Mysterious Journey

Chapter 959: Senior Investigator

Mixed-blood wizards are even rarer than Squibs in the wizarding world.

In ancient wizarding legends, many famous wizards had some magical creature blood in them.

The most famous of these is undoubtedly Merlin. According to the records in the Hogwarts library, there are at least five different accounts of his magical bloodline. Hermione had long suspected that Eileen might also possess some similar magical bloodline.

At least, normal people don't have a faint glow on their faces at night, do they?

"... Whatever, guess whatever you want."

Eileen glanced at Hermione and sighed helplessly.

Compared to the sparsely distributed Veela in Britain, Hogwarts students are clearly more familiar with Gringotts goblins.

Not to mention, she now has the added identity of the Gringotts Goblin Queen.

Combining this information, it's obvious what kind of conclusion the know-it-all Miss Granger could draw in her mind.

However, once she starts developing in a few years, these rumors will naturally be disproved. Rather than admitting her Veela status, she might as well hide her alluring talent and let Hermione continue to think in the wrong direction—who knows if Veela have any unknown weaknesses.

"Huh, what are you guessing?"

Hannah said, as she came to the Great Hall with the students from the Second Year B class and sat next to Eileen.

"And what's the price? You two haven't made another hundred-time bet or something, have you?"

"No, we haven't—"

Hermione's face flushed slightly, and she said quickly, "We were just—"

"Discussing magic power growth," Eileen said calmly in a low voice, "Hermione and I were discussing why my magic power and strength are stronger. After all, according to the laws of alchemy, everything comes at a price, and then she thought my magical talent was exchanged for my chest..."

"Oh—"

Hannah looked Eileen and Hermione up and down, nodded as if she understood, and said enviously.

"So that's how it is? No wonder you're so good at spells..."

"That's not it! Don't listen to Eileen's nonsense."

Hermione paused for two seconds, then quickly reacted and angrily slapped a kidney pie onto Hannah's plate.

"Just focus on eating your lunch, Hannah. You're just lazy when you're reading books and doing homework. Don't make excuses for yourself."

"Speaking of which, Hannah, why are you guys so late today?"

Ignoring the suddenly embarrassed "flat screen" next to her, Eileen looked at the Second Year B class students who were walking towards their respective House tables and asked curiously, "Did Professor Snape hold you back today? Or did something unexpected happen in class?"

"There weren't any problems in class, but it took a little time to register the sizes for the follow-up mask distribution."

"Masks?" Hermione noticed a faint mask mark on Hannah's face.

"Yeah, the professor requires everyone to wear masks during the potion practicals."

Hannah shrugged, cut the kidney pie on her plate, and casually explained.

"But the sizes of the ones prepared in the classroom today were a bit too big, so Professor Snape spent some extra time after class to collect everyone's actual sizes, and he's preparing to adjust them for the next class—it looks like different grades will be prepared separately."

"Hmm, that is a problem. The face shapes of the upper and lower grades are quite different..."

Eileen said, rolled up a piece of bread, dipped it in the borscht in front of her, and shoved it into her mouth, swallowing it in one gulp.

Hogwarts' industrial chain is not just potions, it is a magical light industry that is gradually improving.

With the "Water-Absorbing Charm" from Tom Riddle's diary deciphered, Gringotts and Hogwarts invested in a medium-sized textile factory outside the school, began trying to streamline production of "magical sanitary napkins," and masks were naturally included.

If all goes well, Draco Malfoy should be considered to be the legal representative, or rather, a front man.

"By the way, besides the masks, are there any other changes in your classes?"

Hermione asked with some concern.

Since Hogwarts began experimenting with the new curriculum reform, the difficulty of pre-class preparation has been increasing.

"Changes...there's more homework, I guess."

Hannah thought for a few seconds, her face scrunched up, and she said miserably.

"Professor Snape wants each of us to submit a paper on the properties of more than twenty kinds of potions next week, and we may also have to recite them randomly in class later. Just reciting them isn't enough, we also have to classify them according to their respective magical concepts—Hermione, you have to help me with this."

"Classification of magical properties...?"

Eileen's expression beside her became a little interesting, and she silently slandered in her heart.

If she remembered correctly, this content should be the subject content of the Hogwarts off-campus 【New Potions】 research project.

Those former Soviet scholars hoped to obtain a sorted table of "magical symbols" and material correspondences, and from the current situation, Snape and others seemed to be breaking down this task and distributing it to the students, becoming "graduate student supervisors" without being taught.

If all goes well, the same or similar "homework" will probably be distributed to all grades, including the Second Year A class.

Could this be considered shooting herself in the foot?

On the other side, Hannah clearly didn't want to continue talking too much about homework.

Although she knew that this homework was unavoidable, it was something to worry about on the weekend anyway. At least after Luna or Hermione finished a batch of homework, she would feel a little easier when facing those torturous parchments.

"Enough about that, Eileen, has your class been inspected this morning?" Hannah quickly changed the subject.

"Yeah, just now, before lunch." Hermione nodded, "Professor Flitwick's Charms class."

"How was it? Did Professor Umbridge say anything?"

Before Hannah could speak, a few curious third-year Hufflepuffs at the neighboring table asked.

And Cedric, who was sitting further away, also quietly stopped talking and turned his face to look over here.

You know, before today, Dolores Umbridge had only audited one class at Hogwarts: Muggle Studies.

And just after she audited it twice, Ministry of Magic Aurors launched a secret arrest operation. This extremely strong connection made the students' gossip flames burn even more vigorously—many people were even secretly guessing whether this inspection behavior was equivalent to a routine reconnaissance before taking action.

Especially since Umbridge also became the "High Inquisitor" starting this week, everyone wanted to know what would be different.

Hermione shrugged.

