I, Hogwarts Second Time Around.

Chapter 175 The Second to Last Day of Christmas—The Lament of the Castle Ghosts

"What are you looking at?" Hannah asked, wearing a white nightgown and a brown cloak.

It was embroidered with strange patterns.

It is said to be a prayer totem used by shamans in South America.

It can bring good luck to the wearer.

"Marauder's Map." The yellowed parchment lay on Owen's lap.

Many names were marked on it.

Hannah spotted Owen immediately, along with her name.

"Amazing!" Her eyes widened. "Is this a map of the castle? Are the names of everyone who enters the castle marked?"

"Yes—everyone."

"Really? That's strange!" She suddenly seemed to have noticed something. A hint of doubt flickered in her brown eyes. "Why don't I see the fat monk's name on the map?"

"I also want to know what his name is!"

"The fat monk?" Owen was taken aback. He looked down at the map and, sure enough, after searching around, none of the ghosts' names from the castle appeared on the map.

"This magic of names only works on the living? No—it should work on souls! The souls of Animagus will also be marked."

"But, the fat monk and the others?" Hannah asked doubtfully. Aren't ghosts the souls of wizards?

"The ghosts of the school aren't the wizards from their past lives." Owen's eyes lit up, and he quickly explained to Hannah, "Wizards have no connection to the ghosts of the present. They are merely the lingering memories of the wizards of the past, an unbreakable love, a lifelong regret. Most of them never possessed complete memories of their past. Hundreds or thousands of years at Hogwarts passed by in the blink of an eye; they couldn't perceive anything happening in the outside world. Even the wizarding identity they represented might be a lie."

"Only in this way can they continue to exist." Owen looked at Hannah and coaxed her, "They are like a natural phenomenon, like the Black Lake of the castle, the Forbidden Forest."

"Souls age too. If they truly are the souls of wizards, it's hard to believe that someone could stay in a castle for over a thousand years, unable to do anything or feel anything. It's no wonder such a soul would go mad!"

As he spoke, Irving suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

An idea suddenly popped into his head.

If those boisterous, fiery Deathbringers are truly as the legends say—their souls are dead, and only their bodies live on—then the Marauder's Map probably wouldn't mark them when they enter the castle!

Ancient Flame of the Immortals.

He doesn't seem to know this magic!

If they were to meet inside the castle, he could at most block them, but wouldn't be able to kill them.

Seeing Owen deep in thought, Hannah remained silent, simply sitting quietly beside him and watching him.

Regardless of the passage of time.

After a long while, the boy finally came to his senses. He smiled and told him to go back to sleep.

He also disappeared into the oak barrel on his way to the dormitory.

the next day.

The sky was bright.

This is the second to last day before Christmas.

Hogwarts was also beginning its festive celebrations. The Great Hall and corridors were adorned with colorful lights and small Christmas tree decorations.

The old year is about to pass.

Even the ghosts in the castle were celebrating this day.

"Kyrie Irving~ Kyrie Irving!"

Come here!

Inside the auditorium, Irving had just sat down.

Suddenly, two hurried figures rushed in front of him.

Before he could react, the two men grabbed him from either side and hurriedly walked out.

He was like a little chick, sandwiched between the twins.

"What are you doing?" Owen struggled, but George and Fred ignored him and continued to jog along, supporting him.

You'll find out soon enough!

The Gemini, unusually, didn't speak in their usual glib tone, but rather in a serious, uneasy tone, as if something bad had happened.

Upon hearing this, Irving simply stopped struggling.

His gaze traveled from the walls on both sides all the way to the ceiling.

The eerie, pale glow of the fireflies cast a strange light on the castle's stone walls.

The ceiling was so high that it was almost impossible to see the top, and in front of them was a luxurious marble staircase.

Leading to the spiral staircase.

There, a maze of escalators led to various parts of the main castle.

Meanwhile, the narrow stairwell was crowded with young wizards, all looking up silently at the ceiling. The scene was eerily silent.

"That's... Mischievous Ghost?"

Irving was particularly uncertain.

Upon getting closer, and seeing its broad face, large mouth, round, bright eyes, and strange clothing, he was certain that it was indeed Pippi the Ghost.

Owen had never paid much attention to this Hogwarts-specific "soul".

Aside from the first semester of first grade when it provoked him a few times and was severely punished by him, it could only be a spirit created by the subconscious learning pressure of Hogwarts young wizards over thousands of years. It would avoid him whenever it saw him!

Yes, academic pressure.

Although it sounds far-fetched, the identity of Peeves as a "soul" is generally accepted by theorists.

