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Friday.
The morning consisted of a double period of fourth-year Muggle Studies, focusing on the history of Muggle technological development. The students were all preoccupied with the upcoming Valentine's Day, so Melvin had to intersperse small talk occasionally to pull their attention back to the classroom.
In comparison, the afternoon class for the seventh-year prospective graduates was much more relaxed.
Melvin walked into the classroom right as the bell rang, carrying a stack of parchment and no other teaching materials.
The quiz papers from last week's class and the weekend essays had been graded together. The in-class quiz consisted mainly of objective questions to test the students' foundational knowledge system, while the weekend essay assignment was subjective, used to gauge their understanding of Muggle affairs.
This batch of seventh-years had arrived at Hogwarts four years before Melvin. By the time Melvin was invited to teach, they had already passed their Ordinary Wizarding Level exams with scores exceeding the standard for Muggle Studies. Even after understanding the dryness of the subject, they still harbored a lasting interest.
As the test scores showed, their foundational knowledge was solid. While their previous concepts might have held errors, after two and a half years of interaction and under Melvin's influence, narrow-minded and stubborn prejudices were basically non-existent.
The students also gave positive feedback; this class was more popular than other electives, and students were willing to squeeze into the front rows of the classroom.
Melvin spotted Percy and his girlfriend, the Ravenclaw prefect Penelope.
Did this couple get married later? It seems like they broke up right after graduation.
Melvin nodded at the two of them and casually swiped Percy's test paper. "I forgot my answer key in the office. Use this one to go over the questions; you two can share one."
Percy's expression was complicated, his smile exceptionally forced; he didn't know if he should be happy.
Percy had felt terrible lately because his progress with the Patronus Charm had stalled. Every practice felt like he was just a hair's breadth away, yet he couldn't break through that final barrier, leaving him scratching at his heart with anxiety.
He consulted Professor Flitwick, who told him to have patience. He asked Cedric, and they had a nice chat, but no substantive gains. He quietly borrowed Hermione's notebook, but it was full of knowledge he could already recite backward.
Yesterday, he finally made up his mind to ask the lower-year students, Harry and Neville. Not only did he fail to summon a corporeal Patronus, but he also learned a piece of earth-shattering bad news.
Scabbers was actually Peter Pettigrew in disguise!
Percy was stunned on the spot, struck by lightning. He didn't remember how he walked back to the dormitory from the common room. His mind was filled with the "wonderful times" he had spent with Scabbers, and he felt violated.
In the eyes of his roommates, this heir to a fallen pure-blood family, outstanding student representative, male prefect, and Head Boy returned to the dorm looking like he'd lost his soul. He went to bed before eight in the evening but was still awake at three in the morning.
When asked what was wrong, he wouldn't say, looking for all the world like he'd gone through a bad breakup.
So during class today, a roommate blabbed and asked Penelope, making the situation even more confusing.
Penelope naturally cared about her boyfriend and asked Percy what was wrong. Percy wore a look of utter dejection and refused to speak as if he really had broken up with someone.
The couple was now in the middle of a spat.
The Muggle Studies classroom wasn't a counseling center, and Melvin didn't moonlight as a therapist or relationship guru. He shook the test papers:
"Regarding last week's in-class quiz, your overall scores were good, but there are a few easy-to-miss questions to note. Many Muggle-borns got these wrong. First, look at multiple-choice question four. This involves electrical appliances; pay attention to direct current versus alternating current, don't confuse them... Never mind, I'll find someone to explain it."
Percy's mind was full of Scabbers. When he snapped back to reality, he only heard the last sentence and instantly felt his heart jump to his throat.
"Percy, you got this one wrong too. You explain it." It's always what you fear most that happens.
"..."
Percy suddenly regretted sitting in the front row.
Just then, Penelope tugged at his sleeve, pointing to a spot on the second page of the test.
Percy glanced down, a wave of emotion washing over him, feeling his wounded heart being soothed: "This fill-in-the-blank question..."
Before he could finish, the folded test paper tapped him on the head. Melvin scolded him without much heat, "What fill-in-the-blank question? I said multiple-choice question four! Clearly weren't listening. You're explaining the rest of the multiple-choice questions!"
Snickers erupted from below, and some classmates even started applauding.
