Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Azeroth

Chapter 86 85. Filch's Tears and Hermione's Difficulty Accepting
For Harry's apprentices, no one could have imagined that they could learn carpentry skills in the Shaman Club's classes.

Even though Harry had demonstrated it to them personally, it only looked easy... When these people really started to practice with their own hands while holding the wood, the results were disastrous.

Either it's too deep or too shallow, or the chisel goes straight through it, or it's crooked... There's nothing they can't do, except situations you can't imagine.

"Don't be anxious, keep calm." Harry said as he walked back and forth between the busy apprentices to observe their progress. "This is not something that can be perfected in a day or two. In fact, this process can help you understand every detail of the totem you want to make."

"This way, when you use the earth element to directly condense a totem in the future, you will have a clear image in your mind, and you won't end up with a... well, horrible-looking totem that the elemental element won't understand what you are talking about."

There was a low laugh for a moment, and everyone remembered the fuzzy stick that Cedric Diggory had made in his previous attempt, and even Cedric himself laughed the loudest.

When the class ended, the apprentices had not made any progress, but Harry was not anxious at all. Instead, he comforted them.

This wasn't some kind of shaman crash course, and there weren't any enemies out there that would come tomorrow and want to destroy the world, so Harry wasn't in a hurry at all.

Laying a solid foundation is the most important thing. Quick success often leaves many hidden dangers and eventually explodes at an unexpected moment.

It is normal to spend even one semester to familiarize yourself with the power of the earth element, master the method of making earth totems, and master one or two spells related to the earth element.

Harry even considered whether he should divide different grades according to the number of elements they mastered. For example, first-grade students would be exposed to earth elements, second-grade students would be exposed to water elements, third-grade students would be exposed to wind elements, and fourth-grade students would be exposed to fire elements. Then fifth, sixth, and seventh grades would be used to learn advanced knowledge of the four elements.

——As for deeper things, there is no way. By that time, most of the students have graduated. If they want to further their studies, they may have to wait until the Earth Ring is built, or until Harry leaves Hogwarts.

Of course, they can also conduct their own research, just like the original shamans, combining the wisdom of different people and even blazing a new trail - Harry is looking forward to what innovative discoveries or inventions the wizards and shamans of this world can come up with.

However, these are just Harry's unilateral plans. Apart from anything else, if the Shaman course can only get an elective spot instead of a required course, then everything will have to be postponed. The third graders will only start to come into contact with the earth element, the sixth grade will not be able to come into contact with the final fire element, and the seventh grade... the seventh grade will make up for it quickly and learn whatever they can.

That was a bit too hasty.

"There's no need to be so reserved, Filch," Harry said, looking at the balding old man in front of him. "I don't need anyone's worship. You should have your own ideas."

Originally, the two were supposed to go to the restaurant to eat with everyone else, but Filch stopped Harry and said humbly that he wanted to talk to him about something.

To be honest, Harry even felt that if he and Dumbledore issued conflicting orders to Filch at the same time, Filch would definitely choose to execute his orders without hesitation and ignore Dumbledore's existence.

"You saved me, mentor." When no one was around, Filch's expression was even more enthusiastic than before. "I don't know how I can repay you - I - I -"

Filch was so excited that he couldn't even utter a complete sentence. His eyes were wide open and it seemed as if his eyeballs would jump out of their sockets at any time.

"Calm down, Filch!" Harry growled sternly, "Have you forgotten what I told you? Unless it's necessary, keep a calm mind."

"Yes, yes, I remember that." Filch took a half step back and took a deep breath of cold air before continuing, "You may not know, mentor, I am a Squib."

Harry raised his eyebrows slightly; this was the first time he had heard of this - after quickly recalling Filch's usual behavior, it seemed that this castle administrator had never used magic in front of the students.

A Squib is a person whose parents are wizards but who cannot use magic. For wizard families that have lived in the magical world for a long time, the birth of a Squib is a family shame.

In some books, Harry also read that some extreme families would even directly execute the Squibs born in the family - especially the pure-blood families in Slytherin College, and there were no exceptions.

Although most wizarding families in the other three colleges would not be so extreme as to directly execute the Squibs born in the family, they would either confine the Squibs in the family for life and announce to the outside world that the person is dead, or directly expel the Squibs from the family and send them to live in the Muggle world, gradually cutting off contact from then on.

