Harry Potter : Bloodraven

In the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, three individuals sat at a large, ornate desk. Its occupants included Headmaster Albus Dumbledore in his rightful chair, with his deputy, Professor McGonagall, seated across from him and a young man sitting beside her.

Their conversation had started off simply, with easy questions and clear answers, but gradually it became more serious, spiraling a bit out of control.

Currently, the young man sitting beside Professor McGonagall appeared deep in thought, while Dumbledore and the deputy headmistress watched him intently, their expressions making it clear they were waiting for him to speak.

"Headmaster, I would like to teach Muggle science, not alchemy," the young man finally said, making his intentions clear to the two expectant people.

Hearing Maverick clearly express his thoughts, the old wizard let out a tired sigh. He briefly glanced at Professor McGonagall, offering her a silent nod, before turning his attention back.

Maverick noticed the subtle exchange between the two professors. It wasn't exactly discreet, and he could tell they were choosing their words carefully.

"Mr. Caesar, please, hear us out first..." He heard Dumbledore say, and at the same time, he noticed McGonagall turn to him and clear her throat softly.

"Mr. Caesar, we have no objection to you introducing Muggle science as a new course at Hogwarts. But as I mentioned earlier, the material is too advanced for younger students and would be better suited as an elective for sixth- and seventh-years."

Maverick nodded slowly, recalling their earlier conversation.

"Professor, just to clarify, does that mean I'll be joining Hogwarts as a professor of Muggle science?"

McGonagall nodded, her eyes briefly flicking to Dumbledore, who returned the gesture with a confirming nod. Maverick observed the subtle exchange between them, then heard the old wizard offer his opinion.

"Your book is an excellent resource, Mr. Caesar. By the end of the course, I have no doubt that our students will have a deep understanding of science and its potential. But as Professor McGonagall said, it's best suited for older students."

Maverick frowned, noticing how the two senior magicals kept emphasizing only sixth and seventh years. He wondered what he would be teaching the younger grades and whether he would need to simplify his book even further.

"What about the younger students? First-years through fifth-years?"

"They'll continue with Muggle Studies, as they do now," Dumbledore explained. "However, if you're willing, we'd appreciate it if you could help update the curriculum to include some modern materials... not to the extent of your book, of course." He paused briefly before adding, "But it will still be taught by the current Muggle Studies professor, not by you."

Maverick tilted his head, processing the information. "So, just to clarify, I'd only be teaching two grades?"

Dumbledore hesitated, exchanging another glance with McGonagall. "About that..."

Maverick noticed, for the first time that day, a hint of uncertainty in the old wizard's expression.

"Mr. Caesar," Dumbledore began, his tone softening. "Hogwarts hasn't had an alchemy professor in years... over a decade, in fact. As you're surely aware, it's an exceptionally rare field. Those who achieve two stars or higher in alchemy typically pursue careers in the private sector or their country's ministry. The work is lighter, the pay is higher, and teaching is rarely their first choice."

Maverick raised an eyebrow. "Professor, aren't you a master alchemist yourself?"

His question caused the wise wizard to pause briefly before letting out a light chuckle. "Ah, you are quite right. I am, indeed. But as you well know, I'm also the headmaster of this school, the chief speaker at the ICW, and the president of the Wizengamot, and a number of other titles... As much as I would dearly love to return to the role of a formal teacher, my many other responsibilities keep me rather occupied."

Maverick observed the old wizard carefully. There was not a hint of deception in his words.

He took a moment to consider the situation. Being a headmaster alone was no small task, let alone holding all those other heavy positions.

The room fell into a quiet silence once again. Neither Dumbledore nor McGonagall spoke further, simply watching Maverick as he sat in thought.

Maverick finally accepted that Dumbledore truly wouldn't have the time to teach while managing multiple positions. At the same time, it became clear to him that they wanted him to take on the role of alchemy professor while also offering him the opportunity to teach his proposed subject.

However, he still had concerns, particularly about time. Two subjects meant double the classes, which meant double the work of a regular professor. So before making up his mind, he needed to ask and clarify.

"Professor, first of all, I apologize for not considering your situation and doubting your responsibilities," Maverick spoke sincerely.

Dumbledore waved his hand, signaling that it was no problem. "Oh, no need for apologies, my dear boy... no harm done..."

Maverick nodded and didn't dwell on it any longer, instead brought up the matter at hand.

"Professors... I'm willing to agree, but I need to clarify a few things first." He glanced between the two elders. "Teaching two subjects sounds like a lot of work. How will you arrange my schedule?"

Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged another glance of their silent communication.

Sure enough, McGonagall turned to him and began speaking reassuringly. "Mr. Caesar, perhaps I wasn't clear earlier. Since alchemy hasn't been taught in years, it would begin with first-years only. Muggle science, likewise, would begin with sixth-years only. So, in the first year, your workload would be very, very light."

