A Bite of Hogwarts Chapter 1297: The Magical Sanctuary

"So, is it true? Professor Dumbledore came back last night?!"

The next day, as everyone was eating breakfast in the Great Hall, they suddenly heard a commotion from the staff table.

Curious, everyone looked over and saw Mr. Filch surrounded by a group of professors, excitedly asking questions.

This was a rare sight; people seldom saw Argus Filch at the staff table.

Usually, Filch didn't eat at the staff table. As the caretaker of Hogwarts Castle, he was often like a ghost.

He would always finish eating early and then wait outside the Great Hall or in certain corridors, waiting to catch those young wizards who had too much energy after their meals.

In the eyes of most young wizards, gloomy, ugly, and irritable were practically synonymous with Argus Filch.

However, Filch was clearly in a very good mood today… People saw him smile for the first time.

But it wasn't his usual sinister smirk; it was genuine happiness.

"Oh, yes—"

Filch looked at the professors around him, answering calmly.

"Dumbledore was here last night, I'm sure of it—he even gave me this, and a sentence."

"Hogwarts has now become a true magic school, and it can teach magic to everyone."

As he spoke, he carefully took out a wand from his pocket, its surface covered with scabs and fibrous patterns.

However, this was not an old wand.

Each of its scabs had been polished, and a gem was inlaid at the end.

"A wand? A real…magic school?"

Professor McGonagall frowned, looking at the castle caretaker in confusion.

"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean. Didn't Dumbledore say anything else?"

"I am what Professor Dumbledore wanted to convey to you…"

Filch grinned, looking around at the equally confused professors, and raised his wand, chanting softly.

"Orchideous!"

*Bang.*

It was like a firework going off.

In the next moment, a bouquet of flowers bloomed at the tip of Filch's wand.

This spell wasn't complicated.

Professor Quirrell had taught it to him three times last night, and he had successfully mastered it.

In fact, according to Professor Quirrell's assessment, Filch's comprehension and magical power weren't low.

Squibs can clearly see ghosts, Dementors…and all sorts of magical phenomena.

This meant that Filch had no problems with magical perception or even magical power; he was merely "short-circuited."

When he was within the boundaries of Hogwarts Castle, he could bypass his own blocked magical pathways and directly call upon the "magic net" to cast spells.

"This, this…"

Professor McGonagall had been somewhat dismissive, but then her eyes widened suddenly.

Perhaps this spell wouldn't be strange in the hands of any wizard, but it was in Filch's hands!

As the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall naturally knew of Filch's Squib status.

And when a Squib could cast spells, the meaning behind it…

"Professor Quirrell has also regained his ability to cast spells—"

Filch said, he had never experienced this kind of attention before.

Quirinus Quirrell didn't appear at the table today; he seemed to have some things to deal with.

Therefore, he was also explaining about Professor Quirrell—along with the exclamations from the staff table, a new week began.

…………

"Have you heard? Filch has changed his strategy…"

At lunch that day, the Gryffindor table was buzzing.

Ron glanced at George and Fred, lowered his voice, and pointed to Filch not far away.

"I heard that this morning, Filch used the Levitation Charm to catch two unlucky guys chasing each other in the corridor."

"This is terrible. I always thought he couldn't use magic. You guys be careful—"

"Yes. Very terrible—"

George absentmindedly stirred his potato soup with a spoon.

"Because we were those two unlucky guys. Your news is late."

"Casting spells in the corridor is forbidden. Isn't that the rule he made up? This is so unfair."

Fred said indignantly, looking as if the end of the world was coming.

"Besides, we really didn't break any rules this time…"

"Maybe it was from before? I told you to restrain yourselves."

Percy said dismissively as he cut his kidney pie, frowning slightly.

"Speaking of which, have you guys felt any changes—Charms class today was a disaster."

"The magical sprites in the air have become more active…"

Seamus said in a profound tone, but he couldn't help but look over to the next table.

"Luna said that, but I feel it too. Our Transfiguration class also saw a significant improvement across the board."

"I heard the professors discussing it this morning. Professor Dumbledore came back last night."

Harry said, joining the gossip, "I heard that Hogwarts has evolved overnight?"

He planned to ask Hagrid after class today—but maybe Hermione would be a better person to ask.

However, she and Hermione hadn't shown up all morning.

They weren't in class, and no one knew where they had gone, and the professors only said that the two had taken a temporary leave.

…………

Meanwhile, somewhere in Hogwarts Castle.

This was an extremely remote, locked turret that no student had ever visited.

Since Hogwarts Castle was completed, the four founders of Hogwarts had locked it up.

No one but the headmasters of each generation could reach it—most people didn't even know it existed.

However, just like the Dark Lord who broke into Godric's Hollow back then.

