Disturbance in the Great Hall

Kayson didn't hesitate to use an Ender Pearl in the corridor. In just a few breaths, he arrived on the floor where his office was located.

The four youngsters were sitting beside their respective offices, chattering about something.

"What are you guys doing here?" Kayson called out to them.

"Ah, uh... Professor Kayson, we're here... uh..."

"Never mind, I'm actually glad you came. Come on in."

Kayson waved his hand, opening his office door to let everyone inside.

He then took out snacks and drinks from a cabinet and placed them on the coffee table.

He still hadn't forgotten Dumbledore's instructions.

"Please wait a moment while I finish this. Of course, you can also come and take a look. After your third year, you'll start filling out elective courses, perhaps you could try Alchemy or something similar."

Kayson theatrically pulled out a large Redstone lamp block from under his desk. After forcefully removing the casing, he began fiddling with the various Redstone circuits inside.

As he had expected, the four youngsters gathered around curiously.

"Why isn't this kind of Alchemy based on magic patterns?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Have you heard of an Enchanting Table? I prefer to have the effects of enchanting replace the work of magic patterns. It's more stable and more durable," Kayson explained while dismantling the Redstone lamp.

"Then what are these red, thread-like things?"

Hermione asked again.

Kayson was quite pleased with Hermione, who served as his perfect foil. A piece of Redstone appeared in his hand.

"This is an alchemical substance I refined myself. I call it Redstone. It's a type of magic energy crystal, and to a certain extent, it can replace the function of magic circuits."

"The problem with this Redstone lamp is also very simple: the Redstone circuit is broken. This is one of the advantages of Redstone circuits over simple magic circuits. If this were a magic lamp, it would have exploded by now," Kayson said with a chuckle.

"Can this lamp still be fixed?" Ron asked, leaning his head over.

"Uh-huh, it's very simple. You just need to find the broken point and reconnect it."

"As long as you touch the Redstone circuit with Redstone, the Redstone circuit will light up. Sometimes, when the circuits of the large Redstone contraptions I make have errors, like very complex switches, and I'm too lazy to turn them on in order, I'll just take off the casing."

"Then, like this." Kayson directly placed a small block of Redstone onto a Redstone circuit closest to a Redstone torch.

"Wouldn't this kind of Redstone Alchemy be very easily damaged?" Hermione asked.

"Use the casing."

"Oh... right." Hermione said a little sheepishly.

"Uh-huh." Kayson quickly repaired the Redstone lamp he had just broken before looking at the group.

"I'm guessing you have some good news to tell me?"

Speaking of which, Neville became excited.

"During Flying class today, that Malfoy didn't learn his lesson and tried to cause trouble for me. I taught him a good lesson. Didn't he put my Remembrall on a tree? I put him on a tree too!"

Neville's face was flushed red with excitement as he spoke, like a hero who had defeated a great dragon.

"That's excellent, and I can see you've regained your confidence. Believe me, your grandmother will be surprised by your transformation when you go home for Christmas," Kayson said with a smile.

"Will she?" Neville asked, his eyes shining.

"She will," Kayson replied without hesitation, secretly resolving to write a letter to Neville's grandmother.

One-sided, suppressive education is not advisable.

"Also, Harry successfully joined the Quidditch team! He's the youngest since the school was founded, and Professor McGonagall personally approved it!"

Neville continued to share with Kayson, and it seemed like he could talk about it for ten days and a half.

It wasn't until the sun began to turn yellow that the four realized they had been there for quite a long time and it was time to leave.

"Oh, right, here are some small gifts for you. I hope you don't mind. Perhaps you can use these to make some interesting small items." Kayson waved his hand, and four fist-sized Redstone cubes appeared on the coffee table in front of him.

"Thank you, Professor!" ×4

"Let's go. Although this sounds a bit cheesy, study hard."

Kayson stretched his limbs and also left his office, heading towards the Great Hall.

He heard they were having lamb chops for dinner today, so he had to savor them.

On normal days, not all professors were present for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most of the time, professors only attended events like the Opening Feast and Halloween Feast.

Kayson also saw Professor Snape, who usually seemed invisible, at the High Table on a regular day, which was rare.

"Good evening, Severus... Perhaps this greeting is a bit strange."

Snape shook his head. "I've encountered stranger greetings..."

As he spoke, he looked up at the High Table, making sure no one was paying attention to them, and also at Quirrell's empty seat. After a moment's thought, he spoke, "Did Dumbledore tell you about Quirrell?"

"Um... not really. I discovered it myself," Kayson replied.

Snape nodded. "Very perceptive. The other day, I went to Hogsmeade Village to purchase a potion ingredient. I saw you and Hagrid getting drunk at The Hog's Head, and there was a man in black, trying to pry information from you. Who was that person?"

"I can't see his face clearly, but I think it was Quirrell, asking how to get past Hagrid's three-headed dog and my piston door... Did he ask you?"

"No, that kind of logic puzzle. If he still needed to ask me, he'd really need to get his head checked at St Mungo's." Snape's words showed no hint of his disdain for Quirrell.

"Yeah, uh..." Kayson agreed, then suddenly paused.

"Dumbledore trusts me, and he told me that if necessary, I should give Quirrell a push, meaning tell him the correct option." Snape noticed Kayson's pause and offered an explanation.

"I don't really have any strong feelings about Quirrell, or rather Voldemort. He's just a powerful, evil Dark Wizard. It's just that Dumbledore is always so superstitious about that prophecy. I just arrived, I'm still new, and honestly, does he really think he can rely on a child like Harry to defeat Voldemort?"

"Prophecies... sometimes they do demand respect."

"Uh..." Kayson didn't quite know how to continue the conversation, so he could only awkwardly say, "I always thought Potions was a materialistic subject."

"In reality, it is not." Snape was about to explain when he was interrupted by a commotion from the student seating below.