Percy's Troubles！

Just as Professor Tewell was about to continue his research on Horcruxes, 

"Knock, knock—" 

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. 

"Professor, I have some doubts and I'd like to consult with you. Are you in there?" 

It was Percy's voice, but there was a hint of confusion in his tone. 

But wasn't this just what he was waiting for?! 

Tewell eagerly tidied up his things, though the dark magical aura of the Horcrux lingered, making it difficult to clean up. 

After hastily straightening up, he personally went to open the door. 

"Come in," he said, patting Percy's shoulder and leading him to sit down, "Tea or pumpkin juice?" 

"Pumpkin juice will do." 

The professor's fondness for pumpkin juice had become a common secret in the Gryffindor common room, and many students preparing for exams would drink it, as if it could give them strength. 

Percy, of course, didn't believe in such superstitions, but since he was here, he didn't mind catering to the professor's taste. 

But the professor seemed quite pleased, pouring him a full glass of pumpkin juice with his own hands. 

"Thank you." 

Watching Percy take a sip, Tewell finally began the conversation. 

"How's your adjustment to classes been lately?" 

Percy immediately recalled the fear of being dominated by exams; although he could take his time with the post-class exams, they were still difficult! 

The same topic could yield more than a dozen different questions, each hiding various traps! 

However, practical exercises were much smoother, so he swallowed and said,

"I've become much more proficient in magic, I can now dismantle spells much faster, and I've mastered quite a few silent spells." 

Tewell nodded in satisfaction. 

Even if Percy chose all twelve subjects, he could still be the top student in his year, arguably the most outstanding student in this cohort. 

"Silent spells are content for sixth years. If you can use them in exams, you'll shock all the examiners and easily get the best O." 

Percy revealed a proud yet restrained smile. "I have to thank you for your guidance." 

"But can your body handle it? I heard you plan to get all twelve certificates, which is no easy task." 

Tewell handed him a piece of chocolate. 

"To be honest, I can't quite understand this behavior. In my opinion, choosing the subjects that best achieve one's goals is the best approach." 

Percy took the chocolate, his fingers rustling against the packaging, making a crisp sound. 

"Because I don't know what my goal is..." he said weakly. 

"Oh?" 

Choosing all subjects because he didn't know his goal, to prevent missing out on anything. 

Was this the straight-A student he had pegged him to be? 

Tewell's interest was piqued. 

"I remember Professor McGonagall did career guidance for you all, didn't she? Or did you not decide firmly?" 

Percy nodded and shook his head in confusion. "I told Professor McGonagall that I wanted to work in the Ministry of Magic, and she gave me a lot of practical advice. But now, I feel like even in the Ministry, I can't solve my troubles." 

"Can it make you so confused? Would you mind telling me what kind of trouble it is?" 

"It's because of my family," Percy said with a complex tone. "You might have learned from Ron that our family isn't wealthy." 

"Even though my father is so diligent... well, he's a bit of a slacker, but he really loves his work." 

"My mother does too, working hard to take care of our seven children. But with such hardworking parents, they have to worry about Ron's wand, and they're anxious about the school fees for my younger sister who's about to start school!"

When he got to the point of excitement, Percy's face flushed red, his hands clenched tightly into fists.

"I don't understand!"

"Why is it that those seemingly bad pure-blood families can enjoy wealth that we could never accumulate in our lifetimes, moving in the highest echelons of power in this country?"

"While my two clever, capable brothers can only linger on the fringes of the magical world, doing obscure jobs, and earning meager wages!"

"My father has put in so much effort, yet he can only remain at the bottom of the Ministry of Magic!"

"It's not fair!"

"Must I necessarily ascend to the heights of power to escape such a fate?!"

Finally, he slammed the desk hard, making a deafening noise, and the pumpkin juice splattered everywhere.

Percy was startled by his own rude action. "I'm sorry, Professor, I got carried away."

He was about to wipe the pumpkin juice with his hand, but Tewell stopped him, using magic to clean up the mess.

"I understand how you feel. To be honest, I don't understand what's happening in the wizarding world right now either."

"The wizarding world?"

Percy was puzzled. He had only been thinking about his own small family and hadn't extended his thoughts to the entire wizarding world.

"Yes, the wizarding world." Tewell looked meaningfully into his eyes.

"If a society cannot give its hard workers the wealth they deserve, it's not the fault of the hard workers, but the fault of the society itself."

Percy was intimidated by the intense gaze, blinking his eyes nervously.

"But... but my father isn't actually that diligent. He doesn't work properly, he spends all day tinkering with Muggle gadgets, playing with rubber ducks, tinkering..."

"But what about your brothers? Even if I haven't met them, I've heard about their performance at school, which is no less than yours."

Tewell leaned forward, his expression becoming increasingly serious, his gaze piercing as if there were needles in it, making Percy unable to meet his eyes directly.

"Or are you also wanting to be like your brothers, who despite having good grades, can only be like nameless foot soldiers, at the mercy of those who are incompetent?"

"Percy, there's something wrong with the wizarding world, and your hard work won't be able to change it. Just as you said, for pure-blood heirs like me—"

"I'm not talking about you," Percy weakly interjected.

"No, you are talking about me. I could lie down and still have wealth that would last for generations and keep growing. But what about you?"

"You can only work desperately hard to earn the little Galleons I hand out."

Tewell turned Percy's head straight, their eyes locking together.

"The wizarding world is sick, Percy. It needs not hard work anymore, but the medicine of a doctor."

Being led by the nose, Percy stammered, "But, where is the doctor?"

"Right here, Percy, right in this office," Tewell said with a seductive smile, speaking softly.

"We are the pioneers who have realized this problem first, and the wizarding world is waiting for us to change it, to make it healthier and better."