Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 6 At the Leaky Cauldron

The summer of 1991 was drawing to a close.

On the second-floor balcony of a detached house in Hampstead, London.

The young brown-haired girl sat cross-legged on the ground, holding a children's encyclopedia in her hands, with a thick dictionary next to her.

There were a few soft clouds floating in the blue sky. The breeze made the white clouds float slowly. The sunlight seemed to give the clouds a golden edge, making the pages of the book shine brightly and almost dazzlingly.

It seemed as if the only sound in the world was the sound of turning pages.

The paper is brand new and the sound is crisp.

Hermione Granger fell in love with reading when she was very young. She could only flip through the pictures in the books before, but after she went to school and learned to read, she could appreciate the fun of the books better and became more addicted to them.

Compared with other children's entertainment methods, reading does not disturb parents' work and does not require the participation of peers.

You won't be excluded.

Hermione's parents run a dental clinic. Being a dentist is a great job, with a good salary and plenty of vacation time. However, every summer, they are always busy. The phone at home is always ringing. They need to buy medicine for the next month, organize patient files, and contact insurance companies. After all, it is their own business, so they have to pay attention to everything personally, and occasionally deal with children with cavities...

I turned to the next chapter in the encyclopedia when I heard the phone ringing downstairs.

"Just wait until the summer vacation is over..."

Hermione muttered softly, as if she remembered something, and her fair little face wrinkled.

She will go to school after the summer vacation.

"North London College, Westminster School..."

The little girl recited these schools silently, closed her books and dictionary, and followed her mother's advice on eye protection by looking up into the distance every half hour.

The sky was so bright that it was a little dazzling, and the soft clouds moved slowly. A black dot that was getting bigger and bigger caught her attention.

"That is……"

Hermione's narrowed eyes quickly widened, and she couldn't help but scream: "An owl?"

……

“咕呜。”

The call of a barn owl rang out on the outskirts of the village of Ottery St. Catchpole in Devon. Its voice was deep and steady, and there was a slight rustle of wind as its wings flapped. It was obvious that it was an experienced owl postman.

There was a rustling in the bushes of Stoat Hill; it was weasels and goblins fleeing.

The Diggory Mansion was quiet and leisurely in the afternoon. Even the slightest sound was very clear. The owl folded its wings and landed on a beech branch in the backyard, waiting quietly.

The sound of steady and brisk footsteps quickly came from the cobblestone path not far away.

The man who greeted the owl was tall and handsome, wearing a bright yellow robe on this midsummer afternoon, holding an excessively long broom in his right hand, wearing leather boots, and his forehead was covered with sweat.

"Long time no see, Nibs."

"Coo." The owl named Nibs lowered its head and put down the envelope in its mouth.

"Here's the list of things to bring to the new school year. Let me take a look..."

Cedric opened the parchment letter with the Hogwarts crest printed on it, skipped over the usual start-of-term notices and precautions, and jumped directly to the textbook list, reading out the contents softly: "Magic Potions and Liquids, Standard Spells Level 3, Intermediate Transfiguration..."

Last year it was The Standard Book of Spells: Level 2 and Lesser Transfiguration.

Compared with these required course series, he is more curious about the elective courses.

"Peering into the future through the fog, a runic dictionary, a simplified introduction to ancient runes, and Muggle studies..."

Cedric moved his gaze to the last row and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "The Muggle Studies textbooks haven't been finalized yet. Will they be distributed by Professor Melvin Levent after the start of the semester?"

"New professor..."

Before he finished speaking, there were the sounds of owls flapping their wings and the bushes in the mountains rustled.

Several black spots are gradually becoming clear.

Cedric couldn't help but close the envelope and look up.

Three or four owls flew past one after another, over Stoat Hill and towards the other side of the village, in the direction of the Burrow.

Including the youngest boy in their family, there will be four red-haired Weasleys in the school this year, which will definitely be an interesting scene.

……

The Leaky Cauldron is located on Charing Cross Road, with a dirty sign and a narrow storefront.

As a gateway between the British wizarding world and the Muggle perspective, the Leaky Cauldron, a wizarding pub founded in the 16th century, has been around for nearly years, undergoing many changes and a history older than the Statute of Secrecy. This means that for its first years, it hosted countless Muggle visitors and many wonderful stories.

Of course, the current owner, Old Tom, has no blood relationship with the witch who built the tavern.

"Daisy Doddridge..."

