Chapter 896: The School Governor, Professor
Chapter 896: The School Governor, Professor
As Kyle stepped through the school gates, he was greeted by Fergus, his face filled with impatience.
Previously, due to Lady Loris's cat, Fergus had treated Kyle better than others, but that had changed... probably after Umbridge's arrival at the school.
She trusted Fergus greatly, granting him extensive powers, including but not limited to confiscating items at will and inspecting packages and letters.
Fergus savored the taste of power for the first time.
It wasn't until Umbridge left the school that Fergus, reduced to his original form, reverted to his previous self, equally despising every student... and even graduates.
"I don't know why the Headmaster would let you back in," Fergus said in his usual annoying tone, "but I must remind you, don't even think about causing any trouble. I'll be watching you..."
Before Fergus could finish his sentence, a massive figure sent him flying.
"Get out of the way, you old fart!"
Hagrid approached from behind and, without exerting much effort, knocked Fergus to the ground with a swift kick.
"Welcome, Kyle," Hagrid said warmly, extending his large hand and patting Kyle's shoulder. "I never thought I'd see you here at school again. Come with me; I'm here to take you to Dumbledore. He asked me to fetch you."
"Oh, okay." Kyle pulled his feet out of the damp, soft ground.
Did Hagrid not know his own strength?
Wow, those two blows nearly dispelled his Ironskin Charm.
Kyle turned back to look, and Chris had already Disapparated, moving at a speed as if completing an unrewarding task...
Just as he had said, his responsibility was only to deliver people to the school, and that was enough.
Alright.
Kyle didn't even glance at Fergus and followed Hagrid towards the castle.
"If that old fart gives you any trouble, just punch him," Hagrid said. "You're not a student anymore, so there's no need to be polite to him."
"Mhm," Kyle nodded.
"Everyone hates him, that old fart," Hagrid muttered. "I bet he'd be the first to turn traitor when the Dark Lord attacks Hogwarts, just like that toad the last time."
"I wonder why Dumbledore still allows him to stay at the school."
"Perhaps the Deputy Headmaster has his reasons," Kyle said.
"Deputy Headmaster... oh, right, I almost forgot Dumbledore is now the Deputy Headmaster. To be honest, I don't feel any difference."
"You should've come earlier."
"What?"
"The Halloween Feast this year," Hagrid said. "Everyone thought there wouldn't be any performances, but Professor Slughorn used his connections to invite a Zombie Dance Troupe, and it was fantastic."
"What a shame," Kyle said.
With recent events one after another, he hadn't even realized that Halloween had already passed.
However, he had never heard of a Zombie Dance Troupe and wondered what kind of zombies they were and how they differed from the Skeleton Dance Troupe.
As the two of them talked, they entered the castle.
As Hagrid had said, the change in Headmasters hadn't affected Hogwarts in the slightest. Students went about their classes, chatted, played Quidditch... everything remained the same as before.
"We're definitely winning the championship this year!"
"Yeah, victory belongs to Gryffindor!"
...
Several students with brooms walked past them, likely new team members, none of whom Kyle recognized.
"Is the Quidditch match about to start?" he asked.
"Hufflepuff and Gryffindor," Hagrid said. "This year, Gryffindor is on fire, and you know why. After you graduated, Harry's Firebolt has been unbeatable."
He couldn't help but laugh as he spoke.
Harry and Kyle were among Hagrid's few student friends. Before Kyle's graduation, he always struggled with whom to cheer for during Quidditch matches.
Now, there was no dilemma; he could just blindly support Gryffindor.
Moreover, Hagrid could tell that Harry loved Quidditch, but sadly, he had never won a championship.
Harry was now in his seventh year, and Hagrid naturally hoped he could win a Quidditch Cup of his own before graduating.
"Speaking of Quidditch," he turned to Kyle, "you must have received plenty of offers from professional teams, right?"
"Indeed, I have," Kyle said.
The last time he went home, he saw a thick stack of envelopes, all invitations from professional Quidditch teams wanting him to be a reserve Chaser.
Yes, a reserve.
Official matches were different from school matches, and no matter how impressive Kyle performed, he couldn't become an official player right away.
Unless he could dominate like Viktor Krum, sweeping through official players.
However, Kyle wasn't interested.
Quidditch, with its severely unbalanced rules, was fine as a recreational activity, but he didn't want to dedicate his heart and soul to it. Kyle didn't relish the idea of riding a broom for days during every match.
So those letters remained unopened on his desk.
As for whether Harry could win the championship this year... it was hard to say.
Hagrid probably forgot that Hogwarts had standardized brooms for matches, which meant that even though Harry had the fastest Firebolt, he couldn't use it.
...
The two of them reached the eighth floor, and Hagrid led Kyle to the Headmaster's Office.
"Seastar... that's the password," Hagrid said.
The gargoyle hopped to the side.
It seemed that Professor McGonagall, as the new Headmaster, had even changed the password's theme.
When Dumbledore was Headmaster, the passwords were usually his favorite candies and sweets, but with Headmaster McGonagall...
Seastar... was it a hanging seastar?
