"So is it true? Professor Dumbledore came back last night?!"
The next day, when everyone was having breakfast in the auditorium, they suddenly heard a commotion coming from the faculty and staff seats.
Everyone looked over curiously and saw Mr. Filch surrounded by a group of professors, asking excitedly what he was asking.
It was a rare sight, and Argus Filch was rarely seen in his seat.
Because Filch usually does not eat at the staff table, as the caretaker of Hogwarts Castle, he seems to be transparent most of the time.
He always finished eating in advance and then waited outside the auditorium door or in some corridors, waiting for opportunities to catch those little wizards who had nowhere to vent their energy after meals.
In the eyes of most young wizards, gloomy, ugly, and irritable people almost have the same meaning as Argus Filch.
However, Filch was obviously in a good mood today...people saw his smile for the first time.
But that sinister and terrifying sneer was actually happiness from the bottom of my heart.
"Oh yes--"
Filch looked at the professors surrounding him and replied calmly.
"Dumbledore was here last night, I'm sure - and he gave me this, and a word."
"Hogwarts has now become a real magic school, where magic can be taught to everyone."
As he spoke, he carefully took out a wand from his arms. The surface of the wand was covered with scabs and fiber lines.
However, this is not an old wand.
Each of its scabs has been polished, and a gemstone is inlaid at the end of the stick.
"Wand? Real...magic school?"
Professor McGonagall frowned and looked at the castle administrator in confusion.
"Sorry, I didn't quite understand what you meant. Didn't Dumbledore say something else?"
"I am what Professor Dumbledore wanted to convey to you..."
Filch grinned, looked around at the formal professors who were also confused, raised his wand and whispered softly.
"Orchids are blooming——"
Bang.
It's like fireworks ringing.
The next moment, a group of flowers bloomed on the tip of Filch's staff.
This magic is not too complicated.
After Professor Quirrell taught him three times last night, he successfully mastered it.
In fact, according to Professor Quirrell's evaluation, Filch's understanding and magic power are not low.
Squibs can clearly see ghosts, dementors... and various magical phenomena.
This means that Filch has no problem with magic perception or even magic power, he is just "short-circuited".
When he is within the confines of Hogwarts Castle, he can bypass the magic passage blocked by himself and directly call the "Magic Weave" to cast spells.
"This this……"
Professor McGonagall was a little disapproving at first, but then her eyes suddenly opened wide.
Perhaps this magic is not strange for any wizard, but it appeared in Filch's hands!
As the vice-principal of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall naturally knew about Filch's status as a squib.
And when the Squib can cast spells, what does this mean...
"Professor Quirrell has also regained his ability to cast spells——"
Filch said he had never experienced such a feeling of being in the spotlight.
Quirinus Quirrell did not appear at today's dinner table. He seemed to have something to deal with.
Therefore, he also explained things about Professor Quirrell - with exclamations from the faculty seats, a new week began.
…………
"Have you heard? Filch has changed his strategy now..."
During lunch that day, there was a lot of discussion at the Gryffindor table.
Ron glanced at George and Fred, lowered his voice, and pointed at Filch not far away.
"I heard that this morning, Filch used a levitating spell to catch two unlucky guys chasing each other in the corridor."
"This is too scary. I thought he couldn't use magic. Be careful-"
"Yeah. Very scary-"
George stirred the potato soup absentmindedly with a spoon.
"Because we are the two unlucky ones, your news was late."
"It is forbidden to cast spells in the corridor. Isn't this the rule he made? This is really unfair."
Fred said angrily, looking as if the end of the world was coming.
"Besides, we really didn't violate any school rules this time..."
"Maybe it was from before? I've told you to restrain yourself."
Percy said disapprovingly while cutting his own beef kidneys, frowning slightly.
"Speaking of which, do you guys feel any changes in yourselves? Today's Charms class was a disaster."
"The magic elves in the air have become more active..."
Seamus said in an incomprehensible tone, but he still couldn't control his expression and tilted his head towards the long table next door.
"This is what Luna said, but I also feel the same way. In our Transfiguration class, the whole class has also made great progress."
"I heard the professors discussing this morning. Professor Dumbledore came back last night."
Harry said that he also participated in the gossip discussion, "I heard that Hogwarts evolved overnight?"
He planned to ask Hagrid after class today - Elena might be a more suitable candidate.
But neither she nor Hermione showed up all morning.
They couldn't be seen in class, no one knew where they had gone, and the professors only said that they had taken a temporary leave of absence.
…………
Meanwhile, somewhere in Hogwarts Castle.
This is an extremely remote locked small tower that no students have ever visited.
Since the completion of Hogwarts Castle, the four founders of Hogwarts have locked it away.
