Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 209 Award Ceremony
The main and guest seats in the auditorium.

Melvin and Ms. Marchban dine side by side.

Ms. Machiban is, after all, an old witch who is almost three hundred years old. Although she is knowledgeable and has progressive and open-minded ideas, and after two years of study, she is very familiar with Muggle culture and technology, she has never truly integrated into Muggle society or deeply experienced the Muggle way of life. There are always some strange things about her conversations.

"Their trains can run on the ground, they can run in underground tunnels," Professor Marchban shouted. "Then why can't they run in the sky? Their planes can fly."

"Is it because it doesn't have wings? But rockets can fly even without wings."

"Engine...fuel...okay, okay, so why not give the train wings?"

Melvin felt a sense of powerlessness in communicating with amateur scientists, but this professor wasn't being unreasonable; she was genuinely curious, and her arguments weren't fabricated—these fantasies could truly be realized through magic.

"Technology is not magic. Every technology is extremely complex and has great limitations. Muggles don't not want to, but they are limited by the laws of physics and cannot achieve it for the time being."

"If it can't be done right now, can it be done later?"

“Perhaps.” Melvin paused for a moment. “Technology is constantly advancing, and their development speed far exceeds our imagination.”

“Yes, this is the advantage of Muggle culture, and it’s also the direction we need to study and research.” Professor Marchban nodded repeatedly. “I heard from Professor McGonagall that the second-year students have collectively chosen your Muggle Studies course again? For the second year in a row, right?”

Yes, children love new things.

Professor Marchban smiled, the fine wrinkles on his face smoothing out: "How about we consider the suggestion I made last year, that the Wizarding Examinations Authority contact the Board of Governors to make Muggle Studies a compulsory course?"

“The younger children will definitely curse you behind your back if they hear that, Ms. Marchban,” Melvin said with a smile, politely declining.

Upon hearing this, Professor McGonagall turned to look at him, pursed her lips, hesitated, and her eyes held a slightly complicated expression.

Ms. Marchban was hard of hearing, so they raised their voices when they talked, and the professors around them could hear them. Not only Professor McGonagall, but also Flitwick and Sprout thought Melvin was making excuses, after all, he was a professor who hated trouble, and he even tried to shirk his duties when temporarily substituting for others.

Ms. Machiban also looked at him suspiciously.

Melvin knew they had misunderstood and shook his head helplessly: "It's not that I want to be lazy, but Muggle studies don't need to be made a compulsory subject. What can first and second-year students learn in class? The use of common electrical appliances, the correct use of transportation, these things are not that important."

“A truly meaningful Muggle studies course is one that introduces them to Muggle technology, explores how Muggle society works, and teaches them Muggle thinking logic. This requires a certain level of mental maturity, and third grade is a suitable age. First and second graders are too immature, and instilling these concepts in them in advance will only increase their burden.”

Melvin didn't finish his sentence.

His idea is to encourage wizards to actively integrate into modern society, build a shared understanding that transcends bloodlines through modern lifestyles, eliminate the barriers between Muggles and wizards, and restore the Law of Secrecy to its proper place, instead of completely isolating Muggles and wizards as it is now.

Ms. Machiban nodded thoughtfully, her cloudy eyes blinking as she pondered. The other professors beside her also fell into deep thought, and the wizards from the Bureau nodded in agreement. After hearing Melvin's words, they had a deeper understanding of the Muggle Studies elective course.

The professors looked somber, and the students at the college table were uneasy, especially the fifth and seventh graders, who were anxious and frequently knocked over the jam and salt shakers.

……

Professor McGonagall placed the Bureau's senior wizards in an empty tower, and exam week began: the Common Wizarding Level (OWL) exams for fifth graders, the Ultimate Wizarding Level (NEWT) exams for seventh graders, and final exams for the other grades.

After proctoring the final exams for Muggle Studies, Melvin left the castle and went to the field next to the greenhouse. Professor Kettleburn, wearing dragon-skin gloves, was teasing two litters of fat rats, while sixth-year students lined up nearby, seemingly taking their final exams on protecting magical creatures.

The fat rats are Motra rats and Mudvoles, both Level 3X magical creatures. They pose no danger. The exam requires students to feed and soothe these little guys without hurting themselves or the animals.

Some students didn't do very well, and were hesitant and timid, worried about touching the Motra rat's claws. Some even accidentally stepped on the rat's tail. Both the test-takers and the test questions screamed and ran around in fright, creating a funny scene.
Kettleburn didn't scold them. Instead, he stood by and repeated the correct soothing actions. The students gradually calmed down and followed his example, calming the mice in their nests as well. After the exam, no one failed.

After the students had left, Melvin went over to help the old professor tidy up the examination room: "Professor Celt, this is not like you. In the past, if a student was scared by a mouse and ran around, you would scold him severely."

Kettleburn chuckled softly, “I used to always scold them and give them failing grades on their homework. I’m about to retire, so I want to leave them with a good impression so they won’t hold a grudge against me for decades.”

