Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 784 School Opening in 1998

Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower.

Loren woke up in his dormitory four-poster bed. The room was warm and comfortable, and he could faintly hear owls hooting outside the window. His roommate, Simo, had been studying hard until midnight last night and was fast asleep in the bed next door.

I tiptoed into the washroom to wash up and changed into my academy wizard robes.

The school doesn't even have 24-hour hot water supply in winter. I'll find an opportunity to report this to the principal.

As he stepped out of the dormitory, Hermione was already up, sitting on the sofa in the common room flipping through recent issues of Transfiguration magazine. Hearing his footsteps coming downstairs, she looked up, her eyes narrowing into a faint smile.

Good morning.

"It's a bit too early..."

Loren yawned, then noticed her disheveled hair and frowned slightly.

"What's wrong?"

Hermione blinked. Since school hadn't officially started yet, her hair was a little messy because she hadn't done much with it when she woke up that morning.

"Sit here and don't move."

Loren pressed down on her shoulders, took out a wooden comb that hadn't been used in a long time, and began to comb her curly, fluffy hair: "You're too lazy to even take care of your hair every day. When you become Minister of Magic, you'll go to work every morning with this hairstyle, and attend meetings and the International Wizarding Federation with this messy look... The Daily Prophet will write that you're a minister with a bird's nest hairstyle."

"Just like the Minister of the Nozzle and the Minister of the Horseshoe?"

"Yes."

Both nicknames refer to Faris Spavian, the Minister of Magic in the mid-to-late 19th century, who was kicked over by a centaur in public for making a careless remark.

Hermione smiled faintly, unable to resist letting out a soft hum, a very light sound, a ticklish sensation from the comb brushing against her head, and also from being amused by the nickname "chicken coop head".

Over the past few years, they've lost count of how many dawning mornings they've spent here getting their hair done. It's such a common thing, but every time he stands behind me with a comb, I still feel a surge of tenderness.

Loren, standing behind her, couldn't see her expression, but he could sense that she was in a good mood.

Over the years, he has accumulated experience and his hair-combing skills have become proficient. His warm and strong fingers press on the top of his head, while his other hand holds the wooden comb to smooth the tangled hair. Occasionally, he will gently press with his fingertips, which is gentle and slow, exuding a reassuring calmness.

……

It was already dark when the train carrying the students arrived at the station.

The auditorium was lit with torches and candles, and students sat around their respective college tables, excitedly sharing their holiday experiences. Some students whispered about unfinished assignments, agreeing to share and reference each other's work back in the dorms that evening—one borrowing another's transfiguration paper, the other flipping through another's spellbook notes…

The school suddenly became lively.

Loren glanced at the main seating area; not all the professors had arrived yet. He then whispered a few words in Hermione's ear, got up, and left the Great Hall, heading towards the restrooms.

A few minutes later.

As Loren walked back, he flicked his wrists to shake the water droplets from his wet hands against the wall, planning to greet Harry and the others when he returned to his seat and wipe his hands dry with their robes.

The noisy noise from the auditorium could be heard in the corridor.

Behind a pillar at the corner of the aisle, two figures stood side by side, each sizing up the students inside, talking in hushed tones, their faces bearing gentle smiles.

Loren was somewhat surprised. He put his hands down at his sides and greeted them politely, "Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, good evening."

"Good evening."

"Oh, it's Loren. The banquet hasn't started yet. Come and chat with us."

Loren walked over, wondering if the principal and vice-principal remembered the detention, and considering the possibility of him getting away with it. His face remained expressionless as he quietly glanced at the two of them.

Last night, Seamus mentioned that Professor McGonagall stayed at the school throughout the Christmas holidays and even had dinner with them that day.

The white-bearded principal did not appear, presumably having delegated his work to the vice-principal and gone on vacation.

Dumbledore seemed to read his mind, tilted his head, and asked with a smile, "Mr. Filch said you returned to school early?"

"I came back yesterday evening."

"How was your holiday?"

"That's fine." Loren paused for a moment. "Nothing special happened, no travel, just stayed at home with family, peaceful and quiet, but very reassuring."

