[ CHAPTER I (1): "FELIX HARP" ]
"Ooooh dear." Felix watches in both amusement and amazement as his Courier Owls, all in varying but equally mesmerizing colors, work together as they split the Letters among themselves fairly equally.
With one of them coordinating everyone through hooting, clicking noise, and other unknown means; and that someone would be Abby---the undisputed leader of the group.
Felix doesn't know how they could have a hierarchy of power, or when it started. But he knows that they did develop one throughout their time living in Hogwarts.
He doesn't know who's on who, who's at the bottom, or who's at the middle. What he does know is that, Abby is at the top and that she can boss around everyone else with ease.
Ironically enough, she was the closest Courier Owl to Felix. Not saying he doesn't care about the others, but she is the closest he could call to a familiar, sidekick, or a pet.
He equally loves all the Owls, as they did cost him Credits to make. Hard-earned Credits that he worked day and night for, which in the end was worth it, as they turned into Owls.
But, ehh, favoritism is a thing, and he quite quickly and easily favored one. Abby that is, because of her quirky and playful persona, and because she acts like a cat at times rather than a proud, nocturnal Owl.
Which he finds cute. Or is that his natural bias kicking in? Either way, he finds her cute, and that's that. Finalé.
After some time of scrambling for Letters, trying to get more than the other. The Courier Owls finally settled as they then eyed Felix while in formation. "That was fast."
He turned to the maestro beside him and patted her head, which caused her to visibly ease up. "Thank you Abby."
"Anyhow. I believe all of you know what to do, so, as per tradition." He continued, smiling at the group of army-like Owls. "Please, deliver those Letters to the students."
Felix concluded even as he points at the window outside, but the Owls didn't fly away or even budge. They instead stared at him with stars in their eyes, seemingly waiting for something; and that something is mice.
And sadly, he doesn't have that much stock in his Inventory. At most he could feed them one each, but he knows that his army of gluttons wouldn't be satisfied with just that much. Abby herself took three.
With no other choice, he relented. Deciding to redirect that problem to others, "For the payment, go ask the House Elves." Which would no doubt happily take it.
With the way the House Elves behave and think, they would no doubt love feeding the Owls themselves. And in some way, it could be said that Felix is the one feeding the Owls, as the House Elves serves him.
They were created using Credits that he saved up by teaching students, doing bizarre missions given by the System, and by painstakingly saving up money that he earned.
The least they could do is this much, and likely, they would have preferred this than Felix feeding the Owls himself. No matter how weird that may sound to others.
"Go, deliver the Letters." Felix pointed at the window, and this time, the Owls actually listened as they then flew away. With most of them having gotten used to the procedure at this point; as this is the third time for some of them, and second time for a few.
It would have been great and all for Felix if those Owls weren't so rowdy. Luckily no shelves and decorations were destroyed this time. But they still shed a "few" feather which is now littering his decently cleaned office.
That is still fine and all, still tolerable and bearable, he wouldn't die and lose some sleep due to it. But perhaps the fact that lumps of dirt, grass, and water is scattered about in his office isn't great. Thankfully, Felix is a wizard.
With a sigh, he then waved his wand, trying to remember the incantation and wand movement for some cleaning charm that he bought some months back; thanks to the extraordinary gift of the System, he easily remembered it, albeit with some effort.
Primarily because the charm that he bought is low-level and hasn't been upgraded yet. He could upgrade it, but then he wouldn't have enough Credits to upgrade the castle, buy equipment for the soon-to-be students, hire other staff, or be able to upgrade actually useful charms and abilities that he can use any time. And so, for now, it'll remain low-level.
"Damn Owls." After cleaning his office, he cursed the birds under his breath. Envying the carefree and no responsibility attitude that they have, as unlike him, they don't have work other than delivering things from point A to point B from time to time.
Felix needs to constantly worry about his students' needs, their wants, balancing what limited Credits he has and what to buy, and trying to constantly appease the students' parents or guardians through letters.
Some parents kid you not, had written and even spoke to Felix, wanting to pull their child out of the program. Some in fear that they might accidentally die, getting torn to shreds by a rogue pre-historic animal. Which is valid.
Or that, their child is not getting enough "proper" and "un-wizardly" education. Which they need to function as normal citizens of society, you know, knowledge like: "Who was the 14th President of the United States", "What is the power house of a cell", or "When and where should a noun be used".
Knowledge which Felix knows the students wouldn't even remember, or use after they graduate, or when they move up a year. Knowledge that normal school teachers teach while students snooze in the back of the class.
He knows, he was one of those students back in the day; specially in Mathematics and History. But then again, he reconsidered it when Mrs. Pembroke wrote to him, telling him how Anthony---a Gryffindor 2nd year student---kept trying to walk through walls.
And so, Muggle Studies was born. Or that, he implemented it even though he believes it was a useless subject that teaches absolutely nothing. A bitter, yet necessary sacrifice, as he doesn't want Mr. Pembroke and Ms. Mullein---his small money banks, with one being a Slytherin---to be pulled out.
