A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 183: Analysis

Felix Harp stood quietly on the side, his mind spinning rapidly.

Dumbledore's words were pointedly clear, referring to Harry Potter and Sirius Black.

The unexpected connection between the two was something he had never imagined.

And Sirius Black, accused of being a Death Eater who betrayed his best friend, Harry's father.

Felix thought of an organization active during the war - the Order of the Phoenix. It was a secret organization founded by Dumbledore to resist Voldemort, assisting the Ministry of Magic in fighting against Voldemort and his Death Eaters during the war.

The Order of the Phoenix was not well-known, and it disbanded after Voldemort's disappearance in 1981 and the victory in the war.

Felix knew of this name because he was acquainted with Professor Toftwood of the Wizarding Examinations Authority - also an expert in ancient magical texts, whom Felix had visited before.

Professor Toftwood had mentioned this organization in passing, praising the bravery of the Order of the Phoenix members, but he hadn't revealed specific names.

But Felix speculated that at least Harry's parents, Sirius, and that Peter should all be members of the Order of the Phoenix.

No wonder... no wonder Dumbledore was so furious.

From being best friends at school to close comrades after graduation, and the bond of kinship formed due to Harry's birth, this should have been an unbreakable friendship.

Yet Sirius Black chose betrayal.

And what role did Severus Snape play? Based on the information Felix had found during school, after the war, Snape was accused of being a Death Eater. However, Dumbledore vouched for him as an undercover agent and prevented him from facing the trial at Azkaban.

Otherwise, Hogwarts wouldn't have had such a snarky professor.josei

"So, Severus should also be a member of the Order of the Phoenix."

Felix didn't know much about his headmaster's experiences during his school days, but he at least knew that the relationship between Snape and the Potter couple was complicated: he had a history with Harry's mother - perhaps with a touch of admiration, but he was archenemies with Harry's father.

They wouldn't start fighting during their meetings, would they?

...

"Felix," Dumbledore turned his head, his bright blue gaze piercing through his glasses, landing on him, "You are a professor of the school, and I hope not to see you make the wrong choices."

Felix blinked, "Headmaster, you don't need to say that. I also prioritize the safety of the students. Besides, my relationship with Mr. Potter is good. I even trained him during the summer break."

But the Black family's collection of books is a different matter, isn't it?

Felix was quite clear about the distinction between these two.

"Ah, I heard Phileas mention this," Dumbledore said, "He said you have quite the expertise in handling young wizards with magical surges..."

"It's not expertise, just personal experience."

Dumbledore's expression softened, losing some of its initial sharpness and intimidation.

He spoke with a tone of exploring magic, "Could you share, Felix? Please forgive an old man's curiosity."

"It all started two weeks ago... I ran into Potter in Diagon Alley by chance and noticed the active magic around him. I deduced that he had recently experienced a magical surge. After inquiring, it turned out to be true."

"Your sensitivity to magic is remarkable, Felix."

"Thank you, Dumbledore. After that, I..."

"That's how I see it..."

The tense atmosphere in the office gradually eased.

Dumbledore transformed back into a gentle old man, engaging in a discussion with Felix Harp about the effects of magical surges and generously sharing his insights.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, I've been pondering a question—can one intervene in the level of their magical activity for their benefit? The advantages seem quite apparent."

"That's an intriguing notion, but it must be approached with caution, Felix. Any research into magic itself can easily lead to severe magical accidents."

As Felix left the headmaster's office, he held two books in his hands.

These were passed on by Nick Limetto Dumbledore, one of the drawbacks of communicating through photographs. Nick Limetto resided in a safe house and rarely ventured out, making him hard to find by owls.

And considering Felix's current rapport with him, it was clear they hadn't reached the level of past visits.

He wasn't surprised by this; relationships accumulated bit by bit. He wasn't a Galleon, after all, who could instantly win everyone's trust and favor.

He stuffed the two books into his ring and returned to his office. As he sat on the couch, he continued to mull over the words spoken by Headmaster Phineas Black's portrait.

Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the location of the Black family's ancestral home.

Though it was just a name with no additional information, it was enough for Felix.

Clearly, this was how a regular person named a place, and it was a starting point for him.

Having marked out a rough area, all that remained was the process of investigation, bit by bit. Given time, he could unearth this hidden abode.

That wasn't the challenging part; the challenge lay in how to unravel the magic placed upon it.

For these pure-blood families, the ancestral homes were bound to be protected by various complex, even unimaginable, enchantments. Often, this process took several generations' joint effort spanning decades or even centuries to complete.

Moreover, if the house was under a Fidelius Charm, then he would indeed be at a loss.

But according to Phineas Black, he also had a portrait within the Black ancestral home, which meant he had a good understanding of the house. For the sake of saving the last bloodline of the Black family, he wouldn't have Felix working in vain.

Besides, this wasn't a safe house; employing the Fidelius Charm would be too cumbersome.

Another key clue provided by Headmaster Phineas Black was that they needed something "unique to the noble Black family." What could that be?

Felix had some speculations already.

The Room of Requirement.

Felix sat on the couch, beckoning a thick book over. It was "The Pure-Blood Directory" by Cantankerus Nott, which contained information about the so-called "Sacred Twenty-Eight" families.

Turning to the section about the Black family, he quickly skimmed past the list of family members and their deeds.

His gaze landed on the emblem of the Black family, bearing the French phrase, "Toujours Pur" - "Always Pure."

He chuckled.

For the noble, always pure Black family, what could be truly unique?

Only bloodline.

All he needed was a drop of Sirius Black's blood, and he could enter the Black ancestral home, catching a glimpse of its hidden treasures...

Emerging from the Room of Requirement, Felix looked at Hogwarts' nighttime scenery, his gaze merging with the darkness.

Sirius, where are you really?

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