In the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, three individuals sat at a rge, ornate desk. Its octs included Headmaster Albus Dumbledore in his rightful chair, with his deputy, Professonagall, seated across from him and a young man sitting beside her.

  Their versation had started off simply, with easy questions and clear answers, but gradually it became more serious, spiraling a bit out of trol.

  Currently, the young man sitting beside Professonagall appeared deep in thought, while Dumbledore and the deputy headmistress watched him ily, their expressions making it clear they were waiting for him to speak.

  "Headmaster, I would like to teach Muggle sot alchemy," the young man finally said, making his iions clear to the two expet people.

  Hearing Maverick clearly express his thoughts, the old wizard let out a tired sigh. He briefly g Professonagall, her a silent nod, before turning his attention back.

  Maverioticed the subtle exge betweewo professors. It wasly discreet, and he could tell they were choosing their words carefully.

  "Mr. Caesar, please, hear us out first..." He heard Dumbledore say, and at the same time, he noticed Magall turn to him and clear her throat softly.

  "Mr. Caesar, we have no obje to you introdug Muggle sce as a new course at Hogwarts. But as I mentioned earlier, the material is too advanced for youudents and would be better suited as aive for sixth- ah-years."

  Maveriodded slowly, recalling their earlier versation.

  "Professor, just to crify, does that mean I'll be joining Hogwarts as a professor of Muggle sce?"

  Magall nodded, her eyes briefly flig to Dumbledore, who returhe gesture with a firming nod. Maverick observed the subtle exge betweehen heard the old wizard offer his opinion.

  "Your book is an excellent resource, Mr. Caesar. By the end of the course, I have no doubt that our students will have a deep uanding of sd its potential. But as Professonagall said, it's best suited for older students."

  Maverick frowned, notig how the two seniicals kept emphasizing only sixth ah years. He wondered what he would be teag the younger grades and whether he would o simplify his book even further.

  "What about the youudents? First-years through fifth-years?"

  "They'll tih Muggle Studies, as they do now," Dumbledore expined. "However, if you're willing, we'd appreciate it if you could help update the curriculum to include some modern materials... not to the extent of your book, of course." He paused briefly before adding, "But it will still be taught by the current Muggle Studies professor, not by you."

  Maverick tilted his head, processing the information. "So, just to crify, I'd only be teag two grades?"

  Dumbledore hesitated, exging anh Magall. "About that..."

  Maverioticed, for the first time that day, a hint of uainty in the old wizard's expression.

  "Mr. Caesar," Dumbledore began, his tone softening. "Hogwarts hasn't had an alchemy professor in years... over a decade, in fact. As you're surely aware, it's an exceptionally rare field. Those who achieve two stars her in alchemy typically pursue careers in the private sector or their try's ministry. The work is lighter, the pay is higher, and teag is rarely their first choice."

  Maverick raised an eyebrow. "Professor, aren't you a master alchemist yourself?"

  His question caused the wise wizard to pause briefly before letting out a light chuckle. "Ah, you are quite right. I am, indeed. But as you well know, I'm also the headmaster of this school, the chief speaker at the ICW, and the president of the Wizengamot, and a number of other titles... As much as I would dearly love to return to the role of a formal teacher, my many other responsibilities keep me rather occupied."

  Maverick observed the old wizard carefully. There was not a hint of deception in his words.

  He took a moment to sider the situation. Being a headmaster alone was no small task, let alone holding all those other heavy positions.

  The room fell into a quiet silence agaiher Dumbledore nonagall spoke further, simply watg Maverick as he sat in thought.

  Maverick finally accepted that Dumbledore truly wouldn't have the time to teach while managing multiple positions. At the same time, it became clear to him that they wanted him to take on the role of alchemy professor while also him the opportunity to teach his proposed subject.

  However, he still had s, particurly about time. Two subjects meant double the csses, which meant double the work of a regur professor. So before making up his mind, he o ask and crify.

  "Professor, first of all, I apologize for not sidering your situation and doubting your responsibilities," Maverick spoke sincerely.

  Dumbledore waved his hand, signaling that it was no problem. "Oh, no need for apologies, my dear boy... no harm done..."

  Maveriodded and didn't dwell on it any longer, instead brought up the matter at hand.

  "Professors... I'm willing to agree, but I o crify a few things first." He gnced betweewo elders. "Teag two subjects sounds like a lot of work. How will ye my schedule?"

  Dumbledore and Magall exged annce of their silent unication.

  Sure enough, Magall turo him and began speaking reassuringly. "Mr. Caesar, perhaps I wasn't clear earlier. Since alchemy hasn't been taught in years, it would begin with first-years only. Muggle sce, likewise, would begin with sixth-years only. So, in the first year, your workload would be very, very light."

