Chapter 84: Do You Want to Become a Real Wizard?

On the fourth - floor corridor of the open area, a strange gust of wind suddenly swept past Filch.

"Ouch!"

Filch let out a pained cry. He looked at the back of the hand that was holding the lantern, only to see a tiny cut there for no apparent reason, with thin trails of blood oozing out.

"Who is it? Who!! I see you! Come out right now!"

Filch immediately looked around warily, roaring loudly and bluffing.

From his years of work experience, that gust of wind was definitely not a natural phenomenon. It must be some naughty students on night patrol using magic to play tricks on him.

He won't let those students get away with it!

As Filch was shouting, he called for his pet cat, Mrs. Norris, hoping that she could help him find the naughty students hiding around.

Naturally, cats have a stronger sense of smell and are more sensitive than humans.

Although Mrs. Norris had long - term malnutrition and looked bony, it didn't prevent her from helping Filch find people.

Before long, her cat eyes locked onto the area where Dudley was hiding invisibly. Dudley hadn't gone far at all.

Filch and his pet cat were very in sync. Seeing that Mrs. Norris had locked onto the area where the culprit was, his lecherous old face immediately broke into a sinister smile.

"Ha~Ha~Ha! I knew it!"

Filch's smile froze. He was greatly startled by Dudley's sudden crazy laughter. He nearly dropped the lantern he was holding, and Mrs. Norris also puffed up her tail and bristled.

Dudley removed the Invisibility Charm on himself and revealed his presence in front of Filch and Mrs. Norris.

He held the Smelting stick in one hand and slightly raised the other, with a drop of Filch's blood on his finger.

Just now, Dudley used his strong body to run past Filch invisibly. He used his fingernail to take a drop of blood from Filch's hand. Then he concentrated and asked the System to identify the blood.

The System showed that this drop of blood was Blood of Inert Magic Power, rather than a non - magical item that couldn't be identified.

This didn't surprise Dudley, as he had guessed it before.

He had known for a long time that although Squibs couldn't use magic, they were different from Muggles.

Squibs could see certain magical creatures that Muggles couldn't see at all, such as Dementors;

Squibs were also unaffected by the Muggle - Repelling Charm and had some mysterious characteristics that Muggles didn't possess.

This proved that Squibs were actually incomplete wizards.

The result of the System's identification of Filch's blood also proved this point.

The blood of Squibs contained magic power, but this magic power was inert, that is, it couldn't be mobilized or released outside the body to become magic.

Compared with normal wizards, the magical traits expressed by Squibs' genes were incomplete. They didn't express the trait of 'being able to release and use magic power'.

To solve this problem, Squibs needed to be given the ability to guide and use magic power.

This is a Herculean task for others, but for Dudley now, it's incredibly simple.

When he completed the [fusion] of the cracked [Quirrell wand], he obtained an ability named [Delayed and Unstable Wandless Spellcasting], which was automatically blocked by the [System].

This ability is trash to [Dudley], but it's a precious treasure to [Squibs].

After all, even [Delayed and Unstable Wandless Spellcasting] is still casting spells, far better than being unable to cast any spells at all!

If this ability is transferred to a [Squib], it's like installing a cracked [wand] into the [Squib]'s [magic power] genes, injecting vitality into stagnant water and creating an outlet for it.

From then on, the [Squib] can cast [magic] sporadically. If paired with an actual [wand] of high compatibility, they would be almost indistinguishable from normal [wizards].

...

"Y-you... Are you the new [teaching assistant] appointed by [Principal Dumbledore]?!"

[Filch] came to his senses from the shock. Impolitely, he held his lantern close to [Dudley]'s head and stammered.

When [Filch] realized that it wasn't an ordinary student teasing him, his bravado weakened a lot.

With a scowl, [Dudley] used his walking stick to push [Filch]'s lantern aside. Then, he flashed a devilish smile at [Filch] and spoke in a voice like a devil's whisper:

"Mr. [Filch], the caretaker, do you want to draw the astonished gazes of the teachers and students at [Hogwarts]? Do you want to sit openly in the [faculty seats in the Great Hall] and use your [wand] to summon food for your meals?

Do you want to gain others' recognition and never experience loneliness again? Do you want to become a [wizard] who can wield [magic]?"

"What?!"

After hearing [Dudley]'s words, [Filch] was startled. For a few brief moments, his old eyes instinctively showed intense longing. However, this didn't last long. His gaze quickly dimmed, and he was soon overcome with uncontrollable anger.

He angrily questioned [Dudley]:

"[Teaching Assistant Dursley], are you making fun of me? Your prank is not so smart! Don't forget, while you're a [teaching assistant], you're also a student! As a student, you are subject to the [school rules] and my control as the caretaker! I..."

"Fine, if you don't believe me!" [Dudley]'s expression suddenly turned cold. He turned around and started to leave. "Mr. [Filch], you just missed the greatest opportunity of your life. You'll just stay a [Squib] until you die!"

Watching [Dudley] slowly walking away, [Filch]'s excited emotions suddenly froze. He couldn't go on with his harsh words, and his heart was wrenched. He felt extremely flustered and empty, as if a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was slipping away from him.

"Wait!"

[Filch] couldn't resist his inner turmoil and called out to stop [Dudley].

However, upon hearing [Filch]'s voice, [Dudley] didn't stop. Instead, he quickened his pace.

"No—Stop! [Teaching Assistant Dursley], please stop!"

[Filch] was engulfed by a huge wave of regret. His mental defenses quickly collapsed. With a trembling voice and using honorifics, he took his still-steady old legs and quickly caught up with [Dudley], then stepped in front of him.

"Please, please forgive my rudeness just now! Please give me another chance! Can you give me another chance?"

I'm willing to pay any price to become a wizard!"

Filch, with his bent old back, bowed repeatedly to Dudley, looking sincere and humble.

He had dreamed of becoming a wizard all his life. Now that he finally had a glimmer of hope, he couldn't give it up. He suddenly remembered that the young man in front of him was no ordinary wizard. He was the cousin of the Savior, the recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class, who had invented the miraculous incantation to combat dark magic.

Such a person shouldn't deceive or play tricks on him like the Weasleys.

"Oh, really?" Hearing Filch's words, Dudley showed a sly smile on his face again. "You mean you're willing to pay any price?"

"That's, of course"

Filch stopped the words that blurted out. He suddenly thought of his Mrs. Norris and this Hogwarts Castle where he had lived for most of his life.

"Sorry, Teaching Assistant Dursley. Please forgive my thoughtless words just now. I can't leave Hogwarts, and I can't lose Mrs. Norris. Other than that, I'm willing to pay any price to become a wizard!"