Melvin sat in the corner of the tavern, looking at the paintings on the wall with interest. The once bright oil paints had weathered and faded, covered with a layer of gray oil stains.

The vague magic reflected on the surface of the oil painting proves that it was once a magical portrait. If it were properly maintained, the witch in the painting might still be able to chat and laugh with the drinkers in the store.

Melvin took a sip of the mojito in his hand. It tasted much better than he expected.

The smell is fresh and the wine tastes light.

It doesn't match the decor of the store at all.

In fact, the food in the restaurant is also very good. There is no stargazing with fish heads stuck on pancakes, no thick soup made from fish juice, and the signature fish and chips are quite delicious. It does not conform to the stereotype of a food desert in my memory at all.

The Leaky Cauldron also provides accommodation services. The rooms on the second floor are comfortable and spacious, and hot water is available 24 hours a day. Old Tom is warm and well-informed and can help answer any questions.

But Melvin chose to stay at a chain hotel three blocks away.

Because the environment here is really not good, the old solid wood furniture has been neglected for a long time, the surface is covered with fine cracks, the gaps are filled with oil and stains, and eventually turned into a layer of wax of unknown composition. The whole first floor is filled with an indescribable smell.

The tavern owner, Old Tom, had no intention of cleaning at all. He was leaning against the bar, reading a newspaper and chatting with a few old witches.

The cover of the Daily Prophet could be seen from afar. Two witches with different appearances were facing each other, and the headline on the front page was clearly visible.

"A clash between superiors and subordinates: Dolores Umbridge, Head of the Improper Use of Magic Office, publicly refutes Amelia Bones, Head of Law Enforcement; the Wizengamot vote on Muggle Studies."

That was news a few days ago.

After persuading several old wizards from the Examinations Authority, things did not go as smoothly as expected. A group of pure-blood supporters, led by Dolores Umbridge, appeared out of nowhere and claimed that changes in teaching content required the approval of the Ministry of Magic.

Because the baby-voiced witch's words were too unpleasant to discuss, Mrs. Marchban didn't bother arguing with her and instead summoned Wizengamot for a vote. What followed were internal matters of the British Ministry of Magic, which Melvin did not participate in.

"Chief Wizard Dumbledore was the first to express his support for the reform of Muggle Studies teaching, seconded by Madam Marchbank, and many members of the Wizengamot expressed their agreement...

"Umbridge protested, but the protest was ineffective, hehe...

"Ms. Amelia Bones announced the issue was passed in court. Minister Cornelius Fudge did not comment on it."

Old Tom snorted twice. "How could Umbridge object to something Dumbledore agreed to? I don't know what this pink toad is thinking."

"That's right!" echoed the old witch next to her.

"When will it be the Ministry of Magic's turn to intervene in Hogwarts affairs?"

"You're right!"

Old Tom's grin was as wide as a shriveled walnut, and as he turned the page his eyes were immediately drawn to the title of the article, and an expression of interest crossed his face.

"Why do witches trouble witches? The origins of the Wizengamot's internal strife, the beginning of all conflicts. Exclusively revealed by acclaimed journalist Rita Skeeter, the speech by new Muggle Studies professor Melvin Levant that sparked the unrest: I Have a Dream!"

"Thousands of years ago, four great wizards founded Hogwarts, and today we are all gathered here for this school.

This ancient castle is like a beacon, showing the way for thousands of young wizards who are wandering in the magical wilderness without knowing where to go. Its arrival is like a joyful dawn, ending the long dark night of wizards' ignorance.

Yet, two thousand years later, we must face the tragic fact that wizards are still mired in ignorance..."

It seems to be some extraordinary content.

The more Old Tom watched, the more fascinated he became.

Melvin sat quietly in the corner, a position where he could hear the conversation at the bar without attracting attention, and just hear the sound of Old Tom reading in a low voice.

Of course, those old wizards, who were older than a certain headmaster, wouldn't be convinced by a speech; they just passed the job interview. The rest were because Ms. Marchbank was dissatisfied with the Muggle Studies curriculum for people her own age and was willing to see the changes brought about by a young person.

Teaching content, textbook selection, results and impact...

There was still half a cocktail left in the glass. When he shook it with his fingers, the liquor swayed with it, becoming clear and transparent. The light refracted through the glass and the liquor, and was reflected into his dark eyes, revealing a floating shape. It was as if there was a deep pool at the bottom of his eyes, flowing with a deep and obscure substance.

Dumbledore probably didn't expect that the gold medal reporter would sneak into the Ministry of Magic meeting room and even record his speech and publish it directly in the supplement of the Daily Prophet.

But this was also a gift, which just confirmed his guess.

"The wizard's soul..."

Melvin took a moment to reflect, then picked up the glass and drank it all.

By the time Old Tom finished reading the article, the young wizard in the corner had quietly left.

Melvin walked through the lobby to the open space behind the bar and found an unused trash can. Following the guidance of the magical fluctuations, he soon noticed an unusual red brick above the trash can.

This spell wasn't particularly concealing, primarily consisting of a Muggle-Repelling Charm and a weak Confusion Charm. Any Muggle who stumbled in would quickly become uneasy and, subconsciously, leave as quickly as possible. The rest was a Reach Without a Trace Charm, combined with a few Transfiguration techniques.

The magic skills are not difficult, but the ideas are very ingenious.

Similar designs can be found in wizarding settlements around the world.

Melvin took out his wand and tapped the red brick. After waiting for a few seconds, the brick loosened and retracted into the wall. Then the entire brick wall began to move, revealing a hole in the middle. The hole became bigger and bigger, and soon a wide path was revealed.

Leading to Diagon Alley.

……

Flourish and Blotts, north side of Diagon Alley.

Melvin wandered among the bookshelves.

The bookstore manager followed behind, his face filled with a warm smile: "Professor Lewynter, it's great to finally meet you. I've read your speech. It's so emotionally sincere and well-reasoned. It's so moving...

"Our bookstore has a long-standing cooperative relationship with Hogwarts. No matter how rare the books the professors choose as textbooks, we can provide a stable and sufficient supply and ensure regular replenishment every year."

Melvin remained unmoved. According to the feedback from the magic, the manager's emotions were not as strong as he appeared.

He reached out and pulled out a beautifully bound book from the shelf, then opened it casually.

The Philosophy of the World: Why Muggles Don't Ask Questions

By Modix Egger
The bookstore manager immediately introduced, "A sharp eye, Professor Lewynter. Modix Egger was once the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts. In this book, he explores in depth the phenomenon that even when excuses are completely untenable, Muggles generally ignore the existence of magic. Just like the three no monkeys on the cover, they turn a blind eye to magic, turn a deaf ear to it, and know but do not speak of it."

Melvin turned directly to the publication information on the back page of the book.

Publisher: Dust & Mold Press
Publication Date: 1969-09-01

The bookstore manager immediately quieted down and looked away silently.

Melvin found it a little amusing. "It's been sitting in the warehouse for twenty years. Just like the publisher's name, it's covered in dust and mold, right?"

"This is the style of DF Publishing. We don't pursue bestsellers, but explore the true and profound essence of things."

Melvin suddenly felt a sense of respect: "Really? What's the latest book they published?"

"B."

"..."

He paused in chatting and began to look through all the books about Muggles in the bookstore.

Influenced by the war that took place more than a decade ago, the entire British wizarding community has become relatively conservative. Muggle-related reading materials are mainly investigative reports and autobiographical novels. Popular science books are either superficial or outdated. Only a few magazine articles are valuable, but they are not systematic and cannot be used as teaching materials.

Seeing that he didn't move, the bookstore manager asked tentatively, "Didn't you find the right textbook? There are still some books in the basement library. If you need them..."

"no need."

Melvin closed a recent magazine, and the title of the page was exactly the article by Charity Burbage, "The Preparation of Witches for Entry into Muggle Society".

He thought for a moment, then turned and asked, "Can you get books from Muggle publishers?"

"Yes, yes..." The bookstore manager hesitated.

"Have you ever heard of the Children's Encyclopedia?"
-
The Leaky Cauldron in History

The Leaky Cauldron was founded by Daisy Doddridge in the early 1th century at Diagon Alley.

In 1692, the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was implemented, and Minister of Magic Ulric Gamp allowed pubs to remain open. In gratitude, the Leaky Cauldron introduced a new beer: Gamp's Old Social Ale. It was so unpalatable that even with a 100 Galleon bounty, no one could finish a pint.

In the late 19th century, the Muggle government planned to renovate Charing Cross Road. However, due to a secrecy order, then-Minister Faris Spavon took no action to salvage the site. However, the wizards of Diagon Alley spontaneously organized a campaign, using numerous Memory Charms to erase the memories of those involved, and even infiltrating the Prime Minister's residence to modify the blueprints. This saved the Leaky Cauldron.

(End of this chapter)