Hogwarts: I Am Such a Model Wizard

Chapter 986 Preparation before class

Hogwarts was very busy because the school had just started, and the new alchemy class was also attracting everyone's attention.

Interestingly, when they first received the news, the Daily Prophet was not optimistic about this new course, and even published an article in the newspaper saying that Hogwarts made a wrong decision to revise the course this time.

Their reason is also very simple. Alchemy is not common in Britain, but it is very popular in France. If graduates want to make some achievements in this field, they can only go to France.

Therefore, some people believe that Hogwarts' move is to cultivate talents for France, and also suggest that Minerva McGonagall, the new principal, is a bit eager to get things done.

From the previous war against the Death Eaters to the Snape hearings where a Horcrux shocked the entire UK...Hogwarts has always been at the forefront of public opinion, so. After the publication of these articles, there was indeed a wave of discussion.

Until Hogwarts announced the name of the new professor, the article in the Daily Prophet suddenly took a big turn.

Rita Skeeter took up her pen angrily and angrily criticized a few of her colleagues for being short-sighted and a group of old fools with rigid thinking.

She herself also strongly praised the alchemy class in the article, believing that it was the most correct decision Hogwarts had made in a century. Minerva McGonagall had a longer-term vision than Dumbledore.

Strangely enough, the article did not mention any details or data about alchemy, and the entire article was full of praise.

But it was such an article... which was considered to be completely useless by professionals, but it changed people's views on alchemy in one fell swoop. It also instantly reversed the reputation of Hogwarts, including Minerva McGonagall.

"Why do you think this is happening?" In the principal's office, Minerva McGonagall looked at several newspapers on the table, her face full of confusion and confusion.

She was already prepared to be compared and criticized, but after one article, everything was fine?

"This is probably professional." Kyle, who was sitting opposite her, shrugged. "Rita Skeeter is the best at this kind of thing. She always finds the content that people are most interested in."

"Of course I know this." Minerva McGonagall rubbed her forehead, "It's just that I always feel that she doesn't praise others."

Most of Rita Skeeter's articles reveal the unknown secrets of famous wizards, as well as some exciting tidbits.

She never imagined that one day she would receive a compliment from Rita Skeeter.

It feels like seeing a mandrake singing a lullaby, which is incredible.

Before that, she had only seen Rita Skeeter say good things about one person...and that person was right here.

She couldn't help but raise her head, glanced at Kyle opposite, hesitated for a moment and asked:

"Did you do something?"

"No." Kyle shook his head and said with great certainty: "I have been preparing for the first class these past few days and have done nothing. I have not even sent a letter outside."

Kyle didn't lie about this. He really never found Rita Skeeter. He even read this article just now.

"That's strange, why would Rita Skeeter help us..."

"She might just want to attract attention." Kyle thought for a while and said, "No one is optimistic about the alchemy class. If a different voice appears at this time, it will attract more people's attention."

"What I'm worried about is whether this article will mislead others." McGonagall turned to look out the window and said softly: "I don't deny that I once thought about rejecting Dumbledore's proposal... Don't be surprised, even if he It’s a letter sent as a school director, but the principal still has the right to refuse.”

“But I said yes because I think it’s a bold move, but we also need to face the shortcomings of this course.

“Perhaps someone chose this course just because they read Rita Skeeter’s article.

"But what if he later finds out that this course is different from what he imagined..."

"Then he can study other classes." Kyle blinked and said matter-of-factly.

"Hogwarts is not Azkaban, and alchemy is only an elective course. If you don't like it, you can change it."

Principal McGonagall was stunned for a moment, and she suddenly realized that what Kyle said made sense.

"Just like divination, numerology, and Care of Magical Creatures, it's just an elective course."

Kyle continued: "It's like mastering one more ability. It doesn't mean that you have to be a prophet if you learn divination, and you don't have to be an alchemist if you take alchemy classes."

in addition…

Kyle flipped through the newspaper and found that the articles above were all the same. They were all "I think", "I feel", "I feel"...

