Chapter 72: Potions for Professors
"Of course, Principal. In fact, I understand that the teachers at Hogwarts are quite busy, so there's no need to notify everyone."
Professor Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly, and he pondered for a moment. "What do you mean?"
Aaron scratched his head and smiled, holding up four fingers. "Four Professors will do.
Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and Professor Snape.
Before the holidays, I have the right to call on them once, on demand."
"You know that's impossible," Professor Dumbledore said, a wry smile on his face. "I can have Professor Snape protect you, and Hagrid at most.
But I can't give them all to you. Besides teaching, these Deans also have to manage their respective Houses, and their burdens are not light.
If they were all called away by a single word from you, Hogwarts would be largely paralyzed."
It's not possible?
Aaron hadn't expected Professor Dumbledore to agree to such a demanding condition.
It's all about bargaining! The most important thing is to reach the expected price, and it's even better if it can be raised a bit from there.
"Then three Professors," Aaron bent one of the four fingers he had extended. "Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Snape."
Professor Dumbledore shook his head, smiling but not speaking.
"Two, no less," Aaron said, somewhat annoyed. "Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.
If you don't agree, then give me back the Potion!
If my safety can't be guaranteed, then I really can't hand over something that saves my life."
"Two is barely acceptable," Professor Dumbledore looked helplessly at Snape. "You heard that, Severus."
"I heard, Principal," Snape rolled his eyes at Aaron. "You call, I'll come.
But you only get one chance."
Aaron gave an embarrassed smile. "I promise I won't disturb you, Professor, unless it's an emergency."
"Better be."
"I'll talk to Professor McGonagall; she should give me this face," Professor Dumbledore said. "Are you satisfied now?"
"It's alright!" Aaron stood up from his chair. "I think I can leave now, right!"
"Of course, go back and get a good night's sleep!"
Hearing this, Aaron let out a heavy sigh.
The matter was coming to an end. He picked up Abey, who was drooling at the red strange bird, and was about to leave.
However, after only a few steps, Professor Dumbledore's voice came from behind. "Mr. Gaius, your cat seems quite unusual!"
Aaron's steps faltered, and his heart skipped a beat.
He turned to look at Hagrid and saw that the Giant was gently shaking his head at him, constantly hinting with his eyes that he hadn't said anything, which barely put his mind at ease.
"Principal has good insight!
I wrapped Abey so tightly, and you still noticed him.
My cat is very cute, isn't he!"
"Very cute, but what I'm going to say has nothing to do with his appearance," Professor Dumbledore pointed meaningfully at the red strange bird on the gilded perch. "Fawkes, my pet, it's a Phoenix.
It's the first time I've seen another animal drooling over it."
Aaron:...Damn it! That's it, I'm going to starve Abey for a few meals when I get back.
It's one thing to not be able to control his drool, but drooling over a Phoenix? Does he want to eat it like a chicken? Isn't that appetite a bit too big?
Although Abey's actions were dumbfounding, his owner could only cover for him at this moment.
"Ahem! To be honest, Professor Dumbledore.
Abey might not be looking at the Phoenix. Lately, he's taken a liking to collecting things.
The gilded branch under Fawkes's feet, that thing... can you sell it to me?"
Professor Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He turned his head and saw that his Phoenix almost fell onto the table.
He smiled wryly and waved his hand, and the door to the office opened. "Go back and rest!
Professor Snape, see Aaron out, and then come back for a moment."
"Yes."
As the two walked out of the office, Aaron let out a long breath. "I finally got through it."
Snape looked at him with an unreadable expression, his eyes particularly complex.
Before coming, Aaron's opinion of Professor Dumbledorewas 'immortal old man,' but after meeting him in person, his attitude did a complete 180-degree turn; he completely regarded him as an idol.
"It's a shame you don't go into acting."
"Hey! Speaking to people in their language and to ghosts in theirs, I learned that skill a long time ago," Aaron said nonchalantly. "And Professor Dumbledore isn't that easy to fool.
If I hadn't achieved my goal, do you think he would have let me go so easily?"
"Professor Dumbledore wouldn't do that," Snape chuckled. "I've known him for so many years, and I'm very sure he wouldn't harm a student."