"Not too bad. Umbridge just shrank behind Professor Flitwick, constantly taking notes on a clipboard."

"You also know that Professor Flitwick has been at Hogwarts for many years. He treated Umbridge like an ordinary student and didn't seem to take it to heart at all. Umbridge didn't say much. She just walked around the classroom in her spare time, asked us a few questions, and inquired about what class is usually like. Everyone's answers should have been that the class was very good and interesting, that's roughly it..."

"Well, I don't think Professor Flitwick should have any problems," Cedric said, "he always makes sure everyone can pass the exams."

"Who knows? Professor Quirrell was the same."

Eileen said dismissively, glancing at Umbridge, who was eating lunch alone at the staff table.

Usually, professors take some time to chat during lunch.

However, as a Ministry of Magic examiner inserted into Hogwarts, most professors obviously didn't want to bother with this pink toad, except for Dumbledore, who welcomed everyone, and Umbridge didn't have any intention of making friends with the professors.

"By the way, Cedric, when will the course selection forms we submitted take effect?"

"If you have class this afternoon, it should—"

Cedric scratched his sideburns and took out his timetable to take a look.

"I heard from the prefect that you all seem to have chosen Care of Magical Creatures? Then the second class this afternoon is it."

"—Oh, right, Cedric, you're also in third year, so we'll be classmates then?"

"Cough, please, can you call me Cedric or Diggory."

Cedric Diggory looked at Hannah with a helpless expression, but Hannah obviously didn't take this weak request to heart.

As Cedric brought up this topic, the girls began to chatter about the afternoon's classes.

Before this, Hogwarts lower grades were not qualified to fill in elective courses.

And for Hermione, Hannah, and a group of other girls, Care of Magical Creatures, now renamed Magical Zoology, is undoubtedly a coveted class among the upper grades, not to mention, Eileen, this "insider," also revealed the pet adoption restrictions in advance.

Whether it's the clever fodder or the three-headed dog Little Stew, Hermione and the others have been coveting them for a long time.

Perhaps the fodder can be explained as a mutated "round-faced chubby chicken," but the hellhound that can easily kill a group of upper-grade students in its enlarged state is too different from the three types of pets listed in the first-year list that can be carried.

The only thing that was a bit hateful was that Eileen had been unwilling to reveal more pet details.

According to her, they would know after class.

Before that, maintaining some mystery and anticipation would help make the pet selection process more interesting.

However, Hermione, Hannah, and the others soon discovered that they could learn about Magical Zoology and pets from other places without having to wait until the second class in the afternoon.

After lunch, the students gathered at the notice board outside the Great Hall, discussing animatedly.

Filch had posted a large notice on the notice board.

【Hogwarts Pet Application Guide】

Aside from the dozens of review and explanation clauses.

Most students saw the bolded statement at first glance—

"Applicants must take Magical Zoology and obtain at least a primary-level breeding qualification in the comprehensive assessment."

In fact, in Eileen's estimation, it would be quite remarkable if Newt could get this done within the week.

Even if, after her maneuvering, the Ministry of Magic temporarily opened a crack in the ban on raising low-risk magical creatures at Hogwarts, the work on the Hogwarts Board of Governors and Dumbledore's side would not be so easily pushed forward.

She didn't expect the combat power that Newt exploded in the field of magical creatures to greatly exceed her expectations.

"Okay, it looks like..."

Eileen looked at Umbridge, who was staring at the notice board not far away with an uncertain expression, and sighed helplessly.

"The course that Professor Umbridge will review next is also confirmed—Hermione, Hannah, remember to walk faster after the first big class in the afternoon, in case the High Inquisitor catches you with something, the pet adoption application might be in trouble later..."

Little master, there are more chapters later, please click on the next page to continue reading, the following is more exciting!

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However, as the afternoon arrived, Eileen quickly realized another problem.

They wouldn't have to wait until they had Care of Magical Creatures in the afternoon to see Professor Umbridge again.

In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, students were whispering about the new knowledge that Professor Lupin might bring to everyone today, or new defense-related spells—since watching Old Potato's live demonstration, students had rediscovered the fun of DADA.

And at the desk at the front of the classroom, Professor Lupin was, as usual, explaining something to Eileen and Hermione.

As the class representatives of the Second Year A class, in addition to being responsible for collecting and distributing homework, they sometimes served as assistants to the professors in class.

After all, many of the contents of Defense Against the Dark Arts would involve confrontation, and Professor Lupin alone couldn't demonstrate spell confrontations.

On the other hand, after witnessing Eileen's attack in the "Boggart" violent bludger, Lupin was not at ease to completely hand over Eileen as the teaching partner for DADA—after seeking Dumbledore's advice, he finally activated the "Eileen insurance."

Judging from the performance of the previous few classes, Miss Hermione Granger could obviously restrain Eileen to a certain extent.

Just then, the students who were talking and laughing in the classroom suddenly fell silent.

Hearing the sudden decrease in the sound in the classroom, Professor Lupin looked up and saw Professor Umbridge walking in.

"Good afternoon, Professor Lupin," Professor Umbridge still had that smiling face, "I think you may have forgotten that, according to Hogwarts' previous teaching arrangements, I am the teaching teacher for lower grade Defense Against the Dark Arts. Of course, I heard that you rearranged some class hours during my 'vacation', so before you rearrange my class time, perhaps...I could have the honor of auditing your class? As, um, the Hogwarts High Inquisitor?"

Umbridge grinned, with a hint of subtle triumph and victory in her expression, and said meaningfully.

"After all, as a newly minted honorary member of the Anti-Dark Arts League, compared to fighting those dangerous dark magic creatures outside the school, I'm actually more concerned about the mental and physical safety of students in the dark magic classroom..."

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Hooray!