Chapter 193: Do you understand, Harry!

"I am not saying that the Sorting Hat's work is flawed. That would be meaningless," Murphy said. "Because every person actually possesses numerous traits, and when you are forced to view them through only one of their traits, prejudice arises. And the more prejudices that gather together, the more they are continuously reinforced."

Each house is actually an information cocoon of personality; most people share the same personality, so naturally, it is easier to maintain a unified perception of others. Without the counter-balance of differing opinions, prejudice grows ever larger, and students repeatedly verify their own narrow-minded views through those around them, eventually becoming "individualistic yet bigoted" people.

In short, in Murphy's view, Hogwarts' four houses, by classifying students according to personality, are artificially creating differences and creating conflict.

This is not a problem unique to Hogwarts; in fact, the entire Western society's practice of "classifying" people is itself a form of separatism that creates distinctions, builds walls of isolation between people, and rejects communication, understanding, and win-win cooperation.

"It is difficult for people to grow beyond their own environment. In an environment filled with prejudice, how can we become mentally sound individuals?"

"More than twenty years ago, Hogwarts even saw the pathetic situation where the entire Slytherin house became a breeding ground for Death Eaters," Murphy said.

Snape's expression at the teachers' table turned as ugly as if he had been stabbed.

"Are Slytherin students born bad seeds?"

"No!" Murphy said decisively. "It is only because they were hijacked by evil ideas, they fell into a quagmire of prejudice, mistaking lies for truth, while there was no one around them who could point out their errors!"

Having reached this point, Professor McGonagall and the other professors were all terrified, fearing that Murphy might suddenly add, "From today on, the house system is abolished."

But Murphy was not yet that radical; he was only a school governor, not the headmaster, and could not make such a decision. Moreover, this would inevitably provoke opposition from the entire school's staff and students.

"The house system has a long history," Murphy said. "We must respect tradition."

"But at the same time, I believe it is necessary to carry out a certain degree of reform regarding the drawbacks it brings."

"Therefore, as the Practical Lessons professor, I will create more opportunities for exchange and cooperation for students of the four houses in my class. And as Hogwarts Teaching Investigator and school governor, I will actively coordinate with the school to create more conditions for everyone."

"This is work that both I and the school should do. And students, you are the future of the wizarding world. I hope everyone can break through the prejudices in your hearts, become partners with more young wizards, grow together, progress together, and become the best versions of yourselves."

As he spoke, Murphy's gaze turned toward the boy at the Gryffindor table below.

Do you understand, Harry!

……

After the banquet, the students were led back to their respective house common rooms by the older students to sleep.

And Murphy was invited to the headmaster's office.

This was his first time coming here.

Fawkes was on the perch by the window, watching him.

Murphy also curiously examined this magical creature.

A phoenix—this thing is not often seen in the outside world.

Murphy had long envied its ability to be reborn from the ashes. If he could perform a phoenix Animagus transformation, would things like the cancer in his body be easily solved?

Death, what is there to fear?

At worst, just be reborn.

But in fact, research on the magical Animagus was not yet complete. The only successful individual was himself, and that was achieved under the concurrence of various accidental factors; whether it could be replicated was still very uncertain.

Compared to transforming directly into a phoenix, studying its rebirth mechanism might be more useful.

The man and the bird stared at each other for a long while. Murphy suddenly had a thought: could this bird also share its senses with Dumbledore, just like his own crows?

It was with great difficulty that Murphy suppressed the urge to pluck a feather from it or draw some blood from Fawkes, turning instead to admire the exquisite devices placed in every corner.

After another while, Dumbledore entered.

The two had met before, but because the welcome banquet was about to start, they hadn't talked deeply. This counted as their first private meeting.

"Professor Dumbledore," Murphy bowed slightly. "Apologies, I made that statement without your consent."

Although Murphy hadn't proposed any concrete policy suggestions in the end, questioning the school's system in front of the headmaster was already disrespectful enough.

Dumbledore didn't fly into a rage on the spot and even let him finish speaking; that was the man's cultivation. Regardless of what Murphy thought in his heart, at least this polite remark had to be made.

"You are too polite, Murphy. As a school governor, you naturally have the right to do so," Dumbledore said gently. As he spoke, he invited Murphy to sit opposite the headmaster's desk. "Would you like to drink something?"

"No, thank you."

Dumbledore sat in his seat. "And, thanks to that, we were able to hear some true insights."

"True insights? You must be speaking ironically."

"No, certainly not."

"So, you agree with my remarks about the houses?"

Murphy's four-color vision had been watching Dumbledore's expression. He was very curious whether this headmaster, who could by no means be a simple good-natured old man, was truly deep and unfathomable or genuinely pure of heart.

"Yes, at least regarding the aspect that there should be more exchange and cooperation between the houses, I agree."

Murphy frowned. "If you had long seen the drawbacks of the house system, why didn't you make some changes?"

"Changes..." Dumbledore nodded slightly. "Yes, perhaps I could have made some changes. However, I am already an old antique over a hundred years old; I have become accustomed to too many things and have lost the keenness of youth."

"The house system may not be perfect, but it also has some benefits, doesn't it? For example, it allows students to be with similar people, which can be more pleasant; for example, it can better develop certain traits of theirs."

"Change might be better, but it might also mean changing for the worse."

"Perhaps I have lost the drive for excellence, and the judgment of good and bad has always been a field I am not skilled in. To me, a more perfect thing often means it is more adapted to the current environment, and when the external situation changes, it might become even more fragile."

This...

How to put it, it wasn't without reason.

Just look at the evolution of Earth's organisms; the kings of the current version often die the earliest when entering the next version.

Moreover, during the period when Voldemort was powerful, Slytherin house indeed almost became a breeding ground for Death Eaters, but dialectically speaking, the other three houses did not collude, did they?

If there were no houses, who knows if the whole of Hogwarts would have been polluted?

It was indeed not without reason.

But this was also too passive.

"Professor, your knowledge and experience far exceed mine. I do not have your wisdom to perceive the past and future, but if we do not make changes because we fear mistakes, wouldn't we be unable to progress?"

"Making the present better might make us passive in the future."

"But, Professor, we are living in the present."

(End of chapter)