Alchemy Professor? Me?

"That's it. The Quill of Acceptance didn't detect Mr. Heath. He's never received any wizarding education. As for his magic, it was just a single accidental outburst one day, after which an old wizard took him in for apprenticeship training."

"Not to mention that after completing his studies, he only used magic for renovation work. That alone proves his good nature—no need whatsoever for a trip to Azkaban."

Dumbledore, a lollipop bought from a Muggle street vendor dangling from his mouth, laid into Fudge before him.

"Then why did he refuse the Ministry of Magic's investigation? And brazenly assault a Ministry employee?" Fudge said, somewhat indignant.

On the sofa in the corner of the office, a tiny flower suddenly appeared in Kayson's hand. He snapped his fingers to materialize it, then handed it to Lester beside him.

The latter took it instinctively, said a thank you, and promptly turned red.

Dumbledore glanced back at their interaction and shrugged with casual ease.

"See? They're getting along so well."

Fudge rolled his eyes and waved at Lester in the corner.

"Let our victim decide whether to forgive him, then."

Kayson swallowed hard. The little flowers in his hand seemed endless, nearly burying him.

Lester, on the other hand, looked at the beaming Fudge, then at the beaming Dumbledore, utterly unable to fathom what either big shot was thinking.

But fortunately, someone had given him a book called One Hundred Office Politics Tricks last Christmas. In it, it said that in situations like this, the boss probably wanted to back down but was too embarrassed to say so.

Since that was the case, he'd help with the backing down.

"I have no objections."

In an instant, Fudge's face flushed red.

In the corner, Kayson pounded his chest hard, then pointed at Lester, his eyes blazing with intensity, as if to say: "Brothers, in the heart."

"It seems Lester has made his choice. Let's go, Kayson." Dumbledore rose unhurriedly.

"Fine. You always win this one... Where are you taking him?" Fudge slumped back in his chair, drained of all strength and options.

"The Alchemy Professor at Hogwarts resigned recently. I think a natural-born alchemist teaching young witches and wizards alchemy shouldn't be a problem."

Kayson, who had also stood up, froze mid-step in his cheerful stride.

He knew his own situation. This was purely a cheat from MC—no problem cosplaying as a construction worker, but cosplaying as an Alchemy Professor...

What kind of alchemy was this, really?

He turned his gaze to Dumbledore, his eyes blank and terrifying, as if to say: "Me? Alchemy Professor? Is that really okay?"

Dumbledore nodded kindly, as if to say: "Guaranteed."

The moment they stepped out of Fudge's office, they heard his furious roar from inside.

"Looks like our Minister doesn't want you to leave so easily."

Kayson nodded. "I can see that. And hear it."

As he spoke, an Obsidian Block appeared in his hand, and in the blink of an eye, he sealed the office doorway tight.

Dumbledore watched with a smile, even pressing his ear to the obsidian pillar. Only after hearing the crisp thud of a head hitting the obsidian did he nod in satisfaction.

"Alright, our future Alchemy Professor, come here."

Kayson braced himself and walked over. Dumbledore's hand landed on his shoulder, followed by a roar and dizziness from all directions.

"This is Hogwarts. The place where you'll live and work from now on."

Dumbledore, steadying the dazed Kayson, slowly walked toward the castle.

The summer breeze brushed against them, indescribably pleasant.

If you can't find the book title, try searching the author—maybe it's just been renamed!

The entire castle, inside and out, was filled with the laughter of young witches and wizards. Perhaps it was because they only had to endure a few more days before enjoying a two-month-long break, returning only after two months on September 1st.

Kayson just kept following Dumbledore, not taking in a word along the way, his eyes fixed on Hogwarts itself.

Until Dumbledore ran into an acquaintance.

The scene was just like a parent picking up their kid from school, running into a friend, and chatting away on the street.

And the kid, eager to get home, stared at the staircase in the corner. It even moved—looked pretty damn impressive.

Then Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall heard a scream.

They both spun around to see the staircase that had just shifted direction, along with a series of thumping sounds.

Soon, they spotted Kayson jumping while placing blocks beneath his feet, until he climbed back up.

"Hogwarts' staircases... have quite the personality."

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall didn't know what to say. In the end, the former broke the awkward silence.

"This is the new Alchemy Professor I've found for Hogwarts."

Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore, then at Kayson, who in the blink of an eye had completely destroyed all the blocks he'd just placed.

"I'd say he looks more like a Transfiguration Professor. At least it seems that way."

"Hmm. But we still need to go through the proper procedures. An interview, for instance."

"Then I'll go greet them."

Kayson suddenly turned back: "Hm? What interview? Oh right, sir, there's something I forgot to tell you."

"What?"

"I don't know alchemy."

"That's just you thinking you don't know alchemy. Converting magical power into genuine matter—that's the true essence of alchemy. It's like building a house: normal people start from the foundation and finish with the roof, but you already have a house. You only need to explore the structure of that house." Dumbledore explained patiently.

"...Then alchemy has to do something, right? What do I teach the students? Interior decorating?"

"Kayson, trust me. If you can control the transformation of matter, you can control its composition—like turning a wooden block into a floorboard. Perhaps you could give it a try. See this feather? Wrap it in a plant."

Dumbledore pulled out a fiery red long feather and handed it over.

Kayson took it.

"Wrap it?"

"With any plant, sure. Other materials work too."

"OK."

He pinched the feather. The next moment, countless rose vines appeared in his hand, coiling around the feather, tightening, solidifying, forming a thirteen-inch...

"This is an alchemical creation—a wand. Give it a wave." Dumbledore said with a smile.

Kayson gripped the wand and waved it casually. Blocks of pixels sliced through the air, vanishing like fireworks in an instant.

"That's it?"

"Mm-hmm." Dumbledore nodded, walking ahead with light steps, that sly smile as if... he'd found another willing dupe for Hogwarts.

After all, hiring a proper alchemist as a professor would cost at least three thousand gold Galleons a year in salary—higher than Snape's, no less.

And a newly arrived alchemy grandmaster who was also a magic newbie was easy to trick... er... persuade... to generously contribute to Hogwarts out of the goodness of his heart.

How delightful.