Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 168 FlyNet Modification

breakfast time.

It was a rare occasion for the four deans and professors to attend breakfast together, which served as a way to discuss the faculty work for the next semester. Professor McGonagall assigned tasks, and the other professors responded in unison, fulfilling their duties responsibly. This exemplary conduct from top to bottom was very much in line with the demeanor of a university president.

Melvin, as the professor of the elective course, tried to shirk his responsibilities when he was assigned the work, and painstakingly came up with some legitimate reasons, but unfortunately, they were all ignored by Professor McGonagall.

Faced with such an unreasonable boss, Melvin could only sigh helplessly, spreading jam on his bread while whispering complaints to Professor Flitwick next to him.

"Temporarily teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to lower-year students, participating in the procurement of supplies for the new semester, negotiating prices with Hogsmeade merchants, and even replying to letters from parents to explain the inside story of the Chamber of Secrets and the Basilisk... Are these the responsibilities of an elective course professor?"

Melvin muttered to himself, "What does Professor McGonagall think I am? The Dean?"

Professor Flitwick paused for a moment, then said, "It's not impossible."

"Huh?" Melvin looked at him in confusion.

“You are a student of Iphamoni, so your academy background is irrelevant. You can serve as the dean of any academy.”

Professor Flitwick paused for a moment, then explained with an air of seriousness: "Professor McGonagall is in charge of the headmaster's affairs. If you propose to take over as headmaster of Gryffindor, she might agree."

"Pomona doesn't care much about the position of dean. If you want to see Guhechpach's students, she'll be more than happy to."

"Then there's Ravenclaw. I'd be happy to have someone take my place so I can focus more on club affairs. You know, I need to manage the Charms Club, the Toad Choir, Lockhart is gone, and the Duel Club needs a mentor if it's to stay afloat."
"Severus might be a little concerned about Slytherin's situation."

"Uh……"

Melvin paused for a moment, then lowered his head to concentrate on spreading the bread.

This half-breed fairy professor seemed to be half asleep and was talking nonsense.

After everyone had eaten their fill and breakfast was almost over, the owl postmen flew into the auditorium through the skylight and brought packages and letters to the teachers and students.

Professor Sprout subscribed to the Daily Prophet, opened today's morning paper, and read the news report: "The Ministry of Magic publicly responded yesterday to the Floo Network modification issue. Related difficulties have been resolved, all departments have reached an agreement, and the project will begin soon. The Department of Transportation is collaborating with the Magic Mirror Club to allow wizards to watch the Mirror Image from home..."

Melvin glanced up at the photo on the cover—

Cornelius Fudge and Mrs. Eckmore stood side by side, both wearing polite smiles. Mrs. Eckmore's smile was faint but carried a hint of genuine emotion, while Fudge's was stiff and forced, as if he were quite unwilling.

Professor Flitwick, standing beside him, turned to look at him: "It's approved. When do we start the modifications?"

Melvin, still looking at Professor Sprout's newspaper with his head tilted, said calmly, "It was approved yesterday afternoon. I only received the news last night. If nothing unexpected happens, the renovation can begin today. The Floo Network Administration started preparing a long time ago, and with the experience accumulated in Romania, it should be completed soon."

"That's it..."

Flitwick nodded.

The Floo Network, a common mode of transportation for wizards in the magical world, connects fireplaces in different regions. In Britain, almost every wizarding family's fireplace is connected to the Floo Network, allowing for extremely quick travel between the Ministry of Magic, pubs, and various shops.

Similar to the Apparition restriction, if Hogwarts Castle grants the Headmaster's authority, fireplaces throughout the school can also be connected to the Floo Network.

However, successive headmasters, including Dumbledore, tacitly chose to isolate the connection, because connecting to the Floo Network meant being monitored by the Department of Transport, and Hogwarts was not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Magic.

……

The Department of Transportation is a core administrative department under the Ministry of Magic. Located on the sixth floor below the Ministry's basement level, it comprises the Floo Network Management Bureau, the Flying Broomstick Management and Control Bureau, the Portkey Office, and the Apparition Centre. These departments work together to form a regulatory system covering magical transportation methods such as the Floo Powder network, flying vehicles, and teleportation devices.

Their responsibilities include developing rules for the use of vehicles, formulating traffic-related laws and regulations, ensuring the secrecy and safety of wizarding traffic by regulating various traffic behaviors, and maintaining the isolation between the wizarding world and Muggle society.

"Ding……"

The metal doors of the elevator slid open, revealing a straight corridor extending deep into the Transportation Department.

The ceiling was covered with a map outlined in silver lines, dotted with scattered green dots that flickered like stars. Based on the ancient runes surrounding it, these were the fireplaces that connected to the Floo Network.

A lit green dot indicates that someone is using the Filo network.

Every few meters along the walls hung portraits of different styles, depicting significant scenes in the history of magical transportation: the completion and connection of the Floo Network, the first departure of the Hogwarts Express, and the Knight Buses running through the streets of London.

These are all magical portraits, depicting wizards who were the staff and passengers at the time, cheering and expressing themselves vividly.

