My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

Chapter 8.008. Public buses are the right way for wizards to get around.

"The relationship between wizards and Muggles has always been a topic worthy of study."

It was precisely because Hogwarts understood this that it established Muggle Studies in the last hundred years, in order to encourage wizards to humble themselves and understand the lives and habits of another group of humans.

But I've always believed that this course has strayed from its original purpose. You can tell from its name, Muggle Studies, that the discrimination is obvious.

Belloc, you are a Muggle-born wizard about to enroll in school. What are your thoughts on this phenomenon currently existing in the wizarding world?

On the bus, Lynn stared speechlessly at Professor Fox, who was giving him a long, serious lecture. The seats around them were empty; people kept their distance from Fox after hearing his nonsensical remarks.

One boy's mother even pointed at Lynn and the others and lectured her child: "If you don't study hard in the future, you'll end up like these two crazy people, talking nonsense on the bus."

"Professor, it's already embarrassing enough that you, a wizard, and I, a prospective wizard, are taking the bus without flying or teleporting. If you're going to ask me these shameful questions in a public place, we might both be on the front page of The Times tomorrow. You might not be a big deal, but I'll be socially dead."

Lynn did not answer Fox's question, but instead tried to reclaim her right to continue living in normal society.

Fox then realized that their current situation seemed rather unpleasant, and his novelty immediately faded, replaced by an overwhelming sense of shame.

He quietly leaned close to Lynn's ear and whispered the question.

"Did they think what I just said sounded stupid?"

"Not just stupid," Lynn shrugged, "but downright stupid."

"Couldn't you have offered me some gentle comfort?"

"I'm sorry, Professor, but my teachers have always taught me to be an honest person."

...

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at their destination, and the two of them got out of the car as quickly as unlucky guys rushing home to put out a fire.

Lynn said listlessly and plaintively.

"So I shouldn't have chosen to take the bus to save money; taking a taxi would have been much better."

Fox straightened his trench coat without changing his expression and coughed.

"Alright, Belloc, we're now on our home turf."

Lynn followed Fox's gaze and, sure enough, spotted a bar in a bustling street with an extremely out-of-place atmosphere: the Leaky Cauldron.

The various passersby around the building ignored it, but in Lynn's eyes it was so out of place.

"The Muggle Exorcism Charm is a very useful spell that can make Muggles unconsciously ignore certain things, but it has no effect on people with magic. It is usually used at wizarding gatherings and special places." Although Lynn has not yet enrolled, Fox has already taken on the role of a teacher.

They entered the run-down bar, which wasn't crowded. Most of the customers were dressed in dark robes and wide-brimmed pointed hats, which fit the image of a wizard in people's minds better than Fox.

Upon entering, Lynn felt several gazes directed at them. When their eyes fell on Fox, they quickly lowered their heads as if nothing was amiss.

At the same time, Lynn could clearly sense that the atmosphere in the bar became somewhat... awkward after they arrived.

Old Tom, the bar owner, spotted Fox immediately. He quickly wiped his hands with his apron and came over, his expression seemingly welcoming but actually quite reluctant.

"Welcome back to Adrian. Have you picked up your students yet?"

Fox seemed oblivious to the change in the atmosphere in the bar; he patted Lynn on the shoulder.

"This round trip wasn't easy for me, but it was worth it. Let me introduce you. This is Lynn Belloc, a new student at Hogwarts this year, and this is Old Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron."

"Hello, Mr. Tom," Lynn greeted politely.

Although he had read the original work, nearly twenty years had passed since this life, so it was already quite good that he could remember the general plot. He didn't have much of an impression of this old man who didn't appear much.

He was more impressed by another man named Tom who shared the same name as him, though that man's last name was Riddle.

"Hello, hello. If you want to stay at a hotel in the future, you can contact me. But drinking is out of the question; you're not old enough." Old Tom's attitude towards him was somewhat perfunctory, his attention remaining focused on Fox.

Lynn didn't care; in fact, he was now even more convinced that there was something wrong with his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Although they had only known each other for less than half a day, aside from being teased at the beginning, Fox was quite easygoing in his interactions with others.

But the wizards in the bar acted as if they were afraid of him.

"We still have a lot to buy, but time is limited. Let's talk next time."

Fox and Lynn didn't stay in the bar for long. After saying goodbye to Old Tom, they went out the back door and into the bar's backyard.

"They all seem a little afraid of you," Lynn asked.

Fox neither denied nor admitted it; it seemed he didn't want to answer the question.

"Perhaps." He then took out his wand and pointed it at the bricks of an unpainted wall in the backyard.

"Keep an eye on Belloc. You can use that trash can as a reference. Just count three bricks up, then two bricks horizontally, and tap it with your wand, and the door will open."

Fox demonstrated the steps to open the door to Lynn, and the entire wall trembled violently, then split open from the middle like living building blocks put together.

Neat cobblestone lanes, bustling streets, shops with strange names, and people dressed in a way that was completely different from modern people showed Lynn the magic of Diagon Alley.

"It's really lively here."

Lynn stared blankly at the scene before him. Compared to the words in the book and the scenes in the movie, the real Diagon Alley was definitely more amazing and shocking.

Fox wasn't surprised by Lynn's reaction; at this moment, he actually acted like a child befitting his age.

"Let's go, there's a lot to prepare."

...

Break the Cauldron Bar.

With Fox and Lynn gone, the atmosphere in the bar eased considerably.

"I heard he recently became a professor at Hogwarts?"

Someone asked in a low voice, and although no name was mentioned, everyone knew who he was talking about.

Someone chuckled softly, speaking in an enigmatic tone.

"And he's the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's really ironic, I must say."

"He had a very good relationship with Dumbledore; Dumbledore himself served as his defense attorney back then."

"Only someone like Dumbledore would dare to hire him. Is he still continuing his research?"

"Hmm, it's never stopped. It's said that he's spent a lot of money working on things within the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry of Magic has practically tacitly approved of his current research."

"I really don't know whether that's lucky or unlucky."

Finally, someone sighed and said.

Once the contract status is changed, I will update twice a day, around 10 PM and 12:30 AM respectively.

Finally... (sets out bowls) (reaches out hands) (you know what I mean)

_(ω」∠)_

(End of this chapter)