A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts C.376: Seeking Guidance

Hogwarts students are witnessing a truly unique Sorting Ceremony firsthand.

"I know this year has been unusual, I mean... we canceled Quidditch and got a professor who curses at us, but... this is just too strange," murmured Seamus.

He watched as the fully grown Ilvermorny students stood in line, each taking a seat on a small stool, ready to be sorted by the weathered old Sorting Hat.

His friend Dean Thomas shrugged, "Strange things will only get stranger, and there are still three schools to come!"

"True," Seamus nodded in agreement.

At the top of the Great Hall, Felix Harp, in his gentle manner, began to speak, attracting curious gazes. "All you need to do is walk up, put on the hat, and wait for a moment... However, I suggest you also announce your name. It will make it easier for others to know you."

Bryce, standing at the front of the line, looked at him and asked, "Mr. Harp, may I call you Professor?"

"Of course," Felix said, "Welcome to choose my class."

Bryce walked to the small stool, and upon seeing the Sorting Hat, he was taken aback. He glanced back at Felix in disbelief, and Felix nodded at him: Yes, it's just as you thought.

Bryce exclaimed loudly, "Bryce Bach, from Ilvermorny, Thunderbird House." Then he closed his eyes with resignation, huddled on the stool, and placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Look!" a girl from Ilvermorny exclaimed, pointing at the Sorting Hat.

The worn, shabby hat suddenly split open at the bottom, and at the same time, a voice echoed in Bryce's mind.

"Never seen a Sorting Ceremony like this before, young one?"

Bryce opened his eyes and asked in a hushed voice, "Are you the Hat's ghost?"

"...You can think of me that way. How do you sort here? Oh, I see... standing in front of the four statues, waiting to be chosen... Hogwarts doesn't have such trouble; I can handle it all by myself..."

"You can see my memories?" Bryce was astonished.

"Just your current thoughts, don't interrupt! You're from Thunderbird House, kind-hearted yet adventurous... Hufflepuff and Gryffindor would suit you. You can choose either one..."

"Which house is Professor Harp from?" Bryce was calculating.

"Slytherin... Don't bother, it's not for you... You're too far from that cunning lad..."

"Wait, I want to give it a try!" Bryce said.

His idea was simple: once the Triwizard Tournament starts, they might not have time for classes. For now, he just wanted to choose a house according to his preference.

But the Sorting Hat disagreed; it didn't want to compromise its principles and place a student in a completely unsuitable house. After a five-minute persuasive discussion with the Sorting Hat, Bryce finally wore down its resistance. The Sorting Hat impatiently shouted, "Gryffindor!"

A wave of enthusiastic applause erupted from the Gryffindor table.

Bryce, somewhat dazed, took off the hat and heard Felix say to him, "Go on, choose a seat, you'll make new friends."

Bryce walked to the Gryffindor table and, as he sat down, he saw a round face much like his own.

"Um, hello?" he greeted proactively, "I'm Bryce Bach."

"Hello, I'm Navé, Navé Longbottom," the round-faced boy responded.

"Did you choose Professor Harp's class?" Bryce inquired.

"Oh, absolutely..." Navé's enthusiasm grew, and he started to talk about the Ancient Runes class, the Rune Club, and the Dueling class.

The sorting process quietly sped up after that—

"Stewart Appledon, from Ilvermorny, Puma House."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Victor Percyval Greaves, from Ilvermorny, Horned Serpent House."

"Slytherin!"

"Francis Hunter, from Ilvermorny, Goblin House."

"Ravenclaw!"

Ten minutes later, the Sorting Hat concluded this brief Sorting Ceremony.

Dumbledore rose from his seat and addressed everyone, "Next, let the Heads of Houses lead your new students to enjoy a leisurely weekend. At dinner, we'll gather here again for a hearty feast. Then, the students from Ilvermorny will return to their temporary lodgings with their professors. Professor McGonagall will provide you with your respective house schedules. During the first week, you can freely choose the classes you like."

"Any questions?"

He scanned the room, cheerfully declaring, "Then let's get moving, I believe you must be eager!" He turned his head slightly, inclined it, and said to the headmistress of Ilvermorny, "Professor Fontaine, I have this year's new tea in my office..."

"Of course." The headmistress of Ilvermorny replied with meticulous courtesy.

Dumbledore left with him, leaving Professor McGonagall somewhat perplexed.

In theory, Professor Wilkinson and Professor Moody taught the same subject, so they should have a lot in common. However, Professor McGonagall wasn't comfortable leaving them alone together. She didn't want to see news about Ilvermorny professors attacking Hogwarts in the Daily Prophet the next day.

She and Professor Flitwick followed. She intended to engage in some light conversation. If Professor Moody was about to discuss his insights into casting curses on students, she would intervene in time...

Before leaving, Professor McGonagall exchanged a glance with Felix. She felt at ease leaving because she saw that the two young assistants seemed to know Felix, and she had great confidence in him.

As expected, Eurya and Bethany approached Felix.

Before they could say anything, Bethany ran over and hugged him warmly. Excitedly, she said, "Professor Harp, this is a belated thank you... Thank you for saving my life!"

After she let go, Felix smiled and said, "I just happened to have that ability. Anyone present at the time would have acted the same way."

He didn't want to dwell on this matter, so he somewhat awkwardly changed the topic, "Miss Bach, Mr. Edmond, would you like to try the Sorting Hat?"

This wasn't a normal topic of conversation, and the Sorting Hat seemed rather lackluster in his hands.

However, Eurya and Bethany were genuinely interested. They had just spent quite some time observing the professors' seats, so they wouldn't refuse the chance to try. The results were Eurya being sorted into Slytherin and Bethany into Ravenclaw.

...

"I never expected that you two would become professors. But it seems you haven't left the Society for the Advancement of Magic?"

On the grounds outside the castle, Felix walked along Black Lake with the two of them. Most Hogwarts students had gone to see the Ilvermorny students off, leaving the surroundings quite empty with few people in sight. A gentle breeze rustled the air, and the giant squid in Black Lake lazily basked in the sun.

His gaze shifted to the sail and wave emblem on the right side of their chests, and he asked in a soft voice.

"Even more than that! Eurya here is now a key figure in the Society for the Advancement of Magic. Many people joined because of his name, and even the organization's emblem was designed by him personally," Bethany remarked with emotion. "Actually, Headmistress Fontaine sheltered us. Before the International Confederation of Wizards made an official decision, she appointed Eurya as a professor, and I became his assistant."

Felix nodded, finding this explanation acceptable. Eurya Edmund was the student leader of the Paris incident. Even if MACUSA didn't pursue the matter at the time, trouble might come afterward. However, becoming an assistant at Ilvermorny solved many problems.

"But they did snap Eurya's wand," Bethany said with bitterness.

Whenever this matter was brought up, she became agitated.

Eurya, however, seemed indifferent. "They only restricted me in these inconsequential ways."

Bethany exclaimed, "How can it be inconsequential? It's so inconvenient without a wand!"

Eurya shook his head slightly and looked at Felix. "Mr. Harp, what subject do you think I teach?"

Felix pondered for a moment. "My guesses are limited, Herbology... No," he noticed Bethany about to interject, realized his mistake, and quickly thought of a connection that didn't require a wand. He said with confidence, "Muggle Studies?"

Bethany looked at him in astonishment.

"Correct, but we call that subject 'Muggle Chickens' back there—'Muggle' is a shorthand for non-magical people," Eurya explained. "After losing my wand, I suffered for a while, but I soon found that its impact on me was far less than I expected... For simple spells, I can perform wandless magic."

"On the contrary, I have more time to think. In the library, I read Mr. Harp's works, and they opened a window for me... Headmistress Fontaine sheltered me, but she didn't expect me to teach students. I chose this research direction myself."

He said solemnly, "So, when I learned the school was planning to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, I immediately requested the headmistress to add my name to the delegation... I hoped to have the opportunity to seek your guidance in person!"

...

After parting ways, Felix gazed at Eurya's figure with a sense of nostalgia. Although just over a year had passed, he had clearly matured, becoming more organized in his actions.

"Hmm, perhaps I should suggest to Limes that they prioritize opening a branch over there."

>

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