บท 11: Chapter 11: Something Feels Off
As it turns out, wisdom does come with age.
Just as Andrew was nervously anticipating a backlash, Magical Legends' over-the-top promotional campaign reached the eyes of Hogwarts professors.
One married Hogwarts professor, enjoying his summer holiday, saw the ad multiple times and eventually decided to order this month's issue of Magical Legends on a whim.
Then, his five-year-old daughter fell in love with it as her bedtime story.
But alas, bedtime stories eventually end—especially when the magazine only serialized a small part of the story.
And, as any parent knows, an eleven-year-old can be reasoned with and perhaps even given detention, but a five-year-old cannot be negotiated with—particularly when her storyteller is also eager to know what happens next.
Though Professor Taylor vouched for his O-levels in History of Magic that it was clearly a made-up story, he still sent a letter to Dumbledore via owl. He earnestly requested that if there was indeed an interview transcript, Dumbledore provide him with a copy, so that this poor professor could have a peaceful summer holiday.
He even offered assurances that the notes would not be shared beyond his household—if this wasn't possible, he hoped the Headmaster could instead issue him some work orders during the holiday...
This sincere letter quickly found its way to Dumbledore's desk. Correspondence from Hogwarts professors had a fairly high priority level for Dumbledore.
Especially at a moment like this, when Minerva had dragged him into his office to go through paperwork. In such a situation, a letter like this had the highest possible priority.
"Oh, Minerva, it's a letter from a Hogwarts professor," came a tone that Cornelius Fudge had never heard before. Professor McGonagall glanced at the remaining pile of paperwork and decided to take a break herself, giving the two headmasters a short respite.
Then, Professor Minerva McGonagall saw Dumbledore's face twist into a rare look of deep confusion.
"What's the matter, Albus?"
"An interview, Minerva."
"An interview?"
Professor McGonagall frowned. "Is it that madwoman Rita Skeeter again?"
Normally unwilling to speak ill of others, Professor McGonagall had no qualms saying her name this time, and that was understandable.
"No, this is an interview I never gave," Dumbledore said with an amused smile. "But it sounds like quite an entertaining one."
Dumbledore stood up and used his wand to tidy his desk. The lower-priority letters were exposed, and from them, he quickly retrieved eleven copies of the current issue of Magical Legends.
He should have seen them sooner—if he hadn't had a pile of paperwork dumped on him by someone who preferred to remain anonymous.
"Apparently, it's my interview, and it's selling well in the magical world."
"Rita's spreading rumors again?"
"I don't think so. Professor Taylor has never spoken ill of anyone behind their back."
The two put aside their paperwork and started reading.
After about five minutes, Professor McGonagall put the magazine down. "Undoubtedly, it's a new fairy tale—just with a different protagonist."
"Indeed," Dumbledore said kindly. "Though they did apparently conduct an interview, I doubt anything in there was actually said by me."
"But it's certainly better than anything Rita writes—at least it's not malicious."
"Still, many of the fairy tales are quite familiar—nothing new." Professor McGonagall stared at Dumbledore, who was still critically analyzing the content. He soon put the magazine down. "Ah, yes, of course, of course. We need to finish the paperwork."
"Of course, Albus. The Ministry of Magic needs these approvals for the greenhouse repairs, replacing desks and chairs in four classrooms, and addressing a water quality issue in the Black Lake."
"I'll get it done, Minerva."
"Good," Professor McGonagall gathered the magazines, stacking them on top of her pile of documents. "I expect all the paperwork completed by lunchtime."
As if ensuring their mere presence wouldn't distract Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall resolutely left with all the magazines.
But soon enough, Dumbledore found another fresh magazine from the pile of letters. After a sigh, he had no choice but to return to his desk and resume his paperwork.
---
"Reader letters, editor!"
"A mountain of reader letters! No doubt, we succeeded!"
"I knew this gamble would pay off."
The atmosphere in the magazine office was electric. It was a serialized story, and from the start, they could tell it would run for a long time. If the current trend held, they could rely on this column for at least a year.
"Praise the one who praises potatoes!"
"Praise him!"
The joyous atmosphere even reached the magazine publisher. He happily ordered a huge shipment of Butterbeer and announced double pay for the staff responsible for this section.
The celebratory mood reached new heights.
---
"Dumbledore: A Legend?"
Harry flipped through the magazine delivered by Hedwig—it had been a gift from Hagrid.
In the accompanying letter, Hagrid highly praised the semi-autobiographical piece about Dumbledore and confided a secret: "It's all true. I saw Dumbledore reading it myself when I was at the castle!"
With such a guarantee, Harry couldn't help but believe in the content of the magazine. He hadn't yet met Dumbledore, but if Hagrid vouched for it, then it had to be true!
And, he had to admit, compared to his school textbooks, this biography was far more captivating.
"Magic, so mysterious..."
"Levitation Charm, three levels?"
"A special wand..."
"Amazing adventures..."
"I really envy him..."
He imagined himself standing in front of Dudley, shouting, "Thirty years west of the Thames!" But he couldn't imagine himself pulling it off...
---
"Levitation Charm..."
"Levitation Charm..."
In a dentist's household, a freckle-faced young girl waved her wand over a heavy stone.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The wand movement and incantation were flawless, causing the stone to rise effortlessly, pressing against the ceiling.
"No, that's not right," she carefully lowered the stone, making sure nothing was damaged in the process.
"It should be an anti-magic stone, not just an ordinary one... From the name, it must be something resistant to spells."
"What level would I be, I wonder?"
"I cast the spell successfully, and a few other spells worked as well, but I can't tell... This gap is too wide."
---
"How many have been trampled by cows now?"
"Should we establish a special department for this?"
"The Levitation Charm is the simplest spell—why are so many people getting hurt lately?"
---
"Alright, this spell is good too. Fire-making spell..."
"Setting fires, unlocking locks, freezing movement... I just feel like the spells I'm learning are... not exactly respectable."
Andrew, oblivious to what was happening elsewhere, felt a bit unsure of himself.
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