As the bell rang for class, the students quieted down and waited for the professor to arrive.
Yet half a minute passed, and the podium remained empty.
"Where's the professor?" Hermione could not help asking quietly.
Morris turned his gaze to the blackboard at the front of the classroom, where an unusual presence seemed to linger.
The next second, a transparent figure emerged from the blackboard.
Like all ghosts, Professor Binns was pale and translucent.
He looked quite old, dressed in old-fashioned wizarding robes, with a small, thin frame, a wrinkled face, a weary, indifferent expression, and frighteningly vacant eyes.
At first glance, Morris thought he did not look like a living person.
Well, Professor Binns was not a living person to begin with.
In any case, this was a ghost with quite a distinctive air.
Compared with the ghosts Morris had seen at the start-of-term feast, Professor Binns clearly fit his stereotypical image of a ghost much better.
The students present were all startled by Professor Binns's entrance.
"He's a ghost?"
"Looks like it."
Morris heard Ron and Harry whispering behind him.
Yet Professor Binns seemed not to hear the students' chatter and began his lecture without paying them any mind.
"The importance of History of Magic, a subject that records the rise and fall of the wizarding world, is often underestimated by young wizards."
"Everything I teach you is fact, not unfounded stories."
"Now, let us begin. Please turn your textbooks to the section on the early International Confederation of Wizards..."
His voice was utterly flat, with a deathly quality, as though he were clinging to his last breath.
The students fell silent without realizing it.
Then Professor Binns began to cover the contents of the textbook in an unvarying monotone.
Morris listened fairly attentively at first, but when he noticed that Professor Binns was saying exactly what was written in the textbook, he could not help feeling somewhat bored.
Thirty minutes later, he glanced around and found that most of the students had unfocused eyes.
Harry was listlessly poking the edge of his note-taking parchment over and over, while Ron had already slumped completely over his desk.
Hermione, however, was extremely attentive, sitting with her back straight and taking meticulous notes.
Even so, Professor Binns showed no intention of interacting with the class and simply continued his lecture.
He was not even looking at the students.
This looks like a very boring class, Morris thought.
So he simply gave up listening and focused all his attention on Professor Binns himself.
He was more interested in Professor Binns himself than in knowledge that was already written in the textbook.
A ghost professor-now that's what a magical world should feel like.
"In the early fifteenth century, the witch hunts in Muggle society gradually spread, compounded by frequent interregional disputes among wizards..."
Hermione raised her hand. "Professor! I have a question!"
Professor Binns paused, as though he had not expected this.
"Go ahead," he said flatly, without any discernible emotion.
Hermione stood up and asked, "About the witch hunts-were the people the Muggles killed really wizards?"
This girl really was listening to the lecture!
Morris was immediately rather surprised.
Professor Binns glanced in Hermione's direction and began to answer her question.
But just then, Morris keenly noticed that Professor Binns's gaze lingered on him for several seconds.
Once her question had been answered, Hermione sat down, satisfied.
Strangely, Professor Binns did not resume his lecture. Instead, he slowly glided past the podium and floated over to Morris's side.
Morris instinctively looked up at him.
Something unexpected happened: Professor Binns's formerly vacant eyes were now focused precisely on him.
Morris looked around and found that everyone was looking their way.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
Yet Professor Binns merely shook his head and returned to the podium, resuming his lecture in the same monotonous voice, his eyes reverting to their former state.
Morris could only feel bewildered.
And so, the class soon passed.
As the bell rang, the students filed out of the classroom as though they had been granted a reprieve.
Ron yawned and patted Morris on the shoulder from behind. "Morris, want to come to the hall with us? We want to talk to you about what happened last night."
Harry finished packing his things and came over as well, a friendly smile on his face. "We've got lots of things we want to ask you."
Seeing this, Hermione pressed her lips together without saying anything. She simply gathered up her textbooks and notes quickly and left the classroom ahead of them.
Morris glanced at Professor Binns at the podium and shook his head. "Go on ahead. I've got something else to do."
Harry nodded. "All right. See you in the Great Hall."
The two left with the crowd, and the classroom soon emptied, leaving only Professor Binns, Morris, and an enchanted broom sweeping the room by itself.
Morris quietly walked over to the podium and looked straight at Professor Binns, who stood there.
Professor Binns's eyes became clear again.
"Hello, Professor Binns," Morris said. "I'm Morris Black. You seem to want something from me."
Professor Binns smiled faintly.
Morris was surprised. This was the first time he had seen any change in Professor Binns's expression.
Professor Binns said gently, "May I call you Morris, then?"
His tone was completely different from the one he used in class, giving the impression of an elderly neighbor.
Morris paused. "Of course, Professor."
"Very good, Morris." Professor Binns nodded slightly, watching him with his now-clear eyes. "Before we begin our conversation, I would like to confirm something."
"Are you... Death?"
"Death?"
Morris tilted his head, never having imagined that Professor Binns would ask such a question.
It was even somewhat absurd.
Professor Binns watched his expression and continued, "Ah, perhaps I was mistaken. But one thing is certain."
"You are a wizard favored by death."
Morris's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Professor Binns's words were so convincing.
"I don't understand, Professor," Morris said cautiously. "What does that mean? It sounds... unlike a blessing."
"It is indeed no blessing, but it may not be a curse either." Professor Binns floated a little closer. "Death is drawn to you. I imagine those creatures at Hogwarts called Thestrals are very close to you, aren't they?"
Morris did not deny it.
"It seems I was right." Professor Binns chuckled.
"So, Professor," Morris asked the most crucial question at that moment, "why are you telling me this? Is it merely to let me know?"
The faint trace of a smile faded from Professor Binns's face.
He floated a little farther from the podium, as though gathering his thoughts.
Then he said in an extremely calm voice:
"Being favored by death is a very rare ability for a wizard. Only someone with this ability can help me."
"This is a personal request, Morris. When you are strong enough, if you can-"
"Kill me."