章 90: 090 Lesson
The next morning, Fudge kept his word and sent a courier with a shiny medal for Bryan. He also organized a modest ceremony in the Great Hall, where Dumbledore and half of the Hogwarts professors gathered to honor him. The medal was a circular golden disc with a star-shaped cutout in the center, where a blue gem glittered in the light. It had the words "Order of Merlin" engraved on the rim and a ribbon of purple and green stripes attached to it.
The 'Order Of Merlin' Medal was a prestigious award in the European magical world. It was given to those who had performed outstanding deeds or services for the wizarding community. In the British Ministry of Magic, holders of second-class or higher medals automatically became honorary members of the Wizengamot, the highest judicial body in the country. They also had the right to vote in trials and influence important decisions. This was a remarkable privilege, which meant that Bryan could command respect from even the most powerful officials in the Ministry. Although Bryan had many ways to impress or intimidate those bureaucrats, having a respectable identity on the surface was always useful.
Obviously, Bryan underestimated people's curiosity about the Basilisk that had the name of an ancient creature and was related to the great founder of Hogwarts. The Basilisk was a huge snake, a rare and dangerous beast that could kill with its gaze and petrify with its venom. It had been hidden in the Chamber of Secrets for centuries, until Bryan defeated it with the 'help' of Harry and Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix.
According to Dumbledore, Fudge received nearly two hundred letters in just one day, all asking the Ministry of Magic to publicly exhibit the Basilisk. The department had an emergency meeting and decided to hold a public exhibition at Hogsmeade next month. The Daily Prophet sent a group of reporters to do an urgent interview. Many magical creature experts, including the author of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", the famous Newt Scamander, clearly stated that they would attend the exhibition meeting.
Fudge invited Bryan through Dumbledore. He hoped that Bryan would attend the exhibition as a special guest and praise the 'huge' and 'unignorable' role played by the Ministry of Magic in this event in front of everyone. But Bryan refused him with an unhappy look. He had no interest in being part of Fudge's publicity stunt.
"I think this is a rare opportunity, Bryan!"
Lockhart, who hadn't appeared in public for a while, almost knocked Professor Flitwick out with his enthusiastic gesture. Thanks to Mrs. Pomfrey's careful care, his teeth were still shining like pearls.
"I can go with you to the exhibition, Bryan. I can teach you some valuable experience in maintaining perfect manners and creating hot topics in public!" He winked at him conspiratorially.
I think you need to urgently learn how to get along well with Dementors, Professor Lockhart - Bryan thought to himself and avoided his entanglement.
Even though Bryan was not a student of Gryffindor House, he belonged to Hogwarts after all. Professor McGonagall was wearing her usual tartan dress and square spectacles, but her stern expression softened as she saw him. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched him stride towards her with a confident smile. She had always admired his courage and talent, even though he sometimes broke the rules; he reminded her of herself when she was young.
"Ahem, Professor McGonagall -" Bryan smiled shyly, "When do you think it is convenient for me to say-, the salary" He joked lightly, hoping to ease her mood.
So, Professor McGonagall's eyes became redder. She couldn't help but laugh and hug him warmly.
Snape stood silently on one side. He looked at Bryan who was laughing and talking with everyone. Unconsciously, his gloomy mouth showed a slight arc. He was wearing his usual black robes that made him look like a bat.
"You can all have a brighter life, Severus -"
Dumbledore came over and said softly, "We can't change those tragic things that happened in the past, but the future is always a choice, Severus, if you are willing"
Dumbledore hadn't finished speaking yet, Snape had already walked away first. He did not want to hear Dumbledore's words of wisdom or pity. He had his own reasons for doing what he did, and he did not need anyone's approval or forgiveness.
Lockhart had been lying in bed for almost two months and needed a few more days to fully recover his energy. Therefore, Bryan was still responsible for the last week's Defense Against the Dark Arts course. He decided to give his students a memorable lesson.
