"That was how it was. The Quill of Acceptance never detected Mr. Heath. He had never received any wizarding education. As for his magic, it was merely an accidental magical outburst one day, after which an old wizard took him away as an apprentice."
"Not to mention that after finishing his studies, he only used magic for renovation work. That alone proves his kindness. There is absolutely no need for him to report to Azkaban."
With a Muggle lollipop bought from the roadside in his mouth, Dumbledore kept laying out his case to Fudge.
"Then why did he refuse the Ministry of Magic's investigation? And why did he so boldly attack a Ministry employee?" Fudge said angrily.
On the sofa in the corner of the office, a little flower suddenly appeared in Kayson's hand. With a snap of his fingers, he made it materialize and handed it to Lester beside him.
The latter accepted it on instinct and said thank you, then promptly turned bright red.
Dumbledore turned back to look at their interaction and shrugged casually.
"See? They get along so well."
Fudge rolled his eyes and beckoned Lester over from the corner.
"Let's let our victim decide whether to forgive him."
Kayson swallowed hard. The little flowers in his hands seemed endless, nearly burying him alive.
Lester, on the other hand, looked at Fudge's beaming smile, then at Dumbledore's equally beaming smile, and had no idea what either of these big shots was thinking.
Fortunately, someone had given him a book called One Hundred Workplace Tactics last christmas. It said that in this sort of situation, the boss probably wanted to back down but was too embarrassed to say so.
In that case, I'll help them back down.
"I have no objections."
In an instant, Fudge's face turned crimson.
In the corner, Kayson pounded his chest and pointed at Lester. His eyes shone terrifyingly brightly, as if they were saying, Brothers forever.
"It seems Lester has made his choice. Let's go, Kayson." Dumbledore rose unhurriedly.
"Fine, you always win... Where are you taking him?" Having exhausted all his strength and tricks, Fudge slumped helplessly into his chair.
"Hogwarts's Alchemy Professor resigned some time ago. I believe a natural-born alchemist would have no problem teaching young wizards alchemy."
Kayson's cheerful steps froze the moment he stood up as well.
He knew his own situation. This was purely a cheat from MC. It was no problem making him play the part of a construction guy, but asking him to play an Alchemy Professor...
What kind of alchemy is this supposed to be?
He looked at Dumbledore, his eyes so blank they were frightening, as if asking, Me? An Alchemy Professor? Can I really do that?
Dumbledore nodded kindly, as if saying, Absolutely.
The moment they stepped out of Fudge's office, they heard Fudge's furious roar from inside.
"It seems 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, the office doorway was sealed completely shut.
Dumbledore watched with a smile, even pressing his ear against the obsidian pillar. Only after hearing the crisp sound of a head striking obsidian did he nod in satisfaction.
"All right, our future Alchemy Professor. Come here."
Kayson walked over stiffly. Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder, and then came a roar accompanied by dizziness from every direction.
"This is Hogwarts, the place where you will live and work from now on."
Supporting the dazed Kayson, Dumbledore slowly headed toward the castle.
The summer breeze brushed over them, pleasantly warm and comfortable.
The entire castle, inside and out, was filled with the laughter and cheers of young wizards. Perhaps they only had to endure these last few days before enjoying a two-month holiday, returning two months later on September 1.
Kayson simply followed behind Dumbledore. He did not take in a single word along the way, his gaze fixed on Hogwarts the entire time.
Until Dumbledore ran into an acquaintance.
The scene looked exactly like a parent taking a child home after school and running into a friend, then starting to chat away in the middle of the street.
And the child eager to get home looked toward the staircase in the corner. It moved, and it looked unbelievably awesome.
Then Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall heard a scream.
The two hurriedly turned around and saw the staircase, which had just changed direction, along with a series of thumps.
Very soon, they saw Kayson jumping while placing blocks beneath his feet, until he managed to climb back up.
"Hogwarts's staircases... have a lot of personality."
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall did not know what to say. In the end, the former broke the awkward silence.
"This is the new Alchemy Professor I found for Hogwarts."
Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore, then at Kayson, who destroyed every block he had just placed in the blink of an eye.
"I think he looks more like a Transfiguration Professor. At least, he certainly seems like one."
"Mm, but we should still go through the proper procedures, such as an interview."
"Then I'll go notify them."
Kayson suddenly turned around. "Hm? What interview? Oh, right, sir, there is something I forgot to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I don't know alchemy."
"That is only because you think you do not know alchemy. Transforming magic into real matter is the essence of alchemy. It is like building a house: ordinary people begin with the foundation and finish with the roof, while you already possess a house. All you need to do is explore its structure," Dumbledore explained patiently.
"...But alchemy has to actually do something, right? What am I supposed to teach the students? Renovation?"
"Kayson, believe me. If you can control the transformation of matter, then you can control its composition. Like turning a wooden block into flooring. Perhaps you could give it a try. Do you see this feather? Wrap it in plants."
Dumbledore took out a long, fiery red feather and handed it over.
Kayson accepted it.
"Wrap it?"
"Any plant will do. Of course, other materials would work as well."
"Okay."
He pinched the feather, and in the next moment, countless rose vines appeared in his hand and wound around it. They tightened, solidified, and became a thirteen-inch...
"This is an alchemical creation—a wand. Give it a wave and try it," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Kayson gripped the wand and waved it casually. Blocks of pixels traced through the air, then vanished in an instant like fireworks.
"That's it?"
"Mhm." Dumbledore nodded and walked ahead with light steps, that sly smile looking as though... he had found another sucker for Hogwarts.
After all, hiring a proper alchemist as a professor would conservatively require more than three thousand gold Galleons a year in salary—no less than Snape's pay.
But a newly arrived alchemy expert who was also a complete magical novice was easy to fool... no, easy to coax... into kindly and selflessly contributing to Hogwarts.
How wonderful.
Before you continue