CH53: First day at work

Quirrell's appearance was but a brief encounter. While he seemed somewhat peculiar, Felix didn't harbor a strong curiosity to delve into the other's secrets.

Upon reaching the first-floor lobby and bidding Harry farewell, Felix made his way directly to the fifth floor.

Hogwarts boasted two houses whose common rooms graced the tower's summit: Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.

Thus, along his path, his distinctive appearance drew the curious gazes of many young wizards.

During this stroll, he encountered two remarkable children.

"Mr. Peregrine!"

Two red-haired children with freckles dotting their faces greeted him in unison.

Evidently, they were twins.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Felix smiled and nodded. "How may I assist you?"

The child on the left spoke first: "Good morning, sir. We were mostly intrigued by your... erm... transformation! What spell is responsible for it? Apologies if we're prying."

"It's rather striking and has sparked some new ideas for us," the other child on the right added swiftly.

The left child hurriedly interjected: "If it's bothersome, we'll leave at once!"

Afterwards, both eagerly awaited Felix's response.

"No, not at all," Felix reassured them before explaining, "Perhaps Dumbledore didn't clarify yesterday. My current appearance isn't the result of an ordinary transfiguration charm but rather a mishap in my Animagus practice."

The two young wizards wore apologetic expressions: "We're truly sorry, sir. We didn't mean to..."

"I assure you, I don't mind," Felix replied with a smile. "But I'm intrigued. What exactly do you mean by 'inspiration'?"

"We're working on some novelty items. Seeing you at the opening ceremony last night sparked a new idea—a prank candy that can transform someone's head into that of a lion or something similar!"

"Or make them as dashing as you."

"You two have quite the wit," Felix remarked after a moment's thought. "Perhaps you could draw inspiration from the Polyjuice Potion."

"Wouldn't that end up being someone else ?" they pondered.

Felix regarded them with interest. "Would you be interested in trying a bit of cat hair in the Polyjuice Potion?"

"Well..."

Encouraged by Felix's confident demeanor, the two youngsters exchanged glances and fell into deep contemplation.

"Alright, I must make my way to the library. I eagerly anticipate seeing your prank candies come to fruition. Just remember to save one... an human one for me when they're ready!" Felix bid them farewell and continued on his way.

"Hmm... what he suggested... does seem to make sense."

"But George, you've overlooked something!"

"What's that?"

"We're broke..."

...

Felix hadn't anticipated that shortly after his conversation with the two young wizards, he would encounter another individual.

The Head of Gryffindor House, Minerva McGonagall.

"Professor McGonagall, good morning!" Felix greeted. "Are there any classes scheduled for this morning?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Yes, this morning marks the first-year classes for Gryffindor and Slytherin."

Surprised to chance upon Felix here, she inquired curiously, "Mr. Peregrine, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Albus informed me some time ago that a wizard from an ancient school would be joining Hogwarts to fill a position—what was it... ah, yes, a Sinecure in the library. I was rather looking forward to meeting you then. And a few days ago, when Pomona mentioned your unique Animagus abilities, I was even more intrigued."

"It's truly flattering," Felix replied with a smile.

"So, what's your current status?" McGonagall was now quite curious, introducing herself, "No offense, I too am an Animagus."

"Of course. I'm in good condition now," Felix nodded. "Except for the occasional need to cover up my face when I go out. It's quite inconvenient if my cat body suddenly sprouts a human head again."

"I understand," Professor McGonagall nodded thoughtfully. "We typically have an afternoon tea gathering on Fridays. Would you care to join us? I believe Professor Flitwick would be quite intrigued by ancient witchcraft."

"Absolutely. I'll be there on Friday without fail. Is it held in the staff lounge?" Felix wouldn't pass up the opportunity for tea with the masters of transfiguration and magic.

"Yes, indeed," Professor McGonagall confirmed. "You're most welcome."

After bidding farewell, McGonagall left.

Upon arriving at the fifth floor, the library door stood open. Pince's face lit up with joy at the sight of Felix. "I didn't expect you so early."

With a smile, she motioned for Felix to follow her into the library.

On one of the tables sat a towering stack of books.

"These are the books I've gathered during this time," she said eagerly, then added with some uncertainty, "I hope it's not too overwhelming."

Felix glanced at the books, feeling slightly taken aback, but he nodded nonetheless. "It's manageable."

However...

"Do I have a designated spot here?" Felix inquired uncertainly, noting that the books occupied at least half of the table.

"Would it be too conspicuous?"

"If you need the space, I can relocate to my office," Pince offered.

"I wouldn't want to impose."

"No," Pince shook her head. "As long as these books can be organized swiftly. Besides, I've been alone in the library for many years."

"Alright," Felix agreed, deciding not to decline the offer.

With a flick of his wand, Felix levitated the stack of books, guiding them to his office.

After a cursory examination of the books, Felix couldn't help but admire Mrs. Pince's skills.

The books in need of restoration fell into two main categories. One comprised basic damages beyond her capabilities, such as extensive page loss, wear on ancient texts, or defacement by mischievous young wizards.

The other category involved magical issues. Some books seemed undamaged physically but had faulty enchantments.

Many books had protective spells added by their owners to safeguard their contents from prying eyes.

For instance, every page of the "Introduction to Cleveland Transfiguration" Felix held was blank.

A note from Pince on the book's cover explained the situation: the original owner had enchanted it with a unique invisibility spell, making the content visible only when opened correctly.

However, an accident decades ago had disrupted the spell, rendering the book's contents permanently concealed.

Another book bore a similar protective charm, requiring unlocking to access its contents. Over time, the enchantment had weakened, sealing the book shut for over a decade.