"A normal but happy holiday life." Dumbledore stroked his beard, turned to look at Professor McGonagall, and said, "I've advised Minerva several times that she shouldn't always stay at school. Holidays should be a time to escape from the hustle and bustle; work isn't everything in life."

"Is this why you're pushing the work onto me?"

Professor McGonagall glanced at the two of them, turned to leave, and suddenly said, "There's one more thing, dear Loren. I hope your pleasant holiday hasn't made you forget your confinement. Remember to report to Mr. Filch."

"..."

Loren sighed inwardly; in the end, he couldn't escape it after all.

A wizard's physical condition is somewhat related to their magical power. The more powerful a wizard is, the more likely they are to live a long and healthy life. They are also less likely to get sick in old age. One cannot expect them to be forgetful or senile.

Loren shook his head, quickly accepting reality, and looked at the white-bearded principal beside him: "Professor, how was your vacation?"

Dumbledore chuckled and stroked his beard: "Gellert invited me to go skiing in Switzerland, and while I was there, I visited what is arguably the greatest scientific achievement of Muggles in recent years: the Royal Swiss Academy of Sciences, the Nobel Prize, and all that. You should have heard of these things."

Hearing these words at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Loren was slightly dazed: "Headmaster, do you understand those achievements?"

"I don't understand."

Dumbledore answered decisively and calmly: "However, there is a brief introduction next to the exhibition hall. Through the textual descriptions, one can vaguely glimpse the crystallization of human wisdom, as dazzling as the sapphires of Ravenclaw..."

After a brief pause, he suddenly changed the subject: "In fact, many scholars have noticed that the unique ideas of Muggles are influencing the wizarding world. For example, the promotional methods of merchants in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, the cooperation between the Magical Congress of the United States and the Muggle government to protect the rights of werewolves... After Voldemort and the Death Eaters were defeated, the theory of pure-blood supremacy disappeared, and the academic community began to re-examine the relationship between wizards and Muggles. Some scholars have put forward new ideas."

"What philosophy?"

"Wizards and Muggles should communicate and share with each other; magical civilizations and technological civilizations can merge. What do you think?"

"This idea has been around for a long time, hasn't it?"

Loren raised an eyebrow.

Although the Secret Law has bound the wizarding governments of various countries for centuries, the discussion has never stopped.

Even though the belief in pure-blood supremacy persists among wizarding communities in the UK, some Muggle studies experts have previously proposed the idea of ​​integration, arguing that Muggle society and technological civilization are developing at an unprecedented pace, and wizarding society has fallen far behind. They believe that communicating with Muggles would help them learn about Muggle systems and ideas, and develop magical civilization.

In fact, scientific thinking did provide him with great inspiration during his study of alchemy.

Ilfamoni's teaching and research model also draws inspiration from Muggle universities, and many of its systems are progressive and worth learning from and promoting.

Dumbledore nodded and chuckled softly, “No wizards paid much attention to it before, but it has recently sparked heated discussions. The International Wizarding Federation is about to convene, and it is foreseeable that this concept will definitely become a key topic… The joint handling of werewolf rights, the missile crisis in the Death Eater Wars—whether it’s positive or negative news, it all proves that the Law of Secrecy is no longer suitable for this era.”

Listening to the old headmaster's unhurried voice, Loren stared at the snow in the courtyard, slightly lost in thought.

Crookshank was squatting at his feet at some point, its two front paws gripping his shoes, its eyelids half-closed and eyes half-closed, its ears drooping as it listened to their conversation.

Dumbledore glanced down at Crookshanks, then at the thoughtful Loren, his gaze softening: "Have you spoken with Mr. Kohhausen?"

"We've met once."

"Before the Christmas holidays?"

"How did you know?" Loren asked, somewhat surprised.

"On Boxing Day, Mr. Kohage wrote to me inquiring about you," Dumbledore paused briefly, "inquiring about your character, your experiences at school, and my views on the fusion of wizards and Muggles."

"So how did you reply?"

"I only returned to the castle yesterday and haven't figured out how to reply yet."

(End of this chapter)