Generally speaking, Squibs are a group of people who are not welcome in the wizarding world. It would be fine if a Squib chose to integrate into the Muggle world and live as a Muggle from then on, but those Squibs who always insist on living in the magical world will most likely live a miserable life.

Especially when they witness others casting spells freely, this kind of pain, unwillingness and desire will repeatedly echo deep in their hearts and torment them.

Although I don't know why a magic school like Hogwarts would hire a Squib as its castle keeper, you have to know that the castle keeper is responsible for cleaning the castle. Without the use of magic, cleaning such a huge castle is a very hard job.

It’s a good thing that there are still many house-elves working in Hogwarts, otherwise Filch would have died of exhaustion at his post long ago.

But Harry finally understood why Filch was so excited after becoming a shaman.

Although it was not a wizard's spell, the shaman's spell was also magic, and a person who had long been sentenced to death by the wizard's magic suddenly had the ability to cast spells...

Putting himself in the other person's shoes, Harry felt that if he were a Squib, and after longing for magic for so many years, someone suddenly told him that he could gain the ability to cast spells, he would definitely be extremely excited and grateful.

A favor that can never be repaid.

While Harry was thinking, Filch was talking intermittently about the discrimination and pain he had suffered over the years - he really needed someone to listen, and he had so much to say.

I was discriminated against when looking for a job, and I had to carefully protect my secrets every day, fearing that the students would find out, which would definitely make me a laughing stock in the entire Hogwarts...

From the moment he started speaking, Filch's emotions were like a dam that had been opened, pouring out in a flood that could not be stopped and would not be stopped.

Tears kept flowing out, the tears and snot even mixed into a ball, even the words he spoke became blurred, but he still wanted to say it, say it all.

Harry knew that he didn't actually need to say anything at this moment. Without feeling disgusted or impatient with Filch's look, Harry just pulled him down to sit down, and the two of them sat on the grass at the edge of the forest.

Until the sky turned completely black and the castle in the distance became brightly lit.

"...I'm sorry, mentor." Filch's voice had become hoarse. He lowered his head in shame and said, "I've wasted so much of your time. If we go back now, I'm afraid we'll miss dinner."

"That's not important," Harry said nonchalantly. He took out a piece of paper and wanted to wipe the tears from Filch's eyes. However, he was stopped by Filch as soon as he stretched out his hand. Filch took the paper and wiped it himself.

"Filch" Harry thought for a moment and said seriously, "Argus Filch."

He called Filch by his full name, speaking with extreme seriousness.

"...Teacher?" Filch looked up. He couldn't see his face in the darkness, but could hear that confused voice.

"Keep working hard," Harry said very seriously, "You will have a bright future."

There was no need for more words, no need for more comfort. Harry felt that all Filch really needed was just this one sentence, and that was enough.

The past is the past, and the future is still unknown.

"I will, mentor." Filch took a deep breath and swore, "I will." "Very good." Patting Filch on the shoulder again, Harry stood up and said, "In that case, let's go to dinner first. Although we have missed dinner in the restaurant, I think the kind house elves should be happy to prepare a sumptuous meal for the two of us... What do you think?"

Looking up at Harry, Filch couldn't see Harry's face clearly in the dark night sky. Even the figure who was speaking was not much taller than himself who was sitting down - but Filch's heart was filled with a sense of security.

He seemed to see Dumbledore - another Dumbledore.

"Yes, Master," Filch said, standing up. "They'll be happy to do that."

....................................

"So, Filch is actually a Squib?!!" Suddenly there was a loud noise, and Ron didn't even bother to try to approach the little unicorn in front of him. Instead, he stood up and looked back at Harry, shouting, "You have to be kidding!!!"

Ron even found it difficult to judge which was more surprising: the news that Filch was a Squib or the fact that Filch became a shaman - fortunately, it was easy to come to a conclusion. After all, Ron immediately remembered that he himself had not become a shaman.

Sure enough, the latter is more shocking.

"Of course I'm not kidding," Harry shrugged and said, "Why else do you think we missed dinner?"

Several people are currently in Harry's suitcase world. After a period of settling down and observing, Harry finally determined that these unicorns have basically adapted to the environment in the box and can let his friends come and broaden their horizons.

Perhaps this was the benefit of having human-like intelligence, and with Hagrid's help, the unicorns quickly realized that Harry had no ill will towards them, so it wasn't long before they were no longer particularly wary of Harry.

Being able to understand human language is also a great help. After making a request to these unicorns and getting their consent, Harry brought Ron and the other two here.

