Chapter 49: Cheers to Hogwarts! Cheers to Hufflepuff!
Only at this moment did the professors truly understand the weight behind Douglas's words.
In their minds appeared the image of a helpless child stepping alone into a strange magical world.
Madam Rosmerta gently rubbed Douglas's back in comfort.
She still remembered the day the first barrel of Holmes Wine had been brewed. Douglas had taken a sip of the very first glass—and then quietly cried.
When she had asked him why, he had simply said the wine tasted like home from another world.
At the time, she had assumed he meant his home in the Muggle world.
Now she realized the meaning might have been deeper than that.
Douglas steadied himself, lifted the glass, and drank the wine in one swallow.
Ironically, he hadn't expected to be the first person moved by his own speech.
People often said that traveling between worlds was the greatest blessing.
But no one talked about what it truly meant to live in a completely unfamiliar world.
The pain of never seeing his parents again.
The grief of losing them in an accident after spending seven short years with them.
Then discovering that the world he had entered was strangely familiar—yet still decades away from the time he remembered.
With no system, no foresight, no allies, everything had depended on himself alone.
Those early days had been full of confusion.
At times he dreamed of shining brightly in this world, leaving proof that his journey had meant something.
At other times he thought only of survival—of avoiding the future war that would sweep through the wizarding world.
He had no desire for his life to end with a single green flash and the words Avada Kedavra.
Back then, he hadn't believed he would even survive if he stood beside Dumbledore when that war came.
A traveler between worlds was not someone chosen by fate.
But Hogwarts had been welcoming.
And Hufflepuff had given him something even more precious.
A home.
Douglas raised his glass.
"To Hogwarts."
"And to Hufflepuff."
Chapter 54: Tonight's Bill Is Paid by Professor Holmes
Just as the mood around the table grew heavy—
Pop!
One of Hagrid's enormous snot bubbles burst loudly.
For several seconds everyone stared at him.
Then the entire table exploded with laughter.
Professor McGonagall handed Hagrid a handkerchief, smiling despite herself.
Then she looked at Douglas again.
"So, have you made your decision?"
Douglas nodded.
"I'll write to Slaine when I get back."
"He'll publish the news in tomorrow's Daily Prophet."
"He's my editor."
Professor Sprout poured him another drink, her mood already brightening.
"Slaine—I remember him."
"He arrived this morning with the seven broomsticks and the new Hufflepuff uniforms."
"I was wondering how the two of you knew each other."
"If I recall correctly, he graduated before you even started Hogwarts."
Douglas shrugged.
"Professor, you might have forgotten that I once asked you what some of our graduates were doing."
"You mentioned Slaine at the time."
"So I contacted him."
"He's helped publish all of my books over the years."
"He's always envied the editors who work with Gilderoy Lockhart."
"This isn't the first time he's encouraged me to hold a signing event."
"If he hears the news tomorrow, he probably won't sleep tonight."
Madam Rosmerta suddenly covered her mouth in surprise.
"Wait… are you talking about the editor who works with the author known as the Flat-Headed Brother Who Loves Bananas?"
She stared at Douglas.
"Don't tell me… that's you?"
Professor Sinistra suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Now that you mention it—I remember! When Douglas was a student, he always had bananas with him."
Before anyone could react further, Rosmerta suddenly vanished from sight like a gust of wind.
A moment later she returned.
Floating behind her were dozens of books.
Customers across the tavern turned to stare as the books drifted through the air.
Rosmerta piled them onto the table in front of Douglas.
"Douglas, I'm a huge fan of your books!"
"These are all rare first editions!"
"Especially Magic Chef. It's nearly impossible to find a first printing now."
"I had Slaine track it down for me."
"But none of them are signed. Slaine said the author never signs anything."
She crossed her arms and stared at Douglas accusingly.
"Doug… we're good friends."
"And you hid this from me for ten years."
The tone in her voice made Douglas shiver.
Even Hagrid looked stunned by the mountain of books.
He leaned forward, eyes wide.
"Douglas… you didn't write all these, did you?"
"There's so many!"
"That's almost as many books as I've read!"
He reached out to touch one.
Smack!
Rosmerta slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch!"
"If you want to read them, buy your own copy!"
"There are sixty-three books here. One of them came out just last week!"
Then she turned back to Douglas with the same resentful expression.
Douglas instinctively leaned away.
"Rosmerta… you're not planning to make me sign every single one, are you?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"And no magic allowed."
Professor McGonagall smiled slightly as she watched the scene.
Then she added calmly,
"Rosmerta, the books you have are only the wizarding-world editions."
"The ones I saw in Headmaster Dumbledore's office were the Muggle editions."
"They're far more detailed."
The other Heads of House immediately turned to Douglas again.
Professor Flitwick nearly jumped from his chair.
"You mean those books we discussed earlier?"
McGonagall nodded.
Sprout looked utterly shocked.
"Good heavens… I knew that author must be a Hufflepuff."
Then she paused.
"Wait… when the first volume came out, you were still in your first year."
Her expression hardened slightly.
Douglas sighed, realizing exactly what she was thinking.
"Professor… it's a long story."
Meanwhile, Professor Flitwick continued excitedly.
"The theories in those books about ancient magic, about future magical systems—they're astonishing!"
Professor McGonagall nodded.
"I haven't read all the Muggle editions."
"But Albus told me the wizarding version only touches lightly on those theories."
"The Muggle edition develops them in far greater detail."
"For example, the classification of magical power levels—beginner, intermediate, advanced, wizard, and mage."
"Different branches of magic—fire, earth, lightning, summoning, spatial magic."
"There are also discussions of magical guilds, potion systems, magical formations…"
She looked at Douglas.
"That information alone would be extremely valuable to magical research."
Flitwick looked as if he might faint with excitement.
"Merlin's beard…"
"Compared to that, the way we currently categorize spells seems crude."
"I also remember seeing you cast several spells I've never encountered before."
"I always believed you would surpass me in the field of Charms one day."
Douglas accepted the quill Rosmerta shoved into his hand and began signing books.
At the same time he sighed inwardly.
Perhaps publishing those books as separate volumes had not been the wisest decision.
"Professor, you're exaggerating."
"I still have a long way to go in magical research."
Rosmerta leaned closer while he signed.
"So… you really plan to reveal your identity in tomorrow's Daily Prophet?"
Douglas nodded.
Then he glanced at Professor McGonagall.
"After tomorrow's announcement, I doubt anyone will question my ability to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts."
McGonagall smiled.
"Of course."
"Judging by what you've written—and the dark wizards you claim to have fought, even involving a so-called God of Darkness—"
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"I imagine tomorrow will be quite an interesting day for the wizarding world."
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