The footsteps were light as they swayed on the dark wooden floor. Several offices and testing areas were located on both sides of the corridor. As you passed through these rooms, you could occasionally hear a slight popping sound in the air. The air was filled with the faint aroma of hot tea mixed with the smell of fireplace ash.

The atmosphere on the entire sixth floor was neither as tense as the Department of Law Enforcement and the Trial Chamber, nor as gloomy as the Department of Mysteries.

Melvin noticed that this floor was busier than the other floors. Employees in uniform robes, wearing badges with the logo of the Department of Transportation, were passing by, and there were also onlookers from other departments, all curious about the FlooNet renovation. The necessary raw materials were ready, the technicians had already arrived, and there were also onlookers from other departments—in short, quite a lot of people.

Melvin didn't recognize most of the people, but there were some familiar faces.

Ms. Burns has bright, sharp eyes, a high nose bridge, and a square face, giving her an air of competence and fairness.

The middle-aged wizard next to him is Barty Crouch. He is rather thin, with two short tufts of beard hanging down at the ends in a V-shape. His facial features are very tense, perhaps because he suffered too much in his early years and has not yet recovered. He looks miserable.

Standing in the center was Mrs. Eckmore, who nodded to Melvin upon seeing him.

In addition, there were Wright and old Will, who were the liaison representatives sent by the Magic Mirror Club, one in charge of craftsmanship and the other in charge of administration.

The Floo Network overhaul is the most significant project in nearly a century, involving the former transportation network and impacting the future information hub. The Ministry of Magic has not launched a project of this scale in a long time, and several high-ranking officials attach great importance to it.

"Greetings, Ms. Burns, thank you very much for your help." Melvin finished speaking and looked at the wizard beside him. "Mr. Crouch, it's a pleasure to meet you. I heard that many staff members in the department are conservative and unwilling to change. The International Affairs Division stepped up at a critical moment. This vote was very important."

“It’s my duty,” Crouch said sternly. “The modifications in Romania have been completed, and they have proven to be reasonable and correct.”

"It's nice to meet you again, Professor Levent..."

Ms. Burns smiled meaningfully, "Leaving aside the Floo Network and the Shadow Mirror, the head of Azkaban told me that since your last visit, the Dementors have been seriously injured and are eager to absorb the souls of prisoners to heal themselves. Some have even gone out of control and caused some trouble."

“This was self-defense, and Tonks can testify to that.”

Melvin was very confident. He glanced at Crouch beside him without making a sound. When the topic of Azkaban was mentioned, the director's face tightened even more.

“Dementors that attack ordinary wizards certainly deserve to be punished, and Professor Levent’s Patronus Charm is excellent.”

Borns didn't dwell on the Azkaban issue. Those evil creatures of unknown origin wouldn't be completely wiped out anyway, so the damage was to them.

Today's focus is on the transformation of the flyway network.

Borns looked at the two representatives of the Magic Mirror Club and asked Wright, "Mr. Monkstanley, what kind of modifications are needed? Is the cooperation of other Ministry of Magic staff required?"

"what……"

Wright paused for a moment.

He hadn't heard Ms. Burns address him like that in a long time since leaving the Ministry of Magic, and he felt a little disoriented. Returning here after so many years, to familiar places and familiar people, only his own identity had changed, which evoked some emotions.

The Monk Stanley family was also involved in the initial construction of the FlooNet.

"no need."

Wright shook his head and calmly replied, "Mrs. Eckmore and I have discussed the renovation plan and prepared the materials in advance. In addition, our avionics network is more complete than that of Romania. If we work quickly, it can be completed in the next two days."

Old Will remained silent; he was in charge of administration.

After a staff member came over and asked several directors, and received an affirmative answer, the technical staff immediately began work. They worked intensively, with Wright directing the operation. The site ran smoothly, and the room where the core device of the fly-road network was located was soon crowded with people.

Melvin stood on the periphery watching, completely silent.

Because he frequently appeared in newspapers and news as the founder of the Magic Mirror Club, some wizards believed that he invented the mirrors. However, his rudimentary alchemy skills were completely different from the magical techniques of the Monkstanley family.

The Monkstanley family has been passed down for centuries, starting with the Illumination Charm and gradually expanding into the field of alchemy, actively absorbing Muggle technological achievements and forming its own unique technological path.

That innovative thinking was more dazzling than magic, and even the legendary alchemist Nicolas Flamel admired and praised it.

From the St. Mungo's Hospital project and the Ministry of Magic building to the Hogwarts Express and the Knight Bus, the Monks Stanley family's achievements have spread throughout the British wizarding world.

The mirror was destined to be a groundbreaking creation, and Wright would leave a new mark on history with Monk Stanley.

"Zizi..."

The tip of the wand radiated a bright light, and runes were engraved on the metal and stone slabs.

In the center of the room, a green campfire roared, and as the flames rolled, the shadows of fireplaces could be vaguely seen.

Silver mist was poured into the campfire, then guided by precisely controlled magic, spreading and moving within the green flames like ink falling into clear water. The silver mist dispersed into wisps, gradually penetrating the illusory fireplaces.

(End of this chapter)