Melvin watched as he handled the animals with one hand and one foot, yet his movements were swift and efficient. These rats, which had terrified the students and caused them to scream and scurry about, were remarkably docile in his hands. He swept them all up and tossed them into the basket, covered them with a linen cloth, and they all fell silent.

"What are your plans after retirement? You've saved up for decades to buy a house in Hogsmeade; you can't just leave it vacant for a long time, can you?"

"I will move in when I get too old to walk and can no longer use a cane."

Melvin understood: "Where are you planning to travel this summer?"

"Of course, I'm going to Romania. I made an appointment with Charlie last summer. There are several black dragons from the Hehidari Islands that are going to lay eggs and hatch, and I plan to participate in the whole process."

"Watch out for your arms and legs, or you won't be able to lift your wand."

"Don't worry, I spent two months with them last year, and they're already familiar with my scent." Kettleburn chuckled twice, then turned and walked towards the castle. "When I get back from Romania, I'll compile the process of the mother dragon laying and hatching eggs, make it into a special episode of Animal World, and then show it to the public. They definitely won't want to close their eyes."

Melvin watched his limping figure, picked up the basket of mud vodka, and followed behind.

The Mirror has entered most wizarding homes in Britain. The programs are still the same few: Prophet News, Amusing Sports Games, and Animal World. Football fans prefer to watch the games in taverns, and the news is only shown in the morning and evening. Most of the time, Animal World is the main program.

The Animal World show currently airing was produced by Professor Kettleburn last summer, mainly to tutor Hagrid. Due to its limited length and content, it has recently started to be rebroadcast, and some wizard viewers have begun to complain about its boredom in the tavern.

Professor Kettleburn went to Romania for the summer not only to satisfy his personal interests, but also to help the Magic Mirror Club produce a new program.

The mice in the basket started to fuss, and Melvin quietly cast a few stun spells into it before catching up with the old professor: "You can't manage to take care of the dragon and also handle the video production all by yourself."

"What do you suggest?"

“Let’s just buy the memories from those zookeepers. If one person’s memories aren’t enough to make a show, we can buy the memories of several people, piece them together, and edit them together.” Melvin laughed. “Don’t worry about the cost, I’ll cover it.”

Kettleburn shook his head: "The Magic Mirror Club has paid more than enough. The Daily Prophet started advertising months ago, and there have been ads for Quidditch and Animal World as well. I also get a share of the profits. It adds up to more than my retirement pension over the decades."

Melvin couldn't persuade him, so he stopped trying.

Regarding the Shadow Mirror advertisement, the editor-in-chief, Guffer, had spoken to him beforehand. Later, he consulted with Wright to refine the plan, and then Wright made the final decision on the revenue sharing. Not only Kettleburn, but also the Department of Sports and the Department of Transportation of the Ministry of Magic would receive a share.

This can be considered as the beginnings of a community of shared interests.

The accounts were a mess; it was impossible to distinguish what belonged to the collective, what belonged to individuals, what constituted profit sharing, and what was production cost—it was all mixed up in a chaotic mess.

It's only just started out, and it's already in such a chaotic state. But if things continue like this as the amounts grow and expand, problems will easily arise. "We need a reliable accountant..."

Professional skills can be lacking, but the person must be truly reliable, and cannot be someone like Rita or Wormtail who can only be bound by the Ouroboros Seal.

Melvin shook the basket in his hand, muttering to himself thoughtfully.

Exam week, although students verbally refer to this period as a week, usually lasts for half a month because the year-end exams at Hogwarts are divided into stages by grade.

After seeing off the old wizard from the Wizarding Examinations Authority and finishing the last Quidditch match, the students could have a few days of fun. The professors were busy grading papers, while Professor McGonagall began checking the remaining rooms and preparing for the year-end banquet.

……

As night fell, the auditorium lit up. Looking inside from the foyer, the candlelight was dazzling, like a magical palace in a dream. The dome was like the Milky Way in midsummer night, and the bright silver stars and moon dotted the night sky. Torches flickered on the walls, and transparent ghosts darted through the air. The floor was covered with a velvet carpet.

The professors wore magnificent formal robes, while the students wore black wizard robes. Some students, like the professors, tucked white handkerchiefs into their breast pockets, while others wore roses freshly picked from the courtyard.

"By Merlin, why is Percy still wearing his prefect badge? Has he ever taken it off this year?" Ron clicked his tongue in disapproval from behind the long table. "Summer vacation is coming soon, if he doesn't wear it now, he'll never have another chance, right?"

"Have you forgotten, my dear little Ronnie, that he took it off on Christmas Day?"

"But it's not the prefect badge, it's the idiot badge."

George and Fred laughed loudly, deliberately raising their voices to make the nearby students laugh out loud. Only Percy's face turned red, his teeth clenched, as he chased the two men back and forth in the aisle, wishing he could kill his own brothers at the year-end party and make the last night of the school year bloody.

"How embarrassing!" Ginny sighed, covering her face. Peeking through her fingers, she saw Harry also sighing with worry.