Maverick nodded slowly, but that wasn't the answer he was looking for. "What about in the future, Professor McGonagall? At some point, I would have to teach all seven grades..."

"We can assure you, Mr. Caesar, that you won't be overburdened," Dumbledore interjected smoothly. "Minerva and I will figure out a solution. For instance, Hogwarts currently schedules classes so that two houses attend a subject together. We can adjust the schedule so that alchemy and Muggle science classes would include all four houses. This way, even as you take on more grades, your workload will be halved."

Maverick considered their proposal. It made sense—combining houses would reduce the number of classes he'd need to teach while still reaching all students.

Once his doubts had been cleared, the decision no longer seemed difficult. He smiled at the two of them and nodded.

"Then I agree, Headmaster Dumbledore."

Dumbledore's face lit up with relief, and even McGonagall allowed herself a small smile.

"Young man, you have no idea how much of a burden you've lifted from this old man's head," Dumbledore said, his face brightening. "I've been searching for a suitable candidate for years to bring alchemy back to this school. And fortunately, a talented master alchemist has agreed. On behalf of Hogwarts, I truly appreciate your willingness."

Maverick couldn't help but smile shyly.

"My pleasure, Professor. And thank you both for giving me the opportunity..."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he glanced at his deputy, who wore a similar expression.

Maverick saw them exchange another round of silent communication before the old wizard spoke to him again with that tone as warm and thoughtful as ever.

"Well then, my boy, I must say, this has been a most enlightening discussion. Now, is there anything you'd like to add? Or perhaps something you might need? Whatever it may be, rest assured, this old man will do his utmost to make it possible."

Maverick glanced between the two, briefly searching his thoughts, wondering if he had overlooked anything. After a moment, his eyes lit up as he remembered something important he had intended to bring up later, but now seemed like a good time.

Maverick smiled inwardly, then raised his hand. With a thought, a stack of papers appeared on the desk.

Dumbledore and McGonagall both raised their eyebrows, intrigued. It seemed this young man had a habit of keeping his thoughts well prepared.

They saw Maverick gently tapped the paper stack with his index finger, and it immediately split into two stacks.

"Impressive silent, wandless casting," McGonagall exclaimed, her educator instincts kicking in.

Maverick chuckled at her sudden remark, then slid one stack of papers toward Dumbledore and the other to McGonagall.

"This is my long-term vision, Professors. In here, I have outlined in detail my plan to change this country's wizarding community for the better, and it all starts here at Hogwarts—with the children, bringing them all together."

The two seasoned professors exchanged astonished looks. First, it was the idea of introducing science to bridge the gap between the wizarding world and modern advancements. Now, it had escalated to uniting the entire country's magical community. And with every question they asked, another book seemed to land in their laps.

Maverick didn't realize that he was unknowingly giving the two seasoned wizards one headache after another with this single meeting.

He misread their expressions, thinking they believed they had to go through the entire stack of papers. So, he quickly clarified, "You don't need to read everything right now. Just the first page... it's a quick summary. Please take a look and let me know your thoughts."

Dumbledore and McGonagall let out an inward sigh. Though this young man's ideas promised more headaches, they were ultimately for the greater good of the country's magical community.

Setting aside their initial thoughts, each of them picked up the topmost paper from the stacks and began reading with curiosity.

Maverick observed as time passed slowly. First, they showed curiosity, then shock, and finally, admiration in their eyes.

"This is..." Dumbledore started, but before he could finish, McGonagall interjected, completing his sentence.

"Ingenious... truly."

She turned to Maverick. "Your proposal here is remarkable, Mr. Caesar."

Maverick smiled shyly and glanced at Dumbledore to see his opinion.

"Minerva speaks correctly, Mr. Caesar," Dumbledore said. "If this can be pulled off, it will undoubtedly bring all the children of our school closer to harmony than ever before..." He paused, seemingly thought of something, then added, "But this will also burden your schedule, Mr. Caesar. How do you plan to cope with it?"

Dumbledore's remark was indeed valid, but fortunately, Maverick had already considered it when he first developed the plans.

"Professor," he began, flashing a bright smile at the old wizard, "just give me an assistant to work under me, and that will solve the problem. And if it's a burden on the school's finances, I assure you that once you've read the entire set of papers, you won't mind giving me ten assistants," Maverick added, joking lightly.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, his curiosity growing as he looked at the stack of papers in front of him. After all, any plan that could potentially bring in more funds for the school was certainly most welcome.

Maverick saw the old wizard wave his hand. "The school's finances are not a problem, Mr. Caesar. In fact, that sounds like a wonderful idea, and I agree." He paused, casting a glance at his deputy, gesturing for her to handle it.

McGonagall turned to Maverick. "Just tell me what kind of witch or wizard you're looking for as your assistant."

