Something Felt Off

Experience won out in the end.

While Andrew was worrying, the ads for Magical Legends reached the Hogwarts professors.

One married professor, after seeing the ads several times during his summer holiday, decided to give it a try and ordered this month's issue.

His five-year-old daughter fell in love with its bedtime story.

Unfortunately, stories came to an end—especially when only a little had been serialized so far.

Worse, an eleven-year-old student could be reasoned with or given detention. There was no negotiating with a five-year-old, particularly when the other person telling the story wanted to hear what happened next, too.

Professor Taylor swore on his Outstanding grade in Magical History that the whole thing sounded made up. Even so, he sincerely sent Dumbledore a letter by owl, asking whether he had an interview transcript he could share with poor Professor Taylor, so that the professor might enjoy his summer holiday in peace.

He promised the transcript would not be passed beyond his household. If that was impossible, he hoped the headmaster could send him a notice assigning him work over the holiday...

The earnest letter soon landed on Dumbledore's desk. Letters from professors still received fairly high priority with him.

Especially now, while Minerva had him reviewing official documents in his office, such letters received the highest priority of all.

"Oh, Minerva, a letter from one of our professors."

In a tone Fudge had never heard from him, Dumbledore spoke up. Professor McGonagall checked the height of the remaining pile of paperwork, then set aside the document she was approving to give the two headmasters a brief rest.

Then Professor Minerva McGonagall saw a rare look of genuine puzzlement cross Dumbledore's face.

"What happened, Albus?"

"An interview, Minerva."

"An interview?"

Professor McGonagall frowned. "That madwoman Rita?"

Professor McGonagall, who rarely spoke ill of anyone, said the name quite naturally. Then again, that was only to be expected.

"No. It's an interview I've never given," Dumbledore said with a smile, "but it sounds rather interesting."

Dumbledore stood and used his wand to tidy the desk. A stack of lower-priority mail emerged, and he quickly found eleven copies of the current issue of Magical Legends among it.

He should have seen them sooner—if a certain person he dared not name hadn't sent over a heap of official documents.

"Apparently, it's an interview with me. It's selling very well in the wizarding world."

"Has Rita started making things up again?"

"I don't think so. Professor Taylor has never spoken ill of anyone behind their back."

The two of them put down their paperwork and began to read.

About five minutes later, Professor McGonagall set down the magazine. "It's clearly a new fairy tale. They've merely changed the protagonist's name."

"Of course," Dumbledore said amiably. "But they did conduct an interview, though I doubt a single line in here is something I actually said."

"Still, it's better than Rita's work. At least there are no malicious rumors."

"Though many of these fairy tales are familiar. It lacks originality."

Professor McGonagall fixed Dumbledore, who was still critiquing it, with a look. He quickly put down the magazine. "Ah, of course, of course. We have documents to deal with."

"Indeed, Albus. The Ministry of Magic needs these. We must repair the greenhouse, replace the desks and chairs in four classrooms, and address a water-quality issue in the Black Lake."

"I'll take care of it, Minerva."

"Good." Professor McGonagall picked up the magazines one by one and stacked them atop her own paperwork. "I expect to have all the approvals by lunch."

As though certain their presence would distract Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall resolutely carried the magazines away.

But Dumbledore soon found a fresh copy in the pile of letters. With a sigh, he returned to his desk and resumed reviewing documents.

"Reader letters, editor!"

"A mountain of reader letters! There's no doubt about it—we've succeeded!"

"I told you this gamble would pay off."

Excitement filled the publishing house. The article was a serial, and it was clear from the beginning that it could run for a long time. If this kept up, the column alone would sell magazines for at least a year.

"Praise Praise Potato!"

"Praise him!"

The commotion even drew the publisher's attention. Delighted, he ordered a huge supply of Butterbeer and gave everyone responsible for the feature double pay for the month.

That sent the excitement even higher.

"Dumbledore, A Legend?"

Harry flipped through the magazine Hedwig had delivered. It was a gift from Hagrid.

In the letter that came with it, Hagrid praised this semi-autobiographical account of Dumbledore and shared a secret with Harry: "It's got to be true. When I went to the castle, I saw Dumbledore reading it too!"

That assurance left Harry with no doubt about the magazine's contents. He hadn't met Dumbledore yet, but Hagrid had vouched for it!

And he had to admit, somewhat ashamed, that this autobiography gripped him far more than his textbooks did.

Magic was this mysterious?

A three-stage Levitation Charm?

A special wand...

Incredible adventures...

It really was something to envy...

But... He imagined himself standing before Dudley and shouting something about thirty years west of the River Thames. I still couldn't do that...

"Levitation Charm..."

"Levitation Charm..."

In a dentist's home, a freckled little girl waved her wand at a heavy stone.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Her wand movement and incantation were both flawless, so the stone floated straight up and came gently to rest against the ceiling.

"No, that's not right." She carefully lowered the stone, making sure it damaged nothing.

"It should be an anti-magic stone, not an ordinary one... Judging by the name, it must be a stone that keeps spells from working easily."

What stage am I at, then?

The spell worked, and I managed a few other spells too, but there's no way to tell... That makes a huge difference.

"How many people have been injured by cows now?"

"Should we set up a ward just for them?"

"Why have so many people been getting hurt lately while practicing the Levitation Charm? It's one of the simplest spells."

"Hmm, that spell works too. Summoning flames..."

"Starting fires, unlocking doors, immobilizing people... Why do all the spells I know seem a little shady..."

Andrew, unaware of what was happening, felt rather unsure of himself.