Filch's Tragedy

Skylar took Cho Chang's hand and walked out of the Great Hall with her, heading towards the Owlery.

There are two paths from the castle to the Owlery. The path on the right is shorter and is the one the young wizards use most often. But Skylar knows that, according to the original story, Peeves will be lying in wait there today, ready to smash someone with Paracelsus Bust.

The path on the left is further away; while there's no risk of being attacked by Peeves, you might run into Harry there.

"Let's go this way!" Skylar casually pointed to the path on the right.

Cho Chang gave Skylar a strange look but didn't refute it. Although she enjoyed this time alone with Skylar, she also wanted to send the gift as soon as possible to ensure her mother received it today. Going to the right was closer and faster, and obviously more suitable.

The passageway was dark and quiet, with sparse magical candlelight burning on the walls, casting flickering shadows. However, Skylar, who had activated his Divine Insight of Amaterasu, already knew that Peeves was lurking on the beam above, clutching a Paracelsus Bust in his arms, ready to smash it down at any moment.

However, the moment Peeves saw Skylar, the mischievous smile on his face froze, replaced by a fawning expression.

"Whoa! Young Master Skylar!" Peeves immediately somersaulted in mid-air, hurriedly hugging the bust he was holding, and floated to Skylar with a beaming smile. "What a coincidence, what a coincidence! Peeves just happened to be passing by, didn't do anything, definitely didn't intend to smash anything!"

Skylar narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the statue in its arms.

"Give it to me." His voice was flat and emotionless, as if issuing an unquestionable command.

Peeves paused for a moment, instinctively hugging the statue tighter, then immediately put on a smiling face, "Hehe, Young Master Skylar wants this? Of course, of course! What do you need it for?"

"This thing will be useful to me," Skylar said casually, taking the Paracelsus Bust and examining it at will.

Seeing Skylar's calm expression, Peeves couldn't help but feel uneasy. It didn't want to relive the humiliating experience of being punished last time, so it quickly asked obsequiously, "Then, is there anything Peeves can do for you?"

Skylar's lips curled into a slight smile as he whispered, "Go tell Filch, or simply spread the word throughout the school, that you smashed the Paracelsus Bust."

Peeves's eyes widened, and he blinked his little eyes rapidly.

"Huh?" It was a little confused, but quickly recovered and grinned, "Hahaha! This is simple, Peeves is best at creating chaos! Besides, Peeves was planning to smash it anyway!"

Skylar nodded slightly, then ignored Peeves, put the statue into his pocket space, and continued walking forward.

Cho Chang had been quietly watching this scene until Peeves happily floated away, at which point she couldn't help but laugh and say, "Your relationship with Peeves... is really special."

"It was just mutual exploitation," Skylar said casually, his tone so indifferent that everything that had just happened seemed unimportant.

Most readers probably already know why Skylar wanted Paracelsus Bust: it was to unlock Paracelsus's Chamber.

He had known the location of the Paracelsus Bust for a long time, but he hadn't dared to touch it. After all, it was Hogwarts property, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Skylar to take it without permission; if others found out, it would likely cause a series of troublesome consequences.

Now that Peeves is being blamed, everyone will just think that Paracelsus Bust was smashed, and no one will know that it actually fell into Skylar's hands.

[Obtain the "Paracelsus Bust"!]

Upon arriving at the Owlery, Cho Chang took out the beautifully wrapped gift, while Skylar whistled. A gray shadow swiftly swept across the high beam, and a majestic gray eagle owl spread its wings and landed steadily on Skylar's shoulder. Its sharp golden eyes scanned the surroundings, exuding pride and majesty.

"This is Ulysses," Skylar said to Cho Chang, gently stroking the eagle owl's feathers. "It's the fastest of all owls; your gift will definitely arrive on time."

Cho Chang looked surprised and gently reached out to touch Ulysses. The eagle owl hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly accepted her gesture, its eyes slightly narrowed, seemingly enjoying it. Cho Chang smiled and said, "It's really majestic, Skylar, you must treat it very well."

