Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 78 Longbottom, you didn't want this either...

In the Muggle Studies office, the young professor sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace, performing a few light magic tricks to make tea.

Students who were not yet old enough to take the elective course sat opposite them. Silence lasted for a long time until the bone china cup of black tea slid along the coffee table in front of them.

"The last time we spoke was during the Forbidden Forest patrol. We discussed the Malfoy family's business initiatives in recent years. I haven't heard of you arguing with Potter or Weasley in the hall in recent days." Melvin took a sip of his brewed black tea. "It sounds like Mr. Malfoy has grown a lot."

Draco picked up the teacup but didn't bring it to his mouth. The professor's voice was gentle and calm, as if bringing him back to the Forbidden Forest that night.

Ever since he was born, Draco's impression of the Malfoys has always been that of a noble family where pure blood always prevails.

The ancestors had accumulated a rich family fortune, and his father's effective management had firmly secured the top spot among the twenty-eight pure-blood clans. Even after the Wizarding War, the fall of the Dark Lord, and the liquidation of the Ministry of Magic, the Malfoy family could not be brought to ruin.

Draco always thought that this surname represented wealth and status.

It was not until the last time he was detained in the Forbidden Forest that the professor's few words lifted the veil of shame on the Malfoy family, revealing a truth so cruel that he dared not think about it too much. Whenever he was alone or distracted in class, those words kept coming out of his memory and drilling into his mind.

The last group fight was so serious that Professor McGonagall notified the parents of all parties. Weasley received a howler the next morning, and Pansy and Daphne's pocket money was cut, but Draco was hardly affected.

His mother, Narcissa, didn't blame him. She simply asked if he was injured and told him not to be reckless and impulsive, and to let the Crabbe and Goyle children go first in the future. His father, Lucius, only gave him a few words of reprimand in the letter, his words a little harsher than usual.

He did not reveal the family situation, nor did he explain the consequences of offending Longbottom.

Since he hadn't been sentenced to detention at that time, Draco didn't think too much about it and replied to the letter as usual.

After the Forbidden Forest patrol, a series of incidents occurred at the school. When Draco wrote home to pass on the news, he kept thinking about the professor's words. Out of some unclear feeling, whether it was guilt or regret, he did not repeat or inquire in the letter. Instead, he wrote in a normal tone, sending his regards to his family and passing on the news.

Two days later, he received a reply from his parents. His father Lucius still treated him as a child as before and was unwilling to disclose the family situation.

Fortunately, he got two pieces of news from his mother Narcissa's reply:
First, his father had intended to use this incident to put pressure on the school board to try to impeach Dumbledore, but he gave up the idea after learning that Scrimgeour had appeared in the school.

Second, they plan to visit St. Mungo's Hospital at Easter to increase this year's donations.

Of course, the old Draco would not understand the twists and turns here, but after listening to the professor's explanation, he knew clearly what this donation meant.

"..."

Draco felt his heart skip a beat as he thought of his mother's letter.

Melvin looked at the little wizard in front of him with a flicker in his eyes. An extremely weak wave emanated from him, turning into imperceptible magic power and quietly flowing in.

The whole process is extremely obscure.

Melvin asked, "So, what do you want to consult?"

"It would take at least half a day to write home, and it wouldn't be right to tell Dean Snape right away. I don't know what to do, so I had to come to you, Professor."

Draco held a white bone china teacup, his fingertips pressing tightly against the curved handle. "After breakfast today, I saw Potter and his companions sneaking out of the castle, so I followed them. And then I saw... I saw them and the gamekeeper raising a dragon! A Norwegian Ridgeback!"

"They are so careless..." Melvin shook his head slightly.

Professor Lewynter is in cahoots with them!

Draco's heart skipped a beat and he almost spilled the tea on the spot.

"What's wrong with reporting them to Professor Snape after discovering their shameful secrets?" Melvin said in a guiding tone, "No matter what they have done before, whether it was protecting the school or fighting against dark wizards, no matter how outstanding they are, raising dangerous creatures is absolutely against school regulations. If we report it and let the board of directors and the Ministry of Magic know, the gamekeeper will definitely be dismissed. Even Dumbledore, who appointed him, will be affected. Even if he is not dismissed, his reputation will be damaged..."

"I don't want to do that."

"why?"

Draco's lips moved, but he didn't answer immediately.

