章節 98: Spring Afternoon
After the unusual night of the first quarter moon, Anthony's life returned to a peaceful rhythm. He attended classes, prepared lessons, and spent his free time reading in the library or enjoying chocolate chip cookies in the staff room.
Myrtle didn't seem particularly concerned about the fate of the basilisk that had killed her. She was simply thrilled that Anthony had visited her, and gleefully recounted how she had encountered some second-year Ravenclaws in the middle of the night.
The students, driven by curiosity and a desire to explore the castle's secrets, had wandered into an abandoned classroom and found Myrtle gazing wistfully out the window. They shouldn't have asked her what she was doing there. Myrtle was convinced they meant she only belonged in the bathroom and shouldn't be out and about like other ghosts.
"Professor, you should have seen their faces when I started crying!" Myrtle said, delighted. "They went white as sheets, it was hilarious."
In the staff room, Anthony heard the rest of the story. Because the abandoned classroom was near the forbidden corridor, Filch had gleefully declared that the second years would be expelled, even though they insisted they were merely trying to reach the Charms classroom. Luckily, Professor Quirrell had happened to pass by and intervened.
Anthony poured some milk from the floating jug into his tea. "Professor Quirrell seems to be up quite late these nights." Otherwise, he wouldn't have encountered him during the basilisk incident.
"I can imagine," Professor Flitwick squeaked. "He seems a bit high-strung, poor fellow. Biscuit, Professor Anthony?"
Anthony gratefully accepted the offered cauldron cake. The chocolate-flavored mini-cake was soft, and its concave shape allowed for adding various toppings.
Professor Burbage highly recommended filling it with milk-flavored fudge, while Professor Sprout suggested soaking it in elderflower wine for an interesting twist. Just be careful not to overdo it, or you'd end up with a soggy, chocolatey mess.
"So, how did you handle those little adventurers in the end?" Anthony asked curiously, breaking off a piece of the plain cake and savoring the peaceful afternoon with his tea.
Professor Flitwick said cheerfully, "I believe they all lost ten points."
Anthony looked at him in surprise. If he remembered correctly, Ravenclaw was currently second in house points, just shy of overtaking Gryffindor for the House Cup.
"Ah, I don't really care about the House Cup," Professor Flitwick said. "I mean, it's nice to win, but it's not the end of the world if we don't. I doubt I have room for another trophy on my shelf. It's more important to teach them that unchecked curiosity comes with a price."
Anthony chuckled at his careful phrasing. In other words, as long as his Ravenclaws were careful not to land themselves in dangerous situations, their Head of House didn't mind them exploring the castle.
...
The weather was gradually warming up, but it was still quite cool and damp. Occasionally, the temperature would drop suddenly, almost overnight, as if winter had returned. But after a few days, the buzzing of busy bees would signal the return of bright spring.
Clumps of daffodils swayed in the breeze, and red squirrels had become active again. Sometimes, they would dash towards the castle, only to be frightened by the dangerous creatures in the Forbidden Forest and scamper back.
Anthony gently closed his office door and prepared to take a walk outside.
His mouse was nestled comfortably on the cat's belly, both fast asleep. They had grown quite fond of each other and often rested together. Once, Anthony had even seen the cat leap out the window with the mouse in its mouth, taking it to enjoy the view from the rooftop, the mouse safe between its teeth.
The sun was warm outside, and the grass was emerging from the damp soil, a vibrant green that seemed ready to burst into wild growth at any moment. Anthony strolled along the shore of the Black Lake, the sun dappled beneath the trees, the wind carrying the scent of spring.
Back home, it would be time to forage for wild leeks. The migratory birds would return soon, followed by the parsley and winter squash season. As Anthony observed the weeds by the Black Lake, he wondered why these wild plants hadn't spread to this magical land.
Students were also enjoying the outdoors. Many were lounging on the lawn, chatting and laughing. Some had even brought their homework, chewing on quill ends and pondering their assignments while overlooking the shimmering lake, occasionally waving away the insects that buzzed around them.
"Professor Anthony!" Angelina called out, approaching him with a broom in hand.
A group of Gryffindor Quidditch players trailed behind her. Wood was excitedly gesturing, explaining something, while Harry watched intently. Hearing Angelina's shout, he and the Weasley twins turned towards Anthony.
Anthony smiled. "Good afternoon, Johnson. Practice over?"
"Just the afternoon session. The pitch is reserved for Hufflepuff now, and we'll be back in the evening," Angelina said. "It's a beautiful day."
"Professor, will the field trip interfere with the match schedule?" one of the Weasley twins asked. "If we calculate it, and if it's at the end of the term."
"It will be towards the end of the term, but before the exams. Your match is scheduled after the exams, isn't it?" Anthony clarified.
"Before the exams?" The twins' faces lit up.
Anthony knew they were already concocting excuses for their grades. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Weasleys," he warned.
He was still corresponding with Mr. Weasley. Even if only Professor McGonagall knew about their scheme, the twins should consider the consequences of blaming their poor performance on Muggle Studies.
"We didn't say anything, Professor," one twin protested.
"Do you doubt us?" the other added.
Anthony shook his head, amused, and told them to rest after returning their brooms to the shed and to review their homework if they had time – they had barely scraped by on the last test. The twins' grades were quite erratic; they could easily achieve an "O" on some chapters but showed little interest in the recent material. They had even received an "A" once, simply because Anthony saw them making a genuine effort to answer the questions.
"Yes, sir—" they drawled, turning to make faces at Angelina.
The sweaty group of students departed with their brooms. Anthony noticed Harry Potter giving him a sheepish smile. He had heard from Professor McGonagall that she had spoken to the Boy-Who-Lived about the flying broomstick incident. Perhaps because his good friend Hermione insisted that Anthony had done the right thing, Harry always seemed a bit awkward whenever "Quidditch" and "Anthony" were mentioned together.
...
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