Chapter 47: Holmes Wine
For Douglas, plum wine carried something deeper than simple enjoyment.
It was a taste of homesickness.
After Madam Rosmerta returned to the bar, the professors raised their glasses and toasted one another. Soon the conversation began to flow naturally.
Professor McGonagall explained the situation.
"Originally, I invited nearly all of the Hogwarts professors today. But, as you can imagine, not everyone had time."
"Severus spent the entire afternoon preparing materials for tomorrow's class."
"The two Divination professors… well, they were not particularly interested in attending a gathering like this."
"You've met Kerry Di Bubbaji before—the professor of Muggle Studies. She went to the Muggle world today to collect information… that should be the correct term."
She raised her glass again.
"In any case, let us once more welcome Douglas to the Hogwarts faculty."
Everyone lifted their glasses.
A Discussion Among Professors
Before long, the conversation shifted to Douglas's new teaching methods.
With the exception of Hagrid, most of the professors seemed quite supportive.
After all, the issue of Hogwarts students having weak theoretical foundations had existed for years. In class, students frequently made basic mistakes simply because they were unfamiliar with the textbook material.
Professor Flitwick was especially enthusiastic.
"Douglas, your method is brilliant," he said.
"I'm already considering introducing it in my classes next week."
"Miss Granger from Gryffindor gave me quite the inspiration. If a student truly understands the material in the textbook, learning spells becomes far easier."
Douglas rubbed the bridge of his nose.
He very much wanted to say that Hermione's speed with spells likely had more to do with her natural talent than anything else.
Still, Professor Flitwick wasn't wrong.
When theory was mastered first, practical magic became far more efficient.
A famous scholar in the Muggle world had once said that books were the ladder of progress. Textbooks allowed students to stand on the shoulders of those who came before them, avoiding countless unnecessary detours.
As soon as Flitwick finished speaking, Professor McGonagall nodded firmly.
"I intend to have my students memorize their textbooks as well starting next week."
"It is simply unacceptable that a third-year student cannot even recall Gamp's Basic Laws of Elemental Transfiguration. For a Transfiguration class, that is a disaster."
Several professors murmured their agreement.
It seemed Douglas's approach had already convinced quite a few of them.
Professor Kettleburn's Concern
Professor Kettleburn sighed.
"I would like to try the same method as well," he said. "If students aren't familiar with the habits of magical creatures, accidents can easily happen."
The other professors exchanged quiet glances.
Those who knew Kettleburn well couldn't help thinking the real issue might not be unfamiliar students—but the professor's own… enthusiasm.
Still, no one truly disliked him.
After all, this was a man who had been placed on probation sixty-two times during his teaching career—a record no one had ever broken—and yet he still remained a beloved professor at Hogwarts.
That fact alone said everything about how much the staff cared about him.
But it was also true that while he often let students care for creatures such as birds, snakes, and salamanders, he occasionally underestimated the dangers those animals posed.
Madam Pomfrey complained about it quite frequently.
Hagrid's Announcement
Suddenly, Hagrid sniffed loudly and drained his glass in one gulp.
"But Professor Kettleburn's already submitted his resignation to Professor Dumbledore!"
Kettleburn stretched out his only remaining hand and patted Hagrid's shoulder comfortingly.
"Oh, don't be sad, Rubeus. After I retire, I plan to visit the Fire Dragon Sanctuary."
"I'd very much like to see that one you raised last year—"
"Cough!"
Professor McGonagall interrupted sharply before he could finish.
That matter was supposed to remain a secret within Hogwarts.
If word spread too widely, Hagrid might well end up in Azkaban for illegally raising a dragon.
Douglas glanced around the table.
Judging by the expressions on the professors' faces, everyone here already knew the truth.
Then he looked at Professor Kettleburn—who now possessed only one arm and half a leg.
Douglas couldn't help sighing inwardly.
This was a man who had devoted nearly his entire life to magical creatures.
When Douglas had been a student, he had spent a great deal of time with the professor.
At one point, he had even seriously considered adopting a Niffler.
After all, what Hufflepuff student wouldn't want to raise a Niffler?
Unfortunately, Hogwarts students were strictly forbidden from keeping such creatures.
