Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 272 Trivial Matters (Part 1)

Even after experiencing it twice, Harry still hadn't gotten used to the uncomfortable feeling of Apparition, and this time the reaction was even more severe.

Thanks to Hermione, who cast a spell on him just as he was about to vomit, he felt much better.

Harry took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled before opening his eyes and looking ahead. To his surprise, they didn't arrive directly at the Burrow's door, but instead squeezed into the dilapidated shack in the Burrow's vegetable garden.

"Before I send you there, there are some things I need to tell you," Dumbledore said, adjusting his glasses and looking at the two men seriously.

"First, Harry, I need you to promise me one thing: you must carry the Invisibility Cloak with you at all times this year."

His gaze was intense, and although Harry didn't know why, he nodded in agreement. He knew that Dumbledore was doing it for his own good, no matter what.

Seeing that Harry had agreed, Dumbledore continued, "Also, I noticed that you've been subscribing to the Daily Prophet, so you should know that what happened in the Department of Mysteries that day has been spread."

"Yes." Harry lowered his head slightly, his tone tinged with melancholy. "Now everyone knows..."

"No, they don't know," Dumbledore interrupted him. "There are only two people in the world who know the full content of that prophecy, and they are both here now."

"However, many people know why the Death Eaters were there, and they speculate that the prophecy is related to you." He glanced at Hermione beside him. "You didn't tell anyone about the prophecy, Harry?"

"No, Professor." Harry glanced somewhat awkwardly at Hermione beside him.

"Your choice is correct, it's very wise." Dumbledore's gaze lingered on Hermione for a moment before he smiled and said, "But I think you might as well tell your friends that many things that have happened over the years have shown that Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley are your strongest support."

Hearing this, Harry looked at the calm Hermione beside him, hesitated for a moment, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Hermione..."

"It's alright, Harry," Hermione said with a smile, patting Harry's arm.

Seeing this, Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction and said, "There's one more thing. I hope you'll have private lessons this semester, Harry."

"A private lesson! With you?" Harry looked surprised.

"Yes, I think it's time to pay more attention to your education."

"But...but what will you teach me?" Harry asked.

"Well... you'll see when the time comes," Dumbledore said casually, then looked at Hermione beside him. "As for Miss Granger, I think you should just do what you're thinking now. After all, there's already a successful example out there, isn't there?"

"I understand, Professor," Hermione replied.

Listening to their conversation, Harry was a little confused. He didn't know what they were talking about, what a success story was, and who that example was.

Before he could speak, Dumbledore stepped out of the shack first.

"Alright, we should head over now. The kitchen light is still on; let's not keep Molly waiting too long."

Filled with questions, Harry and Hermione followed Dumbledore to the door of the Burrow. They stood before the door, and Dumbledore knocked three times gently. Then they heard a tense voice from behind the door.

"Who?"

"It's me, Dumbledore, with Harry and Hermione."

The door opened, revealing Mrs. Weasley's still worried face.

"Harry, Hermione, darling! Good heavens, Albus, you scared me! You said you wouldn't be coming until tomorrow morning!"

"Everything went very smoothly," Dumbledore said with a smile, letting Harry and Hermione go inside before entering himself. "Slughorn was easy to talk to, not as difficult as I had imagined. Of course, this is all thanks to Harry and Hermione... Ah, hello, Nymphadora."

"Hello, Professor, Harry, Hermione." Tonks looked somewhat haggard, with gray-brown hair, and sat listlessly at the table.

"Hello, Tonks." Harry and Hermione greeted her as well. Harry was about to ask her what was wrong when he saw Tonks suddenly stand up, grab the cloak that was lying next to her, and put it on.

"I have to go now. Thank you for the tea and the comfort, Molly."

Mrs. Weasley was about to say something, but before she could speak, Tonks hurriedly ran out the door and Apparated away.

"Alright, I should be going now." Dumbledore glanced at the time and said, "Harry, Hermione, see you at Hogwarts. And Molly, don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."

He bowed slightly to Mrs. Weasley, then turned and walked out of the house, disappearing just where Tonks had vanished.

Mrs. Weasley cautiously peeked out the door, then closed it and led Harry and Hermione to the table, carefully examining their faces by the light.

"You've all grown so fast! Just one summer vacation, and it's like you've been hit by a stretching spell... By the way, are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Wait a minute, darling, I'll make you something to eat."

Mrs. Weasley went to the kitchen, while Harry and Hermione sat obediently at the dining table. As soon as they sat down, a furry creature silently pounced on Hermione, caught her, and placed her on her lap.

"When did it get here?" Harry asked Crookshanks in surprise, looking at him who was lying obediently on Hermione's lap.

"Tonks passed by my house a few days ago, and I asked her to bring this over," Hermione said while petting the cat.

"Yes, I was quite startled at the time, wondering why you hadn't come along..." Mrs. Weasley tapped a cast iron pot with her wand, and the pot immediately jumped onto the stove, bubbling away. "Would you like some bread, dear?"

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."

The wok jumped onto the table again, and two bowls leaped down from the cupboard, catching the onion soup that spilled from the pot. Mrs. Weasley waved her wand again, and a spoon jumped into the bowls, while a piece of bread and a knife landed on the table, automatically sliced, and flew to the two of them.

With a wave of her hand, the iron pot was returned to the stove, and Mrs. Weasley sat down directly opposite the two of them, watching them eat with a kind expression.

"So, you're saying you persuaded Horace Slughorn to accept that job?"

"I suppose so, but I think Hermione deserves more credit," Harry replied, swallowing hard. He still felt that compared to his so-called "boy who survived" and "savior" title, Hermione's dangerous, seemingly familiar magic was the main reason Horace agreed.

Although, given Horace's character as Dumbledore described, his own empty reputation might have some merit, no matter how you look at it, Hermione's astonishing talent was what attracted him more.

After all, Horace himself said that Hermione reminded him of one of his most prized students...

His mother, Lily Evans.

(End of this chapter)