Regardless of gender, the little golden unicorn captured the hearts of the three people in an instant. Unfortunately, no matter how the three people tried, the little unicorn hid behind its parents and refused to approach them to let them hug it.

Hermione's heart was broken.

"...In Muggle legends, unicorns only approach those with pure hearts," Hermione said with an unpleasant expression, "and in other legends, they only approach pure virgins."

"What do you mean?" Ron turned his head away stupidly, "Aren't you a virgin anymore?"

Boom! ! !
A dull sound.

It was like a heavy hammer hitting a drum. The sound was dull and echoed throughout the whole place, even causing the leaves on the trees above to tremble faintly.

But let alone Hermione, even Harry felt that Ron's words were a bit too much, so it was very reasonable for him to be knocked down by Hermione's justice execution punch.

Since becoming a shaman apprentice, Hermione is currently training herself according to the requirements of orthodox shamans - starting with physical training.

"Think before you speak! Ronald!" Hermione said angrily. She hadn't put down her fist yet, and she looked like she wanted to hit Ron again - this terrifying look scared Neville so much that he didn't dare to speak.

"She's right, Ron." Harry looked at Ron struggling on the ground helplessly and said, "You really need to change the way you talk... Uh, calm down first, Hermione, you scared the unicorns too."

Hearing this, Hermione quickly turned her head to look at the unicorns - and then discovered in despair that not only were the two little unicorns farther away from her, but even the beautiful big unicorns were also moving away from her.

"Okay, okay," Hermione said irritably, sitting down next to Harry, "then forget it!"

"...Merlin's underwear!" After a long while, Ron finally caught his breath. He turned over from the ground with difficulty. "You almost beat my heart out of my mouth, you violent girl!"

"That's all because of you - spreading rumors?!" Veins on Hermione's forehead were bulging, and she seemed to be unable to help herself again. She glanced at Harry, but it was quick and fleeting.

"But didn't you say that yourself?!" Ron stiffened his neck and retorted unconvincedly: "Or do you think your heart is not pure enough?!"

"That's just a legend in Muggle stories! You idiot!" Hermione said angrily, "This is the magical world! They are also unicorns in the magical world!"

"Uh, aren't we talking about Filch?" Seeing that the two seemed to be arguing again, Neville interrupted and said, "If he is a Squib, many things make sense now when you think back on them."

"Oh, yeah, and Filch," Ron shifted his attention. "No wonder he always looks like he hates us. It wouldn't be surprising if he was a Squib."

"A Squib... isn't that someone who can't use magic?" Hermione asked in confusion. "Muggles can't use magic either. There are too many people in this world who can't use magic."

"No, you don't understand, Hermione," Neville shook his head and said, "You come from a Muggle family, you don't understand what a Squib means to a wizard family."

"It's like this, my mother has a distant cousin, he's a Muggle... er, a designer?" Ron thought for a moment and said, "I think his name is this. Anyway, no one in the family ever talks about him."

"It's already considered good now. A few hundred years ago, the Squibs would even be executed when they were discovered," Neville shrugged and said, "rather than being locked up at home or sent to the Muggles."

"Oh my God!" Hermione said in shock. "This is too barbaric - I mean, isn't this discrimination, Harry?"

"Indeed," Harry said seriously, "Although it is not correct, in the eyes of many wizards, discrimination against Squibs is a common thing."

"It shouldn't be like this," Hermione sighed with a frown, "I thought the wizarding world would be more - how could it be like this?"

"More fairy-tale, more beautiful, more harmonious?" Harry suddenly laughed. "I think you have the potential to become the Minister of Magic, Hermione. When you become the Minister of Magic in the future, you can try to change the situation of the Squibs in the wizarding world."

"Me? Minister of Magic?" Hermione pointed at herself with a shocked look on her face. "Are you serious?"

"Of course," Harry nodded.

"You think I can?"

"Why not?" Harry said seriously, "Just because something has always been that way doesn't mean it's right. Someone has to stand up and make the world a better place."

"...Thank you, Harry." Hermione looked at Harry with shining eyes and said, "I will try my best."

In an instant, all the anger caused by Ron's words just now disappeared from Hermione, and she looked in a good mood.

Neville on the side breathed a long sigh of relief and announced that the alarm was lifted.

"Have you thought that far ahead?" Ron shrugged and said, "I just hope Filch won't be so annoying in the future... He's not a Squib anymore anyway. Well, if he could greet us with a smile every day..."

(End of this chapter)