He is not a ghost, but a kind of psychological energy rather than a mark left by the dead.

Therefore, it possesses abilities that ghosts do not have.

For example, Peeves is actually a physical entity and can pick up objects in the real world.

This is why several toilets at the school exploded on Halloween!

Because that guy blocked the toilet with a ball of feces.

Just like how Obscurials are born after a minor wizard's collapse!

The long-oppressed and burdened young wizards, whose common desire over thousands of years has finally led to the birth of Peeves!

That is—to cause trouble for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Or to put it simply: every day when I wake up for school, the first thing I think about is whether a super strong guy will suddenly appear and blow up the school!

This simple idea gradually materialized into a physical form under the influence of magic.

This is Pipi Ghost.

"What's going on?" Owen turned to look at the twins, only to find that their faces were also full of confusion.

After a moment, Fred spoke up to explain, "Nobody knows what happened; it was very sudden."

“Yes!” George continued, “It chased the little wizard as usual, except this time, it bumped into Ron.”

"I didn't do anything! I swear!"

Upon hearing this, Ron, who was standing on the spiral staircase on the second floor, immediately lowered his head and shouted loudly, "I was just trying to cast a Guardian Charm to drive it away. We've done this before, it's not the first time."

Owen, whose feet touched the ground again, did not doubt Ron. As he said, this was not the first time Peeves had been banished. This year, after most of the young wizards had mastered the Patronus Charm, Peeves had suffered.

The vengeful little wizard vowed to repay Peeves for all the humiliation he had suffered.

But Peeves, who was led astray by the little wizard, finally had a major breakthrough!

This is the reason for the mass explosion in the Hogwarts toilets.

"But everyone sees it!" a young Slytherin wizard suddenly exclaimed. "How many eyes are in the portrait on the wall!"

"He's right." A resolute voice came from a portrait, a full-body portrait of a knight, the historically famous Sir Cadogan.

Sir Cadogan was a member of the Knights of the Round Table.

He met Merlin.

However, because this guy was such a braggart, the Muggles unanimously thought that how could someone who could be so easily touched be a member of the great Knights of the Round Table? So they removed him from that legendary story.

However, in the magical world, everyone still knows about his past deeds.

"It was indeed this little wizard who released a semi-transparent, ethereal canine creature that crashed into Peeves, and that's how it turned into this," said the jazz priest, riding his fat grey horse.

"Hey! Not bad, Ron, you can even unleash a physical guardian spirit now." Owen raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said in an upturned tone.

"Cough cough! It's alright, I can only make out what kind of creature it is with a faint outline!" Ron stood on the stairs, hands on his hips, looking smug, but his tone was feigned indifference.

But the smile on his face was impossible to hide!

"Hmph! Weasley, you killed the ghosts of the school, you blood-stained executioner!"

At that moment, a wizard with light blond hair and gray eyes pushed his way out of the Slytherin crowd, his face filled with disdain and anger.

He then went on to belittle the entire Gryffindor school, saying, "Gryffindor people love to protect criminals. No wonder the professors can't find that murderer Black! Ron Weasley, you should be sent to Azkaban just like him."

"What are you yelling about! Malfoy, are you asking for a beating again?!"

Ron, not to be outdone, retorted directly, "I wonder how many people your family has secretly killed. If I were to take down a dark wizard like you, I might even earn a Merlin Medal!"

"Damn it, Weasley, what did you say?!" Malfoy was unusually angry today.

Or rather, he was always angry.

Owen and Lucius's collaboration doesn't mean Malfoy is on the same page as him, or Harry and his friends.

This child, who had been spoiled by his mother since childhood, felt like he could eat Irving alive after discovering that his father paid far more attention to Irving than to him.

Especially recently, Lucius has been sending him letters warning him not to cause trouble for Owen or Harry.

Draco, however, was not indignant at the letters' lack of respect and was instead thoroughly enraged by their somewhat subservient tone.

"You're such a coward! Come out and fight me one-on-one if you dare!" Ron continued to yell. He hadn't beaten up Malfoy in over six months, and his hands were itching to do it!

"Damn it!" Enraged, Draco drew his wand and was about to fight Ron!

Meanwhile, Irving, who was ready to watch the show, had already taken out some sunflower seeds and peanuts from his pocket.

Is Malfoy going through a rebellious phase?

After a few months of calm, is it about to start again?

but

Go ahead and fight! Go ahead and fight!

There hasn't been a fight in the castle in ages, it's so boring!!!

Just as Irving was about to join in and fan the flames.

Suddenly, another person darted out from a distance.

