Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 261 An Offer You Can't Refuse

"Are these kids trying to get me drunk and extract information from me?"

Hagrid paused, looked at the trio, then at the wine bottle, and put on a stern, professorial expression. "Didn't I tell you? I'm going to quit drinking. What are you trying to do with this wine? Let me tell you, don't even think about it!"

Hermione, holding the red wine, froze. When she saw who was standing next to her, Professor Levent, dressed in a long robe, smiled and nodded to them.

Harry and Ron stood outside the fence, facing the serious-looking gamekeeper. His imposing figure made him look quite intimidating; the half-giant exuded a sense of power simply by standing there.

"What do you mean by 'asking for information'? We just thought we could chat with you since we don't have classes this weekend. The red wine is a gift to congratulate you on your promotion," Ron explained, feigning ignorance.

“In the Muggle world, wine is a very common gift. It can be enjoyed, or you can keep it if you don’t want to drink it. You can ask Professor Levent, he’ll definitely know!” Harry quickly nodded and added.

Melvin knew the three of them were talking nonsense, but he still nodded in agreement.

Hagrid frowned.

The youngsters had tried to extract information from him several times, and he only had himself to blame for being careless and letting it slip after drinking too much. Now, as an elective course professor, he wasn't the muddle-headed Hagrid he used to be. To become a reliable professor worthy of the trust of his colleagues and students, he had to establish authority. The trick of getting him drunk to extract information wouldn't work anymore.

However, Harry and his friends are not just ordinary students, but also friends who treat each other as equals. Perhaps they were just chatting on the weekend and were happy for his promotion. It would be bad if we misunderstood their good intentions.

Perhaps we can store the red wine for now?

Hagrid glanced at Harry and Hermione, his expression conflicted.

“I don’t have a wine cellar here, so it’s not suitable for storing red wine. The teeth are running around and they’re easy to break.” Hagrid realized he was wavering and quickly said, “I have to take care of the vegetable garden today, weeding, watering and fertilizing. I don’t have time to play with you. Let’s talk about it next week.”

"All right……"

Hermione thought for a moment. Hagrid was too wary and she couldn't get any information from him for the time being. She decided to ask another professor instead. "Then let's come back next week, Professor Levent. Let's go back to the castle together. We have some questions we'd like to ask you."

"..."

Melvin chuckled, stroked the young snake again, and nodded slightly. "Your questions should ideally be related to Muggle research."

A group of people came and went, leaving along the forbidden forest path and crossing the flat ground.

Harry turned around and saw Toothpick, covered in mud, circling around Barbican, his tail wagging so hard it looked like a propeller. Beside him were hippos, their feathers full and scales gleaming, searching for field mice. Soon, the young snake Yulm joined them. Eagles and snakes are usually enemies, but Yulm got along very well with them.

Harry discreetly observed Professor Levent's expression, which was gentle and cheerful. It seemed that the unexpected incident last night had been resolved satisfactorily, at least without causing any negative consequences.

“Professor, during class last week, Hagrid said that Professor Snape was brewing medicine for Professor Lupin, and it sounded like a very serious illness.” Hermione asked tentatively, “Do you know what it is?”

Melvin didn't turn around immediately, but instead asked about something unrelated: "Hermione, at the opening banquet, Professor McGonagall said that the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors approved your course. It sounds like a very important plan. Can you tell me about it?"

"But don't you know that?"

Hermione realized there was something wrong with what she said as soon as she said it, and Harry and Ron turned to look at her with curious expressions.

The professor knew about the time-travel device, of course, but the students didn't, and she couldn't reveal it. Professor McGonagall had specifically instructed them on the precautions for time travel: they couldn't be noticed by others, and they couldn't meet their original selves...

Time is a very fragile magic; any deviation can easily lead to disastrous consequences.

The books record time-related disasters, each involving lives. Wizards and sorcerers mistakenly kill their past or future selves, or completely alter a person's life trajectory, causing time anomalies. Some people who should have existed are unable to be born, leading to the annihilation of an entire lineage.

