Filch followed Jansen Samuels upstairs. The corridor was just as crowded.
"We're going to the very top, the sixth floor..." Jansen Samuels said. "Mr. Filch, your rheumatism should be all right, yes? Do you need..."
"I'm already better!" Filch hurriedly said. "Mr. Lovegood cured me!"
"That's good." Jansen Samuels acknowledged him. "It is rather high up. The tearooms and shops are on the sixth floor, so it's easier to clear space there and cast the Undetectable Extension Charm. You should know..."
"I know!" Filch answered. "They did the same for that 'Five Champions Tournament' before. I saw those Ministry of Magic employees casting spells."
As they climbed higher and higher, strange looks kept coming from all around them.
Those gazes all fell on Filch, and the meaning in them was rather complicated: probing, suspicion, expectation... even undisguised contempt and jealousy.
The owners of those gazes were different, too. Quite a few looked dressed like Muggles, wearing suits and leather shoes, and the scrutiny in their eyes was even more obvious.
Filch lowered his head on instinct, holding Mrs. Norris in his arms as he followed closely behind Jansen Samuels, not daring to stop for even a moment.
"Whew!" Jansen Samuels let out a long breath and stopped in front of a door.
"This is it!" He looked at Filch and smiled. "I can't go in with you from here. I've still got other matters waiting for me."
Filch froze for a moment, lifted his face, which was smeared with Mrs. Norris's drool, and nodded at Jansen Samuels.
His throat bobbed up and down, and he said with some difficulty, "Tha... thank you!"
Jansen Samuels kept smiling, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice. "Mr. Filch, don't be nervous!"
"I think you should know that a group of people is already