A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

On the professor's chair.

Felix watched this scene and felt strange. He didn't think he had done anything terrible, so why were the Slytherin students so afraid of him?

He started to settle down in sixth grade, while the oldest of these young wizards was only in second grade at the time.

This is tarnishing my reputation!

If this gets out, it will sound like a mob boss impersonating a novice teacher at a school.

The other professors also looked at them with a slightly strange expression. Most of them were witnesses to Felix's "glorious seven years." They were truly impressed that he still had such influence after only three years away from the school.

That look in his eyes made Felix want to punch someone!

Dumbledore remained all smiles throughout, as if everything that had just happened was perfectly normal.

Felix felt like each day was an eternity, but he still pretended nothing had happened and awkwardly chatted with Lockhart.

Bang bang bang!

A loud knock sounded, then the door was pushed open, and a giant walked in. Behind him was a row of first-year students who looked like quails.

Professor McGonagall, who had left earlier, returned. She led the new student to a small stool and placed her tattered Sorting Hat on it.

The next second, the Sorting Hat started singing.

Felix grinned. Still so unconventional...

After the annual concert, the Sorting Hat begins the sorting process, and the young wizards put on the hat one by one, waiting for their turn.

I really miss those days!

After the Sorting Ceremony, the entire faculty and student body began to enjoy dinner. However, Felix noticed that Snape still hadn't returned, and none of the professors mentioned him. Hmm, Professor, you're not very popular...

Fortunately, Professor Snape returned once halfway through, which put Felix at ease, and his worries did not come true—the professor was not captured by the unknown monster.

But Snape took Professor McGonagall away—what a strange turn of events!

Felix let his imagination run wild; he was quite pleased with himself, even finding the sight of the transparent, blood-soaked Barrow pleasing to the eye.

A little while later, McGonagall and Snape returned. Felix quickly went up to Professor McGonagall, pulled her aside, and explained the little tricks he had come up with for teaching (and being lazy).

"An open course?" Professor McGonagall repeated, her eyes filled with deep distrust.

"Yes, I am a new professor after all, and the first class is very important. I have been preparing for a long time during the holidays, and it would be a waste to divide it into five grades."

"But if you put five grades together, they won't learn anything at all."

Felix explained, "My first lesson didn't include any theory; it was a demonstration. They just had to watch. My goal was to show them the magic of ancient runes. Once they were interested, it would be easier for me to teach them the rest."

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips; she disliked breaking with convention, but she still asked, "On which day do you plan to hold the open lecture?"

"Thursday afternoon!"

"Okay, I agree." Professor McGonagall had the air of a vice-principal.

"Uh..." Felix said somewhat awkwardly.

"Any other questions, Mr. Heip?"

"Call me Felix," he replied quickly. "Thursday afternoon is my carefully chosen time, but there's still a class clash."

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Which professor's class is it?"

"Professor Snape."

McGonagall's eyes widened, and she glared at him fiercely. "I'll go talk to him!"

Felix breathed a sigh of relief.

Let's eat, let's keep eating...

When everyone had almost finished eating, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up, and under his direction, everyone sang the school song together before dispersing completely!

After eating and drinking his fill, Felix prepared to return to his professor's office, watch a movie, and then go to sleep.

For the next week, all he needs to do is prepare for his open class. What's there to prepare? Off to the library tomorrow!

Dear Hogwarts Library, I've missed you so much!

His reverie was interrupted; this time, it was Professor McGonagall who pulled him back.

The two walked to a corner where three young wizards were already standing—two boys and one girl, all of whom looked like members of the Gryphon Academy.

Upon closer inspection, Felix found it even more interesting. The two boys looked exactly alike and were frowning, for reasons unknown. He had even met the other girl during the summer.

He had a guess in his mind.

Are the assistants he and Professor McGonagall referring to the three of them? Does that mean the Weasley twins and Hermione Granger?

As expected, Professor McGonagall first introduced both parties, and then specifically mentioned Felix's need for an "assistant (tool)".