In the senior Defense Against the Dark Arts practice class, when Bryan brought a bare-chested middle-aged man with a gloomy and terrifying expression to the Quidditch field, most people showed inexplicable expressions. They wondered what this man had to do with their subject. Of course, there were also a few Hufflepuff senior girls who gave him a silly smile at the strong chest muscles of the middle-aged man. They thought he was handsome in a rugged way.
And what happened next can basically be described as appalling.
The transformation was swift and shocking. The middle-aged man, who had been sitting quietly on a chair, suddenly sprouted fur, claws, and fangs. His body grew larger and more muscular, his clothes ripped apart, and his eyes turned yellow and bloodthirsty. He let out a terrifying wolf head, baring his ferocious teeth, and making a murderous and violent roar that echoed across the Quidditch field.
The senior students, who had been expecting a normal Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, were caught off guard by the sight of the werewolf. Nearly half of them were so scared that they collapsed on the lawn, paralyzed with fear. Some who could move also used their limbs and fled desperately in all directions, dropping their books and wands in their haste.
"Hey, come back, guys. I've already told you how to deal with this thing in class. Well, maybe you can go together. As long as you can knock him down, I will tell Professor Lockhart that you can get an 'O' directly for the final exam of Defense Against the Dark Arts!" Bryan shouted with a tick mark on his forehead. He looked at the scattered little wizards with frustration and amusement. He had planned this as a surprise test for them, but he didn't expect them to panic so easily.
Bryan's encouragement still had some effect. A few little wizards raised their wands tremblingly and tried to stop the werewolf from approaching. Percy Weasley, who was always eager to impress, even used a beautiful shattering curse to remove a small tuft of black hair from the werewolf's chest. The werewolf snorted in pain and anger, but did not slow down.
There was also Gryffindor's Oliver Wood, who was more used to handling a Quaffle than a wand. He cast a stunning spell, but for some reason, the willow-thick red light didn't hit the werewolf, but hit Marcus Flint who was fleeing in another direction. Flint fell to the ground with a thud, unconscious. Wood grinned sheepishly, wondering if this counted as 'revenge' for all the times Flint had fouled him during Quidditch matches.
"I told you," Bryan sighed helplessly, "the werewolf's fur has a magical resistance that is outstanding even among magical creatures. The spells cast by young wizards are unable to knock down the werewolves. The werewolves are hard to keep their sober reason when they transform. In the fight against the werewolves, making traps and transfiguration are the most useful."
Penelope Clearwater whimpered in fear as she hid behind her boyfriend Percy, holding his arm as if it was a lifeline. She looked at the monstrous creature that was getting closer and closer, and felt a surge of panic. "We are not you, Professor Watson," she said in a trembling voice. "We can only handle boggarts, not real werewolves." She wished she could disappear from this nightmare.
Bryan scowled and wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something unpleasant. "Oh, that kind of thing that scares children!" he said with a tone of disdain. "You should have higher pursuits, Miss Clearwater!"
Percy felt a surge of protectiveness for his girlfriend, who was trembling behind him. He held her hand and tried to sound brave. "But- we are just young wizards, professor-" he protested weakly.
In the end, none of the senior students could cause any substantial damage to the werewolf that Bryan turned out of the chair. To be honest, this made him feel a bit disappointed. If they couldn't face those really dangerous things in the school, in a heavily protected environment, what would they do when they stepped into the magical world without any preparation?
Looking back at his two-month teaching career, Bryan actually found a lot of talented little wizards.
Potter didn't need to say anything. His agile response and keen intuition for danger were outstanding. Hermione's thirst for knowledge and competitiveness could also make her achieve remarkable results in the future.
The twin brothers of the Weasley family had commendable innovation abilities. They were always inventing new products and pranks that amazed and amused everyone. Their little sister Ginny had excellent response to changes. Neville burst out of potential under pressure and caught people's attention. He was always loyal and brave despite his self-doubt and clumsiness. There were also many little wizards, such as Cedric of Hufflepuff, Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott of Slytherin, including Draco Malfoy, these little wizards had good talents.
Cedric was noble and fair-minded; Luna was creative and quirky; Blaise was cunning and ambitious; Theodore was clever and independent; Draco was confident and charismatic
Unfortunately, almost every one of them had a huge flaw.
In Bryan's eyes, if nothing unexpected happens, they can become excellent wizards, but if they say that their future strength is as good as himself or Professor Snape, there may not be one. They all lacked something that was essential for becoming a powerful wizard: discipline, courage, humility, compassion, wisdom, or integrity.
But then again, everyone had different expectations for the future. Just like the twin brothers of the Weasley family, they obviously hoped to make some achievements in those prank products. Not everyone was like Bryan. He knew that he wanted to become a powerful wizard on the first day he knew the existence of the magical world!
"Know in your heart what kind of wizard you expect to become in the future and keep moving forward and work hard in that direction," he said to them on his last day of teaching.
On Friday night, Bryan looked at his empty office and smiled softly. He had packed his belongings and memories in his suitcase. He closed the office door behind him and walked away, leaving behind a trail of sparks and smoke.
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章 91: 091 Leaving
"I remember the night I returned to Hogwarts, and you were here to greet me, Professor–"
When I came, the snow covered the sky like a thick blanket, and when I left, I was covered with stars like a fairy tale hero. Bryan stopped and looked at Snape under the majestic wild boar sculpture that had stood for a thousand years next to the big iron gate of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with a warm smile on his face.
"Otherwise,"
Snape straightened up and sneered sarcastically, "Who do you expect to hold a grand farewell dinner for you, Bryan?"
Bryan smiled gently and didn't say anything. Under the brilliant starry river, the two people faced the refreshing breeze and looked at the ancient castle standing proudly on the high ground, the edge of the Forbidden Forest that hid many secrets, Hagrid's hut with bright lights that invited them in, and the vast playground that witnessed their joys and sorrows. The breeze passed through the tall poles and made a cheerful whisper as if to congratulate them. Bryan looked trance, for a moment, he seemed to really see the 'eternal' existence that transcended time and space.
"Have you been working for Professor Dumbledore all the time?"
Bryan hoped that Snape would break the silence, but he knew it was unlikely. Snape was always reserved and secretive, especially after Voldemort's fall. He had been the potions teacher at Hogwarts for years, Theoretically speaking, he has always been working for Dumbledore.
But Snape obviously knew that Bryan's question was not asking this, and he gave an affirmative answer with a slight nasal sound that betrayed his emotions.
Bryan showed a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth, shook his head sadly, and looked at the office on the eighth floor of the castle that was still flickering with candlelight as if waiting for someone.
"For what?"
Snape's eyes were no longer black holes, but showed obvious hesitation. His eyes swept over every plant and tree in front of this great school with a nostalgic gaze. He had been lurking in the depths of his thoughts for a long time. The memories that were pale and lost their color suddenly surged up like a volcanic eruption that shook his soul.
Pain, helplessness, loss, hatred. Snape couldn't describe his mood at this moment. He had an impulse. He wanted to tell all his secrets to this young man who witnessed his growth by his side. But those words reached his mouth, but there was no sigh left as if they were stuck in his throat.
"For atonement."
After a long time, Snape said faintly with a hoarse voice. Apart from Dumbledore, this was still Snape's first time to put down his magic and spiritual disguise and return his most true side to himself.
Bryan stared at the stars like sand in the Universe that sparkled with life. He heard Snape's answer in his ears. He was not surprised. Human emotions may be the most complicated thing in this world. You expect cold magic to perfectly hide your heart. It's ridiculous as if you were trying to cover the sun with your hand.
"I have some experience, it's about life"
Bryan blurted out something that made Snape instinctively want to sneer. He wanted to remind Bryan of the age difference between them, but when he touched those purple pupils filled with faint light, Snape suddenly froze. He didn't know why a young man in his twenties would suddenly have more vicissitudes in his eyes than him?