Skylar shrugged, tied the package to Ulysses's paw, and whispered, "Send it to Cho Chang's mother, and be sure to deliver it on time." The eagle owl let out a low cry, and the next second it flapped its wings and took flight, instantly disappearing into the distant sky.

Watching Ulysses's departing figure, Cho Chang looked gratefully at Skylar, her eyes filled with warmth. "Skylar, thank you." She gently tiptoed and planted a kiss on his cheek, then smiled playfully, "This is your reward."

Then, she turned and left briskly, leaving Skylar standing at the door of the Owlery, gently stroking the spot where he had just been kissed, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Fast forward to half an hour later.

The sun was now high in the sky, and when Harry entered the shed, the glassless windows dazzled him. Rays of silvery sunlight crisscrossed the round room, and hundreds of owls perched on their perches, looking somewhat restless in the morning light; several had clearly just returned from hunting.

After Harry handed the letter to Hedwig, he left the Owlery, but he hadn't gone far when he ran into the panting caretaker Filch.

Filch's sunken, ridged cheeks were flushed a deep purple, the flesh on his chin jiggled, and his sparse, graying hair was disheveled. He had clearly run all the way. Mrs. Norris trotted after him, staring at the owls overhead, meowing hungryly.

"Aha!" said Filch, taking a step closer to Harry on his shrunken face, his loose cheeks trembling with rage. "I've got intelligence that you're planning to order a large quantity of Dungbomb!"

Harry crossed his arms and glared at the warden. "Who told you I ordered Dungbomb?"

"I have my sources," Filch said smugly through gritted teeth. "Now hand over what you're supposed to deliver."

Harry said irritably, "Can't you tell? I just left the Owlery, and the letter was already mailed."

Filch crossed his arms, his cloudy eyes gleaming with excitement, like a mouse that had caught its prey and wouldn't let go. He took a step closer and said with his usual rudeness, "Sent? I don't think so, Potter."

He narrowed his eyes, his wrinkles deepening with smugness. "You'd better tell me the truth. Was there something shady going on in that letter? Smuggled contraband? A prank? Or one of your pathetic little secrets?"

"I told you, it was just a regular letter." Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes and tried to walk around him, but Filch stood in his way like a stubborn rock.

"You think you can fool me?" Filch said gruffly. "I've seen enough of you little rascals! You little wizards are all up to no good! Professor McGonagall will understand one day that she shouldn't have let you run wild!"

Mrs. Norris leaped from Filch's legs onto the windowsill by the corridor, her eyes gleaming with cunning, and she made low growling noises, as if ready to pounce and tear him apart at any moment.

A sudden surge of inexplicable irritation welled up inside him, like a ball of pent-up anger churning in his chest. Harry's fingers trembled slightly, and his breathing became rapid. He tried to suppress the impatience, but Filch's nagging only became more and more grating. Every word felt like a hammer pounding in his head, infuriating him.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but just then, a faint voice suddenly echoed in his mind—deep and seductive, like a cold snake slithering across his heart, bringing a Grim shiver.

"He's just a pathetic Squib, Harry... a useless piece of trash without magic, and he dares to act so arrogantly and boss you around?"

"Why should you endure it? You are a wizard, and he's just a servant who can only use a broom and mop."

Harry's fingers curled slightly beneath his sleeves, his wand gripped tightly in his palm.

Filch was still babbling on and on, and Mrs. Norris was hunched over on the windowsill. Harry's patience was wearing thin.

"Teach them a lesson."

An impulse surged within him, and his lips moved almost uncontrollably as he whispered an incantation—

"Impedimenta!"

An invisible force suddenly erupted, and Filch's incessant chatter came to an abrupt halt. As if he had been shoved hard by some unseen force, he staggered backward and crashed heavily into the wall, his mouth wide open but unable to utter a sound.

