Man of Archives

Chapter 17

Time was passing faster than I had expected, and before I knew it, the bachelor's exam was upon me. Confident in my preparation, I felt ready for the challenge. I had already swapped my warm cloak for lighter clothing, packing it away deep in my bag, as the weather had become noticeably warmer, though it wasn't quite summer yet.

I was heading out alone since both the headmaster and Professor McGonagall were too busy to join me. The headmaster was dealing with the aftermath of the battle with the coven of Dark Wizards—a major event that was making headlines worldwide. In the Muggle world, however, it was as if nothing had happened, and an entire city hadn't been erased from existence.

Dumbledore was preoccupied with meetings, interviews, and various other responsibilities. Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, was juggling three roles—headmaster, deputy headmaster, and Transfiguration professor. She wasn't focusing much on our house, trusting us to manage ourselves.

To support her, I took on the responsibility of teaching the first, second, and third-year students. Initially, they were a bit surprised and tried to test my authority, but after I set clear rules, expectations, and consequences, they settled down. From there, it was straightforward: lecture, practice, homework, and repeat.

Lost in thought, I found myself on the road leading to the village, where I would Apparate to Diagon Alley and head to the Transfiguration Guild. I had canceled today's lesson on Spatial Magic with Isolde and Dorsani, needing to take the exam first before continuing to teach her this skill.

Once I stepped beyond the anti-Apparition barrier surrounding the school, I felt a slight spatial disturbance. From there, it was all about technique: visualize the destination, twist, and transport myself there with focused intent.

With a faint pop, I materialized in a small, cluttered alley—a hidden corner of Diagon Alley often used by wizards when no other Apparition points are available.

I stepped out onto the main street and made my way directly to the guild. With all my documents in hand, I felt prepared and confident. The guild building hadn't changed since my last visit; it was still the same grand and magical structure, designed to awe anyone who entered.

An old man sat at the registration desk, giving me a scrutinizing, cold look as I approached.

"What brings you here today?" he asked.

"I'm here for the bachelor's exam," I replied.

"Please provide your documents," he said, his expression remaining unchanged. I briefly considered using Legilimency to gauge his emotions but decided against it. Knowing his feelings wouldn't offer me any real advantage.

"Here you go," I said, handing him a small folder containing my registration documents.

He quickly reviewed them and nodded.

"Thank you," he said. "Please proceed to the second floor using the stairs behind that column."

I followed his gaze and noticed the stairs, which I hadn't seen before.

"Thank you," I said, grateful for his clear directions.

I quickly ascended the stairs to the second floor and immediately spotted a small group of about twenty wizards and witches gathered in front of another desk, similar to the one downstairs. Some were chatting about unrelated topics, others were reading notes, while a few simply sat with their eyes closed.

"Excuse me," I said to an elderly wizard nearby.

"Bugger off bozo," he snapped. "You're in my way."

I raised my hands to show I meant no harm and stepped back. His aggression was surprising, but I wasn't bothered. As the saying goes, the world is round—we might cross paths again.