  Maveriodded slowly, but that wasn't the answer he was looking for. "What about iure, Professonagall? At some point, I would have to teach all seven grades..."

  "We assure you, Mr. Caesar, that you won't be overburdened," Dumbledore interjected smoothly. "Minerva and I will figure out a solution. For instance, Hogwarts currently schedules csses so that two houses attend a subject together. We adjust the schedule so that alchemy and Muggle sce csses would include all four houses. This way, even as you take on mrades, your workload will be halved."

  Maverick sidered their proposal. It made sense—bining houses would reduce the number of csses he'd o teach while still reag all students.

  Once his doubts had been cleared, the decision no longer seemed difficult. He smiled at the two of them and nodded.

  "Then I agree, Headmaster Dumbledore."

  Dumbledore's face lit up with relief, and even Magall allowed herself a small smile.

  "Young man, you have no idea how much of a burden you've lifted from this old man's head," Dumbledore said, his face brightening. "I've been searg for a suitable didate for years t alchemy back to this school. And fortunately, a talented master alchemist has agreed. On behalf of Hogwarts, I truly appreciate your willingness."

  Maverick couldn't help but smile shyly.

  "My pleasure, Professor. And thank you both fivihe opportunity..."

  Dumbledore leaned ba his chair, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he g his deputy, who wore a simir expression.

  Maverick saw them exge another round of silent unication before the old wizard spoke to him again with that tone as warm and thoughtful as ever.

  "Well then, my boy, I must say, this has been a most enlightening discussion. Now, is there anything you'd like to add? Or perhaps something you might need? Whatever it may be, rest assured, this old man will do his utmost to make it possible."

  Mavericed betweewo, briefly searg his thoughts, w if he had overlooked anything. After a moment, his eyes lit up as he remembered something important he had inte up ter, but now seemed like a good time.

  Maverick smiled inwardly, then raised his hand. With a thought, a stack of papers appeared on the desk.

  Dumbledore and Magall both raised their eyebrows, intrigued. It seemed this young man had a habit of keeping his thoughts well prepared.

  They saw Maverick gently tapped the paper stack with his index finger, and it immediately split into two stacks.

  "Impressive silent, wandless casting," Magall excimed, her educator instincts kig in.

  Maverick chuckled at her sudden remark, then slid oack of papers toward Dumbledore and the other to Magall.

  "This is my long-term vision, Professors. In here, I have outlined iail my pn to ge this try's wizarding unity for the better, and it all starts here at Hogwarts—with the children, bringing them all together."

  The two seasoned professors exged astonished looks. First, it was the idea of introdug sce te the gap between the wizarding world and modern advas. Now, it had escated to uniting the entire try's magical unity. And with every question they asked, another book seemed to nd in their ps.

  Maverick didn't realize that he was unknowingly giving the two seasoned wizards one headache after another with this single meeting.

  He misread their expressions, thinking they believed they had to gh the eack of papers. So, he quickly crified, "You don't o read everything right now. Just the first page... it's a quick summary. Please take a look a me know your thoughts."

  Dumbledore and Magall let out an inward sigh. Though this young man's ideas promised more headaches, they were ultimately for the greater good of the try's magical unity.

  Setting aside their initial thoughts, each of them picked up the topmost paper from the stacks and began reading with curiosity.

  Maverick observed as time passed slowly. First, they showed curiosity, then shock, and finally, admiration in their eyes.

  "This is..." Dumbledore started, but before he could finish, Magall interjected, pleting his sentence.

  "Ingenious... truly."

  She turo Maverick. "Your proposal here is remarkable, Mr. Caesar."

  Maverick smiled shyly and g Dumbledore to see his opinion.

  "Minerva speaks correctly, Mr. Caesar," Dumbledore said. "If this be pulled off, it will undoubtedly bring all the children of our school closer to harmony than ever before..." He paused, seemingly thought of something, then added, "But this will also burden your schedule, Mr. Caesar. How do you pn to cope with it?"

  Dumbledore's remark was indeed valid, but fortunately, Maverick had already sidered it when he first developed the pns.

  "Professor," he began, fshing a bright smile at the old wizard, "just give me an assistant to work under me, and that will solve the problem. And if it's a burden on the school's finances, I assure you that once you've read the e of papers, you won't mind givien assistants," Maverick added, joking lightly.

  Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, his curiosity growing as he looked at the stack of papers in front of him. After all, any pn that could potentially bring in more funds for the school was certainly most wele.

  Maverick saw the old wizard wave his hand. "The school's finances are not a problem, Mr. Caesar. In fact, that sounds like a wonderful idea, and I agree." He paused, casting a g his deputy, gesturing for her to ha.

  Magall turo Maverick. "Just tell me what kind of witch or wizard you're looking for as your assistant."

