A Certain Hogwarts Magician Professor

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In a flash, five years have passed, and it is another summer.

"Time flies so fast," said Ms. Burns with a smile on the side of the sofa. Opposite her was Hermione, who had just returned from abroad and had finished her two-year post as an observer of the International Pan-Magic Alliance. She was dressed in formal clothes, her hair was pulled back, and her whole body revealed a capable temperament.

"How does it feel to travel the world?" Ms. Burns offered a cup of tea.

"Excellent," Hermione grinned, sipping her hot tea and moaning contentedly. Then she sighed and said, "I seem to have used up my travel quota for a lifetime. Unless the opportunity is really rare, I'm going to stay in China forever."

"That's good news," said Ms. Burns in a congratulatory tone. "You can come back and continue to be my secretary. I was in a lot of trouble while you were away. There was so much going on."

Hermione looked at her angrily.

"Can I only be a secretary?"

Ms. Burns smiled.

"Oh, you still want to be the Minister of Magic, you've got a lot of energy, little girl, you can bring me some comfort, in this situation..." Seeing Hermione's puzzled expression, she explained: "Scrimgeour's age Older, and probably retired earlier than I did, as did Hinckness, old Crouch as a consultant—he adopted a side-nephew last year, and has made only a handful of ministry appearances since then; Other high-ranking officials are only good at one thing, like Ludo Bagman, Phoebus Penrose, Arthur Weasley..."

"... Now the requirements for ministers are getting higher and higher. I have to study every day and try to deal with all aspects." She was a little annoyed when she said that, "A certain guy stayed in school and couldn't come out, so I wrote several times. It was all perfunctory by him."

"You mean the professor?" Hermione asked with pricked ears.

"It's him," Ms. Burns said bitterly, then rubbed her forehead lightly, softening her tone, "actually I can understand Felix's behavior, he seems to be deliberately separating himself from the public, just like 19 Dumbledore in four or five years... As the most important deterrent in the world, his personal face will be blurred. The sword bearer, as he is called."

Hermione nodded slowly, thinking of the experience of the past two years, she had a deeper understanding of what Burns said.

No matter where they go, people are keen to inquire about the professor's privacy, and when she picks and chooses and describes unimportant details of life to them, these people will show complete astonishment and astonishment, as if a fairy tale shines in Reality. Hermione was impressed by one of the responses:

"Are you telling the truth? Mr. Hepp sits down to eat with you? Aren't you feeling stressed...and a little wine every now and then? And good at dancing? Gee, I always thought he was a, a— —" The fingers gestured in the air for a while, and then there was no more text. The man said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I've only seen him on TV and newspapers, and I also have a magical newspaper in my collection, which is a report on the night of bonfires on the floating island, which has now become a small city. now..."

But Hermione knew: in the minds of that person—or many people, the name Felix Hepper no longer represented a concrete person, but was more akin to an abstract symbol, or a law, a rule, This impression becomes more stubborn over time.

Five years ago, when the grand maritime Christmas bonfire party on the floating island ended, life returned to peace. Since then, the magical world and the non-magical world have been approached and integrated in an orderly manner. Although there have been occasional twists and turns, there has been no major conflict. All is well. Half a year later, when their class graduated from school, Harry and Ron chose to travel, and she plunged headlong into the hectic business of the Ministry of Magic.

There are so many things that need to be clarified.

Politics, economy, culture, law, education, art... yes, art too. The first thing Miss Granger did after joining the job was to receive international art troupes that flowed to the UK - the inspiration for the exhibition came from Hepp The super-magic left behind by the professor in New York Harbor. Although Hermione had seen relevant pictures in newspapers for a long time, she had to admit that the angles chosen by the artists were tricky enough. She stopped for a long time in front of a six-meter-long panorama called 'Art of God' overlooking the photo wall. The introduction on the nameplate says that this painting, which is assembled from thousands of photos, not only includes the grand view of the city, but also cleverly stitches hundreds of details.

