Chapter 8. Public Buses Are the Correct Way for Wizards to Travel.
"The relationship between wizards and Muggles has always been a topic worthy of study.
Hogwarts, recognizing this, established the Muggle Studies course nearly a century ago to encourage wizards to lower their guard and understand the lives and habits of another group of humans.
However, I've always believed that this course has deviated from its original purpose. The very name 'Muggle Studies' reveals its obvious discrimination.
Bellok, you are an incoming Muggle-born wizard. What are your thoughts on this current phenomenon in the wizarding world?"
On the bus, Lynn stared speechlessly at Professor Fawkes, who was giving him a long, earnest lecture. The seats around them were empty; people avoided them after hearing Fawkes's seemingly nonsensical pronouncements.
One boy's mother even pointed at Lynn and Professor Fawkes warning her child that if he didn't study hard, he would end up like these two lunatics, spouting nonsense on the bus.
"Professor, it's already embarrassing enough that you, a wizard, and I, a future wizard, are taking the bus without flying or Apparating.
If you're going to ask me these shameful questions in a public place, we might both be on the front page of the Times tomorrow.
You might be fine, but I'll be socially dead."
Lynn didn't answer Fawkes's question, but tried to salvage his right to continue living a normal life.
Fawkes then realized that their current situation was rather unpleasant, and his novelty immediately faded, replaced by an indescribable sense of shame.
He quietly leaned close to Lynn's ear and whispered,
"Did what I just said sound stupid to them?"
"Not stupid," Lynn shrugged, "but incredibly stupid."
"Couldn't you have comforted me a little more gently?"
"Sorry, Professor, my teachers taught me to be an honest person from a young age." ...
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at their destination, getting off the bus like unlucky souls rushing home to put out a fire.
Lynn grumbled listlessly.
"That's why I shouldn't have chosen to take the bus to save money; a taxi would have been much better."
Fawkes straightened his trench coat without changing his expression and coughed.
"Alright, Bellok, we're here now."
Lynn followed Fawkes's gaze and, sure enough, saw a bar with an extremely incongruous atmosphere in a long, bustling street: the Leaky Cauldron.
The various passersby around seemed oblivious to this conspicuous building, but to Lynn, it was so jarring.
"The Muggle-Repelling Charm, a very useful spell that makes Muggles subconsciously ignore certain things, but it has no effect on those with magical powers.
It's usually used at wizarding gatherings and special occasions."
Although Lynn hadn't enrolled yet, Fawkes was already playing the role of a teacher.
They entered the run-down pub, which wasn't crowded.
Most of the customers were dressed in dark robes and wide-brimmed pointed hats, more in line with the image of a wizard than Fawkes.
Upon entering, Lynn felt several gazes directed at them, but when their eyes fell on Fawkes, they quickly lowered their heads as if nothing had happened.
At the same time, Lynn could clearly sense that the atmosphere in the pub had become somewhat…uncomfortable after their arrival.
Old Tom, the pub owner, spotted Fawkes immediately. He hurriedly wiped his hands with his apron and greeted him, his expression seemingly welcoming but rather strained.
"Welcome back to Adrian. Have you picked up your student?"
Fawkes seemed oblivious to the change in the atmosphere, patting Lynn on the shoulder.
"This trip wasn't easy for me, but it was worth it. Let me introduce you. This is Lynn Bellok, a new student at Hogwarts this year, and this is Old Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron."
"Hello, Mr. Tom," Lynn greeted politely.
Although he had read the original novel, nearly twenty years had passed since then, and he was already quite capable of remembering the general plot.
He didn't have much of an impression of this old man who didn't appear much.
He did, however, have a strong impression of another person with the same name, Tom, although that person's last name was Riddle.
"Hello, hello. If you want to stay at the bar later, you can ask me for help.
Drinking is out of the question; you're you're too young." Old Tom's attitude was somewhat perfunctory, his attention fixed on Fawkes.
Lynn didn't care; he was now even more convinced that there was something wrong with his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Although they had only known each other for less than half a day, aside from being teased at the beginning, Fawkes was quite easygoing.
But the behavior of these wizards in the bar seemed like they were afraid of him.
"We still have a lot to buy, and time is limited. We can talk about it next time."
Fawkes didn't linger in the bar with Lynn. After saying goodbye to Old Tom, they went out the back door to the bar's backyard.
"They all seem a little afraid of you," Lynn asked.
Fawkes neither denied nor admitted it; he seemed unwilling to answer the question.
"Perhaps." Then he took out his wand and pointed it at the bricks of an brick wall in the backyard.
"Watch out for Bellok. You can use that trash can as a reference. Just count three bricks up, then two bricks horizontally, and tap it with your wand. The door will open."
Fawkes demonstrated the steps to Lynn, and the entire wall trembled violently, then split open like living building blocks.
A clean cobblestone path, a bustling street, shops with strangely named names, and people dressed in clothing so different from modern people revealed the magical Diagon Alley to Lynn.
"It's really lively here."
Lynn stared blankly at the scene before him.
Compared to the descriptions in books and the scenes in movies, the real Diagon Alley was definitely more amazing and breathtaking.
Fawkes wasn't surprised by Lynn's reaction; at this moment, he seemed like a child his age.
"Let's go, we have a lot to prepare."
…
Leaky Cauldron.
With Fawkes and Lynn's departure, the atmosphere in the bar eased considerably.
"I heard he recently became a professor at Hogwarts?"
someone asked in a low voice. Although no name was mentioned, everyone knew who he was talking about.
Someone chuckled softly, their tone enigmatic.
"And a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's quite ironic, isn't it?"
"He has a very good relationship with Dumbledore. Dumbledore himself was his defense attorney back then."
"Only someone like Dumbledore would dare hire him. Is he still continuing his research?"
"Hmm, he's never stopped. It's said he's spent a lot of money maneuvering within the Ministry of Magic.
The Ministry practically tacitly approves of his current research."
"I really don't know if that's lucky or unlucky,"
someone sighed at the end.
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