Chapter 19 "At Hogwarts"

Life at Hogwarts began with a sense of fulfillment for Matthew.

The routine of the Slytherin common room, the auditorium, the classrooms, and the library provided stability, allowing him to forget the trouble of the past and the existence of the mysterious book.

Despite the eccentricities of some Hogwarts teachers, Matthew found most of them to be good-hearted individuals, at least based on those he had encountered so far.

However, there was one exception; Apollyon Pringle, The caretaker of Hogwarts. Pringle is a large, temperamental man known for punishing students who make mistakes. Rumors circulated that his office ceiling was adorned with chains, handcuffs, and leather whips polished by his own hand.

Needless to say, every student hates Mr. Pringle.

Mr. Pringle had a dog named Mr. Donald, which amused Matthew when he first heard the name. This sturdy golden retriever patrolled the corridors of Hogwarts with an air of haughtiness, stopping any students who broke the rules and ensuring they stayed in place until Mr. Pringle arrived.

Mr. Donaldknew the secret passages of Hogwarts better than any student and was intimately familiar with the castle's layout. As long as Matthew stayed out of Mr. Pringle and Mr. Donald's sight, he had mostly positive memories of his time at Hogwarts.

Among the Professors, Bathilda Bagshot stood out as the teacher of History of Magic. Despite her old age, rumored to be around two hundred years old, Professor Bagshot's memory remained sharp. She effortlessly recalled past historical events, presenting them as interesting anecdotes rather than dull lessons.

Her lectures captivated the students, making the History of Magic course a popular and enjoyable subject.

Professor Flitwick, the teacher of Charms class. He is a peculiarly short wizard due to his half-Goblin blood. He had to stand on a stack of books to reach the desk during class.

Despite his height, Professor Flitwick was known for his good temper, making the Charm class both relaxing and enjoyable.

However, it was said that in his younger days, Professor Flitwick always had been a grumpy man who participated in numerous dueling competitions and won several championships, earning his name in the wizarding world before his tenure at Hogwarts.

Professor Sprout took the students to the greenhouse behind the castle for Herbology lessons three times a week. They learned how to cultivate various plants and fungi and understand their uses. The students learned how to identify toxic mushrooms during their first herbology lesson. The Professor collected Those deemed non-toxic and used to prepare mushroom soup for the evening's meal.

On Tuesday nights, the students gathered in the Astronomical Tower under the guidance of Professor Sinistra. They observed the starry sky using telescopes and learned about different stars and planetary trajectories.

This class required no magic but was known to be one of the most demanding classes. Professor Sinistra always assigns lengthy homework, such as a two-and-a-half-foot-long paper about the orbits of the eight planets.

On Wednesday, there are two Potions classes; this is the only class Slytherin and Gryffindor students attend together. The potions class took place in an underground classroom, which, despite being theoretically colder than the castle, felt warm due to the bubbling cauldrons.

As Matthew entered the Potions classroom, he couldn't help but notice the bubbling cauldron and various specimens immersed in glass jars along the walls; Animal specimens, plant specimens, and diseased specimens.

However, Matthew felt lonely despite attending class with his Slytherin and Gryffindor peers. Among the five boys in the Slytherin dorm room, Crabbe and Goyle were loyal followers of Draco, while Knott had a close relationship with them.

Matthew couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for this, nor did he particularly care. He focused on his textbooks instead, "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi" and "Magical Drafts and Potions" All the while, he set up his workspace with the pewter cauldron, brass scale, and crystal vials.

Before Professor Horace Slughorn even made an appearance, his rotund belly preceded him, followed by his walrus-like mustache trembling on his smiling mouth as he greeted the students. This was Matthew's first encounter with the head of the house of Slytherin in a classroom.

Like Professor Trocar, Professor Slughorn began calling out the names from the class roster. However, when he reached Neville Longbottom from Gryffindor and Draco Malfoy from Slytherin, he paused and enthusiastically greeted the boys.

Matthew remembered what Miss Gemma said about Professor Slughorn, mentioning that he preferred students with prominent family backgrounds or outstanding talents.

It seemed that both of them fell into one of those categories.

"However, before we begin the class properly… I have prepared a few potions to astound your senses. Before you embark on creating your own concoctions, let me give you a taste of the magical wonders to come!" Professor Slughorn said in a mysterious tone.

Intrigued, Matthew leaned forward, eager to experience the enchanting potions that awaited them. The classroom fell silent as everyone awaited Professor Slughorn's revelation.