He doesn't know yet who would teach that subject. But the names that popped into his mind are either him, or Lockhart...
... Yeah, it'll be Lockhart, it's better than him doing nothing. As since he pulled that man from the gacha, Felix wasn't able to find any proper work for him to do inside the castle, as he was an utterly incompetent man.
And aside for the new subject, Muggle Studies. He also told the students, in extension the parents, that there would be a parent-teacher day every start of term.
In which the parents could address all the concerns, and grievances that they have, and would have wrote to Felix about. In his eyes this alternative is better than writing back and forth, as it'll save him time, ink, and paper.
And also. It'll be a way to show the parents the mystique and grandiose of Hogwarts, and the whole Wizarding World combine. As previously he couldn't have shown them the state of Hogwarts, or the Wizarding World.
As when Felix was still starting, Hogwarts was but a one-floor castle, with all the students no matter the House sharing one room; one for the boys, and one for the girls. Without House Elves to cook properly, he stepped up as the chef with the help of Professor Sprout at times.
But then again, the students told him his cooking is poor, and inedible. So he graciously stepped down from the position of chef at that time; leaving it to the other three Professors to worry about and brainstorm.
To summarize what he was saying. Hogwarts and everything else was still in disarray, and is a big disappointment that has nothing to boast, or show to others. It was only recently that Felix was able to upgrade the school.
Which is why, no matter how much the parents and guardians wanted to visit the school itself, Felix didn't allow them. Lord knows they'll pull their child out of the school. But now, with the state of Hogwarts, he is fairly confident that that worry wouldn't happen.
And instead, they would grow to appreciate Hogwarts more rather than hate and be wary of it. Felix hopes that that would be the case.
[ THE COURIER OWLS ARE DELIVERING THE ACCEPTANCE LETTERS (300) ]
[ REWARD: 500 CREDITS, 50 REPUTATION, QUICK & AUTO REFILL QUILL ]
Pulling him out of his thoughts, Felix reads the text from the System and couldn't help but smile when he noticed the increase in allowance and Reputation; another magical quill is good too, he can use it as a gift.
"Better than nothing." Exhaling in relief, Felix turned and looked outside, at the varying colors of Couriers who are one-by-one disappearing in the distance.
And if one would listen closely, then they would have heard a nasty streak of cracking that tore reality itself. As reality chewed on the birds while spitting them somewhere else.
Turning, he was about to stare into some wall and read a book about Potions, or get some good night's rest. But that trail of thought was paused when he noticed the sun rising from the distance, the topmost part of the yellow-ball of sunshine slowly pulling up.
"..." In curiosity, Felix turned to the desk of his, at the somewhat scattered yet organized stack of papers in one of his bookshelves; failed drafts of Acceptance Letters, which could easily numbered in the dozens.
Then at the mirror in his desk---a gift from Professor Sprout---and spotted faint dark circles under his eyes; eye bags. Though unlike the other times, in which he looked less like the dignified Headmaster and more like a panda. This time though it was tame.
"I guess I was that... invested."
And in realizing that he was finally finished in writing the Acceptance Letters for the year, his responsibility. He felt relieved, which then gave way for his shoulders to visibly ease up, as he felt tired causing his eyelids to drop.
He could finally get his hard-earned rest after personally writing hundreds of Acceptance Letters, which are nearly duplicate of one another if not for the names, addresses, and exact location of the recipients---students.
Feeling tired, he could go and sleep in his bedroom which is the smaller room attached to his office. But no, Felix decided that his desk is a much better alternative as he then hit his head with a light, audible thud.
He ignored it, as he felt harsher thud whenever he goes out hunting. And in some of those, he likely experienced some sort of brain damage and trauma but he digress.
Instead, he picked up a sharp, white sheet of paper nearby and turned it into a comfortable green-colored pillow. The color being important to him, as he loves green. And also, the softness of the pillow which he then used to rest on. "I deserve at... least this mu..."
Before he could even finish his sentence, he was already out cold. His consciousness having gotten pulled into dreamland, followed by his body subconsciously snoring. Truly, Felix is both a quick and heavy sleeper.
He could comfortably sleep in any space, no matter the time, no matter the circumstance. As long as you give him enough peace and quiet, he would likely never wake up.
And if not for his responsibilities as a grown-up, he would have much preferred sleeping all-night long while he would then read books all-day long. Whatever book it may be about, as long as it interests him enough.
But yeah... he couldn't do that or any other fun things, as he has a job after all. Even if he doesn't want to do it in the first place. Oh wait, that's just the definition of being employed.
[ KNOCK ] x3
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[ FUN FACT: "The Hogwarts' official school motto is "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus," which is Latin and translates to "Never tickle a sleeping dragon."" ]
[ 09/26/2026 ]
[ 09/27/2026 ]