Maverick could sense McGonagall had no second thoughts about arranging an assistant for him, which made him wonder why other professors didn't have one. Was it because they were rejected, or simply because they never asked?

He dismissed the thought and thought about how to respond to McGonagall. After a moment of quick thinking, he explained. "A good, disciplined graduate from this school, Professor. Preferably one to graduate this year... good at Quidditch, and most importantly, someone who has no significant conflicts with other houses."

McGonagall gave him a doubtful look. "If you want all of those boxes checked, Mr. Caesar, that may be a bit difficult."

Maverick quickly waved his hand, realizing that was indeed the case. "I understand, Professor. It doesn't need to be all of the options. Just someone good at Quidditch and with a generally good relationship with everyone will be fine..."

"Well, that shouldn't be too difficult, should it, Minerva?" Dumbledore chimed in, turning to his deputy with a light smile.

McGonagall shot him a flat look.

A moment later, McGonagall sighed and nodded in agreement. "I'll try to hire someone before the next school year starts."

Maverick smiled. Although it meant more work for her, he knew she would do her best to fulfill the task.

"Well, now that this matter is settled," Dumbledore said with a thoughtful pause, "there is one other important issue that must be addressed..."

Both Maverick and McGonagall turned to him.

"If we want to accomplish this, we'll have to speak with the other schools as well. Only if they agree will this be possible."

Maverick nodded, understanding what Dumbledore meant. However, he had no doubt that the other schools would reject the proposal.

Time passed slowly, and more than an hour had gone by since Maverick started explaining everything to the two senior wizards. He covered what needed to be done, how it would work, and the timeline to make it all happen.

After that, Dumbledore and McGonagall briefed Maverick on what he needed to take care of before the school year began in September.

Dumbledore then gave Maverick access to the Hogwarts fireplace network and even agreed to connect it to a private location of his choosing. To hire him, the master alchemist, the old wizard spared no effort in providing conveniences for him.

Before Maverick left, Dumbledore asked him to return in a few days so he could give him a proper tour of the school, introduce him to the other staff and professors, as well as meet with the school board.

Fortunately, Maverick didn't have to get involved in the formal process of registering Muggle Science as a subject, as Dumbledore assured he would take care of it.

Standing in front of the fireplace in Dumbledore's office, Maverick turned to the senior witch and wizard, both of whom had left him with a very positive impression.

Dumbledore was no manipulative figurehead trying to brainwash others, and McGonagall was no mere follower who agreed with everything Dumbledore said. These two were nothing like the characters he had read about in the stories from his previous life. Then again, maybe he had just read too many fanfictions and ended up mixing up their personalities.

He extended his hand first to McGonagall, shaking it before moving on to Dumbledore.

Just as Maverick extended his hand and shook Dumbledore's, a sudden sensation washed over him, sending a faint, uneasy ripple through his body. It was something he shouldn't have picked up, especially not from the world's greatest white wizard.

Dumbledore, as keen as ever, didn't miss the subtle shift in Maverick's demeanor. However, he kept his expression neutral, calm, with no outward reaction. He shook the boy's hand gently, then released it and met his eyes.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice," Dumbledore said quietly, "but it seems your perception is as impressive as your alchemy, Mr. Caesar."

Maverick instinctively narrowed his eyes and fell silent, carefully gathering his thoughts.

People had their own secrets, and as long as they didn't pose a threat to him, he wasn't the type to pry. He was just a little startled, considering this was Albus Dumbledore, after all. Finally, deciding not to address the strange sensation from the old wizard's left hand, he concluded it was none of his business.

Noticing Maverick's silence, Dumbledore let out a soft sigh and spoke slowly, his tone a touch dejected.

"An accident," he said calmly. "I'll share the details with you another time, if you don't mind."

Maverick quickly shook his head, dismissing the thoughts swirling in his mind. Realizing he had taken a bit longer to gather his thoughts, he quickly explained, "Professor, I don't need to know, really. But if you'd like to share, I'd be glad to sit down for another chat sometime."

McGonagall watched the exchange quietly, her expression shifting through several emotions. When Maverick finally responded so graciously, she smiled inwardly, appreciating his maturity. She was glad he wasn't a nosy person.

Dumbledore's smile grew, his eyes twinkling with approval. "Ah, thank you, my dear boy," he said softly, pausing for a moment before continuing, "It has been a true pleasure to meet you. We shall have plenty of time to converse in the future. Until then, I shall see you in a few days..."

Maverick smiled in return, his respect for the two wizards deepening. He nodded to both Dumbledore and McGonagall, then stepped into the fireplace. A moment later, with a green burst of flame, he disappeared.

As the echoes of the fire faded, Dumbledore turned to McGonagall, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "A remarkable young man, don't you think?"

McGonagall nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, Albus... How I wish I had the chance to have been his teacher."

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Author's Note:

Just a quick update — up to Chapter 96 is already available on P AT r30n!

PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic