Chapter 182: Filch… Strung Up?
Humans have their limits—this was a principle William had understood for a long time.
Aside from beings that aren't human, everyone has their own various flaws and things they aren't skilled at. This is only natural and unavoidable.
Just as he couldn't out-fly some second-year students no matter how hard he tried to teach himself, he was similarly clueless when it came to the matter of a house-elf illegally intruding upon the school.
Therefore, he chose to take Harry and file a report.
"Professor, is it really worth going to see Professor Dumbledore for this?"
Walking beside William, Harry was a little scared—he had just encountered a strange house-elf. It wasn't serious enough to see the Headmaster, was it?
"It is, especially with those strange threats—'A great conspiracy looms over Hogwarts, so it has to drive you out of the school.'"
William repeated softly, "I'm very curious, just what kind of great conspiracy would it be, that even Dumbledore can't protect you while he's at the school."
He chuckled. "Honestly, if Dumbledore can't protect you at school, it's probably useless to run anywhere else. Leaving school won't make you any safer—that Dobby already broke into your room during the summer holiday. What it can do, others can do too. For a young wizard your age who isn't allowed to use magic freely, a single spell is all it would take."
Harry grinned as well. What he feared most now wasn't the threat, but the idea of actually having to leave Hogwarts. Since the professor had called it a ridiculous notion, he naturally had no reason to worry.
---
"Fizzing Whizbees."
William spoke the password to the gargoyle outside the Headmaster's office.
"Sorry, Professor, the Headmaster is not in. Please see Professor McGonagall."
…
William glanced at the Headmaster's office, a speechless expression on his face.
*'Couldn't you be a bit more subtle about passing the buck to Professor McGonagall, Headmaster!'*
"Let's go find Professor McGonagall. The Headmaster isn't here."
William controlled his facial expression, trying his best not to give the student the illusion that the Headmaster was a professional at passing the buck. The jokes circulating among the professors were already enough; it was better to let the students discover the truth about their Headmaster's love for slacking off a little later.
Harry was clearly the type of student who was completely out of the loop. Upon hearing they were going to see Professor McGonagall, the boy's expression soured.
It couldn't be helped. The Gryffindors feared nothing under the sun except their own Head of House. They might talk back to other professors when their tempers flared, but in front of Professor McGonagall, every single one of them became meek.
But fear was one thing; the task still had to be done. When William brought Harry to Professor McGonagall's office, she was busy with a thick stack of documents.
"Professor McGonagall, good morning."
"Good morning to you too, Professor William," Professor McGonagall replied, looking at William. Then she stared at Harry for a good half a minute, nearly making him shrink his head beneath the table.
"Sigh," Professor McGonagall let out a breath and finally set aside her documents. "Professor William, what trouble has Potter gotten into now? How long does he need in detention? In theory, I'm in complete agreement, but I do hope he isn't serving it with the Weasley Brothers."
"It's not detention, Professor."
"Then, expulsion?"
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened.
"Professor William, expulsion is a last resort for when detention is ineffective. The School Authority doesn't recommend expelling any student. Perhaps things aren't that bad—"
At this, William didn't dare to be brief any longer. He feared that if this continued, Harry would end up being sent to Azkaban.
"It's like this, Professor…"
William briefly recounted his conversation with Harry—and during the retelling, he noticed Professor McGonagall's expression immediately relax.
"So, you're saying a house-elf not belonging to the School Authority entered the Hospital Wing?"
"Yes, that seems to be the case."
"But Potter, didn't you only have a fracture? Why were you staying overnight in the Hospital Wing?"
Professor McGonagall turned to look at Harry.
"Wood and the others thought I needed to rest and heal properly. After they consulted Madam Pomfrey, I was kept in the Hospital Wing for a day for observation."
Harry was as meek as a lamb.
"In theory, a house-elf from off the school grounds shouldn't be able to enter. That magic is still in effect—how could it have gotten in..."
Professor McGonagall's expression grew grim.
"What magic, Professor?"
"That is not your concern, Potter."
"Yes, Professor."
Harry immediately had no further questions.
---
"Professor McGonagall said she'll inform Dumbledore. There's nothing more for us to do now, Potter."
William left the office looking relaxed—the matter had been reported, and now all he had to do was watch to ensure nothing went wrong.
"I'll have Bart keep an eye on you for the next week. If that Dobby dares to show up, Bart will stop him," William said in a low voice. "Just don't even think about breaking any rules for a while. Though I might normally turn a blind eye, if you dare to sneak out at night during this time, I will personally request a detention for you from Professor McGonagall."
William spoke, his tone half-threatening and half-persuasive. This whole situation was strange; without some harsh words, who knew if Harry might run around at night and get into trouble?
A house-elf capable of a sneak attack was no pushover. William, after all, had a house-elf as a cellmate. Even without using magic, they were expert fighters—the kind who could use their fists to get out of the work assigned to new inmates.
"Okay, Professor, I'll definitely be careful."
Harry agreed without the slightest hesitation. Within Gryffindor, compared to Professor William's exam papers, it was his dizzying repertoire of detention methods that was truly unforgettable. Students who had experienced them even found their impulse to pull pranks diminished.
"Is that shouting outside the window?"
William thought he heard something, but wasn't sure, so he asked Harry.
"I think so?"
Harry nodded as well, prompting William to draw his wand and rush to the window. A crowd had already gathered outside, clamoring about something.
William listened for a moment and finally made out what they were shouting.
"Filch?"
*'Why are they shouting for Filch?'*
William subconsciously glanced at Harry, but realizing Harry wouldn't know anything, he could only turn his head helplessly toward the commotion below and listen more carefully to the shouting.
"Filch, Filch is..."
It was Filch, but what had happened to him?
The noise from below grew louder and more chaotic. William focused, trying to pick out any useful information from the din.
"Filch is strung up...!"
"Filch is strung up...!"
…
"You've got to be kidding!"
The words "strung up" sent William into a panic… *Hanged himself?*
He originally wanted to keep listening to be sure, but there was no time. He didn't even bother with the stairs; a spell shattered the window and he leaped straight down, casting a Shield Charm and a Levitation Charm on himself in mid-air.
With a *thud*, William landed on the ground before the astonished eyes of a group of students, completely unharmed.
*'Thank goodness, the Levitation Charm slowed my fall enough that I had time to adjust my posture. No need to roll—'*
The thought vanished as quickly as it came, and William immediately began searching for Filch.
"Students, make way, I'm here to check on Filch's condition—" William began, but his expression turned serious halfway through his sentence. "Everyone, stop moving! Do not move unless I give the order!"
"Those of you near Filch, raise your hands!"
However, no one did. After a few seconds, a student at the very edge of the crowd raised a hand. "Professor, over here!"
William instinctively looked over, then realized something was off. The situation seemed much better than the worst-case scenario he had imagined, but now a new problem arose.
Why was Filch strung up on the wall again?
(end of chapter)