"There's no need," Helga said, her expression complicated.
In her view, choosing to leave Neville to develop on his own like this was somewhat unfair to him, but she had no better option. Under the current circumstances, this approach was the most suitable one for Neville.
Would it really be beneficial for this shy, round-faced boy to be kept by her side and given daily one-on-one lessons? Helga didn't think so.
"If you have questions, ask more. Locking yourself away in a corner and brooding over them alone isn't a good idea," Helga added encouragingly before he left. She also told him that once he cleared all the challenges in the box, he could come back to her, and she would design even more complex stages.
It wasn't until he had walked out of Professor White's office that Neville finally, belatedly understood why Rhys had suddenly been acting so strangely earlier.
"Thank you, Rhys." He thanked Rhys very seriously.
"It's nothing. You helped me first," Rhys said casually, waving his hand as if he truly didn't take such a small matter to heart.
However, he had already made up his mind. If Neville really managed to revive the compass grass for him, then he would give him another gift of unquestionable value.
...
Neville's story was just a small interlude in an otherwise calm life, and life went on.
In the days that followed, Rhys's routine consisted of making components for Helga and acting as a teacher to Daphne and Astoria. Whenever he had some free time, he would flip through the Encyclopedia of Britain that Hermione had given him.
Peaceful days passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, Christmas had become a distant memory.
As spring arrived and flowers bloomed, a certain group of people at Hogwarts began to grow restless.
Not couples pairing off, but the soon-to-graduate students.
Of course, those who both had a girlfriend and were about to graduate were probably even more restless.
In a quiet classroom, Percy put his quill back into the inkwell, then carefully folded a sheet of parchment neatly and slipped it into an envelope.
A pretty girl with long, curly hair sat at the desk opposite him, kicking her feet idly in boredom.
"Finished writing your job application letter?" Seeing Percy put down his pen, she lit up with delight. Like a nimble little bird, she hopped down from the desk, ran behind Percy, and pressed her upper body directly against him.
Feeling the fragrance coming from her and the soft warmth of her body, Percy swallowed the words "not yet" back down.
Job applications could always be written another time, after all.
"Careful with the inkwell, Penelope… I'm more or less done," Percy replied vaguely.
"Are you planning to go to the Ministry of Magic after graduation?" Penelope asked, hugging Percy and whispering into his ear.
"Of course," Percy said without hesitation. "I've already exchanged letters with several important figures at the Ministry. They seem quite interested in me. But I still need to get a few more good results in my N.E.W.T.s—Mmm.."
Percy suddenly fell silent, because his tongue had found something else to do.
After quite some time, voices finally returned to the classroom.
"Then I'll wish you good luck with your interviews in advance," Penelope said with a cheerful smile.
Percy straightened his slightly rumpled collar and hair, indicating that everything was completely under control.
Hogwarts graduates began submitting applications and making early contact with their preferred companies or organizations during the second half of their seventh year.
If discussions went well, they would arrange a first interview somewhere in Hogsmeade.
During this period, if everything proceeded smoothly, both sides would reach an agreement, allowing the graduate to take up the position immediately after finishing their N.E.W.T. exams, certificate in hand, saving the trouble of job hunting.
Of course, if the exams went poorly, that would be another matter entirely.
Percy was currently in the middle of such correspondence with the Ministry of Magic.
He had aspired to a political career since childhood, so Percy had never considered sending applications to organizations like Gringotts.
His goal was singular: secure a position and become a Ministry employee, preferably in a department with real authority, such as the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
And because of his surname, he had indeed received quite a number of replies.
Although the Weasley family was poor, they were still a bona fide pure-blood family. Percy's father, Arthur Weasley, also had a decent reputation within the Ministry of Magic. As a result, most of the job applications Percy sent out received responses instead of disappearing without a trace.
In other words, for the sake of the Weasley name, the influential figures who received his applications would at least send back a rejection letter.
After saying all this, Percy fixed Penelope with a burning gaze and told her that he would be waiting for her at the Ministry of Magic.
Their gazes were almost tangible in their intensity.
"Maybe in the future, I'll become your secretary—Mr. Weasley, this is today's schedule~" Penelope said in a deliberately serious tone.
The tips of Percy's ears turned red.
"Uh, I've got a new potion recently. Would you like to—"
"It's not going to be like last time, one of those potions that glow, is it?" Penelope burst into giggles as if recalling something ridiculous.
Now Percy's entire face turned red.
"Of course, of course not!"
"Then… alright. We won't be disturbed here, will we?"
"Don't worry, I'm prepared."
"Mmh—"
"..."
…
Before the next Hogsmeade weekend arrived, a springtime-triumphant Percy received a reply that filled him with overwhelming excitement.
The sender of the letter was the current Head of the International Magical Cooperation Department, Jamison Greengrass—the man rumored to be the mastermind behind the downfall of former Minister Cornelius Fudge and former Head of Magical Cooperation Barty Crouch, and the true number two figure within the Ministry of Magic.
The department he commanded was the largest one outside the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Recently, it had been making frequent major moves, showing clear signs of overtaking Law Enforcement to become the Ministry's foremost department.
In the letter, he expressed strong interest in Percy and wished to meet him in person.
The International Magical Cooperation Department was unquestionably an excellent starting point for a political career, and Jamison Greengrass was even more so a superior worth following. How could Percy not be thrilled?
On the day of the Hogsmeade weekend, Percy left the school early, arriving at the agreed location a full half hour in advance. He waited there, caught between excitement and anxiety, until Jamison Greengrass finally arrived.
"Good afternoon." The moment he saw Mr. Greengrass, Percy immediately stood up and greeted him with utmost respect.
"Sit down." Jamison gestured for Percy to take his seat and signaled the server to bring each of them a cup of tea.
"I've read your application letter. I do indeed have a position here that suits you very well," Jamison said without beating around the bush, getting straight to the point.
"I need you to join the Muggle government."
Jamison's words struck Percy like a thunderclap, exploding in his ears and leaving him frozen in his seat.
____
12 Chaps ahead at Patreon.com/HornyFBI