A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Valen gazed up at Felix, clutching his clothes with tiny hands, exclaiming, "Cheep cheep! (The taste of ice cream!)"

Felix chuckled. "Your nose works wonders," he said, patting the creature's head. With an expectant look, a ring on his hand shimmered, conjuring a scoop of ice cream.

"Wow, cheep cheep!"

"I've got more," Felix added, "picked them up on my way back." With a wave, two more ice creams floated in the air.

He handed one to Hermione. "Oh, thank you," she said, nibbling on it. This flavor was different from what Hogwarts offered.

"How's the third project coming along?" Felix asked, munching on the chocolate-covered ice cream.

"It's progressing smoothly. We've been practicing with Cedric, Collins, and Roger," Hermione spoke between bites. "Though Harry seems a bit... um... regardless, progress is rapid. It's astonishing, really. Collins, in her seventh year, hasn't quite mastered the Animagus transformation yet!"

Hermione continued chattering, "We've bet on who between Ron and Collins will master it first. Professor, we've shared the secret of the Room of Requirement with them," she glanced cautiously at Felix.

"That's alright," Felix assured her. "Over the years, quite a few have known about it, but very few unearth its true secrets."

Relieved, Hermione added, "Also, the spectral book you gave Harry, his prize from the Dueling Tournament... He took it out recently, but after more than a year, the magical response is somewhat sluggish." She didn't mention how Professor Snape's face in the book had become blurry, her attempts at fixing it proving futile.

Listening with a smile, Felix opened the office door.

"Mr. Wimble visited the school a couple of days ago for the Experimental Spells Committee," Hermione continued. "He's here to evaluate the ancient magical texts we've discovered. Everyone's curious about the horns on his head, but he mentioned it's been much better... Also, Harry, Ron, um..." She hesitated, then continued, "and Malfoy, the three of them discovered that the Lumos Heralds spell seems to have a restraining effect on dark creatures. Mr. Wimble plans to test it individually. If it proves effective, he'll apply for recognition from the Ministry and might even invite Harry and others to join the Anti-Dark Magic League."

"I hadn't expected that," Felix was mildly surprised.

"And... um," Hermione hesitated again. "What is it?" Felix asked, his surprise mounting when he heard her reply. "Harry had another nightmare."

"Related to Voldemort?"

"Y-yes," Hermione hesitated, "he's not entirely sure. He dreamt vaguely of Crouch Jr. and Voldemort scheming. Harry found himself in Voldemort's perspective again, witnessing Crouch Jr. kneeling at his feet... After that, Harry woke up, his Occlumency kicking in."

In hindsight, Harry regretted this. His Occlumency seemed to have backfired, preventing him from gaining more useful information.

Felix's expression turned serious. He realized something. "Does Dumbledore know about this?"

"He does," Hermione nodded quickly. "Harry's scar was burning intensely, so Ron took him to the infirmary, and Dumbledore appeared shortly after."

Felix nodded, vaguely understanding why Dumbledore chose to reveal the truth suddenly at the Wizengamot meeting, even openly opposing Fudge, because Voldemort's resurgence loomed nearer, and the magical world remained unaware.

Lucius Malfoy's end showed no signs of anomaly. This was normal. Horcruxes were evidently more intimately connected than the Dark Mark and Voldemort's connection. Harry could sense Voldemort's intense emotional fluctuations, but that didn't mean Death Eaters could achieve the same using the Dark Mark.

What Felix hoped for was to be the first to know once Voldemort returned and to understand the subsequent actions of the Death Eaters.

Upon returning to reality, seeing Hermione staring at him with hesitation, he asked, "Professor, if Voldemort truly returns, besides Dumbledore, is there anyone else who can stand against him?"

Felix laughed, "Are you asking if I'm his match?" Her question seemed reminiscent of his inquiry to Dumbledore.

Caught off guard, Hermione looked at him sheepishly.