Colin Crevey, who was standing by the long table, pressed the shutter button, and the camera flashed. The enthusiastic fan muttered that he wanted to take more photos, and it would be even better if there were autographed ones. He also had a younger brother who was a big fan of Harry, and he wanted to take these back as gifts.

The interplay of magnesium flashes and candlelight, along with the flickering torches, made the entire auditorium shimmer and sparkle.

"That's wonderful, it reminds me of my youth," the old headmaster's gentle voice rang out.

Melvin, sitting to the side of the main guest seat, heard the clear and melodious tinkling sound. Turning his head, he saw Dumbledore, dressed in a gold and red suit, sitting in the main seat. The silver spoon in his hand jingled in his wine glass, producing a melodious sound like a copper bell. A bright smile played on his lips, attracting the attention of the entire school.

"Please take note, everyone. Before the banquet begins, this old man has a few words to say."

The auditorium fell silent as the students looked at the old principal, their eyes reflecting the candlelight and the stars and moon, shining brightly.

"This has been a wonderful and exciting year. Your little minds are much more developed than they were nine months ago, and you have gained more than just knowledge from books and classrooms."

"Magic Mirror!" George shouted from below the stage.

Dumbledore chuckled: "Yes, and the Mirror of Shadows, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about how you defeated the Basilisk and protected Hogwarts. I'm talking about how you exposed Professor Lockhart's true colors and safeguarded Hogwarts' reputation."

The four college dining tables were quiet; everyone seemed to realize something and eagerly awaited what was happening.

"Now, let's look at the gem in the hourglass. The scores for each house are as follows: Ravenclaw, 330 points; Hufflepuff, 340 points; Gryffindor and Slytherin tied, 370 points."

The Slytherin and Gryffindor students were so excited that their hearts raced, and they couldn't help but stomp their feet and cheer. But when they thought about the extra points that would be awarded, they started exchanging taunting glances at each other.

Snape's expression was somber. Originally, the points of the four houses were reset to zero, putting them all on the same starting line. With the joint efforts of the Slytherin teachers and students, Slytherin initially had a slight advantage, but later, with Melvin's help, the point gap widened significantly.

But Gryffindor won the Quidditch championship, gaining an extra 150 points and quickly catching up.

Now it's Dumbledore's time for secrets again, and Slytherin is going to miss the House Cup once more.

Snape found it disgusting to see Harry and the Weasley idiots banging their goblets on the table.

“I think such outstanding contributions shouldn’t be overlooked, so some points should be taken into account.” Dumbledore cleared his throat. “First, the heroes who fought the Basilisk… let me think of their names, Mr. Neville Longbottom…”

Neville's face turned bright red, like the red wine in a glass.

"What better way to demonstrate Gryffindor courage than by stepping forward in a time of crisis? This courage deserves a 50-point commendation."

Cheers echoed through the auditorium. George and Fred tried to toss Neville up, but after a few attempts, they gave up in frustration and could only pull him up and keep jumping.

“Cedric Diggory, with his intelligence and courage, and his compelling leadership qualities, deserves 50 points from Hufflepuff.”

"And then there were the seventeen warriors who charged toward the Basilisk: Roger Davis, Percy Weasley, Marcus Flint... Though not the first, their courage in following one another was equally remarkable, and they earned their house 30 points."

The entire auditorium erupted in cheers. They practically flipped the four tables over, and some people, unable to contain their excitement, stood on the tables and jumped up as if trying to pluck the stars from the dome.

"Then came Hermione Granger, Cho Chang, and Miss Marietta Eckmore. They faced the memory thief Lockhart calmly, waited for their opportunity, protected the charging warriors, and uncovered the truth. For this, each of them earned 50 points!"

A blush, like the sunset, spread across the girls' faces. Marietta immediately buried her face in her arms, while Hermione and Cho, though they managed to resist for a moment, couldn't withstand the admiring gazes and shyly lowered their heads.

The noise was deafening; some people even shouted themselves hoarse. After it quieted down, you could still hear the sounds outside—the jewels in the hourglass in the foyer pouring down like flowing water, making a gurgling sound.

Someone was quickly calculating the scores in their mind, only to find that the rankings had changed:

Because they had the fewest champions, Slytherin fell to the bottom, Hufflepuff came in third, Ravenclaw moved up to second with the help of Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmor, while Gryffindor, with its many champions, remained in the lead.

The students from Eagle and Badger didn't feel disappointed; they enjoyed the honor and reward. Only the students from Slytherin looked grim. Marcus and a few other members of the drama club wanted to laugh, but seeing the others' somber faces, he didn't dare to.

His lips were pursed, and his shoulders were shaking; he looked quite comical.

Dumbledore raised a hand: "Congratulations to Gryffindor! And let us applaud wisdom and courage!"

Bright red ribbons fluttered in the breeze as the Gryffindor lion shook its head and roared, looking majestic and incredibly impressive.

Professor McGonagall was all smiles, frequently raising her glass to Melvin in a toast, while Snape was filled with resentment, because they had both noticed that the changes in the score were all due to this young professor.

(End of this chapter)