When talking about longevity, after a world-famous international alchemical competition, people will naturally think of Nicol Flamel who lived for 665 years.
Generally speaking, people who have lived such a long life should be more knowledgeable and knowledgeable than other ordinary people.
Yes, when this theory is applied to the great alchemist, there should be nothing wrong with it. But Maka also knew another person - another "person" who "lived" long enough, but didn't know enough about the world.
It was a "little girl" named Sarah who spent nearly 500 years peacefully.
Therefore, the statement "the longer you live, the more you know" is probably inaccurate. Because it’s only been a few decades since you were born, and you may not really understand how those people whose ages are counted as “hundreds” spend their lives.
Of course, to be precise, most of those people may not be considered a "person" anymore.
Maka is now going to meet a person who is "no longer a human being", and the time this person has witnessed seems to have been more than a thousand years...
"Squeak-"
When Maka opened the door of the staff lounge, he saw a white translucent shadow floating leisurely on a back chair, silently looking at the sky outside the lounge window.
Upon seeing this, Maka immediately walked in and closed the door behind her.
"Professor Binns," he took two steps forward and said softly, "Good afternoon."
"Um?"
Hearing Maka's greeting, the only ghost professor at Hogwarts seemed to suddenly come back to his senses. He turned his virtual and real neck and looked slightly towards the door. One glance.
Maka wasn't sure if he really saw her, because just looking at Professor Binns' eyes, it felt like he was looking at the door behind Maka, as dull and dull.
"Oh, good afternoon..." Professor Binns said a few words slowly, with a hint of old age in his tone, "Are you... Alfred?"
"No, no, no, I can't bear such a heavy name -" Maka waved her hand and said, "I am Maka McClain, a student you taught... Of course, I am also a student at Hogwarts now. A famous professor."
Alfred is the only British monarch who has been awarded the title of "Great Emperor". At least, Maca does not remember that he was a king before.
"McLean...my student?" Professor Binns blinked in confusion and said slowly, "I seem to have heard it somewhere..."
"Yeah?"
Maka said as she also sat down on the chair next to her.
"That would be a real honor!"
After a short pause, he continued: "Professor Binns, I read in "Hogwarts: A History" that there is a Slytherin Chamber of Secrets in Hogwarts Castle... I wonder if this is true?”
"Secret Room?" The confusion gradually disappeared from Binns' old face, but it was replaced by a hint of sullenness. "Although I haven't read the book you mentioned, I know that it must not be a qualified book." Historical documents—history is all about supporting evidence from multiple sources, but I haven’t seen any information about any secret room…”
As he spoke, he was suddenly startled.
"Why do I feel... I seem to have talked about this issue with someone else before?"
This ghost professor spends his days in a daze except in class, and has almost completely lost interest in other things. To some extent, he has completely regarded himself as a machine for teaching the history of the wizarding world.
Therefore, he seems to have remained ignorant of the original commotion involving the basilisk in the secret room.
"Well… "
Maka was also stunned, but soon he remembered that Hermione had probably asked Binns once in the history of magic class in the second grade.
"Anyway, do you think the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets doesn't exist?"
"It's not 'I think'," Professor Binns said in his old and breathless voice, "This is history, it is fact - it is the past made up of reliable historical data. Just like the giant war, we Although I have never seen it with my own eyes, numerous records tell us that it is just a small page in the history of the Wizarding War!"
At this point, Old Binns stroked his beard, cleared his throat and continued: "Since the Wizards Council..."
"Wait, Professor Binns—"
Seeing that the ghost old man was about to start teaching again as usual, Maka quickly interrupted him.
Although he liked history, this was not the time to listen to him talk about it - Professor Binns was a ghost, so he didn't need lunch, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity to fill his stomach.
"Professor," he then decisively brought the topic back to the beginning, "History is a subject that pays special attention to rigor. I already understand this... So, is the most rigorous way to verify a period of history, is personal experience? Woolen cloth?"
"Of course." Professor Binns nodded slightly when he heard this.
"In that case," Maka said calmly, "I think one of the descriptions in that book is still correct - Professor Binns, the person who made the request to you for employment should be Salazar Slater. Mr. Lin, right?"
"So, instead of believing in the accumulation of historical data? Shouldn't we first consult with you, the person who experienced it firsthand?"
Since the founding of Hogwarts, almost all professors, including the position of principal, and even the curriculum itself have changed many times. However, the History of Magic class has only had one professor from beginning to end, and his name seems to be "Bins Cuthbert".
However, this information is not actually something that can be found, because even Hogwarts does not have such long-standing professorship documents.
Except for the book "Hogwarts: A History" that was written like a fairy tale, Maka got this information accidentally from other places!
"Me? The person who experienced it personally?"
Regarding Maka's direct "trouble", Lao Binsi did not show any abnormality. His expression was still so dry, a little confused and a little annoyed.
"No, I haven't been teaching at Hogwarts for that long. Where did you hear this ridiculous rumor?"
"Where...?" Maka said slowly, "That's a small eagle turned from a bronze door knocker."
While he said this, he watched Binns's expression very carefully. He wanted to know how the other party would react when they heard about the bronze eagle.
But it's a pity that he still couldn't find anything wrong with Professor Binns' old white face, not even for a moment.
"Eagle?" Old Binns slowly shook his head, "Do you still want to say that Rowena Ravenclaw told you this personally?"
Maka couldn't really be sure whether the Bronze Eagle's words were true. Therefore, when Binns firmly denied it without any flaws, he was also unable to confirm that what the other party said was wrong.
As Old Binns said before - history requires multiple supporting evidence.
However, Maka is still unwilling to give up the temptation, because the closest breakthrough to him now is Professor Binns, who has been in charge of the history of magic class all year round.
At the moment, Maka's heart is somewhat complicated. After all, since he first entered Hogwarts, he has had great admiration for this ghost professor who has been teaching and educating people since his death.
If possible, he actually didn't want to question this respectable old wizard so much.
"Professor Binns, I understand..." Maka nodded and reorganized her mind, "Then, can you make up some extra lessons for me?"
"I want to know why Slytherin left Hogwarts in the first place?"
After that, Old Binns told Maka the history of the dispute between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
There were two quarrels, the first was about the admission of Muggle-born students - Gryffindor had spotted a brave student, but Slytherin disagreed on the grounds of blood.
Therefore, the Sorting Ceremony, which brought together the will and ideas of the four founders, was born after Gryffindor took off his hat.
The second quarrel was about the appointment of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
During the discussion about whether wizards who were good at dark magic should not be invited, Slytherin returned to the castle without looking back and left silently after a while.
After listening to this, Maka hesitated again and asked the last question for Old Bins today:
"Professor," he said rather casually, "do you know... at the beginning of the school's founding, were there any terrible disasters and hidden dangers?"
However, all he received was a dry rebuke from Professor Binns, reminding him not to mix certain myths and legends into history.
"Sorry for disturbing you today... Thank you for your patient answer." Maka stood up from the chair gently, "Then, I'll leave now."
Old Binns, who was floating a few inches above the armchair, watched Maka turn around and walk out of the lounge. Then he turned his head again and scanned the empty room slightly.
Once upon a time, he seemed to have had a chat here with four outstanding young wizards about the magnificent magical history, but now, he is the only "person" left...
It is said that the birth of a ghost is always inevitable with a little bit of obsession, so is his obsession located in this ordinary staff lounge
After a long time, Binns drifted to the window and looked intently at the lawn in front of the castle. There, little wizards were running briskly towards the door of the auditorium.
"I'm just a professor of the History of Magic, that's all." He murmured unconsciously.