Children of the Star
Mid-August, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, fifth floor.
The Librarian Irma Pince, a somewhat thin woman who had dedicated over twenty years to Hogwarts, greeted Mr. Peregrine with a powerful voice that belied her pale complexion, a result of her perpetual residence in the library's shadowed depths.
"This is the office Dumbledore has arranged for you, Mr. Peregrine ," she said, leading the way.
Pince's voice echoed from the dark corridor, followed by the emergence of a figure with a cat's head.
Felix considered for a moment. Since he was at Hogwarts, surrounded by wizards, he had no intention of hiding his appearance.
Just like Porco Rosso.
He was a little surprised. "I also have an office?"
Pince explained, "Of course. The rooms and classrooms at Hogwarts are very spacious, and all professors and staff have independent offices and dormitories."
As she spoke, she handed over a brass key. "Do you want to see your future residence first, or would you prefer to understand the job content first?"
Felix took the key. "Let's take a look at the library first."
Hearing this, Pince turned and walked quickly. "The library is on the fifth floor, just beyond this wall. By the way, can you repair books?"
Felix followed her and replied, "I know a little bit. Although, if it's some classics with unique black magic, it may be a bit troublesome."
When Pince heard this, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "That's great. Some children really don't know how to take care of books. Seeing those books deteriorate over time in the hands of generations of young people, sometimes I feel truly disheartened!"
"I fully understand. Books are the carriers of knowledge, and knowledge is the last thing that should be defaced," Felix nodded in agreement.
Pince shook her head, feeling regretful. "Yes, even though I strictly instruct them to take good care of them, I can't keep an eye on everyone all the time. This has resulted in many books being damaged beyond repair."
Felix could sense Pince's deep reverence for the books.
This couldn't simply be described as caring for books.
It was more like she revered them.
After a short walk, under Pince's guidance, Felix quickly entered the Hogwarts library.
Bookshelves, two or three people high, lined up in rows. Brass signs listed various categories—Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, Fantastic Beasts…
Pince put her hands on her hips, introducing with pride, "This is the library with the richest collection in Europe. We even have the complete collection of 'Today's Transformation' from its first issue to the present. Although these books may seem small on the shelf, they've been enchanted to shrink for storage. Just take them off the shelf, and they will quickly return to their original size."
With that said, she led Felix deeper into the library.
"As for your duties, you'll mainly supervise the students and ensure they behave in the library. You'll also manage book borrowing," Pince explained. "You don't have to worry about cleanliness; house-elves clean every night."
"There are house-elves in Hogwarts?!" Felix was surprised. This was not mentioned in "Hogwarts: A School History."
"Yes, but most people can't see them. House-elves who remain unseen are considered good elves!" Pince nodded.
"Well, it seems like this job, as Dumbledore said, is... very relaxing!"
"There's also book repair," Pince reminded.
Felix couldn't help but laugh. "I know how to do it. When I was collecting books in the past, I often encountered damaged ancient books. Some less modest individuals even said I'm quite skilled at book restoration!"
Pince heard the confidence in Felix's words and felt genuinely pleased. She nodded and said, "That's great. In that case, I won't disturb you anymore. You can now go and decorate your office. Of course, you can also take a stroll around Hogwarts first."
Felix nodded, returned to the office, and opened the door with the brass key.
In the spacious office, there was only a set of brand-new desks and chairs, and nothing else.
"Empty..."
Felix glanced around casually and spotted a curtain behind the office. Walking toward it, he found a corridor that was only one or two meters long, leading to another wooden door at the end.
Opening the door, he found a bedroom and a separate bathroom.
After ensuring everything was in order, Felix closed the door and took out a silver chalk.
"Should I inform Dumbledore?" Felix suddenly thought, feeling the magical formations throughout the castle.
Complex, varied, and interconnected.
"Forget it, let's give it a try first..."
With that decision, he held the silver chalk and drew a somewhat twisted star rune on the door panel.