A Niffler was classified as a Class XXX magical creature—a beast that could be managed by a competent wizard but was still too dangerous for inexperienced students.
Junior wizards simply weren't allowed to keep them.
Because of Kettleburn's impending resignation, the mood at the table grew slightly heavy.
After several rounds of drinks, Douglas quietly changed the topic while speaking with Professor Aurora Sinistra, who taught Astronomy.
"When the first snow falls this year," he said, "we should have a hot pot dinner on the Astronomy Tower."
The Astronomy Tower was the highest tower in Hogwarts Castle, reachable only by climbing a long spiral staircase.
Professor Sinistra held most of her classes there, usually at midnight.
Back when Douglas had been a student, he once brought Bill and Charlie there on a Saturday night to cook hot pot.
Unfortunately, Professor Sinistra had chosen that exact night to observe the stars.
They had been caught immediately.
Fortunately, Douglas had managed to convince her to stay for dinner instead—saving Gryffindor and Hufflepuff from losing a large number of House points.
Professor Sprout's cheeks were already slightly flushed from drinking.
She raised her glass to Douglas and patted McGonagall on the shoulder.
"Minerva, I believe this year's House Cup will most likely belong to Hufflepuff."
"All thanks to Douglas!"
The moment she said that, the other two Heads of House present immediately turned to look at Douglas.
Douglas froze.
Then he gave a helpless smile.
"Professor… didn't we agree to keep that a secret for now?"
Sprout waved dismissively.
"Oh, there's no need to hide it."
"I just want Hufflepuff to defeat the other houses fairly."
She laughed happily.
"You may not know this, but Douglas has gifted the Hufflepuff team a full set of Nimbus 2001 broomsticks."
"The students were ecstatic this morning!"
"They promised me they'll live up to Professor Holmes's expectations and win the Quidditch Cup this year!"
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick exchanged a glance.
Flitwick gently swirled his drink, frowning slightly.
"If I remember correctly, the Slytherin team also received a set of Nimbus 2001s from the Malfoy family."
"Pomona, the issue isn't jealousy."
"Ravenclaw remains the finest Quidditch team even without new broomsticks."
"But Douglas may have gotten himself into trouble."
McGonagall gave a short snort.
"Gryffindor is the best Quidditch team at Hogwarts."
"Broomsticks are secondary. Skill is what matters."
"After all… we have Harry."
Then she turned to Douglas.
"Still, Douglas… your actions this time were somewhat reckless."
To them, Douglas was not only their former student but also their colleague.
Even if they suspected his teaching career might last only a year, they certainly didn't want him losing his position for political reasons.
Professor Sprout waved her glass cheerfully.
"Who said Douglas sponsored them?"
"He simply felt guilty and wanted to compensate Hufflepuff for the loss he caused."
"I don't know where he got so much money, but he clearly has plenty of it."
"A student who still remembers his alma mater and contributes to it after graduation deserves a toast!"
She lifted her glass again.
"To Douglas!"
Douglas quickly raised his own glass and clinked it against hers.
"Thank you for your support," he said with a smile.
The other professors still looked somewhat puzzled.
Aside from the three Heads of House, most of them did not fully understand why donating several Nimbus 2001 broomsticks to Hogwarts might cause political complications.
Still, they raised their glasses and drank.
Professor Kettleburn, in particular, emptied a large goblet in one go.
After all, everyone here had once been a Hogwarts student.
But only Sprout, Kettleburn, and Douglas had belonged to Hufflepuff.
The two older professors knew better than anyone how difficult it had been for Hufflepuff to secure funding over the years.
Hogwarts relied heavily on donations—from the Ministry of Magic, wealthy pure-blood families, and prominent alumni.
Although those funds were distributed through the school board and allocated by the headmaster, donors often attached subtle preferences.
As a result, funding distribution was never perfectly balanced.
Hufflepuff students, for the most part, came from the middle and lower tiers of wizarding society and rarely participated in such politics.
Combined with the fact that Hufflepuff had the largest student population among the four houses, their resources were often stretched thin.
And Professor Sprout, who openly favored her own students, frequently used her own money to support graduates who were struggling.
Among the four Heads of House, she was the only one whose robes were sometimes patched.
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