Except for past principals, no one can reach here - most people don't even know that this place exists.
However, just like the Dark Lord who broke into Godric's Hollow.
Many years later, this place was discovered by another younger and cuter demon king.
"Strong - Explosion."
boom!
Elena raised her wand and said calmly.
With a deafening bang, a cloud of smoke rose from the stone door ahead.
After the smoke dissipated, the stone door continued to stand intact.
"How about... let's forget it? I still feel..."
Hermione looked at the expressionless Elena and suggested cautiously.
Although they obtained Professor McGonagall's approval in advance, they also received Dumbledore's authorization (as Elena said).
However, Hermione still had very strong doubts about this approval and how authentic the authorization was.
After all, if it was really a legal and compliant entry, there would be no need to use an explosion spell to open the door!
"I have decided to open this door today——"
Elena said expressionlessly, taking a deep look at the smooth stone door.
It is obvious that this stone door has a complete magical defense mechanism.
pity……
Most magical defenses are meaningless in the face of absolute power.
Elena lightly snapped her fingers, and the box of Valkyrie III floating behind her automatically decomposed.
Through the magic stone and dozens of top alchemy masters, the magic armor designed by mechanical power experts quickly floated over.
And Elena's preparations don't stop at this. She plans to smash this blind door in one go.
"Rua, Rua, Rua, Rua——"
Rumble——
Before Elena could finish her state, the stone door in front of her opened automatically.
The magic torches lit up one by one, spreading up the wall like dominoes.
"All right--"
Elena shrugged and sighed with regret.
In fact, she has always wanted to try out what kind of destructive effect the tenfold enhancement and Valkyrie armor would have.
However, we haven't found a target that can withstand her attack yet. It seems that this opportunity will have to wait until later.
"Let's go up - it's time for the Book of Admission and the Pen of Acceptance to be updated in Holgwarts."
“The Book of Admission and the Pen of Acceptance?”
Hermione asked curiously as they were going up the spiral staircase.
"Well, the Book of Admission and the Pen of Acceptance are one of the most important props in Hogwarts."
Elena nodded, and while walking up the stairs, she whispered to Hermione beside her.
"The four founders of Hogwarts cast unknown magic on the Pen of Acceptance, which will automatically record a certain range - I guess it should be the United Kingdom, and no further than the European region, all newborns with magic
The name of a gifted child. The Book of Admission carries powerful and lasting magic. As the overseer of the Pen of Acceptance, it will refuse to accept the Pen of Acceptance unless it receives sufficient evidence of a person's magical abilities.
Write his name on it."
"The Book of Admission records the name and date of birth of each wizarding child, so it can tell people who will attend Hogwarts and when."
"In fact, Professor McGonagall checks this book every year - it's part of the Vice-Chancellor's job."
"Based on the information above, she will send admission notices to those children who are about to turn eleven and invite them to come to school."
"For thousands of years, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has relied on them for admissions."
"but……"
Elena paused slightly and looked forward thoughtfully.
While they were talking, they had arrived at the top of the tower, where there was only a small room.
Mysterious, blurry orange light shines in, and the surrounding walls are inscribed with incomprehensible complex magical words.
This reminded Elena of Sybill Trelawney's Divination classroom in the North Tower, but the air here was much cleaner.
In the center of the room is an ancient stone platform that looks extremely crude and simple.
On the stone platform, lying quietly was a large book made of parchment with a black dragon skin cover.
And above the big black book, a crystal clear pen was anxiously circling around the stone platform and the big book, as if trying to get it to open the cover.
"Sure enough, the criteria for judging the pen of acceptance are more tolerant——"
Elena looked at the constantly flying crystal pen, nodded slightly, and walked in.
Just as the principals have described before, even a hint of magic is enough to make the pen of acceptance tempted.
However, the Book of Admission will not allow the Pen of Acceptance to write a name on it unless sufficient evidence is found.
Children without magical talents born in wizarding families occasionally have some weak magical aura left over from their parents. However, once the magic from their parents gradually fades away, they will obviously have no ability to cast spells. People will regard this as
People with a weak magical aura are called squibs, and the Book of Admission perfectly prevents Hogwarts from accidentally admitting squibs to the school.
"But..." Hermione looked at Elena confused, not knowing what she wanted to do.
"The old rules no longer apply, and Hogwarts will never turn anyone away again."
Elena said softly, walking to the big black book and staring at the book that seemed to be trembling slightly.
"From now on, Hogwarts Castle will become the first and most coveted magical place in the wizarding world."
"Do you want to open it yourself, or let me complete the 'update' manually for you?"
"Actually...if necessary, I don't mind replacing it with a new one..."
Elena took out a big black book from her chest and turned it up and down in her hand.