Although Lucifer often boasted about being a devil, both he and Calcifer, who had signed a contract with Hal, were children of the stars who refused to fade away.
After completing the runes, Felix gently placed his hand at the center and began to activate the formation.
The next moment, overflowing starlight burst from the star runes' trajectory, like brilliant sparks and embers.
The wooden door vibrated uncontrollably, its clanging reverberating through the corridor.
Despite the unknown wind tugging at his robes, Felix stood firmly in front of the door.
After a while, the starlight dissipated.
He slowly opened the door, and what lay before him had transformed into the first floor of Moonlight Castle.
Lucifer emerged from the fireplace, shaking his head with a bitter expression. "This castle seems to have a life of its own... We truly don't seem to fit in here."
As he spoke, the gaps between the door frames began to crack and lengthen inch by inch.
Felix nodded: "I'll ask Dumbledore."
As he spoke, the distance between him and the house began to gradually widen, and with a final bang, the space was distorted.
Moonlight Castle was once again excluded from here.
Felix scratched his head helplessly, walked out of the office, and looked at the oil paintings on the corridor wall...
He pointed at a girl in a green dress who was having a spring outing and picnic and said hello: "Hello, sorry to disturb you. Do you know where Dumbledore's office is?"
"The gargoyle on the third floor is the entrance to the principal's office." She stood up, lifted her skirt slightly in response, and then asked, "Are you the new teacher?"
"Not really, I am just a school worker." Felix said.
"Then let me take you there. The corridors of Hogwarts are a bit complicated and are subject to change at any time."
"Won't it delay your picnic?" Felix said.
An awkward smile appeared on the girl's face: "I have been picnicking for one hundred and thirty-five years."
"Um...Okay, please."
With that said, the girl took the lead in passing through the picture frame and walked to a church prayer picture next door, waving slightly: "This way!"
The fat monk who was leading the prayer held a Bible with an angry look on his face: "Oh my God, Sindel, don't make a scene in the church!!"
"Hey." The girl jumped and hurried to the next frame. It was a huge portrait as tall as a person, and her figure became like an ordinary person.
At the same time, she also said hello to the man in the ancient dress who was posing in the painting: "Good afternoon, Sir Elnest."
"Sindel, good afternoon!" Jazz smiled and nodded slightly.
Felix followed her all the way, watching her happily greeting every person in the painting who passed by, while always reminding herself where to go.
"You are very lively." Felix praised.
Sindel stood in a golden wheat field, borrowed the gleaning woman's straw hat and put it on her head, smiling: "Lively? Sorry, I don't quite understand."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't understand what lively means. My painter gave me everything. In his paintings, I should be like this. For me, this is just my instinct. Good afternoon, Mrs. Leanne!"
"Do you have any memory?" Felix asked again.
"Sure, but not much. I can only remember a few weeks."
"Then can you think?"
Sindel arched her eyebrows and showed a sly smile: "Guess why I offered to take you to the entrance of the principal's office on the third floor."
With that said, they quickly arrived at the Gargoyles on the third floor.
"I'll go up and inform you. If allowed, I will bring the password."
After leaving her last words, she disappeared.
"That...Mr. Cat!" Suddenly, a somewhat panicked voice said. Felix looked around and saw a knight who was fighting a dragon speaking.
"Is there a problem?"
The knight raised his hand and stopped the dragon: "Wait a minute!"
Then he turned around and said breathlessly: "You should stay away from that girl."
"Why?" Felix was a little strange.
"As a painting, she has gradually begun to cross the line." The knight said.
"Crossing the line?"
"Yes, everyone has their own boundaries, and so do the people in the paintings. You should stay away from her. Paintings that cross the boundaries will bring bad luck."
"What does this mean..."
"Sorry, it's hard to explain, it's something between paintings."
After saying that, the knight turned around and waved to the huge red dragon: "Let's begin!"
The red dragon nodded, then breathed out flames, and the knight raised his shield in panic...