A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 177 Magical Outburst

"Potter, are you here in Diagon Alley to buy books?" Felix asked.

Harry seemed a little uneasy, and he mumbled, "Uh, I'm currently staying in Diagon Alley... in room eleven at the Leaky Cauldron..."

He couldn't very well say that he had inflated Aunt Maggie's reputation so much that she had nowhere to stay and was put in the Leaky Cauldron by Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge.

Felix found Harry's attitude somewhat strange and tentatively asked, "Are you alone?"

There were certainly plenty of guests in the Leaky Cauldron, but Harry clearly understood what the professor meant. "Yeah, just me," he quickly added, trying to distract himself. "I'm perfectly fine on my own, shopping, eating, doing my homework at Florin's Ice Cream Parlour... and Dobby keeps me company, too."

Felix smiled as well. "If I remember correctly, he works at the Leaky Cauldron?"

Seeing that Professor Hyp didn't press the matter further, Harry breathed a long sigh of relief. He replied enthusiastically, "Yes, Dobby is at the Leaky Cauldron. He's been waking me up these past two mornings, but he should be busy greeting the pub's customers at this hour."

As they walked and talked, Harry told them more about the rather eccentric house-elf.

"Dobby sent me a birthday present and a card! He said on it that he earned it himself, and I've always been curious where he works—it didn't mention it in the letter, so I never expected it to be from the Pulse—" He suddenly realized, turning to Felix in surprise: "Professor, how did you know?"

Felix said briefly, "Dobby and I are friends; we mentioned it during a conversation."

Harry nodded, and then Felix asked him, "So you saw me while you were shopping? What a coincidence, I probably would have left if I had been a minute later."

Harry explained, "Actually, I saw your Patronus—that silver swift, Hermione mentioned it to me. I thought it looked somewhat like it, so I waited for a while at the shop next door."

"Really? Very observant," Felix replied casually, his attention completely focused on Harry himself. From the moment they met, he had felt that something was off about Harry.

He subtly shifted his perspective, and in the stark black and white world, Harry's magic pulsed and pulsed, appearing exceptionally vibrant.

"professor?"

Harry felt his gaze; Professor Hyp was looking at him with a scrutinizing eye, which made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Porter," Felix said softly, "this must have had a huge impact on you..."

Harry froze, stammering, "You...you knew?" A chill ran through him, and he hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean to! Aunt Maggie insulted my parents first, and I couldn't stand it!"

Will the professor have a bad impression of him? He just bought the ancient magic script textbook yesterday.

"No, you've misunderstood, Potter."

The two passed through the wall and left Diagon Alley, arriving at the Leaky Cauldron. Just as Felix passed the bar, he heard a sharp greeting: "Dear Mr. Hyp, Dobby never expected to see you and Mr. Potter at the same time! What a joyous day!"

The other people in the bar turned to look, and they began to chatter noisily.

Felix looked back calmly, his voice lowered, before turning to the sprite: "Dobby, long time no see."

Dobby's eyes widened, and he wiped his eyes with a dirty rag. "Oh~ Mr. Hyp still remembers Dobby, that's so touching..."

"Dobby, please arrange a private room for us. Potter and I have something to discuss." Felix looked at him gently.

"Dobby understands, gentlemen. Please follow me."

The elf led them to a relatively secluded private room, served them food and drinks, and then respectfully withdrew.

Harry looked at Felix with a slightly bewildered expression. This was the spot where they had sat and talked after Fudge caught them on the Knight Bus outside the pub.

Felix didn't rush to speak; he pondered how to begin the conversation.

Harry stared at the doorpost to his right, where a wanted poster hung. After two days at the Leaky Cauldron, he was already very familiar with the painting.

"Potter—"

Professor Hyp's words brought his consciousness back to his body, and he listened quietly.

"I heard you like dueling classes?"

“Yes, Professor,” Harry said. “I think this class is great; I learn a lot. It’s just that it’s only once every two weeks, and some of the spells are quite difficult.”

"I'm still not very proficient with the Ironclad Spell..."

Felix nodded. "So, do you need some private coaching for a while, Porter? I'd be happy to do it."

Harry was stunned. He really didn't expect to encounter such a good thing, so good that he could hardly believe it.

He felt that ever since he inflated his aunt's, everyone he met had become strange. Dobby was adept at greeting customers in the bar, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge turned a blind eye to his illegal behavior, and now even Professor Hyp offered to train him.

"Of course I'd like to, but why?" he asked cautiously.

"Potter, to be frank, you're in a fascinating state right now—your magic is in a very active state, like a flame that's constantly leaping and burning in my eyes."

"In conclusion, I think it is of great research value."

Felix decided to tell Harry directly, and there was nothing to hide—except that his desire to study Potter sounded a little strange.

But if we put it another way, he's just concerned about the young wizards who are in a special situation, wouldn't that make a lot of sense?

Harry swallowed hard. "I don't quite understand what you mean."

"Harry, if I'm not mistaken, you've experienced a magical surge in the last few days, haven't you?"

"Magic... riot?"

"You've probably heard similar terms: magic out of control, magic awakening, magic riot... Many people see it as a sign that young wizards possess magic in their childhood, but it's always there. It's just that sometimes, due to intense emotional fluctuations, young wizards will exhibit all sorts of magical powers."

Harry listened quietly, his memory drifting back to a few days earlier. His Aunt Maggie, who kept dogs in the countryside, had come to visit. She was a rather rude and mean woman; those two words barely described a tenth of her character.

Her arrival always became Harry's nightmare.

But to get Hogsmeade's signature, he endured a whole week of her verbal humiliation. On her last day as a guest, she got drunk and started spewing insults at his father and mother, which infuriated him.

He had no wand, but he was a wizard. When he came to his senses, Aunt Maggie had inflated into a balloon, like the giant pumpkin Hagrid had planted in the ground last year—except it was an ugly pumpkin with small eyes.

He angrily ran away from home, never wanting to return to Privet Road. Only after he calmed down completely did he begin to feel afraid. He feared he would be expelled or even imprisoned in Azkaban, surrounded by a group of dark wizards.

He even considered wandering the world, drifting through life to evade the Ministry of Magic's pursuit, but he needed to get some money first. But things never go as planned—he arrived at the Leaky Cauldron and was immediately caught by the Minister of Magic.

Fortunately, Fudge did not hold him accountable. Instead, he booked a room for him at the Leaky Cauldron and made him promise to stay in Diagon Alley until the start of the school year and not to return to the Muggle world on his own.

What reason could he possibly have to refuse?

……

Professor Hyp's voice seemed to come from a great distance, "But this usually happens during childhood, and it rarely happens after the young wizards start school. So, Potter, your case is very rare. Something extraordinary must have happened to you."

The professor didn't blame himself; he understood him...

Harry looked up and said in a relaxed tone, "I agree, Professor Hyp. When shall we begin?"

(End of this chapter)