"I'll ask someone to fetch a thorough collection of cookbooks for this matter then. For now though I believe it best if you hurry off to bed now, take this pass in case anyone on patrol finds you." he said handing me a slip of parchment that literally just said "Hall pass" and had his signature on it before shooing me out of the office.
I admit it caught me off guard as I fully expected this conversation to take longer and it even appeared as though he also agreed since he brought me to his office to begin with. -
It took me all of two seconds to snap back and realize that I had been played with. Perhaps not maliciously but played with all the same. Dumbledore brought me to his office to get me to relax. It was a subtle manipulation that played on the inbuilt habit of people to mentally relax in a private safe setting. He spoke softly and in a gentle manner like he was harmless and for a moment successfully made me forget he was one of the most powerful people on the planet.-
I wasn't even mad about it to be honest. This was simply his own form of politics. This harmless image he cultivated along with his actual power drew people to him and made them trust him almost at first meeting. It wouldn't work on everyone since once you realize the game he was playing you could guard against it or if you were paranoid enough gentleness was actually MORE suspicious than sternness. I had gotten too comfortable with his lack of pressing and slipped up, I won't make that mistake again. I left the office without a word and walked towards the Ravenclaw tower at a steady rate after making that decision.-
The halls were cool and empty with a few portraits idly watching as I walked past but most settling in for the day.
"Meow!" a feline voice sounded out loudly drawing me from my thoughts.
I looked towards the sound and spotted a mottled tabby cat approaching from the end of the hallway. It was a narrow thing with rough fur but seemed well enough cared for.
"You must be Miss Norris which means your owner should be nearby." I said calmly as I crouched down with my hand out to pet the cat.
"Hands to yourself rule breaker! My Norris isn't for the likes of you to touch!" an angry raspy male voice yelled as the wiry old castle caretaker hurried over.
"Not a rule breaker Mr. Filch. I'm on my way to the common room from the headmasters office, I even have a pass." I said respectfully as I produced the pass in question.
The mans wrinkled fierce face scrunched up at that and he snatched the pass out of my hand before eyeing it like it was dangerous before reluctantly returning it to me.
"You are excused this time but don't let me or my pretty here catch you breaking the rules. Off with you now, I have a feeling those red haired brats are around and waiting for me to find." he said rudely.
"Of course, have a good evening Mr. filch." I said calmly before leaving even as he shifted uncomfortably at the politeness.
The man was rather villainized by the majority of students and treated not so great as a result so being given respect likely threw him off. I myself had the outside perspective of my past life that made it clear that he was merely doing his job. Even in the books where he acted in a way that was questionable it was all hot air without substance, venting his frustration at worse.-
I didn't rush back to the common room since I wasn't fully familiar with the castle but rather retraced my steps to a familiar area and then made my way to the common room. Mike and Terry were both waiting for me when I arrived.
"Where've you been?" Terry asked curiously.
"Having a conversation with Dumbledore. Nothing serious but I won't ruin the surprise." I said playfully.
"Please tell us you didn't get caught by Filch on the way back. We've heard stories of him and that cat of his from the upper years." Mike said with a shudder.
"I did actually. He was pretty easy to handle as I just flashed my hall pass and he sent me off. A shame I didn't get to pet his cat." I said wistfully.
"You tried to pet that thing!?" Terry exclaimed in shock.
"Yeah? It seemed pretty friendly to me." I said confused.
"Mate i've seen that cat hiss and scratch someone just for getting too close to it." mike said seriously.
I shrugged "Guess i'm just built different." I said with a chuckle at my inside joke.
They headed to bed after needling me to share what I talked to Dumbledore about but gave up when I refused to share. It would be more fun watching their reactions when the new dishes started hitting the tables this way. I myself however headed for the bathroom to get in a bit of electrical body enhancement before rinsing off and going to bed myself. An interesting thing I noticed was that the foul oily "sweat" was coming less and less the more I did this which if we used those cultivation novels from my past life as a guide for meant I had less impurities in my body.-
The next morning was a big one for me however as it was Monday and that meant my first official classes. It was Charms and Herbology so I wasn't too nervous about it. I was almost guaranteed to be better than almost everyone else in Herbology due to my theoretical knowledge alone and actually guaranteed to be better at charms since I mastered the entire first year book and was even learning stuff not in it.