It also includes the artist's own statement: "If there really is a god, he appeared on December 24, 1997, and gently turned the head of human destiny in one direction."

But Hermione knew that the "gods" had their own troubles. For example, grading students' exam papers, finalizing the list of the first scientists to board the floating island, and choosing a baby's full moon gift for Muggle friends—

Recalling this, Hermione took a sip of her tea to hide the urge to roll her eyes.

Let her think about what the professor said at the time?

"I'm not very good at this, I've asked Sirius, Remus, and even Harry, but they don't have any idea of ​​what gifts they want their first child to receive, let alone Sever. Ruth...so help, Miss Granger."

This happened not long after the new year, and the people who were asked were very busy, and none of them planned to get married soon, especially Harry, who was probably at a loss when asked - he and Ginny will not be until the end of this year. (2003) for a wedding.

"Is little Rosalie okay?" Hermione asked.

"Very well," Mrs. Burns snorted, "Sirius often takes her to Harry and Lupin's house, and every day before I leave work, I have to use a sound mirror to check where my husband and daughter are. , to be honest, I'm not used to house-elves calling me 'honorable mistress', nor is Sirius, but he seems to find it amusing..."

Hermione pursed her lips and chuckled. Rosalie is the feminine name of Sirius' younger brother Regulus, born three years ago with Lupin and Tonks' first child on the front and back feet, plus their one-year-older Bill and Fleur's children, three The little guy happens to be a playmate.

Hermione came out of the office relaxed.

Ms. Burns gave her a month off, "Many of the people you know and the places you are familiar with have changed a lot, walk around and look around, and then come to work full of energy. The position of Assistant Minister's Office Director is reserved for you. "

She took a tour of the Auror offices, and the staff along the way were surprised and welcomed by her return.

It is divided into many small compartments. The Auror’s name and the nature and content of the work in charge are posted on the outside of the compartment. The inner wall is covered with portraits of wanted criminals, posters, family photos, recent work needs and personal aesthetics. News clippings of interest, etc., look dizzying and varied.

Hermione quickly located Harry, Ron, and Neville by memory, but all three chairs were empty.

"Potter and Weasley have been rotated to the floating island to maintain order, and Longbottom is in charge of investigating a case of potion material smuggling." The Auror next to her told her, he had a long beard and looked like he had shrunk Hagrid. "You know, as the list of potions suitable for ordinary people's constitution gets longer and longer, smuggling in this area is also more frequent..."

Hermione nodded slightly. She was aware of the smuggling issue mentioned by the Aurors. This has become a common headache for the Ministry of Magic of all countries, but to say that the most rampant black market transactions must be the Americas - it was the 'exercise' of the year. one of the aftermath of the event.

There is also Future World Company, its headquarters moved to the floating island a long time ago, earlier than the relocation of the Federation headquarters - now it is the headquarters of the International Pan-Magic Alliance, and the two moved with Agimbad six months ago. Retired and Professor Hepp took office to complete the merger. Over the years, the number of people on the island has gradually increased, and the Ministry of Magic of various countries regularly sends Aurors to maintain order on the island.

"Where's Tonks? Oh, she's supposed to be on the island too, with Lupin. And Collins?"

"Tonks reported to the Ministry half a year ago to apply for a permanent residence on the floating island. After all, her family is there. As for Ms. Foley," the bearded Auror showed a knowing smile, and he said solemnly: "Let me describe what happened to you like this. Weasley didn't have to participate in the routine inspections, but he said nothing at the last meeting, saying that Collins took the initiative to chase him..."

"Uh." Hermione pressed her forehead, she could fully imagine what happened after that - Ron fled in a panic, and Collins chased after him with a knife.

She looked past Harry's place (there was a picture of him and Ginny on a broom, with Ginny in a Holyhead Harpies uniform), Ron's cubicle with two Individual photos, with documents scattered on the desktop, appear to have been shoved indiscriminately into the corners before leaving to make room for the chessboard in the middle. It was a set of wizard chess, and the pieces were jumping up and down lively, and if it weren't for the glass cover like a fish tank, they would probably come out and scramble around. There is a piece of paper stuck to the outside of the glass cover, which reads: Dangerous goods, do not touch.

Hermione's pupils flashed a ray of silver light, and she could see the dense rune symbols on the chess pieces.

"He wasn't finished before I left," she said with emotion.

"What? Oh!" said the bearded Auror in a lively tone, "The famous 'Knight' Weasley, and the 'Stag' who share the same origin as the guardian deity of the Ouroboros on the floating island, Longbottom who can enter the dreamland, Malfoy who established the first wizard-Muggle joint hospital, Lovegood who discovers many kinds of magical animals... And of course, you, Ms. Granger, are really talented in recent years. ."

He then lowered his voice and said, "It's just in time for you to come back. I've heard some gossip: Ms. Burns is about to step down as a minister, and the last few years may be when she's looking for a new minister..."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"It's true!" said the bearded Auror quickly, "I heard that Potter will be promoted to Auror Chief of Staff soon, Weasley will be transferred to Muggle Affairs, and Longbottom will be in charge of smuggling cases, but it is said that he has other , the Three Broomsticks that have been appearing frequently in Hogsmeade lately..."

"Thank you, Tuttle," said Hermione. "I think it's too early to think about it. Kingsley is a great wizard."

"Oh, Kingsley..." said the bearded wizard, absentmindedly. "You're right, he's a good fit in every way."

Out of the Ministry of Magic, Hermione wandered the streets of London, and magic seemed to take over the city unwittingly, as if it had been. She pushed open the door and walked into a bookstore, where on a separate shelf, Dumbledore's loving face was watching her - a biography of Harry and Ephias Dorgi, written on a purple ribbon-trimmed cover "Best selling for three consecutive years".

But in the center of the day today is another book of magic, with Hermione staring eccentrically at the name: Harry Potter, next to the huge poster that says it all, Mafalda Prewett's Young faces are imprinted on it, with bright smiles.

'Exclusively decrypt the real magic campus life, and unveil a corner of the legendary curtain from the perspective of key figures. The writer himself observed for three years to obtain first-hand information (content in grades 5 to 7), and also interviewed the parties and witnesses to restore the truth... The first film of the same name was released on June 25. ’

Hermione was stunned.

Memories of the past appeared in his mind, God, Mafalda actually wrote Harry into the book, he must be pissed... I don't know what he is like in the story? She glanced at the calendar next to her, it happened to be the twenty-fifth today.

She took Dumbledore's biography and Harry Potter (the former she had seen many times) and, moving her fingers, hesitantly picked up the book signed by Sybill Trelawney, "The Lion and the Firebird. She's not interested in Trelawney's books, and it's no wonder why the book of this god-given fortune-teller can be found in Muggle bookstores - maybe she does show the gift of a prophet occasionally. Hermione thought.

What really interested her was the testimonial on the book cover:

‘Mars has historically been associated with war and conflict. When it comes closer, those who are gifted and naturally sensitive are affected first - Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, Tom Riddle (Voldemort), Felix S Hepp, including the author himself-their birth dates all testify to this law, and now that this day comes again, what changes will it bring to us? ’

"Mars." Hermione chewed on the word, and after a while she said "Bah", "Old liar."

But she still took the book to the counter to pay, and stuffed the three books into the beaded bag. The clerk asked with interest: "Wizard?" "Hmm." "Can you do me a favor?" 20% off for you."

Hermione stared at her in surprise.

"That's it," the clerk said with a smile. "My daughter, Lily likes "The Adventures of Little Wizard Mick". Can you do any magic that she can see at a glance?"

Hermione hesitated, then asked, "What does she like?"

"Anything, ma'am." The clerk said immediately: "The little girl's favorite things, bows, dolls, kittens..."

Hermione bit her lip, then stretched out her hand. Gradually, a pair of beautiful butterflies were outlined in the air. They flew in a circle and landed on the clerk's hand.

"They're bows when they're not moving, and they can play with your daughter."

"Thank you so much."

"It's nothing, um, do you know the nearest movie theater?"

"Of course! There's one around the corner."

Hermione thanked her, walked out of the bookstore, and followed the direction the clerk pointed her to the cinema facing the street. The result was a little dumbfounded—the crooked line stretched from the cinema door to the back door, all of whom seemed to be there for the first Witcher movie. She looked left and right, and sneaked into an alley while others were not paying attention. The next second, she appeared several kilometers away.

After looking for three cinemas in a row, I found a place with few people.

There was only one person in front of her, who was wearing a long trench coat, carrying a small box in his hand, short black hair, and holding the day's newspaper in the other hand.

"A 'Harry Potter' movie ticket," the man paused and seemed to find it interesting, "Oh, I've been looking forward to it for many years."

The conductor obviously didn't take the word "many years" seriously, and asked casually, "Is there any inside information, huh?"

"That's it."

Hermione's eyes widened, her heartbeat suddenly quickening. She leaned closer to the ticket window, but the man had already picked up the ticket and left.

She bought the ticket quickly, looking around anxiously in the process, then bent down and snuggled across from the man, who was leaning on the sofa chair, spreading out the newspaper and reading it with relish. Hermione looked from the other side of the newspaper. Words such as 'Earth Fire Distance', 'Moon Landing Plan', 'New Breakthrough in Magic Science' are captured.

"Uh, cough." She cleared her throat.

After a few seconds, there was no response from the other side.

She cleared her throat again, this time making some other noises, and then she heard a "chirp?" "Didn't finish it? The reading speed needs to be improved," said the man, and Hermione could well imagine the expression on his face as he spoke, and the little fluffy, flat-mouthed little guy with his head sticking out of a silver pocket watch at his chest.

She made the cups on the table make a "tinkling" sound, which was close to noise.

The other side really noticed it—Hermione jumped in her heart, thinking about what to say in the first sentence, a slender, white hand stretched out from behind the newspaper, tapped the table lightly, and then shrank back.

Quietly cursed, Hermione gritted her teeth secretly, Professor, you have been suspected of breaking the law!

Wizards should try to refrain from performing magic in public unless they are allowed to do so - that's up to you.

A silver light flashed in Hermione's eyes. Almost at the same time, an irresistible magical ripple spread from another perspective, the somewhat dim environment in the cinema faded, and Hermione gasped.

"Granger—oh, Hermione?"

Hermione came back to her senses and saw Felix and Warren staring at her across the newspaper, and Felix smiled.

"What a coincidence, you came here to watch a movie too."

The pleasant atmosphere ferments and brews in the air, exuding a wine-like aroma. Hermione's heart beat faster, and she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe—even during the two years as an observer of the International Pan-Magic Alliance, the two still kept in touch, with an interval of about two or three months, and occasionally on the floating island. They met, but Hermione felt like a world away. Counting carefully, they have known each other for a long time, since the second grade listening to the mysteries of the ancient rune in the ancient rune office, no, it should have been earlier - when she was in the fourth grade, he was also in the fourth grade, they The first communication after nine years...

Hermione stroked her hair and said, "Long time no see, Felix."

...

Outside the cinema, people come and go on the street. Felix and Hermione came out with the crowd. It was twilight at the moment. It seemed that it had just rained, and even the air was moist. The puddles on the ground reflected the sky mixed with the soft sunset glow.

The two stood at the door of the cinema, and for a while, neither of them spoke. The moviegoers passed by them, discussing the plot enthusiastically as they walked.

"It was amazing!"

"But why didn't Felix Hepp appear?"

"He's going to be hired in the second year, didn't you see the Easter egg at the end of the movie? The person who applied for the job should be him—" The girl offered advice: "I heard that many actors recommended themselves, even if the crew said that his role was relatively small. ."

