Chapter 82: Return from the Holidays
Chapter 82: Return from the Holidays
Baron Blood is a ghost of Slytherin, but even the young wizards of his own house keep their distance from him.
His appearance is truly terrifying, and Peeves fears him the most.
"Long time no see, Barrow", Felix greeted.
Baron Blood floated motionlessly, his dull eyes fixed on the direction in which the Grey Lady had left.
After a long pause, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "Hello, Hep."
Felix looked at him, recalling a night during his school days when he had accidentally overheard a conversation between Baron Blood and the Grey Lady. Baron Blood was begging for her forgiveness, while the Grey Lady cursed him to never find redemption.
It was also that night that he learned of Helen Ravenclaw's identity. He had pieced together the story of their conflict: Helena had taken Ravenclaw's Diadem, too afraid to return home. As her admirer, Baron Blood had been tasked by Rowena Ravenclaw to bring her daughter back.
A fierce argument ensued, and in the end, Baron Blood accidentally killed Helena. Overcome with remorse, he took his own life using the same weapon that had killed her.
"Barrow, what do you mean when you say her name is a taboo?" Felix asked.
Baron Blood did not answer directly, but his voice was dry as he said, "I see you haven't fallen into dark magic, which is more than I can say for myself."
Felix's expression grew serious, and he whispered, "You warned me."
"Even without me, you would have found a way to break free. I saw the records in your journal..."
"Oh", Felix smiled, "that was a psychological assessment from the Muggle world, a precaution I took to prevent myself from sinking deeper... But I still have to say, without your warning, it might have taken me a month or two to realize the severity of the issue."
Dark magic's corruption of the mind is subtle, and the data from the assessments always lags behind. By the time you notice something is wrong, the danger might already be upon you.
Baron Blood drifted away in silence.
Felix watched his gaunt, skeletal back as it faded into the distance, then shook his head. The issues between ghosts were beyond his reach; he couldn't intervene or mediate—ghosts' deep-seated grudges weren't easily resolved.
Ghosts are the result of unfinished business and strong attachments that bind them to the real world. These attachments are the foundation of their existence, and as a result, their perceptions are often stuck in the past.
This is somewhat similar to the portraits in the Headmaster's office, but ghosts can still change.
However, change doesn't always lead to a better outcome.
Felix speculated that if Hogwarts were to publicly fire Professor Binns, he might vanish on the spot—his attachment is to teaching.
But given the ethical concerns and the difficulty of finding a suitable replacement, no one has ever proposed this solution.
He returned to his office and carefully examined the three manuscripts he had selected from the Slytherin archives. The documents were characteristic of Slytherin himself—proposing the idea of converting the innate abilities of magical creatures into wizard spells.
This concept has been around for a long time, such as the chameleon's ability and the Disillusionment Charm, or the invisibility of the thestral and the Invisibility Spell. However, there is little actual connection between these abilities and the spells, as spell development is highly unpredictable.
It was only later, when looking back, that people realized some of the Wizard's spells bore a striking resemblance to the innate abilities of magical creatures.
Slytherin had attempted to find a method to consistently convert the innate abilities of different magical creatures into Wizard Spells, but it was clear that he eventually abandoned this line of research.
Slytherin gave up, and the young Tom didn't take it seriously either, as evidenced by the fact that he hid this information in the Room of Requirement to trap others.
However, Felix found this very intriguing. He memorized the incomplete data, thinking that he might find a use for it someday.
In the following days, Felix read books, watched movies, and enjoyed a very relaxed and comfortable life. When he had nothing to do, he would check on his Assistant's progress and offer appropriate advice. Time passed bit by bit.
Finally, the Christmas holidays came to an end, and the new semester at Hogwarts began.
That evening, the Hogwarts Express returned the students, and the Great Hall buzzed with excitement as everyone gathered. After the Christmas break, they seemed to have forgotten about the attacks that had taken place the previous term and were eagerly sharing their holiday experiences.
"My mom took me to visit relatives abroad, and I found out I have a cousin who goes to Ilvermorny!" one young wizard said excitedly, as those around him eagerly asked for more details.
"What's Ilvermorny?"
"A magic school, similar to Hogwarts, but in America."
"Really? I thought there was only one magic school in the whole world!" another young wizard sighed.
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione was dressed warmly, wearing a knitted hat and a large mask that covered most of her face.
"Hermione, what happened to you?" Katie Bell, a year older than Hermione and a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, asked curiously.
"I have a cold, cough cough!" she said briefly.
"But I noticed your eyes have changed color, they look a bit like a cat's..." the young witch observed closely.
"Um... it might be because of the magic", Hermione said nervously, changing the subject, "Katie, how was your holiday?"
Katie's attention was successfully diverted. She pouted, "I stayed at home. It was safe but incredibly boring. Do you think the attacks will happen again? I read a lot of newspapers during the holiday..."
"Don't worry, Katie. There won't be any more attacks", Hermione said confidently.
"How do you know?"
"Cough cough, you'll see soon enough", Hermione replied. On the other side, Harry tugged at her sleeve.
He whispered, "Hermione, is your spell not finished yet? Honestly, your outfit is a bit strange."
She sighed in frustration, "No— I can barely manage it, but the effect is poor, and there's a thin layer of fur on my face. At least another day or two, Professor Hup said my progress is already very fast."
Ron tapped his fork on an empty goblet, "But how are you going to eat in a bit?"
"I'm not eating!" Hermione said angrily.
"Attention, please!" Dumbledore tapped a glass in front of him from the teacher's podium.
The Great Hall gradually quieted down.
Dumbledore stood up and said with a warm smile, "Welcome back, young wizards."
(End of Chapter)
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