Meeting the Headmaster

In Hogwarts, being caught out after curfew meant point deductions and detention. However, with Percy, a prefect, leading the way and a note from Dumbledore, Filch could only grudgingly let them go.

Percy only led the way and left once the Headmaster's office door opened.

Charles walked into the Headmaster's office with curiosity and a bit of worry, wondering why Dumbledore had summoned him. Was it because the Sorting Hat had said he should go to Azkaban, or about his desire to grow things, or perhaps something related to Harry Potter?

The Headmaster's office was quite lively. As soon as Charles entered, he noticed the portraits of past Headmasters on the walls watching him with curiosity.

Dumbledore invited him to sit in a chair in front of the desk, pushed a plate of cockroach clusters towards him, and asked with a smile, "Would you like some?"

"Thank you." Charles picked one up and ate it. It wasn't like he hadn't had cockroach-shaped candies or even healing potions before.

Dumbledore's question caught him by surprise: "Charles, may I be so bold as to ask a question? I heard you have a talent for Divination?"

Upon hearing this, Charles immediately replied, "There is something to that. I occasionally appear to be spacing out, feeling as if I'm dreaming and seeing fragments of things."

"However, I often see things related to what's happening around me, like tomorrow's weather."

Dumbledore looked surprised and asked, "Do everything you see come true?"

Charles shook his head and said, "I once saw a neighbor get hit by a car and sent flying the next day when he went out. But that night, his wife fell and hit her head in the bathroom, and was in the hospital for several days. Harry and I even helped him feed his dog."

Dumbledore nodded, poured him a cup of tea with the Elder Wand, and then asked, "Malfoy said you predicted an accident at his home?"

Charles understood. It seemed the bombing of Malfoy Manor had caused quite a stir and a thorough investigation, even uncovering this.

He scratched his head awkwardly and said cautiously, "Actually, I didn't know it was his home that was bombed at first. A minute or two before he got into the carriage, I saw a very beautiful house get blown up, and a middle-aged man looked very angry next to the ruins."

"Later, Malfoy walked into the carriage, and I saw he looked very similar to that middle-aged man, so I thought it must be his home."

"Of course, if Malfoy looked exactly like my neighbor, then I wouldn't be able to say."

Dumbledore had been listening intently at first, but his mouth twitched when he heard the last sentence.

He said, "This is a truly remarkable talent. I think you can begin studying Divination with Professor Trelawney."

However, Charles shook his head and said, "No, Divination brings a lot of trouble. For a while, my family received 26 calls an hour asking about the weather."

He thought Dumbledore might not know what a phone call was, so he gave an example: "It's like having an owl come find you every three minutes."

Dumbledore didn't press the issue, saying, "I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Smith's words. There are many crossroads in life, and just because we elders think a certain path is right doesn't mean it's suitable for young people. If you change your mind later, or have any doubts, you can come talk to me."

"If you see anything you find difficult to understand in the future, it would be best to tell me."

Charles immediately agreed.

With that matter settled, Dumbledore asked him about something else: "I heard from Professor Sprout that you want to grow some things in the wastelands?"

"Yes, yes!" Charles nodded happily. "I think growing those plants is quite interesting."

Dumbledore said seriously, "But it's also dangerous! I imagine Professor Sprout must have told you."

Charles replied, "Yes, I noticed that when I was reading today. I'll do what I can within my limits."

"I read about a plant called the Moonpetal Flower in a book. Can I grow it?"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "Did you see its uses?"

Charles chuckled sheepishly.

Besides being used to make potions like the Energizing Potion, the Moonpetal Flower could also be used to make exceptionally sweet Butterbeer. At his current first-year level, he wouldn't know how to brew potions, but he could certainly add sweetness to Butterbeer, which was more appealing to young people than potions.

Dumbledore saw Charles as just a first-year student from a Muggle family, full of curiosity about the magical world. There were many such students, so he didn't pay too much attention and told him, "Whatever you wish to grow, you need Professor Sprout's permission."

Charles happily agreed. With the Headmaster's approval, things would be easier later.

Then, something Dumbledore was about to bring up made Charles's heart tighten: "You seem to... have a good appetite?"

Charles asked nervously, "Headmaster, are you going to make me pay an extra meal fee?"

"No, no, no!" Dumbledore immediately shook his head. "It's fine to have a good appetite. I was just thinking of a possibility. Are you hungry now?"

Charles shook his head twice, then nodded with a hint of embarrassment, "A little. I prepared some food during dinner."

Dumbledore thought for a moment and said casually, "While your situation is very rare, it's not a major problem. Problems that can be solved by eating are not problems."

Charles asked with difficulty, "Then how long will I have to eat like this?"

"I don't know," Dumbledore stated frankly.

Charles was stunned. He had thought Dumbledore was omniscient.

Dumbledore pointed to the teapot in front of him. "A wizard's magic is like the water in a teapot. When it's not full, it needs to be replenished. Your 'teapot' is much larger than an ordinary wizard's, perhaps even larger than mine. Therefore, your daily consumption of magic is very high."

Charles finally understood. If others were teapots, he was a water bucket.

He suddenly thought of a possibility and asked, "Is it possible that I'm... leaking?"

If the water can't fill the container, besides the container being too large, there might be a "Little Ming" playing tricks, draining it as fast as it's being filled.

Dumbledore fell into thought, making Charles a little worried. Was he really a leaky pot?

Not wanting to disturb the Headmaster's thinking, Charles began to look around the Headmaster's office.

The portraits on the wall were chattering amongst themselves, seemingly discussing whether he was a sieve or a large water tank.

Fawkes the Phoenix was perched on a shelf, looking at Charles with what seemed like unfriendly eyes.

After a long while, Dumbledore said, "Your concern is valid, but the possibility is not high. If there were magic leakage, many strange things would happen around you."

Charles felt relieved. As long as he wasn't a leaky sieve, he could just eat more. At least the Headmaster hadn't asked him to pay extra for meals.

Dumbledore thought for a moment, took out a piece of parchment, wrote a note for him, and said, "If you're hungry, you can find something to eat in the kitchens. You can ask those two Mr. Weasleys how to get there."

Charles smiled and took the note. From now on, if he was out after curfew in the castle, he could just say he got lost on the way to the dining hall.