Chapter 9: Percy: Long Time No See, Boss
Hagrid squeezed his big eyes and said with a smile,
“I forgot to mention just now, Headmaster Dumbledore told me that this year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professor is Douglas.”
After he finished speaking, he saw Douglas’s strange smile.
Although they hadn't seen each other for several years, it was still so familiar.
Then he waved to everyone, turned around immediately, and left without looking back.
On the crowded long street, people consciously made way for him.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley each held one of Douglas’s hands and said happily,
“Congratulations! I knew Headmaster Dumbledore had a discerning eye for talent.
Of course, working at Hogwarts is always better than wandering around…”
Mr. Weasley emphasized, “Douglas is traveling, not wandering!”
The children’s expressions varied.
The twins exchanged a smile, a spark of revenge in their eyes.
Harry suddenly felt regretful that the new Professor had seen him coming out of Knockturn Alley.
Clearly, Hagrid had said it wasn't a place for good people.
Hermione keenly noticed that even Percy, who was always serious, showed a complex expression.
However, soon, everyone went their separate ways.
The Weasley family, including Hermione, went to Gringotts.
Douglas still went to the junk shop as planned.
The shop owner was an old man with half his teeth missing and a strange smell emanating from him.
He didn't greet anyone who entered his shop.
Of course, he might have felt it unnecessary, as anyone who came to his shop, whether buying or selling, was in need of money, even if they looked well-dressed.
Douglas looked around the shop and found that there hadn't been much change.
Besides broken wands, wobbly copper scales, etc., most of what was there were old books.
These books had a dedicated space.
There were bookshelves arranged side by side, allowing only one person to pass through.
They were filled with densely packed old books, and some notes.
Of course, none of them were categorized.
If you wanted a book here, you had to search for it yourself, bit by bit.
The shop owner did not provide search services.
Except for used Hogwarts textbooks, of course.
Those had already been picked out by the shop owner and placed next to the counter.
Douglas casually stood by a bookshelf, picked up a book, and flipped through it briefly.
“Major Discoveries in Contemporary magic,” published in 1921.
Uh, this one is indeed a bit outdated.
Immediately, he noticed a young Wizard sitting in the corner of the bookstore.
He was reading a novel he had written.
He walked around.
On one bookshelf, he saw many books he had written.
Looking at the dates, they were all early editions, but none were first editions.
Upon opening the books, he found many comments in the margins.
Some of these comments were even written by more than one person.
Actually, many Wizard fans had written to him, but he never read them.
He always let Slynn handle them.
Flipping through the book reviews, there were indeed many interesting comments.
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside him.
“Please give me a set of Hogwarts first-year textbooks, in good condition…”
Douglas walked out from behind the bookshelf and greeted the person,
“Hi, Madam, we meet again so soon…”
Mrs. Weasley, who was looking down and selecting books, saw that it was Douglas.
“Oh, it’s Douglas. What are you doing here? Are you choosing books?
Percy, Ginny, learn from Douglas. Even if you become a Professor at Hogwarts, you mustn't forget to read more.”
Ginny’s face turned red when she realized that a Hogwarts teacher had seen her buying used books.
At the same time, she was curious if Professors also bought used books.
Percy greeted him at this moment,
“Professor Holmes, hello.
I apologize for not formally greeting you earlier.”
Douglas raised an eyebrow and said with a smile,
“Why are you still so formal with me?
I thought you forgot about your old boss since you didn’t speak earlier.”
Percy shook his head,
“No, it’s not that. Since you graduated, Boss, you haven’t written to me again.
I thought… I thought…”
Douglas chuckled and said,
“You thought I forgot about you?
Or did you think I looked down on you?
Why are you so shy talking to me?
Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”
Percy shook his head like a rattle drum,
“Of course not, I actually wanted to write to you too…
It’s just…”
Douglas looked at Percy’s awkwardness and handed him a book.
“If you don’t mind, you can continue to call me Boss.