It's Harry.

He shoved Ron aside and unleashed a red spell at Malfoy!

"Sirius is not a murderer!" he roared, his face turning bright red.

After learning the truth, Harry's concern for Sirius increased exponentially.

Harry, whose mind was already filled with a wonderful future with his godfather, would not allow anyone to tarnish his godfather's reputation.

"Armor for protection!"

With the school war going on for so long, Malfoy's strength has naturally increased. In addition, he has been on guard against Ron. Although Harry's attack was very sudden, he still managed to defend himself quickly.

The gray-blue armor blocked the curse.

"What? So angry?" He spoke in his signature mocking tone and arrogant manner. "So, you Gryffindors were hiding that Black, weren't you! Ha! I'm going to tell my father, no—I'm going to write to the Ministry of Magic and have the Board of Governors expel you, and Dumbledore, who's been protecting you."

Perhaps the repression of the past few months had made him somewhat hysterical, and he actually blurted out what was on his mind.

"Wow! What a grand ambition!" Owen stared at the bustling crowd with great interest.

The twins behind him had long been unable to hold back any longer.

That brat over there keeps saying "Gryffindor" over and over again!

Are they really taking advantage of their lack of resources?

"He's asking for a beating!"

"I think so too!"

After saying that, the two rushed forward.

What could the Slytherins standing next to Malfoy do in this situation?

Of course, it's time to fight!

The hatred between the students, which Irving had painstakingly managed to reduce, was instantly reversed, and the situation spiraled out of control in the next second.

Curses and black magic defense spells flew together, and everyone's face was filled with anger.

However chaotic this small-scale riot may be.

Irving, standing to the side, kept to himself, and no one dared to provoke him.

He then drew his wand and cast a levitation spell on the Peeves floating in the air.

ε=(ο｀*))) Sigh!

It's clearly Pipi Ghost that's injured, but nobody cares whether it lives or dies.

At this moment, the stalker looked exactly like those who had been petrified.

Its face was as pale as a sheet of paper, and the comical clothes it wore had lost their color, making it look as if it had been transformed from a color photograph into a black and white one.

What's even more worrying is that it seems to have become more transparent.

Perhaps it's the effect of the surrounding fluorescent magic; it's too bright. It gives the illusion that the transparent ghosts have become fainter.

However, thanks to his exceptional magical perception, Owen knew this wasn't an illusion; the fish floating in the air, resembling a dried fish, was indeed disappearing. It was just disappearing very slowly.

"Damn it! Turn off all the lights!!!"

The flickering spell prevented Owen from seeing the true form of Peeves' illusory body.

Light pollution is too severe.

He then suddenly looked up and roared!

Instantly, the young wizards around him instinctively stopped what they were doing. The others, bewildered, turned to look at him with a hint of awe.

"Go fight in the auditorium!" he growled.

Then the focus returned to Pipi Ghost.

"Hiss~~~"

Suddenly, something unusual caught his attention.

Pipi Ghost has two dents on his neck.

It's like being sucked blood by a vampire!

"this"

It's a spirit; it doesn't have any fresh blood to suck.

unless!!!

In an instant, Irving's pupils contracted slightly, and a rather bad premonition sprouted in his heart!

"What are you doing here?"

Professor McGonagall's office is right next to the marble staircase in the foyer; it's the closest office to the spiral staircase.

Professor McGonagall was on the second-floor terrace of the town, looking seriously at the young wizards gathered at the bottom of the stairs.

Professor McGonagall was furious because the students had fought yet again. Suddenly, the thing floating in the air caught her attention.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Did you do this?"

Irving rolled his eyes, condemning Professor Meow's skepticism!

"Professor, it might be dying. And..."

Before he could finish speaking, Malfoy, standing in the crowd, seized the opportunity to shout, "Professor, it was Ron who killed Peeves! Everyone saw it!"

"Ron?" Professor McGonagall nodded, her square glasses revealing a suffocatingly serious expression.

Ron quickly retorted, "No, Professor, you know how many times I've banished it. If I really had the ability to kill it—I mean, maybe—it would probably be dead already."

"Tongue-locking and throat-sealing."

Without even raising his wand, Owen simply waved his hand and unleashed a "Shut Up" spell at Malfoy.

Damn it—you interrupted your dad.

That bastard's really gotten cocky!

The rebellious phase has begun!

"I think something has somehow infiltrated the castle, Professor!" His eyes had never been so serious.

"What is that?" Professor McGonagall, dressed in a dark green robe, frowned slightly, then opened her right hand, and saw the floating soul slowly flying towards her.

