A certain Hogwarts professor of runes.

Magical notebooks, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura, fell from mid-air...

Amidst the melodious chirping of birds, Felix leaned against the brown trunk of an ancient tree and addressed the group: "Although I've said it more than once, I want to emphasize it again: compared to knowledge, developing your thinking is more important, after all, your graduation thesis is to complete a magical handbook."

Ask students to complete a magic script journal?

Professor Marchban opened her eyes wide and quickly looked around. No students raised any objections, so it was clear that this was not a last-minute arrangement.

Her feelings suddenly became complicated. If it were true, would their exams still be meaningful?

A low groan came from the side. Old Vera seemed to be having an attack, shaking violently, his hand resting on the magic journal that had floated down in front of him.

……

In the last few minutes before the class ended, the students were frantically writing down their notes. The short Professor Machiban strolled around the gaps between the classroom seats, stopping every now and then to watch the students' quills scribbling down magical phrases, which, frankly, were far more complex than the S-exam standard.

Old Vera sat in his seat, looking utterly dejected. He was the one who understood best the gap between himself and Felix, and at that moment he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

The bell finally rang, and he almost immediately jumped up from his seat, ready to leave.

“Mr. Vera,” Felix called from behind. “About that report…” He had mentioned the report yesterday, and old Vera had readily agreed, only now realizing how big a hole that request had buried.

How should this report be written? Should it be a lavish praise of Felix Heap?

The old man blushed and fled, covering his face.

“Mr. Vera! Mr. Vera!” Felix called out ‘urgently’, but he didn’t move. “What’s wrong with him?” he muttered to himself.

Professor Machiban gave him a strange look. He hadn't realized the little guy was so vengeful!

“Stop shouting,” she said. “He’s busy.”

Felix looked at her with a questioning gaze.

“They’re probably busy finding a place to bury themselves!” Professor Marchban said. “I won’t be coming this afternoon.”

"Are you leaving already?" Felix asked.

“It’s not that I’m leaving,” Professor Marchban said helplessly, “but that I no longer need to come here. I’m starting to understand why the students’ grades have improved so much in the last two years. I’ll stay a few more days and check out other classes… I can’t have come all this way for nothing.”

Felix nodded knowingly.

“There’s one more thing,” Professor Marchban said, a smile spreading across his wrinkled face. “Interested in becoming an unofficial examiner?”

"An unofficial examiner..."

“You only need to be responsible for the practical part of the Ancient Runes exam,” Professor Machiban said, sighing as she watched the students dawdling out of the classroom. “I can’t possibly have the graduates from the last two years do this!”

"You plan to add a practical assessment to the ancient runes exam? To test practical runes?" Felix asked excitedly.

“That’s right,” she said. “When I get back, I’ll try to get the department to split ancient runes into two directions—translation and practical application. Of course, you’ll have to write the report, since only you know the details… There’s also the job market for practical runes. If you describe it enticingly enough, the department might hire a few people this year.”

"Why is that?" Felix didn't quite understand.

Professor Marchban rolled his eyes. "I reckon that apart from your company, the entire magical world doesn't know what to do with practical runes. Usually, this is the Ministry of Magic's responsibility: to hire a few people and research the direction and potential of the new profession."

"Are there similar examples?" Felix asked with interest.

"Name prophets are a branch of prophets. They predict the future of newborns and offer advice on naming them, for a hefty sum of gold in return. I remember Sybil Trelawney was a name prophet for a while...it seems like a long time ago."

Professor Trelawney…you’re something else, Felix is ​​amazed.

“Sounds good,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips. “I agree.”

Chapter 456 Delicious's Information and Warning Bird

Old Vera sat in the most secluded spot in the library.

The scene he witnessed during the day had a tremendous impact on him: the Mind Classroom! The Magic Notebook! The thought of the vast knowledge he had sensed belonging to Felix Heap filled him with a sense of despair.

He sat there from day to night without eating a thing. The librarian passed by him several times, each time staring at him with suspicion.

As evening approached, more and more students began to arrive. Fortunately, his location was secluded enough that no students disturbed his self-pity.

“Let’s go inside!” a voice said. “Professor Heap has put all the books needed for the second project on the innermost bookshelf. There are two tables behind the shelf, very discreetly…”

Old Vera looked up and saw three students walking towards him, whispering rapidly.

“Don’t look so gloomy,” it was the same voice from before, Hermione advised, “Just treat it as extracurricular practice for the club—”

“Easier said than done,” Ron muttered. “Let us go find Malfoy? I can’t afford to lose face like that.”

Harry also looked dejected.

They saw old Vera, and Hermione gave Harry and Ron a look before sitting down at a table in front of him.

"So what do you plan to do?" she asked in a low voice, casting a concealment spell around them.

“Knock him out when he’s not looking, then tie him up and take him to where we usually practice magic,” Ron suggested.

“No, we’ll still need that classroom later.” Harry was reluctant.

“Then let’s go to Myrtle’s washroom,” Ron immediately changed his mind. “There’s an advantage there: fewer people. Isn’t that great?”

Hermione was surprised to find that Harry had been thinking for a while. "He'll tell on us," Harry said regretfully at the end.

Hermione took her textbook out of her bag, and when she turned around, old Vera was gone.

“He went that way,” Harry said quietly, pulling out his Potions homework. “Do you know the Ancient Runes Society?”

“I don’t know,” Ron said.

"I know." That was Hermione's answer.

Harry and Ron looked at her, and she explained, "They're like a semi-official organization; they create some of the exam papers for the Wizarding Levels." Hermione looked around but didn't see old Vera, but she still lowered her voice, "As you know, the professor actually prefers practical runes, but the Ancient Runes Society is the opposite; they're very resistant to them."

“That sounds like an old-fashioned, conservative person,” Ron said thoughtfully. “My great-aunt was like that. She always clung to a set of rules that had been passed down for centuries. She was always against us having so many children, saying it would have been better if we had stopped with Percy.”

Harry and Hermione looked both surprised and amused.

How could she say that?

“Who knows,” Ron shrugged. “Maybe it’s because Fred and George stuffed dung balls under her chair… Thank goodness she rarely comes back after that.”

Harry and Hermione laughed.

After a while, Hermione stood up. "I'm going to get some reference books. Do you need them?"

"Of course!"

Thank you so much.

Hermione hummed twice and went to the shelf where ancient runes books were placed. To her surprise, she saw old Vera. He was still there! Hermione quickly picked out reference books; she was very familiar with these bookshelves, and one book after another was selected.

"Hello, young lady," old Vera greeted.

Hermione glared at him, annoyed. "Little girl?" She was almost sixteen; very few people called her that.

"Hello, Mr. Vera."

“Your name is Hermione Jane Granger? I’ve read your papers in magazines… the one on ‘Fire’ runes and the Fire Charm, and the one on ‘Light’ runes and the Light Charm,” said old Vera.

"Oh." Hermione looked at him while holding the book.

"Is that so? I heard you're Mr. Hyp's assistant?" Old Vera saw Hermione nod. "May I ask you a few things?"

Hermione looked at him suspiciously.

"Ahem! Don't misunderstand," old Vera said awkwardly, "I meant no harm—"

“That’s not what you said in the newspaper,” Hermione said sharply.

“Oh, uh,” old Vera wiped his sweat, the soft light from the magic lamps on the ceiling reflecting off his balding forehead. “Back then it was a matter of differing perspectives. I’ve looked into it these past two days, and I think my past thoughts… might have indeed been a bit problematic… just a possibility!”

Two minutes later.

When Ron saw Hermione leading old Vera to their seats, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He mouthed, "Did they hear what I just said?"

Hermione shook her head. “Mr. Vera wants to ask us some questions,” she said, “about the professor.” She added.

Harry and Ron exchanged glances. "Don't even think about making us betray Professor Hyp!" Ron shouted.

This time it was old Vera's turn to glare. "What do you take me for?" he shouted angrily. "I'm the vice president of the Ancient Rune Association, how could I do something so despicable?"

"Isn't that so?"

Old Vera nodded blankly. He felt that Hogwarts had become something he no longer recognized.

At that moment, Mrs. Pince suddenly appeared behind the bookshelf, holding a feather duster, her eyes glaring at them like hooks.

“Oh no!” Hermione exclaimed.

Meanwhile, in the Ancient Runes office, Felix was receiving a guest from the Ministry of Magic.

“Please have a seat,” Felix said gently.

“No need,” John Derek said curtly. He looked very strong, his well-defined muscles showing through his grey-green overcoat. He read from the script: “I’m here on the orders of Director Scrinker to bring some information on the Aurors and batters. You may only read it within my sight. After you’ve finished, I will destroy all the documents in your presence. You and I will be witnesses.”

"You haven't seen these materials either?" Felix looked at the briefcase he was carrying with surprise.

“This is a confidential document,” Delilah said matter-of-factly.

He stepped forward, placed the briefcase in front of Felix, took out his wand from his pocket, and waited quietly. When the clock struck eight, Dexter touched the latch on the briefcase with the tip of his wand. A series of clicking sounds came from inside, and then the latch popped open automatically, opening the briefcase.

Felix looked with interest at a small, bright green bird perched in the box. It was only the size of a palm, but its voice was quite loud. The bird was standing on a thick stack of documents, presumably the personnel files.

When the little bird saw the light of day again, it immediately hopped out, spread its wings, and flew towards the window. Felix reached out and caught it in his hand, examining it closely.

“It’s best not to,” said Delis, holding his wand. “This is a warning bird, born for secrecy, and it will bring back the message that ‘all is well.’ If you keep it trapped any longer, it might just set itself on fire.”

"An alchemical item?" Felix said with interest, releasing his grip as the emerald green bird flew away smoothly.

For the next while, Delis stood opposite Felix like a stone statue, watching him read the documents without saying a word.

Felix saw many familiar names, such as Tonks, Abbott Balk, Kingsley, and even Dexter himself. He finished reading all the materials in an hour.

Orange flames immediately shot out from Dexter's wand, burning the documents to ashes. Only after doing this did he visibly breathe a sigh of relief.

Chapter 457 Salmon Skewers and the Guardian Angel

"How is Fudge?" Felix asked.

"The minister is very good," Delilah said curtly. He closed his empty briefcase, stood up to leave, and didn't sit down once from beginning to end.

“Wait, Delilah.” Felix called out to him, and several pieces of parchment flew toward him. Delilah took them in his hand, puzzled.