This was a classic Quaffle-keeping technique, and it wasn't surprising that Headmaster McGonagall, a loyal Quidditch fan, would choose such a password.
The two of them climbed the stairs and entered the Headmaster's Office.
To Kyle's surprise, it wasn't McGonagall he saw behind the desk but Dumbledore, still seated there.
"You came..." Dumbledore stood up happily.
"Oh, don't get the wrong idea," he explained, noticing Kyle's puzzled look. "Minerva felt it was too noisy here and insisted on moving the Headmaster's Office to her original office."
Too noisy?
Before Kyle could ask, a piercing clanging sound filled the room.
In the portrait on the wall, Armando Dippet was wielding an axe taller than himself, locked in a fierce battle with Phineas.
The sound Kyle had heard earlier was from their weapons clashing.
Not far from the duo, a cheerful Dumbledore was watching the spectacle.
Since his retirement, a portrait of him had been added to the office.
"How strange," Dumbledore muttered to himself, glancing at Kyle, "that these portraits suddenly have so many weapons."
"Do you know why?"
"Um... maybe..." Kyle's eyes darted about, "the Headmasters might have found them elsewhere. With so many portraits at Hogwarts, who knows, maybe there's a whole armory hidden in one of the knight's portraits."
"Is that so?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "What about the paint in the storage cabinet? I remember there was plenty left, but when it came to preparing my portrait, only a little was found."
"Perhaps we misremembered," the portrait of Dumbledore chimed in with a smile. "Albus, we've been Headmasters for almost forty years. It's only natural to forget some details."
As he spoke, he even winked at Kyle, as if to say, 'Leave it to me; I've got this.'
"Perhaps," Dumbledore said. "Thanks for your help, Hagrid. Could you please find Minerva again? She should be finishing her class soon."
"Sure," Hagrid turned and left.
Kyle surveyed Dumbledore, "If I may remind you, Professor, you're only the Deputy Headmaster now."
"Yes, that's right," Dumbledore said, "but some matters must be discussed here. Minerva has only changed her office location; she will always come."
In the short time it took, Armando Dippet had already carved a cross on Phineas' behind, causing him to howl in pain.
"It's definitely livelier now," the portrait of Dumbledore sighed, and the real Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
Kyle had more questions, but seeing that Dumbledore wasn't going to elaborate, he closed his mouth.
After about ten minutes, the door to the Headmaster's Office opened.
Minerva McGonagall entered from outside.
"Headmistress, you're here," Dumbledore quickly stood up.
Visibly, McGonagall's eyes twitched, as if she was still adjusting to the new Dumbledore.
"Headmistress McGonagall," Kyle followed.
"You can still call me Professor, as we discussed before," she said.
"Okay, Professor McGonagall," Kyle said, "my dad told me I could come work at Hogwarts?"
"That's correct," Professor McGonagall nodded, "but I don't know if you're willing."
Being familiar with each other, they skipped the formalities and got straight to the point.
"May I ask which subject?" Kyle asked cautiously, "It's not Defense Against the Dark Arts, is it?"
"As far as I know, Severus doesn't plan to share his work with others," Dumbledore said. "But if you're interested, you can discuss it with him."
"Oh, no need for that. I have no desire to be a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," Kyle sighed in relief.
If it wasn't that, then the other subjects were fine. He glanced at Professor McGonagall, "Could it be Transfiguration?"
Professor McGonagall, being both the Headmistress and a teacher, was she overwhelmed?
"I'm actually fine," Professor McGonagall said expressionlessly. "In my opinion, the situation now is no different from before."
Dumbledore averted his eyes, feeling a bit guilty.
He had been away from Hogwarts for a long time due to other matters, leaving Professor McGonagall to handle the school's affairs.
In other words, Professor McGonagall had been sharing the Headmaster's duties since then, and even after her official appointment, things had become much easier.
Because she no longer had to consider Dumbledore's opinions, many issues could be resolved immediately, saving a lot of time.
"It's not Transfiguration either..." Kyle was now confused.
Apart from these two subjects, it seemed the other classes had teachers.
"It's Alchemy," Dumbledore said.
The answer made Kyle's head snap up.
"Do you remember what you told me before? About the growing popularity of alchemical items in the magical world."
Dumbledore pulled out a stack of parchment from his drawer, "I've given it serious thought and looked into other countries. I believe you're right, and Hogwarts needs to keep up with the times."
He spread out the parchments, detailing the classroom location, textbooks, and even the class schedule.
"Wait a moment," Kyle was still processing.
When he had shared those thoughts with Dumbledore, it was just a casual suggestion, and he never expected it to come to fruition.
But now...
"Did the Chairman agree?" Kyle couldn't help but ask, "Opening a new subject requires a lot of Galleons, did they agree to fund it?"
"Most of them disagreed," Dumbledore shook his head. "They think Hogwarts is fine as it is and there's no need to open a... well, a subject that only requires Galleons."
"They believe it's more convenient and quicker to buy ready-made alchemical items than to learn alchemy."
"How many disagreed?"
"Eleven."
"Then why bring it up?" Kyle shrugged, "Alchemy is the most expensive subject, no contest. Without the Chairman's support, we can't ask students to provide their own materials."