Many years later, it was discovered by another younger, cuter Dark Lord.

"Bombarda Maxima!"

*Boom!*

Helena raised her wand, saying the incantation in a calm voice.

With a deafening roar, a cloud of smoke rose from the stone door in front.

After the smoke cleared, the stone door remained intact, standing in place.

"Maybe… maybe we should just forget about it? I still think…"

Hermione looked at Helena, who was expressionless, and suggested cautiously.

Although they had obtained Professor McGonagall's permission in advance, as well as Dumbledore's authorization.

However, Hermione still had strong doubts about the authenticity of this approval and authorization.

After all, if it were truly a legal and compliant entry, they wouldn't be using the Blasting Curse to open the door!

"I'm going to open this door today—"

Helena said expressionlessly, looking deeply at the smooth stone door.

Obviously, this stone door had a complete magical defense mechanism.

Unfortunately…

Most magical defenses are meaningless in the face of absolute power.

Helena snapped her fingers lightly, and the Valkyria Mk. III floating behind her automatically disassembled.

The magical armor, designed and perfected by the Philosopher's Stone and dozens of top alchemists and mechanical dynamics experts, quickly floated over.

And Helena's preparations weren't just this; she planned to blast this door that didn't know what was good for it into pieces in one go.

"Rua, rua, rua, rua—"

*Rumble*—

Before Helena could finish stacking her buffs, the stone door in front of her opened automatically.

Magical torches lit up one by one, spreading up the walls like dominoes.

"Okay—"

Helena shrugged and sighed regretfully.

In fact, she had always wanted to try what kind of destructive effect ten times amplification plus the Valkyrie armor would cause.

But she hadn't found a target that could withstand her attacks yet, so it seemed that this opportunity would have to wait.

"Let's go up—it's time to update Hogwarts' Book of Admittance and Quill of Acceptance."

"The Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance?"

Hermione asked curiously, as they were currently walking up the spiral staircase.

"Yes, the Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance, these are one of the most important magical artifacts of Hogwarts."

Helena nodded, walking up the stairs and explaining softly to Hermione beside her.

"The four founders of Hogwarts cast unknown magic on the Quill of Acceptance, which automatically records the names of all newborn children with magical talent within a certain range—I guess it should be Britain, no more than the European region at most. And the Book of Admittance has powerful and lasting magic. As the supervisor of the Quill of Acceptance, unless it receives sufficient evidence that a person has magical abilities, it will refuse to allow the Quill of Acceptance to write their name on it."

"The Book of Admittance records each wizarding child's name and date of birth, so it can tell people who will be entering Hogwarts to study and when."

"In fact, Professor McGonagall checks this book every year—it's one of the Deputy Headmistress's duties."

"Based on the information in it, she sends out acceptance letters to those children who are about to turn eleven, inviting them to come to school."

"For thousands of years, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has relied on them to enroll students."

"However…"

Helena paused slightly, looking ahead thoughtfully.

As she spoke, they had arrived at the top of the tower, which only had a small room.

Mysterious, hazy orange light shone in, and incomprehensible complex magical words were engraved on the surrounding walls.

This reminded Helena of Sybill Trelawney's Divination classroom in the North Tower, but the air here was much fresher.

In the very center of the room was a crude, rustic old stone platform.

On the stone platform, quietly lay a large book with a black dragonhide cover, made of parchment.

And above the black leather book, a crystal clear quill was anxiously circling the stone platform and the book, seemingly wanting to open its cover.

"As expected, the Quill of Acceptance's judgment standard is more lenient—"

Helena looked at the constantly flying crystal quill and nodded slightly, walking in.

Just like the headmasters had described, even a trace of magic was enough to move the Quill of Acceptance.

But the Book of Admittance wouldn't allow the Quill of Acceptance to write a name on it unless it found sufficient evidence.

Children born in wizarding families who don't have magical talent will occasionally have some weak magical auras left over from their parents, but once the magic from their parents gradually fades, it will be discovered that they clearly have no ability to cast spells. People call these people with weak magical auras Squibs, and the Book of Admittance perfectly avoids Hogwarts accidentally admitting Squibs into the school.

"But…" Hermione looked at Helena in confusion, wondering what she was trying to do.

"The old rules no longer apply; Hogwarts will no longer reject anyone."

Helena said softly, walking to the black book and gazing at the book that seemed to be trembling slightly.

"From now on, Hogwarts Castle will become the first and most desirable—magical sanctuary in the magical world."

"Do you want to open yourself, or do you want me to help you manually complete the 'upgrade'?"

"Actually… if necessary, I wouldn't mind just changing to a new one…"

Helena took out a black book from her chest and tossed it up and down in her hand.

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*Goo ah~*