Rita Skeeter's article does not have detailed applications and data on alchemy, nor do other articles. Everyone writes articles out of passion, and even if they are misleading, they are just the same.

The difference is all down to personal ability.

And in this regard, Rita Skeeter has no match.

"This... okay..." Mag originally wanted to say something more, but now she felt it was unnecessary.

She suddenly realized that she seemed a little too nervous...especially after she officially became the principal, she didn't find out what Kyle discovered just by looking at the newspaper for two days.

Yes, it’s just an additional elective course. If you think about it, it’s really not a big deal.

"How are you... preparing for the course?" She took the initiative to change the topic.

"That's almost it," Kyle said.

"Oh, I almost forgot." He took out a piece of parchment from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is my application. I hope the principal can agree."

"Apply." Principal McGonagall glanced at the parchment subconsciously, "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes will be stationed at Hogwarts... No!"

She didn't even read the whole content before she rejected it outright.

"I have no objection to students buying Weasley joke toys in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Whether they can bring them into the castle depends on their ability, but their shops must not be opened into the castle!"

"And there is no precedent for this at Hogwarts," she said firmly.

"No, principal, you misunderstood. I don't want them to open a store in the school." Kyle quickly explained: "I mean, I want to cooperate with them on behalf of the school's alchemy class."

"cooperate?"

"That's right." Kyle nodded.

This was also the reason why he came to the principal's office today, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by several newspapers.

"First of all, we need materials for the alchemy class."

Kyle explained patiently: "The cost of the alchemy class is even more than the other two or more classes combined, and expensive materials account for half of it."

"Potions class..." McGonagall suddenly whispered.

The most expensive part of Hogwarts right now is the Potions class. Fortunately, the school greenhouse can provide some of the raw materials, otherwise the Galleons provided by the school director every year would not be enough.

As for the alchemy class, it was probably not much better than the potions class. That is to say, Dumbledore provided a large sum of galleons for this class, otherwise she would never have agreed.

"I went to Hogsmeade yesterday. Fred and George promised to provide some basic materials for Hogwarts."

"Oh?" Mag raised his head, "So, what about the rewards? Don't tell me that they are provided for free."

"Of course not," Kyle said. "They want to work with schools to acquire student work at a lower price and issue additional orders in the senior grades."

Just like students in potions class will brew scabies potion, alchemy class also has homework, and Fred and George want to buy these students' homework, or semi-finished products.

The biggest difference between alchemy and potions is that it doesn’t need to be done in one step and can be divided into many different stages. The first stage of alchemy is usually the construction of the magic text framework, which is a simple and tedious step.

Switching to a potion is equivalent to processing materials...such as grinding lion fish bones into powder, preparing mouse tails and locust juice.

It doesn’t require complicated technical content, but it is very time-consuming.

In Potions class, these matters are usually given to the students who are in confinement. Sometimes the things needed for a class require two students to stay in the confinement room for an entire afternoon.

After listening to Kyle's explanation, Mag frowned and did not agree, but did not refuse either.

This is not an unacceptable thing. Hogwarts saves money and Weasley gains convenience. It is a win-win situation.

"One more question." She raised her head and asked: "Will the content of the alchemy class be changed according to their needs?"

"No." Kyle blurted out: "They made the decision after reading the textbook I brought. In fact, most of the things in their shop fall into the category of basic alchemy and are highly applicable."

Mag nodded.

"Also, what do you mean by additional orders for seniors?"

"It's an opportunity to make pocket money." Kyle said, "After students become proficient in alchemy, they will purchase an additional batch of finished products or semi-finished products every year.

"Students can buy the materials themselves, or buy them elsewhere. As long as they can make what they need, they will spend money to buy it."

Not only Principal McGonagall, but also the principal on the wall was stunned.