"I haven't finished speaking yet," Dumbledore smiled. "Although all eleven of the Chairmen disagreed, there was one person who was very interested and promised to contribute a sum of money to support the plan for a new subject."
"What's the point of one person?" Kyle sighed, "The preparations, various equipment, materials, and ongoing investments, all of this adds up to at least tens of thousands of Galleons. Can he afford that much?"
"Of course, I still have quite a bit of savings."
...
"Wait a moment." Kyle looked at Dumbledore with confusion. "You have savings... what does that mean?"
"That Chairman is me," Dumbledore smiled even more.
"It's a coincidence that one of the Chairmen recently relocated to Romania out of fear of Tom and the Death Eaters, leaving an empty position."
"So, you took his place?"
"That's right," Dumbledore said, "The Headmaster cannot serve as a Chairman, but the Deputy Headmaster can, and I just happen to meet this condition."
"..." For a moment, Kyle didn't know what to say.
From Headmaster to Chairman... Dumbledore had received a promotion, at least in name, as the Chairman's position held more weight than the Headmaster's.
Kyle still felt a bit surreal. As a Chairman, if he agreed to become the first Alchemy professor, would Dumbledore make things difficult for him?
Could he take back all those times he addressed Dumbledore as 'Mr.'?
"Well, are you willing to become the first Alchemy professor?" Professor McGonagall's words snapped Kyle back to reality.
"When?" he asked, "It's definitely not possible now, right?"
"You're right," Professor McGonagall nodded, "The subject choices for third-year students have already been made, and we can't add a new subject at this point."
"It's just a plan for now," Dumbledore added, "And given the current situation, it's better for Hogwarts to maintain the status quo."
"After we defeat Tom, I'll make a trip to Beauxbatons to consult with Professor Viktor about more specific details."
"Additionally, the Matter Transformation Furnace, which is essential for Alchemy, also requires time to construct. It's a massive undertaking, and I can't guarantee success on the first try."
So it was just a plan after all.
Kyle had thought that Alchemy was already on the agenda when he heard them talking earlier, but it seemed that it would have to wait until after the threat of Voldemort was dealt with.
Kyle smacked his lips, feeling a bit stuffed from the cookies.
He was well aware that this was necessary.
With Voldemort and the Death Eaters looming outside, Dumbledore couldn't possibly abandon the students of Hogwarts and spend his time crafting the Transformation Furnace.
"In that case, why did you ask me to come here now?" Kyle asked, "If I don't need to teach and can just hold the position of a professor, I have no objections."
No teaching and still getting paid, only a fool would refuse... and the Hogwarts professors' salaries weren't low.
Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore weren't fools, especially since Dumbledore was now a Chairman, the one who would be paying.
"No, no, no. The school's funds are limited, and every Knut needs to be spent wisely."
There it was, the stingy expression was on full display.
"The main reason I invited you to Hogwarts is to get you out of Tom's sight," Dumbledore explained, "You've caused him quite some trouble recently, and I'm worried he might lash out in anger and cause you trouble without regard for the consequences."
"Besides that, becoming a good professor isn't easy. You need to adapt in advance... and it's also a form of assessment by the Chairman."
"Alright, which subject?" Kyle asked.
"Ancient Runes," Professor McGonagall said, "Bathsheba plans to go on a long journey and has repeatedly asked me for leave, but Hogwarts couldn't find a second professor to take over Ancient Runes, so I haven't agreed yet."
"Ancient Runes," Kyle pondered.
He hadn't expected it to be this subject.
However, this subject wasn't bad. It could be considered the easiest class at Hogwarts... with only one class per week, and students from all four houses attending.
If the class schedule was tight, one could finish a week's worth of classes in a single day, and there wouldn't be a more relaxed professor position in all of Hogwarts.
Moreover, Ancient Runes had a significant connection to Alchemy.
"I suggest you give it a try."
Seeing that Kyle wasn't speaking, Dumbledore said meaningfully, "All the Headmasters you know, including me and Minerva, have been professors at school.
"Whether it's for salary, cultivation, or enhancing your reputation, it's a pretty good job.
"Even Tom has applied to become a professor for several consecutive years."
"Alright, I agree," Kyle said, "When do I start?"
"There's no need to rush," Professor McGonagall immediately relaxed and smiled upon seeing Kyle's nod.
"That's great, I won't have to listen to Bathsheba's constant nagging every time she comes to see me." She turned and walked out, "I'll prepare the necessary documents."
"Congratulations," Dumbledore also smiled and said, "Do you need me to prepare a dormitory for you? There are teacher dormitories, usually next to the office."
"No, that's okay," Kyle shook his head, "I plan to live near the Forbidden Forest, next to Hagrid. Is that alright?"
"If you insist, it's fine," Dumbledore laughed, "Hagrid will be delighted when he finds out. He's always wanted a neighbor."
"That's wonderful," Kyle said, and he was equally delighted.
Living in the castle was convenient, but it also felt restrictive. Living outside was much better.
The Forbidden Forest was vast, with a great environment, and students rarely ventured there except for Care of Magical Creatures classes.
Living there would be much more liberating than in the castle.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
