"It's an honor. Honeydukes has allowed our club to use their kitchen for activities over the weekend," Adams explained to William as they stood at the entrance to the shop.
William wasn't sure how Adams managed to arrange it in advance, but within no more than ten minutes, the group had entered Honeydukes' inner workspace.
The students were evidently not newcomers. William noticed two seventh-year students deftly leading the others to change into proper attire and wash their hands. Judging by the cabinet they retrieved the uniforms from, it was clear these chef's outfits were specially prepared for the students.
"What are we supposed to do, Adams?"
Watching the students efficiently wield their wands and get to work, William couldn't help but ask the casually composed Adams standing beside him.
"Nothing. The seventh-years will guide the others in making various candies. The herbs are pre-selected, non-toxic varieties. All we need to do is patiently wait for the results, grade them, and recommend the best creations to the shopkeeper."
"Recommend?"
"That's right. The best recipes will be purchased by Honeydukes' owner for a handful of Galleons. Additionally, the student who invents the candy gets priority for an internship at Honeydukes in their seventh year. They have plenty of chain stores, you know. Hey, Watt! Don't handle the syrup with your wand alone—it's hot!"
As Adams explained to William, he also yelled at a nearby student for breaking the rules.
The boy named Watt sheepishly put on gloves, prompting Adams to turn back and give William further advice.
"You should participate in some clubs related to Defense Against the Dark Arts—or dueling, or wizard self-defense. Better yet, organize one yourself. That way, when a student you appreciate reaches their seventh year, you can recommend them for internships under the club's name. While grades are a reference, many industries prefer candidates endorsed by professors."
William had to admit that there was more to clubs than he initially thought. Compared to the clubs he had participated in before, Hogwarts' clubs seemed far more practical.
Of course, that had a lot to do with the backing of Hogwarts' professors. A school that monopolized education for an entire nation gave its professors an almost terrifying level of authority. Though William, dragged in to fill a cursed vacancy, didn't count as one of the elites.
"I might not even make it through a full year. Best not to think too far ahead," William said, inadvertently jinxing himself.
Adams sighed lightly but quickly masked it. "Have confidence in yourself, William. After all, there are two professors this year. You never know—"
He stopped mid-sentence. William was a friend he got along with, while Lockhart was his idol. The idea of either meeting an untimely fate was unacceptable to him.
Fortunately, the awkwardness was interrupted by a student who had finished their candy first. They presented their creation on a small dish, bringing much-needed relief to the tense atmosphere.
***
When William left Honeydukes, he was laden with bags. Some filled with student creations, others with snacks he had purchased, making him look significantly bulkier.
While he would have loved to stay longer, judging student candy creations alongside Adams, he had other commitments for the evening.
The Weasley twins had detention scheduled for the evening. According to Professor McGonagall's instructions, their punishment would stretch up to Christmas if necessary, leaving them no free time to themselves. This, of course, wasn't just about managing their downtime; it was also William's cross to bear.
"At least I can read while they're copying lines. It won't disrupt my studies. But I'll need to be cautious; those two troublemakers might try to sneak a peek at restricted books," William reminded himself as he walked through the entrance hall, mentally preparing.
However, Professor McGonagall suddenly appeared, as if she had emerged from the shadows like a cat.
This time, however, Professor McGonagall's expression wasn't embarrassed but carried a trace of worry and helplessness.
"Professor William, have you prepared the books for the Weasley brothers to copy?"
"I have," William replied. "I plan to have them copy parts of the school's history, including records of significant recognitions and punishments from over the years. I've spoken with Madam Pince, and she confirmed that the school doesn't have a complete compiled record. Professor Binns has also agreed to review the transcriptions and correct them. Once the book is organized and finalized, Madam Pince has expressed interest in adding it to the school library. Professor Binns would serve as the editor-in-chief, and the Weasley brothers' names could be included in the credits. It could be considered a sort of honor for them."
William laid out his plan. Since Professor McGonagall had suggested increasing the workload, he decided to involve Professor Binns in the project as well.
Although the bulk of the work wouldn't fall on the two brothers, the portions they'd handle would be enough to exhaust them.
After all, Hogwarts had been established nearly a thousand years ago. Anyone who'd read even a little history would understand how daunting it would be to compile a millennium of school records. But since Professor Binns was a ghost and immune to exhaustion, William had no moral qualms about assigning him the heaviest tasks.
"The school's history?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall, the school's history. Mr. Filch has plenty of records that can support this project, and the library's collection offers a wealth of reference materials. While compiling the school's history is a monumental task, we can handle it in stages. Meanwhile, the students will have plenty of work to keep them occupied during detentions."
"Professor William, that's a project that might take ten years to complete."
"That's fine, Professor McGonagall. Professor Binns is more than capable of overseeing it. As long as the editor-in-chief maintains oversight, the turnover of students working on it won't affect the reliability of the school's history."
If Professor Binns was willing, the school history could be a century-long project, with the names of every student who participated recorded as contributors; a true honor.
Professor McGonagall pondered for a moment before saying, "This is a remarkably forward-thinking initiative. I think this proposal for the school's history is the best suggestion I've heard in recent years. With this, we won't need to worry about assigning inappropriate punishments to students for quite some time."
"However, the matter of the school's history is significant, and I'll need to discuss it with the Headmaster first. But I doubt he'll have any objections. If all goes well, the school board will approve this proposal quickly, and the relevant funding will be allocated soon."
Relevant funding?
William froze for a moment. The editor-in-chief was essentially working for free, all the resources were within the school, and the transcribers were students serving detention. What funding could possibly be needed?
And how had this project become entangled with the school board?
Fortunately, William, thanks to the extensive studying he had done to pass his exams and the books he'd read in the past, quickly arrived at a somewhat plausible conclusion.
It seemed… building something significant needs recognition, didn't it?
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