Harry's detention was shared with Ron, who was still lying in bed. Their punishment stemmed from crashing a car into the school's tree, a scenario that wouldn't be excused no matter the world.
Seeing the conversation couldn't continue and with Harry not offering any new interesting topics, William decisively bid farewell to Hagrid and prepared to head to the Leaky Cauldron on his own.
For safety and cost-effectiveness, he ultimately yielded to the convenience of the Floo Network.
"Cough, cough..."
As William emerged from the one-way fireplace, he was greeted by Tom's surprised voice.
"Well, look who it is!"
"No one in particular, just a passing traveler. A glass of water, please… Better yet, with a few drops of lemon juice if you have it," William replied, brushing the ash off his clothes in a mock-dramatic tone.
"Water? One Galleon a glass, no haggling."
"Your heart's darker than a Ministry tax officer's. Fine, just give me a beer."
Tom happily slid over a beer and made a shushing motion. "Keep your voice down. The tax officers are really coming by in the next couple of days."
"This soon? The school year just started."
"What else? They'd tax us every week if they could. How's life at the school, William?"
William thought for a moment before coming to a satisfying conclusion. "I have no idea what the students think, but I'm quite enjoying myself."
***
While William was delivering a lecture so powerful it could move fifth-years to tears, back at the school's dining hall, Ron, who had just woken up from unconsciousness, and Harry were hit with a crushing blow.
Professor McGonagall had finally found time to address the two troublemakers who had damaged school property.
"Why couldn't that Professor's spell have been a bit stronger? If I'd stayed unconscious in Hagrid's hut for another day. Do you think I could've avoided this punishment?"
After Professor McGonagall announced the details of their detention and turned to leave, the unlucky Ron sighed, patting Harry on the shoulder.
"Stronger? Ron, you already passed out!"
"Exactly. I passed out, but I'm not throwing up anymore, am I?" Ron spread his hands with a grin, then started to recall why he had fainted in the first place.
The massive bucket… his churning stomach… the countless piles of vomit… something strange seemed to be wriggling in it.
What was it?
Ron's curiosity was piqued. Even though his instincts told him not to dwell on it, he couldn't suppress his growing curiosity.
Wriggling? Wriggling...
Spiders.
Spiders?
Spi... Ron suddenly felt an intense wave of nausea. Something began surging violently up his throat, and the terrifying images from his memory resurfaced.
Then...
"Ah! Ron!"
"Ron!"
Two screams overlapped almost perfectly. Moments later, Professor McGonagall, who hadn't gone far, immediately turned back and witnessed her student collapsing onto the ground.
***
[You have gained deeper recognition from a magical creature. Reward: Treasure Chest x1.]
William, who had been describing amusing school incidents to old Tom, was interrupted by the sudden notification. Ignoring it, William continued with his previous topic.
"That's basically how it is. The staircases at Hogwarts never behave themselves. I feel like second-year students know their way around better than I do. Fortunately, the portraits are quite friendly toward professors. They're always happy to help when I get lost."
"You're practically like a first-year, William me boy."
"I don't know about being like a first-year, but I definitely feel like one. Honestly, if I had to stay in that cursed place any longer, I might have ended up taking my own life."
William took a hearty swig of beer and reached this grim conclusion.
"Alright, I get it. You're doing well, the school staff and students accept you, so finish that drink and get lost. What kind of professor spends their weekend getting drunk?"
Tom chuckled and scolded, pulling the bottles on the counter out of William's reach.
"Already kicking me out?" William laughed, downed the last gulp, and stood. "Fair enough. Stumbling back to school drunk on my first week isn't exactly appropriate. I'll see you next week. I'm off!"
Walking briskly to the fireplace, William scattered the Floo Powder. As he waved goodbye to old Tom, he casually stepped into the flames.
***
"Cough, cough..."
Emerging from the fireplace once again, William began to reflect—specifically, on how he should cover his nose and mouth next time instead of trying to look cool.
The fireplaces in Hogsmeade were far dustier from constant use than those at the Leaky Cauldron.
Most fireplaces at Hogwarts weren't connected to the Floo Network. Even the fireplaces in the professors' rooms were one-way; they allowed departure but not entry. Without the Headmaster's permission, no one could bypass the restriction.
Unless William submitted a special request for a temporary connection, he had to take the roundabout route through Hogsmeade to return. But the forms for such a request required Professor McGonagall's approval; a process that was nothing short of a nightmare.
Yesterday, I was debating whether to order some snacks. Since it's on the way, why not stop by Honeydukes for a stroll?
On his way back to Hogwarts, William popped a mint candy into his mouth as this thought crossed his mind.
So, he acted on it immediately.
Before reaching his destination, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure along the way; Adams, surrounded by a group of students, discussing something. The joy on their faces was palpable, even from a distance.
"Adams, what are you up to? Weekend lessons?" William called out to him from afar.
"William! Come over here!"
Adams' booming voice was as loud as ever, and the students around him chattered noisily without the usual restraint they exhibited in class.
"What's going on? Weekend tutoring sessions with students?"
"It's not tutoring. It's a club activity." Adams replied with an air of self-evidence.
"Club activity?" This was Hogwarts, not a university—or some high school in Japan. Where did club activities even come from? What's next, a light music club or a service club? The aesthetic didn't match at all!
"Clubs are quite normal. There's the Gobstones Club, the Wizard Chess Society, Quidditch..."
"Wait, Quidditch club? Isn't that just the house team?"
"Not at all. Each house only has seven players, but so many wizards love Quidditch. How could it only be about the house teams? Clubs are small, self-organized groups, after all."
"Got it… I think." Even though William didn't fully grasp why this plot felt like something out of a light novel, he still nodded in understanding.
"Glad you get it. I'm the faculty advisor for this club. William, are you interested in joining? Sometimes, I need to tend to the greenhouses on weekends and don't have time to guide the students."
"I think I'll pass on being an advisor. My knowledge of Herbology isn't deep enough. I'd just end up misleading them." William declined with a clear sense of self-awareness.
"That's fine! Our club is the Sweet Herbology Club. We mainly study how to use herbs in candies to create unique flavors of sweetness. There's no risk of accidents. The advisor's main job is to score students' debates; Otherwise, they'll start arguing endlessly."
What kind of divine club is this?
Having been inseparable from sweets ever since leaving Azkaban, William surrendered without hesitation.
****
Note: In Book 5, Umbridge issued Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four, stating that no student organization, society, team, or club could exist without approval from the High Inquisitor. From the same source, the existence of the Gobstones Club was confirmed.
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