0211 To Hogwarts

Words : 2044 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

"Your brothers probably used hair-raising potion on you," Adrian observed with a slight smile, watching as Percy continued to pat down his restored hair nervously "Ah, I heard you became the male Prefect this year. Congratulations." "Yes, Professor," Percy immediately responded in the formal manner that had become his trademark, straightening his shoulders and adjusting his already-perfect posture. "I will do this job well and uphold the standards expected of a Hogwarts Prefect." Adrian could see the determination burning in the young man's eyes. "You've always been an excellent student," Adrian said warmly, giving Percy an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "I have complete confidence in your abilities. Well, it's about time I should go now." "Wait!" Percy suddenly called out to him, his voice sounding with an urgency that made Adrian pause mid-step. "Is there something else?" Adrian asked, turning back with a patient expression. "...Yes," Percy hesitated for a moment, his usual confidence wavering as he seemed to struggle with whether to ask his question. Then, gathering his courage, he asked, "Professor, do you have a good relationship with the Minister of Magic?" As expected, it was about this. Adrian sighed inwardly. Percy had probably noticed his interaction with Fudge, and with his sharp mind and political aspirations, had immediately begun calculating the potential advantages such a connection might offer. Adrian knew Percy had always had dreams of working at the Ministry of Magic after graduation, following in his father's footsteps but with greater ambitions for advancement and influence. It was only natural for him to be interested in any connections that might further his career prospects. At this stage of his life, Percy was very eager to get acquainted with people of power and influence, seeing such relationships as stepping stones to the successful career he desperately craved. "Oh, that," Adrian replied casually, waving his hand dismissively. "We've only met a few times at various functions. Fudge and I aren't familiar with each other—just polite acquaintances, nothing more." "Oh, I see," Percy said, his voice carefully controlled to hide his disappointment. "Goodbye, Professor." Although Percy showed no obvious expression of dejection, Adrian could see the disappointment flickering in his eyes like a flame being extinguished. For this, Adrian shook his head secretly, feeling a mixture of sympathy and concern for the ambitious young Weasley. he thought to himself. The pursuit of influence and political connections could be a dangerous path, one that often led to compromises and moral complexities that idealistic young people rarely expected. Remus arrived at the Leaky Cauldron precisely at the appointed time. He was wearing a brand-new set of robes that looked far more expensive than anything Adrian had seen him wear before. More importantly, he looked in very good spirits. It seemed he had been doing quite well recently, both physically and emotionally. "I rested for a while after accepting Dumbledore's offer," Remus explained to Adrian, adjusting his grip on his suitcase. "I took some time to prepare myself mentally and physically for the challenges ahead. I feel great now—better than I have in years, actually." "I hope you're prepared to face the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position," Adrian said with a wry smile, unable to resist throwing a bit of cold water on his optimism. Remus smiled bitterly and shook his head upon hearing this reminder of the position's dark reputation. "To be honest, I don't think I'm special enough to break whatever curse afflicts the position, but I hope I can last a bit longer than some of my predecessors. At least long enough to make a real difference for the students." His expression grew more serious as he continued, "How do we get to Hogwarts? If I remember correctly, the Hogwarts Express doesn't depart until tomorrow, and I doubt they'd appreciate us showing up at King's Cross asking for a special trip." "Apparition," Adrian replied concisely. "First to Hogsmeade, then we'll walk up to the castle." Around noon, after their successful Apparition to Hogsmeade and a leisurely walk through the village and up the familiar path to Hogwarts, Adrian and Remus arrived at the headmaster's office. The headmaster's office was currently filled with a sweet, syrupy smell. The scent was almost overwhelming in its intensity. Dumbledore was leisurely leaning back in his chair behind the desk, looking completely at ease despite the various responsibilities that surely should have weighed on his shoulders. Adrian sighed in his heart. A small box of sherbet lemons was on the desk, the same sweets that served as today's password to the headmaster's office. "Very pleased to see you in the new term, Remus," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "If you had refused my offer, I really wouldn't know where to find another excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor on such short notice." Remus nodded gratefully. "Thank you for your trust, Professor Dumbledore. I won't let you down." Dumbledore stood up from his chair. "Ah, Professor McGonagall should already be waiting for you in her office. She'll arrange everything you need for your new position." He paused, his expression growing slightly nostalgic. "I hope you still remember where the her office is? Though I suppose the castle hasn't changed much since your student days." "Of course," Remus replied with a warm smile. "Some things never change, thankfully." Remus left with a final nod to both Adrian and Dumbledore. This left only Dumbledore and Adrian in the office. The portraits on the walls seemed to lean forward slightly, as if sensing that important matters were about to be discussed. Dumbledore walked up to Adrian and suddenly froze, his expression shifting to one of intense curiosity and mild confusion. "Is there something on you?" He squinted his eyes, looking at Adrian with focused attention. "Perhaps it's a kind of energy, very... joyful—ah, please forgive me, I can't think of a more suitable adjective to describe what I'm sensing." "You're not wrong," Adrian accepted with a slight shrug. As if summoned by the conversation, a small silver hedgehog emerged from his sleeve and climbed onto his shoulder. Dumbledore observed the little hedgehog carefully, his expression shifting from curiosity to wonder as he took in the creature's unusual behavior. The little hedgehog, seemingly aware of the scrutiny, mischievously winked at him with one bright silver eye,. "This is... a Patronus?" Dumbledore asked, his voice carrying a tone of amazement that was rare for him. "Probably," Adrian replied honestly. He reached out to play with the little creature on his shoulder then said. "It seems reluctant to go back recently." "Very special indeed," Dumbledore murmured, his voice filled with fascination. Dumbledore reached out his hand cautiously, wanting to touch the extraordinary creature, but it immediately jumped to Adrian's other shoulder, just like a real animal avoiding an unwelcome stranger. "This little fellow is quite shy," Adrian observed with amusement, then deliberately changed the subject before Dumbledore could ask more probing questions about the unusual nature of his Patronus. "Professor Dumbledore, what did you want me to come back a day early for?" "Oh, that's completely another matter," Dumbledore said, returning to his chair and sitting back into it with a slight sigh. Dumbledore took a sherbet lemon from the box on the desk and popped it into his mouth, savoring the sweet flavor before continuing. "You should have seen the recent news coverage. A criminal escaped from Azkaban, and that criminal seems to have some rather specific ideas about Hogwarts." "Yes," Adrian nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Sirius Black." "Correct." Dumbledore shrugged, though his casual demeanor didn't quite hide the concern in his eyes. "So, people from the Ministry of Magic will come today to conduct a thorough search of the castle and grounds. They want to ensure that Black hasn't already infiltrated the school or had any kind of presence here." "So, I..." Adrian began, already suspecting where this conversation was leading. "You'll be responsible for receiving them, Professor Westeros," Dumbledore said as if it were no big deal, though his eyes watched Adrian's reaction carefully. "Hm? You want me to go?" Adrian was somewhat surprised, his eyebrows rising in genuine confusion. No matter how he looked at it, this task shouldn't fall to him. As one of the newest professors at Hogwarts, he would normally be the last person chosen for such an important mission. Such responsibilities typically fell to senior staff members or those with relationships with the Ministry. "Professor McGonagall is busy with other pressing matters—preparing for the new term, organizing the house schedules," Dumbledore explained smoothly. "And I also have an important meeting with the Board of Governors that I cannot postpone. You're very suitable for this job, Adrian." Adrian was about to decline, opening his mouth to suggest alternative arrangements, but Dumbledore smiled and gave him a gentle push toward the door. "The people from the Ministry have already arrived at the gates. Go quickly, Professor Westeros. We mustn't keep them waiting." After leaving the headmaster's office, Adrian sighed deeply as he made his way through the castle corridors. He didn't really want to have too much contact with people from the Ministry of Magic right now, especially Fudge. Fudge's earlier behavior at the Leaky Cauldron had been suspicious enough, and Adrian had no desire to fuel further speculation. Think about that ridiculous rumor Mr. Weasley had mentioned! Dumbledore's heir? The very idea was outrageous, but Adrian knew how quickly such gossip could spread through the Ministry and outside. Adrian suddenly felt a bit of a headache coming on. With a touch of reluctance, Adrian made his way through the castle and out onto the grounds, eventually arriving at the gates of Hogwarts. As Dumbledore had said, the people from the Ministry had already arrived and were waiting with the patience of those accustomed to late official protocols. The familiar figure of Fudge was at the front of the group, his lime-green bowler hat and pinstripe robes making him easily identifiable even at a distance. He was followed by two people dressed strangely, completely wrapped in heavy gray robes, wearing strange metal helmets on their heads. Adrian had seen this kind of attire before. These two were guards from Azkaban, and their presence here meant that the Ministry was taking the threat of Sirius Black very seriously indeed. And if Azkaban guards were here, it meant that those soul-sucking Dementors should also be nearby. " I'm very pleased to see it's you who came, Professor Westeros, although we just met this morning," Fudge stepped forward with his politician's smile firmly in place. "However, this time it's official business. The Ministry needs to inspect all of Hogwarts to prevent any ill-intentioned people from entering the grounds. Dumbledore should have told you about this arrangement, right?" Adrian frowned, his expression growing stern as he addressed the heart of his concerns. "You brought Dementors to Hogwarts?" "Ah, this is an unavoidable measure," Fudge replied, showing a hint of embarrassment that seemed genuine enough. Obviously, he also felt it was somewhat inappropriate to let such dangerous creatures into a school filled with children, but the political pressure to capture Black had forced his hand. Seeing Fudge's discomfort, Adrian decided to take a different approach than outright opposition. He waved his hand dismissively, adopting a more reasonable tone. "Don't misunderstand, Minister. I think this is very reasonable given the circumstances. But you must control their behavior properly. If any students are harmed by the Dementors, they must leave immediately." At this moment, one of the Azkaban guards stepped forward, his metal helmet turning toward Adrian in a way that showed he wanted to say something. Fudge quickly raised his hand to stop the guard's action. "Of course, no problem—how could we possibly let the students get hurt? The safety of Hogwarts students is our top priority." "Then there's no problem," Adrian nodded. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Minister. Shall we begin the inspection?" ________________ You can read more chapters on: /IamLuis

0211 To Hogwarts

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