A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 175: A New Tome

Chapter 175: A New Tome

Professor Flitwick awkwardly waved his hands, "I apologize profusely, Professor McGonagall. I got a little carried away... You know, that magic, I've been researching it for years."

Professor McGonagall's anger subsided somewhat as she inquired with curiosity, "How well did it work?"

"Absolutely splendid, thanks to Felix Harp. We unanimously believe that this ancient magic holds tremendous untapped potential, even possibly affecting creatures like the Hungarian Horntail. We call it the 'Enhanced Scaling Charm,' a fusion of the Shrinking Charm and the Enlarging Charm, but with even more potent effects."

"Is it really that extraordinary?"

"Yes, Professor McGonagall, it truly is. Of course, there's still room for improvement."

Professor Sprout rushed back hurriedly, meticulously tending to the two wand trees. However, she didn't show any favorable expression to the originator of the idea until Felix Harp handed her three large packets of magical plant seeds he obtained from the black market.

"These seeds are incredibly precious. Where did you get them?" Sprout looked at him in astonishment.

Felix Harp vaguely replied, "I asked a friend from France to find them. It was a stroke of luck, and I doubt I'll have such a good opportunity next time..."

Thinking that he had pulled some strings with the French Ministry of Magic, Sprout didn't press further. Instead, she engaged him in a discussion about the uses of these seeds.

"This is Knotgrass Vine seed. It looks somewhat like brown banded thorns. We'll use them in the sixth-year class."

"And this is Snargaluff seed."

"And this, the Guardian Oak seed. Its aura repels lesser dark creatures. I'd love to plant a circle of them around Hogwarts..."

"Good heavens, Salamander's Flame seeds! Felix, have you seen this? Salamander's Flame! It originates from the Mediterranean, a wondrous aquatic plant. Ingesting it directly allows underwater breathing, but that's mere waste. Its value lies in the realm of potion-making."

Sprout continued enthusiastically, her plump figure weaving through the Third Greenhouse, unearthing jars and bottles from corners, neatly organizing the seeds into categories.

She hummed a tune with delight, as cheerful as a bee – albeit a bit cumbersome, but incredibly industrious.

Felix Harp surveyed the area, the air filled with the scent of soil and fertilizer, accompanied by a strong aroma of flowers. His nose was in a conflicting state – eager to breathe deeply, yet also partially obscured.

Huge floral crowns hung from the ceiling like an array of colorful umbrellas, creating an intricately layered arrangement in the greenhouse space.

Felix Harp inquired, "Are these Umbrella Blossoms?"

"Yes, indeed. They have a rich fragrance, but be cautious not to become too enamored."

Felix Harp chuckled in agreement, observing rows of mushroom-like Umbrafungus swaying gently on the ground. Next to them were some empty pots, a leaf half-buried in the soil.

"Is this a pot once used by Mandrakes?" Felix Harp picked up a leaf, examining it closely.

Professor Sprout looked up, "Oh, indeed it is. Fully grown Mandrakes are extremely dangerous. I've only kept two of them, but their effects are truly potent. That young wizard, Colin Creevey, if I recall correctly, Severus and I mentioned him."

Felix Harp attempted to remember and ended up shivering involuntarily.

"A first-year student, petrified within three months of starting school, spent over half a year in bed, and on the third day of waking up, he had his final exams... Well, that was quite unfortunate."

With a bag of gifts in hand, Felix Harp happily returned to his office.

That evening, he resolved some doubts with Nearly Headless Nick through photographs. To be honest, the Nick in the photos appeared younger, his skin healthier. Though both had a head full of white hair, the photograph exuded more vitality than the Nick he had encountered at the Buseles Hotel; the real Nick seemed somewhat downtrodden.

Communicating via photographs wasn't exactly convenient, but it wasn't as troublesome as he had anticipated. This was because Felix Harp wasn't a novice student; he was a seasoned master of magical languages, emphasizing more on communication than instruction.

Their interaction often followed this pattern: Felix Harp raised a question, and Nearly Headless Nick pondered before presenting his approach.

Or, it could be Nearly Headless Nick introducing him to some obscure yet incredibly useful books. Such as "The Chronicles of Achillesto's Palace" - titles like these that were utterly baffling were ones Felix Harp wouldn't have paid attention to before, unless he found himself remarkably idle and picked up a book at random.

But even for leisurely reading, he'd choose something with an intriguing title.

Like "The Adventures of Martin Miggs," published by LCA Comics, chronicling the escapades of a Muggle named Martin Miggs from France who inadvertently entered the wizarding world.

After reading it, Felix Harp's impression was that wizards probably hadn't adopted Muggle movie devices for a significant reason: magic was simply too convenient. Young wizards viewing comics was akin to watching storyboarded films.

And introducing such devices might be futile. Wizards struggled to relate to the lives of normal people and would curiously ask why they didn't use magic.

In addition to this, the two would also discuss some Muggle matters, including portions of their own manuscripts.

Today, Nearly Headless Nick recommended three obscure books to him again. Felix Harp hadn't expected to be given reading recommendations himself; truly, the world was unpredictable.

"Let's stop here for today, Felix. I'm a bit tired," Nick's eyes in the portrait appeared drowsy.

"Goodnight, Nick."

After the exchange, Felix Harp tidied his workspace. He stored postcards sent by his assistant from France in a drawer and pulled out a thick stack of manuscripts.

He had already completed his planned work. To cater to both young aspiring wizards and adult witches and wizards, he had prepared two books:

One titled "The Young Wizard's Adventures with Mick," designed in the style of the magical dynamic comics prevalent in the wizarding world. It depicted the story of a 10-year-old young wizard attending a Muggle school.

Initially, Mick intended to idle away his time, quietly awaiting his acceptance letter from Hogwarts. However, he found himself drawn into the life of the school. From captivating classes to diverse games, and practical activities like museum visits, amusement parks, and community service... it introduced a previously unfamiliar world from a child's perspective.

The other book was an informative guide for adult wizards, aptly named "Magic in the Muggle World." The concept remained presenting the most fundamental layers of Muggle technology in the most rigorous logic and language.

After reviewing the manuscripts once more and not finding any errors, Felix Harp double-checked the appointment times on his calendar.

"Tomorrow at 9 a.m., 126a Diagon Alley, Little Red Book Publishing Company."

"Tomorrow at 10 a.m., 15b Diagon Alley South, LCA Comics."

The former was the publishing company he had been cooperating with, having successfully published "A History of Magic" and "Domestic Life and Social Customs of British Muggle Families." Both books were currently used at Hogwarts.

Since they had a good history of collaboration, it shouldn't pose any issues.

As for the latter – LCA Comics, specializing in the children's market – he hadn't dealt with them before. He would have to handle it as the situation unfolded, but thankfully, he had made some preparations.

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