They never thought that Hogwarts students could earn pocket money like this.

But if you think about it carefully, there is no problem. Maybe no one would dare to buy the magic potion brewed by the students, but it doesn't seem to matter about the semi-finished alchemy products.

"How much?"

"I can earn about three to five galleons at a time." Kyle did a simple calculation. "It's not much, but it's definitely more than enough to buy some snacks, candies, parchment, quills and the like."

"Isn't that much?" Mag's voice changed a bit.

Most students at Hogwarts only have about ten galleons of pocket money for a year, and three to five galleons is almost half that.

And she also discovered that Kyle said it once, not all of it.

She can already imagine how many students will sign up for alchemy classes next year if this application is approved.

After all, this is the only course where you can make money without graduating, and you can make a lot of money.

McGonagall knew that this was actually a good thing for students, but deep down she still didn't want Hogwarts to have too much to do with Galleons, and study shouldn't be linked to business.

Because students cannot stay in school all the time.

When I was in school I was focused on making money, but what about after I graduate? Should I continue?

But five Galleons was not much at that time.

"Albus..." On the wall, Armando Dippet quietly slipped into the largest painting and whispered to Dumbledore.

"You think... is it right or wrong to let this child stay at Hogwarts?"

"Why are you asking him?" Phineas curled his lips next to him, "Don't forget, he was the one who insisted on keeping that little **** at Hogwarts."

"I think this is a good idea." Dumbledore did not directly answer Dippet's question.

"The redemption of Gringotts is actually not cost-effective. Most young wizards from Muggle families are in a tight situation every year. This is a good opportunity for them."

"What kind of excuse is this?" Phineas couldn't help but said: "I can see it, you two wear a pair of pants."

"You don't understand." Dumbledore did not explain.

Phineas's surname was Black, and it was difficult for him to understand this.

The principal was discussing on the wall, and the current principal McGonagall was also hesitating.

He thought for a long time and finally agreed to Kyle's request, but made some changes.

It is okay to issue additional tasks, but they must be in sixth grade or above, and the time can only be in the first half of the school year.

There are exams in the second half of the school year, so I can’t be distracted.

Kyle had no problem with this and happily agreed for Fred and George.

This was what they expected, there was nothing to hesitate about, and it was already good like this, at least there was one more sixth grader.

They thought they could only issue extra tasks in seventh grade.

After leaving the principal's office, Kyle went all the way to Hogsmeade and told Fred and George the news.

But they were not as happy as they imagined, and even a little disappointed.

Who knows that there are only third-year students in the alchemy class now, and they are all novices. If the materials they pay and the harvest can be barely equal, it is already very good.

Even though they are just some basic protective branches, magic ink, salamander stones, warthog teeth and other gadgets, if they are in large quantities, they will cost a lot of money.

If it weren't for their trust in Kyle, they would never agree to such a request if it were another professor, even if Principal McGonagall came.

"I hope you don't lose too much."

Fred said quietly as he watched Kyle leave in a hurry with a large bag of things.

It's also because he was so quick-talking yesterday. He said if you need any help, just ask, don't be polite.

Who would have thought Kyle could be so rude.

I don’t know if those third-grade guys can do it, so don’t take back a bunch of defective products when the time comes.

"Believe Kyle." George stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.

"If he dares to send me a bunch of defective products, I will send him a bag of dung eggs every day!" Fred couldn't help but muttered.

At the same time, Kyle, who returned to Hogwarts, went to find Hagrid again.

The Potions class has materials provided by the Herbology class, and there is also the Alchemy class, which is the Care of Magical Creatures class.

The biggest advantage of Hogwarts over Beauxbatons is that it has a vast Forbidden Forest.

There are many magical animals inside, including unicorn hair, fire crab shells, hippogriff feathers, the mane on the neck of the Thestral...

These are all good materials for alchemy, and Hagrid only needs to collect them.

…

(End of chapter)