Hogwarts Outsider

The start of the new semester unfolded as usual, devoid of any significant changes or disruptions.

Just a day after, Severus Snape’s return to Hogwarts Castle went unnoticed by most.

Matthew glimpsed him seated as a guest during breakfast, appearing entirely unremarkable.

Matthew furrowed his brow, his gaze locked on the enigmatic Transfiguration Professor.

Lost in thought, he pondered.

The rebellion of the House-elves appeared to have ceased.

For at least a month, Hogwarts’ meals progressed without any major hiccups, fading from most people’s memories—except for Hermione.

She remained diligently focused on all matters concerning the House-elves.

As for the whereabouts of the Thestrals and Fairies, there was no trace, not even in the “Daily Prophet.”

Matthew couldn’t find any records.

It wasn’t limited to Hogwarts; an odd tranquility seemed to envelop the entire magical world.

The efforts of the Order of the Phoenix now appeared almost futile.

…

With the cold grip of January waning, spring emerged.

The once harsh Scottish Highlands climate gradually mellowed.

Sunlight bathed Hogwarts Castle once more, dispelling the winter’s gloom.

Each visit to the Herbology class past the garden filled the air with captivating fragrances.

In mid-February, as Matthew entered the auditorium and beheld the decorations, he realized the significance of the day—Valentine’s Day.

The walls of the auditorium were adorned with a profusion of beautiful pink flowers, radiating a festive aura.

Heart-shaped confetti showered from above as anyone passed the auditorium door.

Piles of brightly colored roses on the long college tables emitted a delicate fragrance.

However, Valentine’s Day celebrations were reserved for fourth-year students and above, granting them a day off. For third-year students and below, Valentine’s Day had no relevance.

This year had an exception, as Valentine’s Day fell on a Sunday, Professor Grindelwald chose not to grant a holiday even for the fourth-year students.

The auditorium’s Valentine’s Day atmosphere was undeniably strong, even with Matthew observing.

He noted numerous couples embracing, which only left him feeling more fatigued.

Matthew swiftly finished breakfast and ventured into the corridor, spotting many students heading towards the garden.

However, compared to the same time last year, the crowd was smaller.

As it was Sunday, Hogsmeade was open for an extra day to both teachers and students.

Many couples chose to spend Valentine’s Day at Hogwarts.

Ms. Patil’s small tea house was bustling with couples, but Matthew, still haunted by the Tom Gaunt incident, opted to explore the garden.

…

The garden exuded an ambiguous atmosphere. The sun in the sky took on a heart shape, hinting at an enchantment in the ceiling.

Rose petals scattered everywhere, and magical golden cherubs fluttered in mid-air.

Matthew carefully navigated his way through couples in embraces, doing his best not to disturb their privacy.

The garden was undoubtedly picturesque, thanks to the meticulous care of Professor Sprout.

It showcased many rare and beautiful flowers, each contributing to an intoxicating aroma.

After five minutes, Matthew reached his destination—the area where Flor flowers and Highland Daisies were cultivated.

He approached cautiously, sniffing the air to ensure there were no unusual scents.

Confident that everything was normal, he proceeded.

Though the Highland Daisy was theoretically capable of neutralizing Flor flower pollen, Matthew decided to exercise caution.

After all, the Flor flower’s pollen remained highly toxic.

The blooming Flor flower, with its light blue petals, was undoubtedly beautiful.

However, Matthew had no interest in its aesthetics. With no one around, he retrieved his wand.

Quickly, he dug up a Flor flower, a behemoth nearly two feet in height.

Extracting such a specimen directly from the garden would be challenging.

At the garden’s gate, Mr. Pringle kept a vigilant eye on students, reinforcing the prohibition against picking plants from the Hogwarts Garden, let alone removing them.

Fortunately, Neville had gifted Matthew a magical wallet just over a month ago on Christmas Day.

Though small, it could accommodate items slightly larger than itself.

Matthew carefully placed the Flor flower into the wallet, taking care not to damage its roots and stems.

As he finished, an unfamiliar couple suddenly approached, casting suspicious glances in his direction.

Matthew feigned innocence, and with determination, he walked away.

In all honesty, Matthew felt a twinge of guilt for his “theft” as he hurriedly left the garden.

These flowers belonged to Professor Sprout, who was typically kind to students.

Matthew could only console himself with the clumsy excuse that “I’ve spent more than half a year tending to this flower.”

…

Exiting the garden proved easier than expected; Mr. Pringle’s vigilance posed no obstacle.

The gatekeeper wasn’t employing a plant detector to conduct meticulous searches of students.