Bill wrote to me earlier saying there’s another Prefect in the family. Congratulations!
This book is for you; I think you’ll really like it.”
Percy took the book from Douglas’s hand— “How Prefects Gain Power.”
His face immediately flushed, and he looked at Douglas with admiration.
“Thank you, Boss!
Actually, I also wanted to write to you before, but Bill said you were busy traveling the world…”
This friend of his older brother had always held the position of career mentor in his heart.
Even when he was in his first year, Douglas didn't care about the difference in grades or houses.
He often told him wise stories and taught him some small tricks of power and strategy.
He would also explain many important principles, telling him that no matter what kind of person he became, he should never forget the importance of family.
He was also the only one who, upon hearing a first-year student say his future dream was to be the Minister of Magic,
Not only didn't mock him, but also encouraged him.
He told him ancient Eastern stories like “Are kings and generals born that way?”
When Percy was in his second year, Bill was the Head Boy, and Charlie was a Gryffindor Prefect.
Douglas often asked Percy for help, having him deliver fruit to Professors and Prefects of various houses.
During that time, he also taught him many small tips for dealing with people.
This was the first time Ginny had seen her third brother like this.
But Mrs. Weasley was not surprised; she knew how good Douglas’s relationship with Bill was when he was at school.
He was very good to her second and third sons.
He was practically like another older brother to them.
Douglas turned to Mrs. Weasley, who was about to pick up a set of decent used books, and said,
“Madam, I’ve already prepared Ginny’s textbooks. They’re my gift to her for starting school.
You know, I told everyone back then that whoever started school in the future would receive a gift from me.
Although I missed George, Fred, and Ron.
But I still don’t want to miss the Weasley family’s little princess…
Bill has written to me many times praising Ginny…
And I’ve already prepared them, you can’t make me sell them as used, can you?
If you refuse, then I really won’t feel comfortable accepting gifts from you in the future.”
Mrs. Weasley’s expression paused.
A new set of Hogwarts textbooks was not cheap, almost Arthur’s entire month’s salary.
If she hadn’t heard Bill mention that Douglas was a big rich man in both the Muggle World and the Wizard World,
He just usually kept a low profile.
Perhaps it was Douglas’s line about having already prepared them.
Plus, the embarrassment of only having one Galleon in their vault at Gringotts just now.
Finally, she nodded and did not refuse Douglas’s kindness.
After all, she only had one daughter, and she wanted to spoil her.
This wasn’t the first time Douglas had given books as gifts.
When Percy started school, Douglas had given him new textbooks.
Mrs. Weasley stopped what she was doing and turned to say,
“Alright, I’ll agree.
But you must come to our house for Christmas this year. I’ve also prepared some new dishes I’ve been experimenting with for you to try.
Ginny, hurry up and thank Douglas. He’s Bill’s best friend.
When he came to our house as a child, he told you many stories…
Although you probably don’t remember.”
Ginny, blushing, quietly said thank you.
She indeed didn’t have a strong impression of Douglas; she was only five or six years old at the time.
Her main impressions came from the family’s casual conversations.
Douglas smiled, ruffled her hair, and said, “You’re welcome.”
Then, he paid the unhappy shop owner for the book “How Prefects Gain Power.”
After leaving the shop, Mrs. Weasley asked,
“Douglas, do you have any other plans?
Do you want to go to Flourish and Blotts? Today is Gilderoy Lockhart’s “Magical Me” book signing.”
Douglas nodded,
“Then let’s go together. I was just about to go to Flourish and Blotts.”
Mrs. Weasley quickly shook her head,
“I’m sorry, Douglas, I can’t go right now.
I need to take Ginny to buy a robe and other supplies.
I mean, if you don’t have anything else to do, you can go and look around first, or go to the Leaky Cauldron to chat with Arthur.
We’ll meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour.
Then, we’ll all have dinner together tonight to celebrate you becoming a Hogwarts Professor…”