"Well, it's hard to say. I haven't actually faced Voldemort," Felix shrugged uncertainly. "There might be some distance yet." His judgment was based on Dumbledore's prowess; he had obviously undergone a transformation towards 'magical creatures,' as described by Lady Ravenclaw. Yet, perhaps due to age or other reasons, his condition had slightly declined.

While Voldemort could challenge this weakened Dumbledore, just a tad inferior, it meant they stood at a similar level, the difference not too distinct.

As for him...

Puzzled, Hermione watched Professor Harp staring at his arm lost in thought, a bit baffled. However, she had at least heard the professor's answer, feeling a bit disheartened; even the professor, so powerful, wasn't Voldemort's match.

Leaving the Ancient Runes office, she returned to the common room. Harry and Ron were racing against time to finish their assignments. Hermione sat down heavily, cautiously saying to the two, "I asked the professor."

This abrupt statement made Harry jolt upright, accidentally knocking over an ink bottle. "Ah—It's fine, don't worry," he pulled out his wand, pointing it at the fragments. "Reparo." The pieces immediately rejoined.

Then he and Ron looked intently at Hermione. "What did the professor say?"

Hermione recounted Felix's words to them. Harry looked visibly shocked.

"Thinking about it, it makes sense," Ron said. "Professor Harp is only, only... um... in his twenties."

"Twenty-four," Hermione corrected instantly.

"Yeah, that's it," Ron acted like he had known all along. "He's still so young. I mean, he's a genius, but even geniuses need time to grow, right? Honestly, except for Dumbledore, I can't think of a wizard stronger than him. Dad's been saying since the Quidditch World Cup that he might follow in Dumbledore's footsteps."

"You mean Professor Harp might become the Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Harry asked in surprise. He hadn't thought about this before, but upon reflection, it seemed highly probable. Wide-eyed, he imagined the scene—decades later, a silver-haired professor (bearing some resemblance to Dumbledore but with an intact nose) welcoming new students in the Great Hall. He wondered what the professor's welcome speech would be like.

"No," Ron interrupted his musings, "Dad said he might become the strongest wizard after Dumbledore."

Suddenly feeling a sense of relief, Harry thought, with Dumbledore and now Professor Harp, even if Voldemort returns, it wouldn't cause much turmoil, would it? Yet, Dumbledore's repeated confirmation of his dreams at the infirmary had cast a shadow on his mind.

Hugging her knees on a cushion, Hermione fell into silence for nearly ten minutes.

"Guys, do you think," she spoke softly, slowly, "V-Voldemort... could he have already returned?"

...

"I've had the same doubts, Felix," Dumbledore, in pajamas, his long silver beard

swaying as he walked, said. "It's not just your concern."

Sitting in his office with a cup of hot cocoa, Felix looked at Dumbledore as he poured another cup.

"Did you foresee this?"

"More like a series of conjectures," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "The Order members have also sensed a shift in the atmosphere. Some events are difficult to ignore."

"And you didn't inform the Ministry?"

"They might accuse me of fear-mongering again," Dumbledore chuckled. "They prefer to live in denial. However, I've requested extra surveillance around the Riddle estate."

"The servants and that house?"

"Yes, the wards there have been tampered with."

"You don't believe Voldemort is there, do you?"

"That would be too straightforward," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling with a mix of concern and contemplation.

"Once he returns..."

"Yes, Felix?"

"What will become of Hogwarts?"

Dumbledore hesitated before answering, "I intend to delay his return until we can find a way to counter him."

"Counter him?"

"A strategy beyond the mere defeat," Dumbledore clarified. "A way to undo him, to prevent this cycle from repeating."

"You mean, to kill him?"

"That is an option, but perhaps not the only solution."

They sat in silence, each contemplating the events that might unfold. Dumbledore suddenly looked at Felix with a wry smile. "You know, I had a vision. Hogwarts, under attack. But amidst the chaos, a phoenix soared, lighting the darkened sky. Do you think it's a mere metaphor?"

Felix remained silent, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

"I trust your judgment, Felix," Dumbledore said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Should you sense any change, let me know immediately."

"Of course," Felix nodded.

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