Felix winked at Professor Mcgonagall. For a moment, a smile flickered on her face, but she quickly composed herself, becoming even more serious. A similar situation had occurred during last year's Christmas party when Flitwick used himself as an example to tell a dwarf joke.
"Ahem! Excuse me—" A pretentious clearing of the throat came from behind him. Felix seemed to notice her for the first time. "You haven't left yet? I thought you were done talking."
"Who is this?" Umbridge's face darkened.
Professor Mcgonagall showed no intention of introducing him. She politely asked Felix, "Felix, could you do me a favor? I need—" She glanced at Umbridge, who was standing on the stairs, a step higher than her. Her gaze fell on Umbridge's pink cardigan and the bow embroidered at the neckline, and she looked away, feeling uncomfortable.
“——I need to accompany this Ministry of Magic investigator.”
“What do you need me to do?” Felix asked.
“Collect the list of students staying over the Christmas holidays. You only need to handle Gryffindor House, and Percy Weasley can assist you.” Professor Mcgonagall handed him a piece of parchment. “Just have the young wizards fill out the forms. If I can spare some time this afternoon, I’ll come by.”
“No problem, Minerva.” Felix said casually, bowing slightly to both of them. His gaze fell on Umbridge. “That outfit suits you, ma'am.”
Umbridge looked at him in disbelief. “Who is this person?” She pointed at his retreating back with her plump finger.
Felix heard Professor Mcgonagall say cheerfully, “Obviously, he is a professor at Hogwarts……”
He ascended the spiral staircase and made his way to the Gryffindor House common room. However, he was stopped by the fat lady portrait, who sternly said, “Password.”
Felix paused, then ventured, “Lucky Strike?” He recalled that Gryffindor’s password seemed to be related to luck.
“Wrong,” the fat lady rolled her eyes. “Even though you are a professor, you can’t enter without the password. That’s the rule. Who knows if you’re not a black witch or wizard in disguise.”
Felix replied with interest, “Please forgive me, ma'am—I’ve always wanted to know, do you remember when Black was a student here?”
The fat lady seemed insulted and let out a scream. “Heavens, of course I remember……” She began to chatter away, and Felix smiled, nodding along with her. “Is that so?”
“Really, there was such a thing?”
“He was quite a little jerk……”
After about ten minutes, the common room door was pushed open from the inside, and Neville walked out, his backpack slung over his shoulder.
“Neville, are you heading to the Library to study?”
Neville seemed startled and stammered, “Professor Hup? Yes, oh no, I’m going to the Greenhouse—I mean, to Professor Sprout.”
Felix nodded understandingly. “By the way, what’s your house password?” As he spoke, the fat lady slammed the door shut, her face showing a mischievous grin.
Neville’s face froze. He slowly looked at Felix, then at the closed common room door, and helplessly reached into his pocket.
He searched through the first pocket, then the second, from his jacket to his undershirt, from his robes to his trousers. He then opened his loose backpack, which emitted a fresh earthy smell.
Neville found a small piece of paper in a corner and read it out excitedly, “Fortune Favors, it’s Fortune Favors!”
The fat lady pouted. “I wanted to chat with you a bit more.” She swiveled to the side, and the common room door opened.
Felix suddenly remembered something. “Neville, are you staying for Christmas?”
“No, my grandmother wrote to me to come home for the holidays,” Neville replied, unconsciously gripping his backpack tighter.
“I see, Neville.”
Felix slipped into the common room, where the noise was deafening.
(End of Chapter)
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