Chapter 457: Extra Examiner
"There's one more thing," Dobby held an envelope, his large round eyes hesitatingly glancing at Felix, fumbling with his words, "It's about Shiny..."
Felix's expression faltered; he had almost forgotten about Shiny.
"What happened? Her magical constraints should have disappeared," he inquired.
"Yes, you're right," Dobby's body began to sway, his slender arms entwining, "She wants to be with her master, Dobby told her Mr. Crouch was imprisoned, she... she fell ill."
"I understand," Felix calmly stated.
Dobby looked at him, puzzled. Felix pulled out a note and scribbled something on it. Dobby tiptoed trying to peek, but being too short and with Valen blocking, he could only see the back of Valen's head.
"Do you know Ludovic Bagman?" Felix whispered, swiftly writing with his quill.
"Dobby knows!"
"Good," Felix handed him the note, "Bagman owes me a favor, I think he won't mind helping me out."
"You don't have to do this!" Dobby exclaimed, looking startled, "Dobby didn't ask Mr. Hep to help!"
"Take it, let him take you to Azkaban, he has the authority," Felix said, "Also, take something for Mr. Crouch, you can discuss it with Shiny. As for where Shiny wants to go afterward, that's not my concern."
Dobby bowed deeply, his nose touching the floor, trembling with excitement like a salmon leaping ashore.
Valen watched where Dobby disappeared, then turned to Felix, "Squeak?"
Felix picked Valen up, "Let me tell you a lesson, magic may not bind a person, but love can. Tsk! That's something Dumbledore should say... Hungry for a late-night snack, Valen?"
"Squeak!"
---
The next day in the Ancient Runes class for seventh-year students, Professor Marchbanks and Old Vira appeared once more.
The old man clearly hadn't slept well, evident from the dark circles under his eyes as prominent as his double chin.
Seeing Felix standing at the lectern, his expression held both excitement and disappointment.
Excited because Hogwarts' library was rich, he found many magical notes not even in the Ancient Runes Association – these notes came from donations by alumni, translated and organized by Bathilda Babbling, akin to a treasure trove for him.
But he was disappointed; he finished verifying last night, finding not a single error. That lad... Felix Hep seemed to have memorized these materials, even the page numbers were accurate.
At that moment, Felix calmly surveyed the students below, his eyes sharp and keen. He wore a blue shirt today, hands tucked in his pockets.
"Stop calling, he's busy," she said.
Felix looked at her searchingly.
"Probably busy burying himself!" Marchbanks remarked. "I won't be coming in this afternoon."
"You're leaving?" Felix asked.
"Not leaving," Marchbanks sighed, "just won't be coming to your class. I've got a fair idea about why these students have made such strides in the past two years. I'll stay a few more days, visit other classes... can't waste this trip."
Felix nodded understandingly.
"There's one more thing," Marchbanks said, a smile creasing her wrinkled face, "Interested in becoming an external examiner?"
"An external examiner..."
"You'd only be responsible for the practical part of the Ancient Runes exam," Marchbanks said, sighing, watching the slow-moving students leaving the classroom, "I can't have these recent graduates handling this!"
"You plan to increase the practical assessment for Ancient Runes? Assessing practical magic?" Felix asked excitedly.
"Yes," she said, "When I return, I'll push the department to divide Ancient Runes into two directions—translation and practical. Of course, this report will most likely fall on you, you understand it best... and the career direction for practical magic. If you describe it attract
ively, the department might recruit a few people this year."
"Why's that?" Felix was intrigued.
"I reckon except for your company, the entire wizarding world has no clue what to do with practical magic. Usually, it's the Ministry's responsibility: recruit a few people, research the potential and direction of new professions."
"Any similar examples?" Felix was highly interested.
"Take the example of the Namers, they branched from the Seers. They predict newborns' futures and offer suggestions for names, of course, for a hefty sum of gold. I recall Sybill Trelawney spent some time as a Namer... seemed like a long time ago."
Professor Trelawney... you surprise me, Felix widened his horizons.
"Sounds good," he smirked, "I agree."
>
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