At the same time, Mrs. Norris screamed and fell from the windowsill to the ground. Her limbs were stiff, and she made rapid "clucking" sounds. Her pupils were constricted, clearly indicating that she was affected by the spell.

Filch stared in horror, his lips trembling, as if questioning Harry about what he had done, but he was speechless.

Harry blinked, his mind still buzzing, his heart pounding wildly.

Looking at Filch's terrified face, he suddenly felt an unprecedented surge of pleasure. His anger was no longer just simple rage, but mixed with a kind of... cruel pleasure. He slowly raised his wand and pointed it at Mrs. Norris was lying on the ground.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Mrs. Norris suddenly sprang to her feet, struggling helplessly with her limbs, making a piercing "clucking" sound. Filch's face turned deathly pale instantly. He shook his head frantically, his lips moving as if begging Harry to spare his cat, but he still couldn't utter a sound.

Harry's lips curled into a cold smile, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest. He casually flicked his wand, and Mrs. Norris slammed into the ceiling before crashing heavily to the floor with a dull thud. Her tail twitched wildly, and her claws scratched futilely at the air.

"One more time?" Harry muttered to himself, a strange light gleaming in his eyes.

He waved his wand again, and Mrs. Norris was flung into the air, spinning upside down from the rafters like a mouse being toyed with by a hunter. She let out intermittent, hoarse moans as she struggled in agony, while Filch's eyes were bloodshot and almost bursting. He knelt down, desperately pleading with Harry to stop, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.

But the image seemed to ignite the malice within Harry. He suddenly swung his wand violently, and Mrs. Norris was thrown against the wall like a ball, crashing heavily to the ground once more. Her body twitched a few times before finally coming to rest.

Dead silence.

Harry froze, the pleasure receding like the tide, replaced by a nauseating chill. His wand nearly slipped from his hand, the scar on his forehead throbbed with pain, and his mind buzzed.

"No... no... what am I doing?"

His gaze slowly fell on Filch —his wrinkled face was now bloodless, his wide eyes filled with unbelievable despair, and his body slumped to the ground like a withered corpse, trembling all over.

No trace should be left.

Harry jerked his wand up, his chest heaving, his fingers trembling slightly with fear and guilt.

"Obliviate!"

A dark magical energy poured out, and Filch's eyes instantly became unfocused, his expression of terror frozen on his face. The next second, he shook his head violently and looked around in confusion.

The bodies of Harry and Mrs. Norris have disappeared without a trace.

At that moment, Skylar dispelled his invisibility spell and appeared. He gazed in the direction Harry had disappeared, lost in deep thought—

He left the Owlery even earlier Harry, so he had been hiding there for a long time and witnessed the whole thing.

Harry's reaction was wrong, very wrong.

Harry in the original story may have many flaws, but he is ultimately a kind and upright character, worthy of being the protagonist of the original work.

What's going on now?

In a fit of rage, Harry accidentally killed a cat, and then went so far as to use Memory Charm to try and cover up the truth. Is this really the Harry Potter we know?

Skylar sighed. In any case, Harry's Memory Charm was really not very good. It seemed that he had overdone it and might turn Filch into a second Bertha Jorkins.

He glanced at Filch's face and felt a pang of pity. Although the old man lacked self-awareness and acted in a very annoying way, he wasn't a bad person. Besides, he had now permanently lost his only family member, and to turn him into a confused and mentally impaired old man would be too cruel.

He gently waved his wand, causing Filch to fall into a deep sleep instantly. That way, when he awoke, he would have no memory of the day and would believe that Mrs. Norris had died in the Chamber of Secrets three years ago. This way, he wouldn't be too grief-stricken.

As for restoring his sanity, not only did Skylar lack the ability—even if he could, he wouldn't want to interfere in the feud between Harry and Filch.

Having done all this, he used a counter-tracking technique to erase any trace of his existence and calmly left the place.