The First Guest in the Office

After teaching the first-years, Tver's work for the week was basically finished.

The second- and third-years had been displeased that the new first-years had not been punished by being hung up, but once they learned that the newcomers had merely been taught how to make light emerge from their wands, that dissatisfaction vanished without a trace.

They had even formed a peculiar bond of friendship, enthusiastically mocking the first-years.

Gryffindor common room.

"Fred, show Ron what real combat looks like!" George said with a solemn expression.

Fred made an OK gesture, then pulled out his wand in the common room.

"Stunning Spell!"

A red light shot out and struck George squarely, but as the glow dispersed, George showed no sign of falling over.

He even looked like he was about to laugh.

"Fred," he said, frowning in dissatisfaction, "didn't you say you learned some powerful magic from Professor Fawley? Hurry up and teach me a proper lesson!"

Fred spread his hands innocently.

"That's all the professor taught me."

Ron had been teased into speechlessness and could only look helplessly at the prankster twins.

Harry, on the other hand, was enjoying the show, grinning foolishly nearby without noticing in the slightest that they were mocking him.

"Oh, honestly, you've been playing this trick all day—pretending to be hit one moment, pretending nothing happened the next," Hermione said irritably, closing her textbook. "Didn't the professor assign you homework? Go write it already!"

George and Fred exchanged a glance, then turned back with wide, delighted grins.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but we've already finished the professor's essay. Now we're just waiting to hand it in and get that reward!"

"But the reward is mine, George. You should give up on that idea."

"Bullshit! I spent ten more minutes on mine. My essay is definitely ten times better than yours!"

"Heh, mine is an inch longer than yours. Professor Fawley will definitely know that what I wrote is more detailed!"

The two of them started arguing as though no one else was around, making the older students roll their eyes.

Professor Fawley's reward had long since become the hottest topic in the castle. Everyone was curious about what it could possibly be.

"I think it's private tutoring from the professor," guessed an older witch with a dreamy look on her face.

Of course, that was merely the witches' wishful speculation. At present, most people believed it was more likely to be a magical item or some special kind of magic.

But whatever it was, the reward had nothing to do with them. After all, only third-year students had received the professor's promise.

Hermione shook her head helplessly.

She had looked forward to the reward as well, planning to compete for it after finishing her homework, only to find that it had nothing to do with first-years in the end.

Checking the time and seeing that only an hour remained before curfew, she hurriedly packed up her books and rushed out.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked in confusion.

"To practise!"

The next second, both Hermione's figure and voice vanished from the common room.

"What's there to practise? No matter how proficient she gets, she can't turn a beam of light into magic," Ron muttered quietly.

However, with duelling becoming so popular, finding an empty classroom to practise in over the weekend was no easy task.

Hermione checked several classrooms in a row, but every one of them was already full of young wizards practising combat.

Just as she was beginning to pant from all the searching, a voice suddenly sounded beside her.

"What are you looking for?"

Tver stood in the corridor outside his office, watching the witch who was looking around everywhere with curiosity.

The torchlight of the night flickered across his face. His pale complexion looked somewhat eerie, and Hermione was naturally startled.

Tver raised a hand and caught the bag she had dropped in fright. It was surprisingly heavy, nothing like the load a first-year should carry—more like that of a fifth-year preparing for the O.W.L. exams.

"Pro... Professor, I didn't notice you were here."

Hermione glanced around the corridor in a panic, only then realizing that she had wandered to the offices of the two Defence Against the Dark Arts professors.

"No need to be nervous. Curfew hasn't started yet," Tver said as he went over and opened the office door. "Still, first-years rarely wander around the castle at this hour. Would you mind coming in for a chat?"

He carried her bag as though it were a hostage, leaving Hermione unable to refuse—and unwilling to refuse.

Receiving personal guidance from a professor would be much better than practising alone.

Hermione comforted herself.

As she entered the office, she realized that this was the first time she had ever stepped into a professor's office.

The candles within lit up one after another as Tver walked inside, allowing her to see the room's layout clearly.

Books.

There were far too many books here. Two large bookcases stood by the door, and another three filled the space behind the desk, all packed to the brim.

There was even a pile of books on the desk.

Besides that, there were only a few objects draped in black cloth, taking up one corner.

This made her even more convinced that her reading plan was the right one.

As long as I finish all these books, I'll definitely become as capable as the professor!

"Have a seat. Tea, or pumpkin juice?"

Tver asked gently.

He had once only served tea to guests, but after tasting Hogwarts pumpkin juice, he had added another drink to his supplies.

Hermione sat down somewhat stiffly and said quietly, "Tea will be fine."

In less than a second, the teapot and cup clattered their way over to her, pouring her a steaming cup of tea.

It was English black tea, with sugar and milk set beside it.

When Hermione showed no intention of drinking, the cup anxiously spun in circles before her, nearly spilling the tea.

Only then did Hermione belatedly pick it up.

The professor was actually drinking pumpkin juice!

The contrast surprised her greatly. She had thought that someone as refined as the professor ought to be elegantly sipping tea.

But it also made her truly realize that the professor had only just graduated and was merely seven years older than her.

That discovery made her relax completely.

Seemingly noticing the girl's surprise, Tver said with a smile, "It was only after I came to Hogwarts that I discovered this delicious drink. It suits my tastes unexpectedly well. I hope you won't think less of me because of it."

"Of course not," Hermione said, hurriedly looking up. "On the contrary, I think the professor seems more... more kind now."

"?"

Tver's smile froze.

Had he already reached the age where people described him as kind?!

But the odd expression vanished after only a second, and a smile returned to his face.

"I'm glad I seem approachable to you. Then can you tell me why you're wandering around the castle at this hour?"

Hermione found it a little strange that Tver had emphasized "approachable," but she quickly put it out of her mind.

"Didn't you tell us to practice that technique more? I was just planning to find somewhere to practice."