  Maverick could sense Magall had no sed thoughts about arranging an assistant for him, which made him wonder why other professors didn't have one. Was it because they were rejected, or simply because they never asked?

  He dismissed the thought and thought about how to respond to Magall. After a moment of quick thinking, he expined. "A good, disciplined graduate from this school, Professor. Preferably oo graduate this year... good at Quidditch, and most importantly, someone who has no signifit flicts with other houses."

  Magall gave him a doubtful look. "If you want all of those boxes checked, Mr. Caesar, that may be a bit difficult."

  Maverick quickly waved his hand, realizing that was ihe case. "I uand, Professor. It doesn't o be all of the options. Just someone good at Quidditd with a generally good retionship with everyone will be fine..."

  "Well, that shouldn't be too difficult, should it, Minerva?" Dumbledore chimed in, turning to his deputy with a light smile.

  Magall shot him a ft look.

  A moment ter, Magall sighed and nodded in agreement. "I'll try to hire someone before the school year starts."

  Maverick smiled. Although it meant more work for her, he knew she would do her best to fulfill the task.

  "Well, now that this matter is settled," Dumbledore said with a thoughtful pause, "there is oher important issue that must be addressed..."

  Both Maverid Magall turo him.

  "If we want to aplish this, we'll have to speak with the other schools as well. Only if they agree will this be possible."

  Maveriodded, uanding what Dumbledore meant. However, he had no doubt that the other schools would reject the proposal.

  Time passed slowly, and more than an hour had gone by since Maverick started expining everything to the two senior wizards. He covered what o be done, how it would work, and the timelio make it all happen.

  After that, Dumbledore and Magall briefed Maveri what he o take care of before the school year began iember.

  Dumbledore then gave Maverick access to the Hogwarts firepetwork and even agreed to ect it to a private location of his choosing. To hire him, the master alchemist, the old wizard spared no effort in providing veniences for him.

  Before Maverick left, Dumbledore asked him to return in a few days so he could give him a proper tour of the school, introduce him to the other staff and professors, as well as meet with the school board.

  Fortunately, Maverick didn't have to get involved in the formal process istering Muggle Sce as a subject, as Dumbledore assured he would take care of it.

  Standing in front of the firep Dumbledore's office, Maverick turo the senior witd wizard, both of whom had left him with a very positive impression.

  Dumbledore was no maniputive figurehead trying to brainwash others, and Magall was no mere follower who agreed with everything Dumbledore said. These two were nothing like the characters he had read about iories from his previous life. Then again, maybe he had just read too many fanfis and ended up mixing up their personalities.

  He extended his hand first to Magall, shaking it before moving on to Dumbledore.

  Just as Maverick extended his hand and shook Dumbledore's, a suddeion washed over him, sending a faint, uneasy ripple through his body. It was something he shouldn't have picked up, especially not from the world's greatest white wizard.

  Dumbledore, as keen as ever, didn't miss the subtle shift in Maverick's demeanor. However, he kept his expressioral, calm, with no outward rea. He shook the boy's haly, then released it a his eyes.

  "I was hoping you wouldn't notice," Dumbledore said quietly, "but it seems your perception is as impressive as your alchemy, Mr. Caesar."

  Maveristinctively narrowed his eyes and fell silent, carefully gathering his thoughts.

  People had their ows, and as long as they didn't pose a threat to him, he wasn't the type to pry. He was just a little startled, sidering this was Albus Dumbledore, after all. Finally, deg not to address the strange sensation from the old wizard's left hand, he cluded it was none of his business.

  Notig Maverick's silence, Dumbledore let out a soft sigh and spoke slowly, his toouch dejected.

  "An act," he said calmly. "I'll share the details with you aime, if you don't mind."

  Maverick quickly shook his head, dismissing the thoughts swirling in his mind. Realizing he had taken a bit loo gather his thoughts, he quickly expined, "Professor, I don't o know, really. But if you'd like to share, I'd be gd to sit down for another chat sometime."

  Magall watched the exge quietly, her expression shifting through several emotions. When Maverick finally responded so graciously, she smiled inwardly, appreciating his maturity. She was gd he wasn't a nosy person.

  Dumbledore's smile grew, his eyes twinkling with approval. "Ah, thank you, my dear boy," he said softly, pausing for a moment before tinuing, "It has been a true pleasure to meet you. We shall have plenty of time to verse iure. Until then, I shall see you in a few days..."

  Maverick smiled iurn, his respect for the two wizards deepening. He o both Dumbledore and Magall, then stepped into the firepce. A moment ter, with a green burst of fme, he disappeared.

  As the echoes of the fire faded, Dumbledore turo Magall, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "A remarkable young man, don't you think?"

  Magall houghtfully. "Indeed, Albus... How I wish I had the ce to have been his teacher."

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  Author's Note:

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 96 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic