Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 192 Hufflepuff
It was a Sunday morning in early March.

The rainy season in the Scottish Highlands is not over yet. Instead of sudden storms, it's a light drizzle that falls from dawn until dusk, neither too hot nor too cold. Standing in the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower and looking out, the Forbidden Forest and the distant mountains appear even more vibrant, occasionally shrouded in mist, like a scene from an oil painting.

Hermione, carrying the cloth bag, hurried into the library.

It was already very late when I finished washing up last night. Lavender and Parvati chatted about gossip until late, while she lay in bed thinking about Dobby's salary, Professor Levent's particularly profound words, and the application of Transfiguration in duels. Her mind was in turmoil, and then she couldn't sleep.

While having breakfast in the Great Hall, Hermione reviewed her future plans and realized that there were less than three months left until the final exams. Her study schedule was packed, and she also had to learn dueling in her spare time, which made her feel a sense of urgency.

"Take good care of the books!" Mrs. Pince instructed sternly from the doorway.

Hermione nodded hastily, grabbed her backpack and rushed into the library, then stopped in front of the bookshelves, lost in thought.

It was raining outside, limiting outdoor activities. The library was crowded today, and since she arrived a little late, there weren't many seats left.

Occasionally there might be one or two empty seats, but they would be surrounded by unfamiliar older students chatting and laughing, clearly a small group. Sitting next to them without permission would only make things awkward for both sides.

Hermione, carrying her books, looked around and silently walked inside, looking for a suitable spot. Hogwarts' library was spacious, so there was no need to worry about not having a seat; it just meant walking a little further in.

As she passed the seats next to the restricted book section, her eyes caught a glimpse of them, and she suddenly stopped in her tracks. What came into view was a young professor leisurely flipping through a book at a desk.

After a moment of surprise, the little witch tiptoed closer and asked, "May I sit next to you, Professor?"

Melvin looked up, somewhat surprised: "Of course."

Hermione placed the books on the table, quietly took out the textbooks and homework without making a sound, and glanced at the books on the table.

Advanced Black Magic

Helbo: ​​Baseness and Evil

The Dark Secrets of Magic

These are clearly books from the restricted section. Is the professor researching some kind of dark magic?
The little witch stared at the titles of several books, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, before continuing to look around.

Hogwarts: The Founder's Achievements

"A Closer Look at Helga Hufflepuff"

What We Talk About When We Talk About Badgers

How come the professor's reading range is so wide?
Hermione frowned even more, lost in thought with her own doubts.

Half an hour later, Melvin closed the book, raised his hand and tapped the little witch on the head: "If you're going to review, then review properly. Why are you always looking this way? The book in front of you has been stuck on the page of the universal anti-charm for the past ten minutes. Is there something Professor Flitwick didn't explain clearly? Or do you have any questions? I'm here right now, so I'll ask you and answer them."

"No doubt, Professor Flitwick explained it very well."

Hermione covered her head, hesitated for a moment, and then tentatively asked, "Professor, are you researching some kind of dark magic? Is it related to Hufflepuff?"

“It’s related to Harry.”

"Oh."

Hermione wrinkled her nose; it was obviously a perfunctory response. The professor probably thought she was some clueless little wizard.

"Focus on your reading and review properly." Melvin waved his hand, putting the books back on the shelf. "I'm meeting a friend, so I'm leaving now."

"Goodbye, Professor." Hermione politely watched the professor leave the library, then saw a ghost waiting at the entrance. The two met and left together.

"I thought it was some friend from outside the school, but it turns out to be the fat monk from Hufflepuff."

Hermione looked away, her face thoughtful. She remembered that there was a gold cup on the professor's shelf with a badger-shaped carving, which looked a lot like the Hufflepuff cup. She had just read a lot of information about Hufflepuff, and now she had encountered the ghost of Hufflepuff House.

Is Hufflepuff a dark wizard?
……

basement one.

Melvin stood in the corner on the right side of the kitchen corridor, chatting with the fat monk.

This is the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. The candlelight is dim, and in the corner there is a pile of old, blackened wooden barrels filled with vinegar that has been fermenting for who knows how long, and the sour smell can't be contained.

To study the Hufflepuff Cup, one must visit Hufflepuff House and chat with the Hufflepuff ghosts.

This fat monk ghost was very different from the other ghosts. It is said that he was a healer in his previous life and later became a clergyman of the Muggle Church. He often helped farmers and villagers treat their illnesses and gave food to the poor.

However, he happened to be caught in a witch hunt, and it was discovered that his medical skills involved poking people with a thin wooden stick, and that he had a habit of turning rabbits out of the Holy Communion chalice. He was then hanged.

After his death, he returned to Hogwarts as a ghost. He was lively and cheerful, not at all extreme, and gentle and kind to everyone, even Peeves.

"There is no password to the Hufflepuff lounge. The Hufflepuff prefects set up a trap here to play a trick on Lady Hufflepuff. You have to knock on the second barrel in the middle of the second row in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff's name to open the lid and reveal the passage to the lounge."

“What if I type it wrong?” Melvin asked.

"The bucket lid will be opened, but they'll just pour the vinegar inside on you."

"How did such a prank survive to this day?"

"This is our Hufflepuff." The fat monk raised his chin, a hint of pride on his face.

Melvin tapped the doorway to the Hufflepuff common room in a steady rhythm.

This is a simple circular hall with a low ceiling, so low that Hagrid cannot stand upright. There are many ivy-like vines on the walls, and grapevines climb up the copper frame to the ceiling and then hang down. Although it is on the ground, sunlight shines into the windows, and you can see swaying grass and dandelions outside.

“This sunlight?” Melvin looked at the fat monk.

The fat monk grinned: "The Magic Dome was made by Hufflepuff and Lady Ravenclaw together."

Melvin sat down on the yellow and black color-blocked sofa and noticed that there was even underfloor heating. He couldn't help but exclaim, "No wonder it's the most comfortable common room in all the colleges."

"No one will regret coming to Hufflepuff."

For the next two hours, the fat monk gave Melvin a detailed introduction to Hufflepuff, from the foot warmers in the dormitories to the fruit trees in the courtyard, from the school's spirit to its distinguished alumni... the whole process was filled with a proud smile.

Looking back at all the Ministers of Magic, the majority of them were Hufflepuff students. Most of the founders of wizarding communities around the world were Hufflepuff alumni. The head of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magic and renowned healers were almost all from Hufflepuff House.

Melvin gained a deeper understanding of the college that uses the badger as its mascot.

Some students returned to their dormitories from outside and warmly welcomed Melvin's visit, coming up one by one to say hello.

Many of the students were familiar faces: Hannah, Rolf, Justin, Ernie, Susan… and some even wanted to drag Melvin outside to pick unripe peaches.

(End of this chapter)