"I have experienced the rotation of the world"
Bryan whispered words that made Snape even more puzzled. He stared at him blankly, not knowing how to understand this sentence. Perhaps Bryan meant to enter the mysterious magic world from the muggle world?
Bryan closed his eyes tiredly, and opened them again after a while. The restless soul returned to calm as if he had found peace.
"I have seen the most terrible and selfish darkness of human nature, and I have also bathed in the brilliance of pure souls. Severus, life is only once for anyone–"
Snape heard Bryan call his name directly for the first time, but strangely enough, he didn't feel any anger in his heart, not even a little bit of disharmony, but felt it should be taken for granted as if they had known each other for a long time. This strange feeling made Snape even ignore what Bryan was saying.
"Those painful pasts should not become ropes that bind us from moving forward. Those who have protected us with their lives will not want to see us bear pain and immerse ourselves in memories that cannot be extricated. Severus, compared to atonement, don't you think it's better to live up to those who sacrificed?"
Bryan's voice was soft and sincere, as if he was trying to soothe a wounded animal.
"You don't know what I've been through, Bryan"
Snape's body was so miserable that it was unbearable to look at, and his voice was hoarse as if he was howling desperately in the desert.
"There are many people in this world who have experienced losing everything, Severus, the dead are gone, and what is lost will never come back. Don't let yourself live in self-blame and hatred–"
Bryan looked at the office on the eighth floor of the castle again, and smiled sadly.
"Do you think that a wizard like Dumbledore, how many heartbreaking losses he has experienced in his life, huh?"
He asked Snape, hoping to make him see reason.
"I'm not him, Bryan–"
Snape's panting voice was more like sobbing, he lowered his head, his tone seemed to be arguing for himself, but also like persuading himself,
"Dumbledore is great, powerful, admired by everyone. But I'm just an ordinary man."
Sometimes, Bryan felt very frustrated about Dumbledore's existence. On the one hand, he recognized Dumbledore's indelible achievements for the peace and stability of the entire European magical world in his life. On the other hand, he also felt that Dumbledore was like a mountain. It pressed on the hearts of every wizard in the contemporary magical world, making them not dare to have the idea of surpassing him. To some extent, Dumbledore's existence itself seems to limit the development of the magical world.
Just like Severus in front of him, he often expressed his disgust in front of Dumbledore without concealment in private, and behaved rebelliously. But when it came to facing his heart, he almost instinctively thought that Dumbledore was beyond the reach of mortals, Whether it is magical strength or life wisdom.
Bryan would not naively think that he could persuade Severus to let go of his twenty-year obsession. He just hoped. In this man who should be loved and embraced by the world, he planted a seed. At the right time, this seed will take root and sprout, and bear fragrant and pleasant fruits.
"Well, let's do this first, Professor Snape–"
The twilight lingering around Bryan disappeared. Now he is the young and outstanding wizard with both 'strength and youth' and infinite longing for the future.
Snape felt the conversation was drawing to a close. He struggled to regain his composure, bit by bit. He wanted to say something, to bid farewell, but he was at a loss for words. He was much better at brewing potions than expressing emotions. Before he could find the right thing to say, he saw Bryan open his suitcase and pull out a thick stack of parchment. He handed it to Snape, who took it with curiosity.
"Gilderoy Lockhart's little black material, I accidentally found it–"
He said casually, as if it was nothing important. Looking at Snape who was checking the information and raising his eyebrows higher and higher, Bryan's tone became cheerful. He smiled at the corner of his mouth,
"I hope you can wait until the young wizards finish their final exams before reporting to Dumbledore. Or, it doesn't matter if you give it directly to the Ministry of Magic."
Clang !
Hogwart's big iron gate closed heavily with a dull metal collision sound, echoing in the silent night.
The breeze sings late, when I come alone, I leave alone.
"Goodbye, Professor Snape, I wish you a happy life–"
Bryan waved his hand from a distance, turned and left, and walked into the boundless darkness without nostalgia.
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