"I didn't say he would harm me, it's just that I'll probably be running to the Headmaster's Office for a long time to come.
He'll most likely use these clumsy methods to make that Black-robed Man wary, and thus not dare to lay a hand on me.
After all, that Black-robed Man doesn't know I have a Potionthat can restore him, so he wouldn't risk entering Professor Dumbledore's line of sight," Aaron said. "Now that the Potion is in his keeping, I should be safe for a long time until the end of this semester."
"You knew the Principal wanted your Potion?"
"Otherwise?
Did he invite me over to talk about life and ideals?
The moment you said Professor Dumbledore wanted to see me, I knew I couldn't keep this bottle of Potion. It's not a wise decision to go against the Principal in school.
Since I couldn't keep it, I might as well try to gain as much benefit for myself as possible.
The result is still satisfactory!"
"What a little fox."
"Professor, although you are a Potion master, I have met no fewer important figures than you.
Through constant exposure, one can learn a thing or two," Aaron said, displeased. "And, do you think a little fox like me can hide his thoughts from that old fox?"
Snape paused, then silently compared Aaron and Professor Dumbledore in his mind.
Without a doubt, Professor Dumbledore was the clear winner.
"Indeed, you have a big gap between you and him, in every aspect."
"I admit it, but I'm still young, and I'll surpass him sooner or later.
And..." Aaron's eyes were bright and confident as he held up a finger. "I have one thing that's better than him."
"What? Are you joking?" Snape's eyes widened, his first reaction being that it was impossible.
He had been by Professor Dumbledore's side for so many years and knew very well how much power the White Magic King could wield.
It could be said that as long as Lord Voldemort didn't appear, no one could rival Professor Dumbledore.
"No, I'm serious," Aaron said very solemnly. "Not just me, in this regard, you should also be stronger than him."
"Hmm? Really?
I really haven't seen any way I'm stronger than him."
"We have more money than him," Aaron said very directly.
Snape was instantly stunned. This answer was truly unexpected.
But after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to be true.
Was Professor Dumbledore rich? Of course he was rich.
He had been at Hogwarts for over thirty years, earning the highest salary in the school, and he also had several high-ranking part-time jobs.
Under normal circumstances, Professor Dumbledore's assets would be enough for him to squander for several lifetimes.
But correspondingly, he also had absolutely no shortage of places to spend money. These few salaries were only enough for him to break even and save a little for retirement.
Even knowing that he had something stronger than Professor Dumbledore, Snape still couldn't be happy.
What's the point of having money if you're still working for someone else?
"Oh, Professor, something just occurred to me," Aaron said, a little embarrassed. "Didn't I give you a gift at Christmas?
Have you figured out what it does?"
Snape came back to his senses, his expression strange. "You mean that bottle of unknown liquid?"
"Exactly, exactly!" Aaron said excitedly, eager to know what the Holy Dragon's saliva did.
"I've been researching it for a while, and that stuff is indeed useful.
Combined with some herbs, it can be used to create a Potionthat stimulates appetite, which is very helpful for some anorexic patients."
Aaron's mouth twitched a little, but then he thought of Abey, the dragon who wasn't picky, ate everything with relish, and even treated a Phoenix as food, and he felt it was only natural.
After seeing Aaron to the gargoyle at the entrance, Snapereturned to the Headmaster's Office.
"Severus, I must congratulate you," Professor Dumbledoresaid with a smile. "You have a good student. Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Sprout have all suggested that he transfer Houses.
After all, the Sorting Hat also said he was suitable for every House."
"They're dreaming, trying to snatch someone from my Slytherin. I don't agree.
But Aaron is indeed excellent; his academic performance in all aspects is outstanding."
"You know I'm not talking about academic performance.
I didn't have the guts to negotiate with the Principal when I was his age."
"I think... this might have something to do with his family background!"
"Perhaps.
But you might not even have realized that he's much smarter than you think.
He knows how to protect himself, how to temper his sharpness, how to seek greater benefits for himself within a reasonable range; he's shrewd, not like a twelve-year-old child."