The review didn't take too long. It was mostly calling on students to explain, with Melvin filling in the gaps and linking back to previous knowledge points. The N.E.W.T. students had a solid foundation, so the explanation ended in less than half an hour. The rest was self-study time.
The students were used to Melvin's unique teaching style. They reviewed consciously in their seats, and occasional discussions didn't disturb the others.
Melvin sat at the podium handling his own business, providing answers whenever students had questions, and addressing the whole class if a typical problem arose.
After the earlier interlude, Penelope seemed to feel she had gotten her revenge. After some playful banter with Percy, the couple made up, and the unspeakable matter was temporarily shelved.
Students in the back poked Percy in the back, whispering that they had caught a lucky break. The Ministry shake-up meant not only were Fudge and Umbridge removed, but many in their faction were shuffled, leaving more job openings.
Madam Bones, Crouch, and Scrimgeour were people of action who didn't focus on pure-blood connections, meaning fresh graduates had more opportunities in the Ministry.
Listening to this, Percy shook his head. He sometimes fantasized about his future and working at the Ministry, but he knew the most important thing right now was the N.E.W.T. exams.
After finishing his chat with the surrounding classmates, he flipped through his Muggle Studies notes but felt out of it and couldn't focus. Percy looked up, took a deep breath, saw Professor Levent in front of him, and suddenly had an idea.
He walked over with his notebook:
"Professor Levent."
"You zone out during the lecture, but get focused when I stop teaching. You doing this on purpose?" Melvin looked up from his own notes, smiling. "Are you trying to cross me?"
"There's a reason, but it's complicated. It's not convenient to say right now."
"Saw the news about Peter escaping, thought of your pet Scabbers, and zoned out in class, right?"
"..." Percy remembered that this professor was the main force in capturing Peter.
"Go ahead, what's the question? Preferably academic. Don't ask about irrelevant things."
"I promise it's academic."
Percy nodded, set his Muggle Studies notes aside, and asked earnestly, "Professor Levent, you are a master of the Patronus Charm. I want to ask for techniques on summoning a corporeal Patronus."
Melvin glanced at him sideways. He wanted to assign a few extra essays, but considering exams were approaching and the workload from other subjects was heavy, he banished the cruel thought.
"Tell me how you feel when casting."
"I follow Professor Flitwick's advice and relive happy memories in my heart, feeling joy and positivity. Dining with family, playing with friends, and... taking walks with..." Percy was shy about the last part.
"And the conviction to protect?"
"I also followed Professor Flitwick's and your explanations. I thought about protecting Hogwarts, protecting family and friends, and even protecting the peace of the wizarding world after graduation."
"I see..."
Melvin nodded, dragging out the syllable to show he understood. All seventh-year students had career counseling. Percy had never hidden his ambition: get all his certifications and pass the review to enter the Ministry.
And not just to find a stable job for decades like Arthur, but to climb the ladder, get promoted, and become a Department Head or even Minister.
"Your conviction to protect is too hollow. Like a castle in the air or duckweed in the Black Lake. It's not solid enough. You don't even believe in it yourself."
"Of course I believe in it!"
Percy was anxious. Wasn't this saying his beliefs were fake, just like those Slytherin guys?
"Don't be so quick to deny it. Study hard. What do you most want to protect?"
"Family, friends, the girl I like, this school, the whole wizarding world, all the good things in my memory... aren't these enough?"
"Of course they are. You want to protect everything. Besides that, I can offer many other choices." Melvin pointed to the alchemy content in the notes. "The Egyptian Alchemy Research Center—they are responsible for excavating ancient wizarding alchemy. If you work at the Ministry later, will you protect that knowledge?"
"I suppose... I should?"
"I spent time and energy creating the Mirror Club and reforming the Muggle Studies curriculum to change the wizarding world's view of Muggles. Could you protect a cause like that?"
"Of course... I can."
Percy's tone was hesitant now. He vaguely realized something was wrong but couldn't say where the problem lay.
"See, there are so many things in the world to protect. Is this your conviction too?"
"That's different. I meant things related to me. Family, friendship, and love..."
"It's all the same."
Melvin's tone was casual but certain as he spoke earnestly to him: "These are beliefs you set up for yourself, reasons you use to persuade yourself to summon a corporeal Patronus. But you haven't figured it out yourself: what are you truly willing to protect at all costs?"
"I don't understand..." Percy looked confused.
"I can put it another way..." Melvin looked at the outstanding student. "You join the Ministry to protect peace. If that peace requires harming Hogwarts' interests—like if your superior asks you to spy on Dumbledore or keep a close watch on Professor McGonagall—would you do it?"
"This..." Percy froze.
"You want to do more things, you need a promotion. If your superior looks down on the Weasleys and wants you to distance yourself or even break away from your family, would you do it?"
"..." Percy looked dazed.
"See, you don't know what you really want to protect. That's why you can't summon a Patronus."
It seems I'm moonlighting as a counselor again.
Melvin looked at the student frozen in his seat and checked the clock on the wall. "Five minutes to the bell. Class dismissed early. Go downstairs quietly; don't disturb the other classrooms."
Enjoying the cheers of the young wizards, he packed up his notes and was the first to leave the room.
"Professor Levent." A familiar voice suddenly called out.
Harry was standing at the classroom door, back straight, looking like he had been waiting there for a long time. He hurriedly handed over a letter:
"Good afternoon, Professor Levent. This is a letter Sirius sent this morning. He asked me to tell you that regarding the movie adaptation of his escape... he thought about it carefully. He says he isn't the kind of young wizard who likes showing off anymore, but to reveal the truth and let more people see Peter's true face, he is willing to agree."
To my brilliant and brave godson
Love, your Sirius
Melvin saw the header and signature on the envelope, was silent for a moment, then pushed it back, speaking tactfully, "Just relaying the content is fine; I don't need to read the letter."
"Oh..."
Harry put the letter away. He knew it was a bit inappropriate, but he couldn't control it. Ever since Sirius was cleared, he always wanted people to know he had a godfather who doted on him.
A strange sort of showing off.
"How long have you been waiting here?"
"Not long. We had Care of Magical Creatures this afternoon. The grounds were snowy and muddy, filthy, so Hagrid let us back into the castle early."
"How's the Bubble-Head Charm practice coming along?" Melvin asked casually as they waited for the moving staircase on the landing.
Harry paused briefly. "Hermione is learning it really well. She can already wrap the bubble around her whole body. Although it can't withstand attacks yet, it's waterproof and damp-proof. When we went to the grounds for class today, she didn't get any mud on her shoes!"
His tone seemed enthusiastic, but if you listened carefully, there was a hint of guilt.
Last time, he had actively asked to learn the Bubble-Head Charm. Professor Levent had been responsible, immediately teaching it during remedial sessions and even asking them to combine it with the Shield Charm. If they could fuse them, it would be a unique skill providing a huge advantage in duels.
Harry had studied seriously during the remedial class and practiced hard, but he had slacked off after class.
This period was the second half of the Quidditch season. It was Wood's last year at school, and the whole team wanted to help him realize his dream of keeping the cup in Gryffindor.
Spending all his free time on the Quidditch pitch and neglecting practice, his progress had fallen behind Hermione's.
Considering he was the one who asked to learn the Bubble-Head Charm, he felt guilty just bringing it up and didn't have the face to look at Professor Levent.
"Practice extra after the Quidditch match ends."
"After the match, there are final exams..."
"What did you say?"
"I said I got it. I promise to practice hard and try to master it before summer vacation."
"Good. I'll be visiting the Black family home this summer. You should be there. I'll test your results then."
Melvin patted him on the shoulder. Ignoring Harry's miserable expression, he offered a few more words of encouragement. The journey, which was only a few minutes in Melvin's eyes, probably felt long and grueling to Harry.
He returned to the Muggle Studies office and pushed the door open.
Yurm was coiled on the desk, tilting its head to look at him, a letter in its mouth. "Coo coo?"
"Learn a normal language."
Melvin sighed and took the letter the water snake had snatched from an owl.
Respected Professor Levent:
On behalf of the Minister's Office, I write to sincerely inquire if you would be available to visit the Ministry this weekend?
The Ministry hopes to seek your professional opinion on the current status of the Muggle Studies field and to exchange views on the potential impact regarding current and future policy considerations...