Judging from their reactions, the twins seemed somewhat uninterested, while Hermione and Granger were somewhat intrigued, though they also didn't appear to be very interested.

Indeed, what's so attractive about being a temporary worker?

This won't do...

Felix decided to say something; he believed that once he finished speaking, they would completely change their attitude.

Now watch my moves!

Felix gave Professor McGonagall a look, then coughed lightly twice. He looked at the three young wizards and said gently, "Hello, I am your new Professor of Ancient Runes," before glancing at Hermione, "and may be your future professor."

Hermione seemed a little reserved, while the twins were much bolder. One of them asked excitedly, "Professor, did you really subdue the entire Slytherin House when you were in school? And drive away the Shafiq family?"

Well, Felix was a full seven years older than the twins. He graduated and they enrolled right after him, a seamless transition, a perfect missed opportunity.

"You're quite bold..." Felix was somewhat surprised.

However, he didn't respond directly, glossing over the matter with a casual remark: "Hogwarts is often the site of some bizarre rumors. When I was in school, I even heard that there was a portal on the eighth floor of the castle that connected to Hogsmeade!"

Surprisingly, the twins were visibly disappointed, while Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes discreetly.

"Let's continue our previous topic. For a long time to come—at least until you graduate—I will be teaching Ancient Runes at Hogwarts. Therefore, I plan to train an assistant who will help me with some chores, such as grading papers."

Seeing that the twins showed little interest, he quickly skipped over this uncomfortable part.

"Of course, every loss has its gain. Becoming my assistant will also bring you some hidden benefits. For example, I will provide you with extra guidance. In addition to ancient runes, I am also very skilled in spells, as Professor McGonagall can attest."

"Secondly, extra credit. After all, assistant work takes up some of my free time, so Professor McGonagall and I discussed it and agreed to add fifty points each semester."

The twins looked at each other, and they got a perfect score for the whole school year!

Hermione's eyes also lit up; in fact, she was already interested when she heard the first one.

"Third, you will have the opportunity to participate in my research. You will be exposed to a lot of advanced magical knowledge, which is not taught in the classroom."

"Fourth, give priority to joining my Ancient Runes Club next year."

"Fifth, I'll gain your personal friendship. If you become my assistant, I won't refuse to help you with small favors," Felix winked and whispered in a seductive tone, "like access to the library's forbidden books, weekend trips to the Forbidden Forest, or strolling around the castle after lights out..."

"Cough cough cough!" Professor McGonagall suddenly coughed violently, as if she were coughing up her lungs.

"Okay, the last two don't count." Felix said with some regret. When he was in school, he had a strong desire to do these things openly, rather than secretly—these were two completely different experiences.

However, the aforementioned benefits were enough to excite the three young wizards.

Sure enough, after he finished speaking, the twins and Hermione looked on with anticipation, as if they were about to say "I do" the next second.

"Of course, becoming my assistant isn't easy. You are all among the best in Hogwarts below the fifth year, which is why Professor McGonagall recommended you to me."

"However, a necessary test is still necessary," Felix said slowly, like a cunning and experienced hunter. He drew his wand and turned two strands of hair into parchment and a quill pen, which began to write on the parchment out of thin air.

The three young wizards peeked at it furtively; it seemed to be a very, very long list of books…

The twins' faces immediately contorted in pain, even more so than before.

After the quill finished writing, it silently turned into flames. He then extended his wand and tapped the parchment, which immediately split into three pieces, which floated toward the three people one by one.

"Here, this is a reading list. Read as much as you can, but by next Monday at the latest, you need to submit a paper on the history of ancient magic script."

Felix looked at them, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "No word limit, but the more the better; no limit on the number of entries, but the more the better; no limit on the number of references, again, the more the better."

You have one week.

The three "the more the better" statements left them somewhat bewildered, but that was none of his concern. His expectation was that at least two parchments would be used, not only for excerpts but also for his own reflections, and that at least half of the reference books would be read.