Chapter 105: Secret Method of Ascetic Practice? Tracking and More Tracking!

After a moment of stunned silence, the Great Hall erupted once again.

This time, it wasn't a unified chorus of mockery but a chaotic uproar of arguments.

Everyone was speculating about how Filch had transformed from a Squib into a wizard. This miracle was as absurd as Merlin strutting around in floral underpants!

At the Gryffindor table, Fred and George, the Weasley twins, looked rather grim. They were old foes of Filch, and they used to play hide - and - seek with him every now and then.

In the past, with their self - made prank toys and the advantage of magic, they always made Filch return empty - handed and in a sorry state. They even ransacked Filch's office.

Obtaining the Marauder's Map, a trophy left by their predecessors, gave them even more of an edge.

But now that Filch had a wand and could use magic, most of their advantage was gone.

"Filch should..."

"Not know that much magic, right?"

"Otherwise, we..."

"Test him out tonight?"

Fred and George were in sync. Even though they were whispering their questions, they could take turns finishing each other's sentences.

They quickly hatched a plan as they talked it over.

Let's not mention the reactions of the students from the four houses for now. The adult wizards sitting at the faculty seats on the stage were also extremely shocked.

Except for Dumbledore, who had already guessed the answer.

Hagrid's seat was next to Filch's. Their relationship wasn't exactly good, but at this moment, driven by his overwhelming curiosity, Hagrid couldn't help but strike up a conversation with Filch.

"Filch, how did you... I mean... How did you become like this?"

Hagrid's question was all jumbled up, hesitant, and unclear, but it still made Filch flash a smug smile.

To put on a good show, you need a good straight - man.

If no one asked, he'd feel awkward showing off.

Dudley told him to come up with any excuse to deal with everyone, but a fastidious man like him couldn't just do that!

Filch scratched his head for a bit and finally thought of what he reckoned was a perfect excuse. Now was the perfect time to spread the story through Hagrid, the big - mouth.

Filch whispered mysteriously to Hagrid in a moderate voice:

"Actually, I was a wizard all along! For all these years, I've been pretending to be a Squib and not using my magic power because I was in ascetic practice! Do you understand ascetic practice? It's an ancient secret method that originated from Asia!"

"Whoa—"

Hagrid gasped in surprise. He completely believed it. Looking at Filch in awe, he even involuntarily used honorifics, "Mr. Filch, you've been in ascetic practice since you were a young wizard until you became an old wizard... Why aren't you continuing your ascetic practice now? Could it be that you're... dying soon?"

"Get out of here! Can you talk properly?!"

Filch scowled, "I've completed my ascetic practice. I've successfully mastered the secret method! I don't need to keep practicing. Understand?"

"So that's how it is. Your secret method of ascetic practice seems to be quite life - consuming! You only mastered it when you're so old."

"..."

Hagrid totally bought what Filch said. He got really into the chat and wanted to talk about some other interesting things with Filch. But suddenly he remembered what Dudley had warned him before, so he held back and shut up.

Filch didn't lower his voice when he was talking. So the Hogwarts faculty members who were close by heard everything they said.

After exchanging information with each other, the outrageous story that Filch had hidden his wizard identity and practiced hard for most of his life quickly spread among the faculty members.

People reckoned this gossip would spread like wildfire across Hogwarts Castle and even the whole British wizarding world.

Filch was very happy about this situation. When he was a Squib, he had to be furtive and timid.

If he still behaved like that after becoming a wizard, then what was the point of becoming a wizard?

After dinner, Dudley didn't stay in the Great Hall to follow up on the subsequent developments. Instead, he went to the Astronomy Tower with other first - years from Gryffindor.

At midnight on Wednesday, they had an astronomy class taught by Professor Aurora Sinistra.

The astronomy class was different from the divination class. It was a compulsory course at Hogwarts. Students needed to observe the starry sky under the guidance of the professor.

They used old but very effective magic telescopes to observe the movement of the stars, learn the names of the stars and constellations, and identify the laws of the stars' movement.

To be honest, Dudley couldn't see the connection between this course and magic.

But he learned from the books that the movement of the stars indicated the context of fate and could be used for a certain degree of prophecy.

It was said that the centaur tribe was very good at using the stars for divination.

In addition, the stars had been a symbol of mystery since ancient times. From the perspective of wizards, they had a lot of mystery.

So, Dudley wouldn't skip the astronomy class like he skipped the history of magic class.

Like other students, he looked at the stars through the telescope. When he couldn't make sense of it, he just looked at the night view, which was just a way to relax after studying.

...

While Dudley was relaxing, Professor Eris, who had received Voldemort's strict order, couldn't relax at all.

She had to get enough unicorn blood within three days.

If she didn't work hard, she would end up like Quirrell and the Brazilian python.

She had no choice but to take it seriously.

Professor Eris knew that Dudley always attended classes with the Gryffindor first - years. She checked the schedule of the Gryffindor first - years in advance and knew that tonight at midnight, the Gryffindor first - years would have an astronomy class.

This was a good opportunity for her to avoid Dudley, the 'bait for Voldemort', and Harry, the 'bane of Voldemort', and not to arouse Dumbledore's attention.

What surprised her even more was that Filch had made a big deal about a Squib becoming a wizard tonight, which attracted the attention of most of the Hogwarts teachers and students.

It would be easier to act without being noticed in this atmosphere.

It was truly a god - sent opportunity.

So, during the dinner in the Great Hall, after seeing Dudley leave with the Gryffindor first - years for a short time, Eris got up and left very naturally.

Others just thought she was full and didn't pay any attention.

Except for Filch, who had received Dudley's order in advance.

Dudley alerted Filch to Eris's unusual behavior, and Filch didn't dare forget it for a moment.

When he saw Eris leave her seat, Filch didn't care about putting on airs in front of his colleagues and students anymore. He made up an excuse of going on patrol and left as well.

Meanwhile, the brothers, Fred and George, sitting at the Gryffindor table, exchanged a look when they saw Filch leave. Then they also left the Great Hall.

After they left the Great Hall, they found a secluded corridor corner. They took out a blank, yellowed parchment that was folded several times, unfolded it in their hands, and took out their wands. They pointed their wands at the parchment and uttered:

"We solemnly swear that we are up to no good!"