"Oh, I'd rather see his independent film, he's a legend!"

"How about having Bradley Fitzgerald play Felix Happ?"

"No!" the girl said fiercely: "His chin is too round, he looks like a blacksmith..."

The two laughed and left.

Hermione pursed her lips.

"Seriously, I want to see your indie film too."

"You know I don't like it," Felix shook his head slightly, looking at her with light blue eyes and said, "I rarely make public appearances in recent years, and I mostly stay in school. It's both a matter of character and a more realistic reason: I'm too conspicuous, unless I plan to turn the magic world into my own, it's better to restrain myself."

Sharp? Hermione thought of the conversation she had had with Ms. Burns during the day, "The sword of Damocles? The sword bearer?"

Felix said slightly distressed, "People seem to accept this statement easily, and put me in the position of the second-generation sword holder without authorization... However, compared with other more exaggerated titles, I feel that it is not enough. Yes, and it implies the expectations of the public: whether it is the sword of Damocles or the person holding the sword, it will not be easily shown to others, only for deterrent purposes."

"—but no one can ignore his existence." Hermione smiled brightly, but she quietly set up a language trap in her heart. "Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to ask, is Professor McGonagall okay?"

"Minerva is very good, and occasionally gives open classes to students; but she is usually busy—" Felix said, nodding, Hermione looked over quickly, her eyes filled with inquiry, and she took a step closer. Force: "It really surprised me, I remember she was very busy when Headmaster Dumbledore was around."

Felix said uncomfortably: "Well, Miss Granger—"

"Call me Hermione."

"Okay, Hermione," Felix paused for a moment, finding an excuse for his slacking off, which was true of course. "That's really weird. Maybe there's an explanation for this phenomenon: Minerva is so conscientious that the slightest hint of a problem will attract her attention, and for me and Dumbledore, well, we I'd rather watch it for a while to expose the problem more thoroughly, like..."

"Like a hostess and a hostess arguing over housework," Hermione continued, "it's not necessarily that one is lazy or careless than the other, it's that the two judge 'clean' differently, no Agreed." After speaking, she stared at him with burning eyes.

Felix was stunned, "This is not the metaphor I thought of, but it is very wise in life."

"You know too little about this," Hermione blurted out. After speaking, her face became hot, like the sunset in the sky. She lowered her head, revealing only a red forehead, and said in a weak mosquito voice, "I only found out by observing my parents, I think..."

Felix looked at her fixedly, as if looking at an intractable magic puzzle.

"I'm going to travel," he said suddenly.

"what?"

"Travel." Felix gestured to his suitcase and newspaper with his eyes. "The distance between Mars and the earth is the closest during this time. I'm going to go up and have a look." Then he asked in a soft tone: "I remember You said—well, I just came back from the moon—you said, if there is a chance next time, I would like to go to space with me..." He suddenly felt a little dry in his mouth and his heart beat faster.

He could control a magic that enveloped an entire city, but he couldn't do anything about the situation in front of him, and he couldn't know the answer in advance. At this time, an irrelevant thought suddenly appeared in my mind: I must master time magic.

He pretended to be calm and said:

"...Of course, after so long, you may have forgotten that many people had impulsive and fanatical thoughts when they were young, and then gradually faded away... But if your thoughts haven't changed, if you are still willing... "

"I do!" Hermione shouted, looking up.

"...I want to invite you with me."

silence. Then an intense longing flooded into his heart, and Felix took a giant step, hugging Hermione in the twilight and brilliance of the setting sun, their shadows clinging to each other. It seems that the whole world is quiet, the drizzle is pouring, and the neon becomes hazy in the rain. For a long time, the two looked at each other, and then laughed together.

Passers-by sent congratulatory glances. They seem to be no different from other lovers, except that the topic of discussion is slightly scary-

"Mars... how far is it from us?"

"About 60 million kilometers."

"It sounds so far, just the two of us—"

"Ha!"

"—Oh, and Warren."

"Actually, it's okay, it's only two days away..."