“Some things need to be kept secret, not only to protect the person involved, but also to safeguard the interests of other wizards. If you’re really curious, you can ask Professor Lupin or Professor Snape yourselves.” Melvin looked down at the little witch, raising an eyebrow. “Why are your dark circles so bad? Did Mr. Filch catch you out for a night stroll?”

While Harry and Ron were still pondering the hidden meaning of those words, Hermione snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head: "Taking all the courses at the same time has made the workload too heavy. I stayed up too late last night doing my arithmetic divination homework."

"Time is not only meaningful when it is spent studying. The time saved can be used to rest appropriately, ensuring that you are in a better state in the future. Appropriate relaxation can help improve learning efficiency."

Hermione nodded: "I'll be more careful in the future."

“On the other hand, while time may repeat itself, the process of its passing is real.” Melvin paused briefly. “Do you understand what I mean?”

Hermione pursed her lips and remained silent.

The time-travel converter allows her to go back in time, but aging cannot be reversed; the physical changes are real, and after a school year, she will be about three months older than others.

Harry and Ron looked at each other, their faces showing similar bewilderment.

Are they really that different from Hermione, even though they're both third-year students? What are they even talking about? I can't understand a word they're saying.
“Professor, may I ask about Neville?” Harry asked hesitantly. “We went to your tutoring session last night, but Sir Cadogan said you all went out with several professors, including Neville, and you haven’t returned yet…”

"There's no point in hiding it. We went out to treat Neville's parents, and the results were satisfactory. Neville should be at home reuniting with his parents right now, and he'll be back tomorrow."

Harry paused for a moment, then fell silent.

He felt sorry for Neville, and his parents were admirable. They did not yield to the torture of the Death Eaters, preferring to lose their minds rather than reveal information. In the end, they both became mentally impaired and stayed in St. Mungo's for thirteen years. Now they have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. As Neville's roommate, he was happy for Neville.

But behind this joy was a bittersweet envy. Neville was reunited with his healed parents, but his parents would never come back.

The thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy hadn't yet learned to hide his thoughts; his feelings were written all over his face. Without even needing to focus his attention, Melvin could see the indescribable sadness in his eyes at a glance.

Ron and Hermione sensed their friend's low spirits and, without saying a word, quietly stayed by his side.

Time ticked by, and as he reached the bottom of the steps in the foyer, Melvin sighed. The contrast was indeed hard to accept. Some things are cruel. Both children were children who fulfilled the prophecy, yet his parents died in the green light of the Killing Curse, while the other's parents recovered after more than ten years in the hospital. It should have been a cause for celebration, but he just couldn't feel happy.

Melvin stopped, tracing the emerald on his fingertip: "Harry, do you want to see your parents again?"

Harry froze, his body trembling slightly, and looked up incredulously: "Wh...what do you mean?"

Aren't they dead?
They didn't turn into ghosts, so how could the living reunite with the dead?
"Magic is a wonderful thing. How do you know it won't work if you don't try?"

Harry's throat bobbed. He felt that Professor Levent was like the devil in the Bible, tempting his soul with unbelievable conditions that were tailor-made for him and impossible to refuse. If he agreed, he would fall into the abyss, but anyone would make the same choice.

Melvin watched his constantly changing expressions, as if he could read his mind, and was somewhat amused and exasperated: "Don't think too much about it. I won't take your soul or lifespan, nor will I ask you to do anything immoral. I'm just giving you a task."

"What subject?"

“Investigate the whole truth about your parents’ deaths. When you feel you have uncovered all the secrets, come to my office.”

Melvin looked at the three people who were standing there in a daze, stepped onto the stairs, and after a few steps, turned around. "By the way, Ron, please tell George and Fred to come to my office after dinner."

"Huh? Oh! Okay!"

Ron's spirits lifted.

(End of this chapter)