Chapter 19: “At Hogwarts”


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


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


    Despite the entricities 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 arge, temperamental man known for punishing students who make mistakes. Rumors circted 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 ce until Mr. Pringle arrived.


    Mr. Donaldknew the secret passages of Hogwarts better than any student and was intimately familiar with the castlesyout. As long as Matthew stayed out of Mr. Pringle and Mr. Donalds 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 Bagshots 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 popr and enjoyable subject.


    Professor Flitwick, the teacher of Charms ss. 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 ss.


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


    However, it was said that in his younger days, Professor Flitwick always had been a grumpy man who participated in numerous duelingpetitions 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 nts 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 evenings 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 andary trajectories.


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


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


    As Matthew entered the Potions ssroom, he couldnt help but notice the bubbling cauldron and various specimens immersed in ss jars along the walls; Animal specimens, nt specimens, and diseased specimens.


    However, Matthew felt lonely despite attending ss 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 rtionship with them.


    Matthew couldnt pinpoint the exact reason for this, nor did he particrly 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 Matthews first encounter with the head of the house of Slytherin in a ssroom.


    Like Professor Trocar, Professor Slughorn began calling out the names from the ss 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 ss 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 toe! Professor Slughorn said in a mysterious tone.


    Intrigued, Matthew leaned forward, eager to experience the enchanting potions that awaited them. The ssroom fell silent as everyone awaited Professor Slughorns revtion.