Amazing magical skills. Owen thought to himself. Professor McGonagall seems to have become more powerful?

Peeves floated slowly over and stopped in front of her. Professor McGonagall frowned slightly, somewhat incredulous, because, just as Owen had said, she also sensed that this ghost, which might have existed since the school's founding, was disappearing.

She then glanced at Owen and Malfoy and said, "Hufflepuff, five points deducted. Don't cast spells on your classmates anymore, Mr. Sanchez!"

"Yes, Professor, no problem, Professor!" Irving ignored the five points that were deducted.

Anyway, he'll find a chance to deduct ten points from each of the other three hospitals.

Ensure Hufflepuff is far ahead of the College in points.

"You can look at Peeves' neck!"

"Um?"

Professor McGonagall, following his instructions, glanced to the side and indeed saw the tooth hole on Pippi's neck!

"This—" she was shocked!

Then, as if realizing something, his expression returned to normal.

"Mr. Sanchez, and—Mr. Ron Weasley, Harry, come with me!"

After saying that, the professor controlled Peeves' floating body and headed upstairs. Judging from the looks of it, his destination was probably the principal's office.

Harry, bewildered, and Ron, conflicted, reluctantly followed.

Irving, however, had a serious expression and didn't say anything.

The young wizards on both sides dispersed, and soon the professor led them to the end of the spiral staircase.

In front of a gleaming oak door.

"Irving Sanchez!"

"What's wrong?" Professor McGonagall suddenly called out to him, and Owen instinctively answered.

"No, I wasn't calling you," Professor McGonagall said, feigning seriousness. Behind her, a brass door knocker shaped like a griffin slowly turned, and soon a staircase appeared before the three of them.

"."

Holy crap, the password is my name!!!

What a twisted sense of humor, Principal Dumbledore!

Harry and Ron on either side wanted to laugh, but under Owen's death stare, they could only hold it in, their faces turning red from holding it in.

Inside the office.

The old headmaster was carefully reading a letter.

And it wasn't just him; the portraits of the former male and female principals on the wall also focused their attention on that letter.

Only after Owen and the others walked in did they turn their gaze away, each closing their eyes tightly and pretending to be asleep.

Upon hearing this, the old headmaster gently put down the letter in his hand, revealing a pair of wise yet weary eyes behind his crescent-shaped eyes.

"What happened, Minerva!"

"Look at this!" Professor McGonagall waved her right hand, and Peeves, which had been floating behind her, slowly drifted to Dumbledore's front.

"this--"

Dumbledore spotted the tooth hole in Peeves' neck immediately.

"Professor! I didn't do it, I just chased him away!" Ron blurted out in a panic. He didn't want to be expelled from school because of this.

"I know it wasn't you, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said calmly.

"The young wizard doesn't have that ability yet."

"Oh—really? That's great!" Ron patted his chest nonchalantly, looking terrified.

"Professor, what's wrong with it?" Owen frowned and looked at Ron with disdain.

You can't tell what's good or bad about this. The principal is clearly mocking your incompetence!

"Its soul energy has been absorbed by someone."

"Soul energy? Being sucked away?" Owen's eyes darted around. "Like how Dementors suck away a wizard's soul?"

"Although there are differences, they are not too far apart." The principal frowned slightly, and like Owen, a sense of foreboding began to sprout in his heart.

"But those are spirits! Even if a wizard can dispel them, extracting their soul energy is simply too absurd." Owen's tone was noticeably a level higher.

Having lived two lives, he had never heard of any magic or anything that could extract soul energy.

"No, it's not unbelievable. These creatures are everywhere around you," Professor Dumbledore said calmly.

His eyes glanced slightly out the window.

A black dot dancing in the dark clouds.

Hidden there are the creatures that the young wizards hate most this year.

"You mean, Dementors?" Owen understood immediately and laughed at the terrifying dark creature.

Yes, in the known magical world, the only creatures capable of directly absorbing a wizard's soul are Dementors.

Of course, alchemy can also work, but that requires long-term preparation and cannot be accomplished simply by chanting a spell.

—Hmm, speaking of spells, spells that work on the soul.

Killing Curse is definitely one of them.

"No! Not Dementors," Dumbledore's eyes were cold and clear. "They're not interested in ghosts."

The professor's tone gradually became serious.

"It seems a dead body has sneaked into our castle!"

"deceased???"

"Professor McGonagall." Ignoring Owen's questioning gaze, he turned to Professor McGonagall, "Have all the young wizards go to the Great Hall. The professors are to thoroughly investigate the entire castle!"

(End of this chapter)