This provided some relief to Matthew.

However, just as he was about to return to the Slytherin common room, a familiar voice called out, causing him to jump.

For a moment, he feared it was related to his earlier “East Window incident.”

However, it was Professor Slughorn, Dean of Slytherin College, who had addressed him.

“Hello, Professor Slughorn,” Matthew replied nervously.

Fortunately, Slughorn had other matters on his mind. At least he didn’t bring up—

“It’s another Sunday, isn’t it, Matthew, my child?” Slughorn blinked at Matthew, “Any plans for the evening?”

Matthew shook his head, stating, “I’m only in my second year, and I’m not old enough to participate in Valentine’s Day festivities. We aren’t eligible for the Valentine’s Day celebration party.”

“Excellent!” Slughorn smiled, pleased. “In that case, Matthew, don’t forget our Slug Club party.”

Matthew realized he’d unwittingly fallen into Slughorn’s linguistic trap due to his nervousness. “…I haven’t been around much lately,” he tried to excuse himself.

In truth, since the new semester began and with the ominous feeling that something terrible might happen at Hogwarts, coupled with Draco’s and Lestrange’s warning, Matthew had tried to distance himself from all “risky individuals.”

He aimed to maintain a low profile within the school.

This included keeping a certain distance from Professor Slughorn.

Although Matthew believed that Professor Slughorn’s smooth connections likely weren’t deeply entwined with dangerous matters, it was better to exercise caution.

“…Tonight, there’s Professor Grindelwald’s Valentine’s Day celebration,” Professor Slughorn continued, “The senior students probably won’t be attending.”

Matthew nodded, realizing that he’d become ensnared in Professor Slughorn’s social expectations.

At that moment, he really couldn’t find an excuse, so he reluctantly agreed.

Afterward, he turned and left.

…

As it was Valentine’s Day, the Sunday Dueling Club activities were temporarily canceled.

Matthew spent the afternoon in the library, well aware that he wouldn’t be receiving any romantic attention there.

Affectionate displays were strictly forbidden, as Madam Pince, the librarian, would surely not tolerate it.

It wasn’t until 6 o’clock in the evening that Matthew reluctantly closed the book on “Dementors” he had been reading.

He had to attend Professor Slughorn’s dinner.

Ten minutes later, he stood before the door of the Potions teacher’s office and knocked lightly, soon to be greeted by Professor Slughorn himself.

“Welcome, Matthew,” Professor Slughorn said eagerly, dressed in a dark green down jacket that gave him a somewhat bloated appearance. “Come in.”

As Professor Slughorn had assumed, the Slug Club dinner that evening was rather modest.

The number of attendees from the club was minimal.

This was undoubtedly due to Professor Grindelwald’s Valentine’s Day celebration, which many senior Slug Club members, whether they were in relationships or not, wouldn’t want to miss.

The students from lower grades who attended the Slug Club dinner were just a few.

Professor Slughorn, however, didn’t appear embarrassed.

Instead, he seemed to be making the most of the situation.

“Cheers to our intimate gathering!” he raised a glass of mead, his voice jubilant.

Matthew took a sip of his mead, not quite sure why, but it seemed that today’s mead tasted better than before.

“How’s your grandfather’s health, Draco?” Professor Slughorn inquired, striking up a conversation with the students.

“He’s still managing his Dragon pox well, no relapses,” Draco Malfoy responded politely. “I’ve been staying at home for the past few years.”

“That’s good to hear,” Slughorn nodded, expressing sympathy. “Poor Abraxas, afflicted with dragon pox at his age—it’s truly unfortunate.”

Turning to another student, Cormac McLagen, Slughorn asked, “And what about your uncle’s health, Cormac?”

McLagen responded casually, “Of course, he can now devour three pounds of beef in a single meal!”

…

To be frank, the Slug Club dinner proved somewhat tedious.

Professor Slughorn engaged in lengthy conversations with lower-grade students about their family histories, leaving Matthew with little to contribute.

But he couldn’t simply remain idle.

Elaine Shafiq had latched onto him, inquiring about various topics.

Although it left him somewhat bored, he couldn’t refuse her.

There was scarcely any time for him to discreetly communicate or connect with Neville.

Matthew just wanted the evening to conclude, an experience that seemed to drag on for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, after two nightmarish hours, the party came to a close.

Even Professor Slughorn appeared somewhat weary, and it was evident that it was time to depart.

One by one, the students from each house left the gathering.

Suddenly, Elaine Shafik clutched her head in pain, as if something had gone terribly wrong.

“Oh, dear, Elaine…” Slughorn’s face contorted in concern.