"Unlike Hagrid and Longbottom, he has no connections with the Aurors. Your father hates Dumbledore, and you hate Harry Potter. After all, exposing them won't do any harm to the Malfoy family, will it?"
"I... I don't think so. Dumbledore is very famous and has a good relationship with the Aurors. There's Scrimgeour who's currently serving, Mad-Eye who's about to retire... and he has many people in the Wizengamot. This matter may not embarrass the headmaster, but it may make our family's situation more difficult."

Draco reluctantly looked up at the professor. "In fact, I can't understand why my father, such a shrewd man, would have such a problem with the headmaster?"

His father always said that Dumbledore was an incompetent and stupid headmaster who allowed half-blood and Muggle-born students to dominate the heads of pure-bloods. It seemed that the Malfoy family was a staunch supporter of pure-bloods, but after thinking about it for a while, Draco no longer believed this argument.

Pureblood ideals may be no different from charitable giving, both being a means of maintaining and spreading a reputation.

Melvin was a little surprised. The family difficulties and his parents' embarrassment seemed to have made him grow up.

"Because your father was once a key figure in the Death Eaters, he may have thought about building a good relationship with Dumbledore, but he couldn't gain his trust. If they couldn't be friends, they could only be enemies. Only by bringing Dumbledore down could your father feel at ease."

Draco was very puzzled: "Professor Snape was also a Death Eater."

"That's right." Melvin nodded. "He gained the headmaster's trust as a Death Eater. Do you want to ask him how he did it?"

Draco felt that there was something else behind the professor's words, and his neck stiffened when he remembered the dean's cold eyes.

After careful consideration, he nodded with difficulty, his expression stubborn: "If there is a chance..."

"..."

Grown, but not fully grown.

Melvin looked at the still somewhat immature student in front of him and shook his head: "Mr. Malfoy, if I understand correctly, you are asking me how to use this information to help the Malfoy family gain benefits."

Draco lowered his head to avoid the professor's gaze, his golden hair hanging down and sticking to his forehead, and he hummed imperceptibly.

"Are you trying to threaten Dumbledore with this?"

"!!"

Draco's cheeks turned pale with fear and he shook his head hurriedly, not daring to even think about it.

"Are you trying to blackmail Hagrid?"

"..."

Draco continued to shake his head, not realizing how much fortune he had missed out on.

"Then you can help them keep it secret and earn a favor."

Draco hesitated for a moment, but still shook his head. He and Potter disliked each other, and helping him would be tantamount to admitting defeat. After all, he was the heir of the Malfoy family, and it would be very embarrassing.

"In that case, why don't you talk to Longbottom?"

Seeing the student opposite him suddenly look up, Melvin said calmly, "If direct negotiations prove difficult, you should find ways to achieve your goals indirectly, just like your father did back then.

"You are unwilling to help Potter, but you can help Longbottom, and Longbottom is willing to help his roommate. If I remember correctly, he is still holding a grudge against me for what happened last time. This is your chance to earn forgiveness."

Draco's eyes lit up, then quickly dimmed. "Can he forgive me... His parents are still in the closed ward."

Melvin glanced at him, his eyes deep. "What do his parents have to do with you? You're not a Death Eater." "I understand! Thank you, Professor. Goodbye, Professor!"

Draco received the instructions and quickly left the office. After closing the door and walking a distance, his excitement gradually faded and he slowly revealed a thoughtful expression.

Professor Lewinter seemed to be aware of the fire dragon matter. He might be very clear about what Potter and the others were doing. Instead of stopping them, he secretly instructed them to profit from it.

He probably wanted to give himself a chance to reconcile with Longbottom.

Maybe I'm planning something...

Draco finally concluded that Professor Levent was a very interesting person.

……

Harry, Ron, and Hermione poked their heads out from behind the statue at the corner of the corridor.

From a distance, they watched Malfoy walk out of the office, close the door quietly, and even did not forget to salute with a knight, looking very polite. They also saw a dazzling smile on Malfoy's face.

Harry turned his head to look up, Ron looked down, and they looked at each other.

Hermione at the bottom had mixed feelings.

Considering that Malfoy witnessed Norbert breathing fire and was fleeing in panic just now, but now walked out of the professor's office happily, it is really hard not to guess what the two talked about.

Hermione's mind was in a mess. She wanted to rush into the office to find out the truth, but she remembered what Professor Lewinter said that day and tried to control her impulse.

The two boys were whispering about how to lure Malfoy into the bathroom and give him a beating.

Hermione emerged from behind the statue, her expression firm and her voice clear: "Let's go find Hagrid. He must take responsibility for this."

……

The sun sets in the west and the dusk falls.

Owls circled above the castle. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a dull yellow hue on the tower's exterior. A cold wind blew, making the wizard's robe embroidered with silver-green snakes rustle, making the straight figure look even more upright.

A figure, somewhat larger than his peers, walked up to the tower, with a gold and red lion embroidered on his chest.

"You came."

"I am coming."

"You shouldn't have come."

"what?"

Neville was a little confused and took out a crumpled note from his pocket: "Didn't you ask me to come?"

"Ahem, yes, I asked you to come." Draco coughed twice awkwardly and turned his head.

The evening breeze was a bit strong. It was fine when I was standing with the wind leeward, but when I turned around, the collar of my shirt was blown up and kept shaking against my lips, as if I had been slapped in the face. I had to stroke it several times before it was smoothed out.

It's really ungraceful.

Neville frowned and stared at him: "What do you want from me?"

"..."

Draco felt his cheeks getting hot, and the emotions that had just been brewing were blown away by the wind. For a moment, he didn't know how to start.

He usually quarreled mainly with Potter and Weasley. He was not familiar with Longbottom and did not know how to negotiate with him. After thinking about it, it seemed that they had only communicated that night in the Forbidden Forest. At that time, Professor Lewyn seemed to have advised him to change his wand.

How did you persuade him?

Draco imitated the professor and pondered for a few seconds. "Longbottom, you don't want your roommate to be expelled, do you?"

"?"

Neville tilted his head, a question mark slowly appearing on his face.

……

In the main guest seats in the auditorium, several professors clinked glasses with each other. Professor McGonagall had a smile on her face, while the other head teachers had different expressions. Professors Flitwick and Sprout were in a good mood, but Snape still had a cold face.

Just now, under Melvin's persuasion, they agreed to take turns teaching the Defense Against the Dark Arts class to reduce the burden on the vice-principal.

"No, Melvin, you have to substitute for the class too!" Flitwick said in a shrill voice.

Melvin wiped his mouth and replied with a smile, "I'm fine, but the final exams are coming up soon. Are you really confident in letting me teach the new course?"

"..."

Flitwick poured him a glass of whiskey in an annoyed manner. He was actually quite relieved, but he was worried that Minerva would not agree.

The wooden legs of the chair made a harsh sound on the ground. Hagrid, the gamekeeper, came out and looked at Melvin and the deans. He forced an unnatural smile and said, "Melvin, there are still a few hours before lights out. Come sit with me."

Ever since he was expelled from school in the third grade, he has been working as a gamekeeper in the Forbidden Forest and has been staying in school ever since. This was the first time he asked his friends for help because he violated school rules. The nearly ten-foot-tall half-giant was very embarrassed.

The headmasters were all quick-witted wizards. They didn't know the specific situation, but they could see Hagrid's embarrassment and laughed at him.

Melvin saw the little witch behind Hagrid clasping her hands together and shaking them in begging. He had no intention of making things difficult for them, so he chuckled and agreed, and with several students pulling his sleeves, he walked towards the Forbidden Forest Hut.

It happened that the two heirs of the pure-blood family had just finished their conversation and came down from upstairs.

Neville opened his mouth, watched his friends walk out of the hall, and sighed without calling them: "Let's talk about it when they come back in the evening..."

Draco walked towards the Great Hall in a happy mood, reviewing the negotiation just now in his mind.

He made an appointment to meet at the tower without telling the whole school, and reaped the benefits with a few words. It was really Malfoy-style.

Sitting on the bench, Draco finally came to his senses and thought about what had just happened, wondering if Professor Levent was trying to gain something from it.
Several senior students at the long house table were saying that Professor Lewynter had once worn the Sorting Hat and had been Slytherin. Draco agreed. Despite the Gryffindors' close proximity to the professor, the professor was definitely a Slytherin.

……

As night fell, the ground was filled with moist vapor. The vines of the Whomping Willow sprouted new buds, and the bushes and grass branches at the edge of the Forbidden Forest bloomed with spring green. Hagrid's Hut was actually not far away, and it didn't take long before he reached his destination surrounded by several young wizards.

Yaya, who was guarding the house, smelled the scent and ran over with his bald tail wagging. He circled around Melvin's trouser legs and whimpered, his voice full of grievance.

A fire dragon roar came from inside the hut, it was tender and sharp, but full of ferocity.

(End of this chapter)