章 69: CH: 69 In The Great Hall
"Aright! Caught ya in the act, wanderin' the 'alls after curfew, you little wizard. I'll see to it that you're locked away!" Filch's voice dripped with malice as he sneered, his eyes gleaming with a vindictive glint, brandishing a glowing lamp like a weapon of retribution.
"Ah, Mr. Filch, I have just left Professor Snape's office with the Dean's permission." Anton interjected calmly, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension with a note of assurance in his tone.
Taking a deliberate few steps forward, Anton redirected Filch's attention towards himself.
Unconcerned about seeking favors, as long as it did not impede his own interests, Anton adopted a philosophy learned from accompanying Fiennes on life's tumultuous journey—actions could have unforeseen consequences down the line.
Leveraging Professor Snape's formidable reputation as a shield, Filch inquired somewhat begrudgingly, "Did ya see Harry Potter lately? Or were there other people with ya?"
Wearing a mask of feigned delight that masked his true intentions, Anton adopted an enigmatic expression as he responded, "Who would walk around the empty castle in the middle of the night? It's boring and empty, with nothing fun to do."
Throwing his hands up in a gesture of frustration, Filch exclaimed in exasperation, "Cor blimey! It's bleedin' frustrating, innit? Some young wizards keep sneakin' around the 'alls at night, even chuckin' disgustin' dungbombs. I spend ages cleanin' up after 'em each time."
With a grumble of discontent, Filch prepared to resume his nightly patrol, prompting the four youngsters hidden beneath the armor to retreat further into the shadows, their apprehension palpable in the dimly lit corridor.
As he took a few more steps, his intent to apprehend them intensified.
Their curiosity about Ron's mysterious cousin had kept them rooted in place; under different circumstances, they would have returned to the Gryffindor dormitory by now.
Adding to their distress, Anton grimaced at the quartet behind Filch, causing the youngsters to clung to each other tightly.
Step by step, Filch scanned the area vigilantly, well aware of the favored hiding spots of mischievous students.
As the lantern's beam crept closer towards the concealed figures, Anton's timely interruption sliced through the tense silence like a blade. "Mr. Filch."
Startled, Filch swiveled around to face Anton, his features a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"Are you familiar with the 'Tergeo' charm?" Anton inquired, his tone laced with a hint of curiosity and a touch of intrigue, carefully choosing his words to gauge Filch's reaction.
Filch tensed visibly, his expression darkening swiftly. Concealing a well-known secret—his status as a squib unable to perform magic—Filch's discomfort was palpable.
Aware of Filch's secret, Anton proudly showcased his knowledge, "The 'Tergeo' charm is an easy spell. Just wave your wand and it cleans up any mess in the halls."
Fuming with indignation, Filch recoiled, his icy gaze fixed upon Anton. "Don't play clever, boy!"
Amused by Filch's reaction, Anton couldn't help but chuckle. "Looks like you know about it."
With a nonchalant shrug, Anton continued, "I know someone who can make the 'Tergeo' charm into a tool, so even a beginner wizard can use it easily."
In a bold display of his insight and knowledge, the young wizard once again showcased his expertise, but this time, Filch's stoic facade wavered, a subtle shift in his demeanor betraying a hint of emotion.
"Who?" Filch's voice quivered with a mix of curiosity and longing, a vulnerable edge creeping into his tone as he looked to Anton with anticipation. "Who can make such a bleedin' valuable tool?"
Even if it's just for casting the simplest and most basic cleaning spell, he would cherish it as a prized possession!
He would hold it every night while sleeping—no, what if it breaks!
How he yearned to possess the ability to cast spells!
"Ah, Fred and George, my cousins," Anton beamed with a bright smile, a sense of pride evident in his words.
With a quirk of his eyebrows, he continued, "Those two are big pranksters, always causing trouble and not liking rules. But you might be able to get them to help with your influence."
A glimmer of excitement danced in Filch's eyes at the prospect of a potential breakthrough. "Aye, maybe if I ain't so strict, they'll like that." he mused, a glimmer of hope shining through his usually stern demeanor.
Locking eyes with Anton, Filch's gaze held a mix of curiosity and doubt as he posed the question, "Cor blimey, can they really do this?"
"They told me this project a few days ago, and I gave them some gold Galleons to help out." Anton reassured, offering a comforting pat on Filch's shoulder. "What they need is a good place to work on this magic tool. Maybe you could set up a place for them to work under supervision?"
Filch's breath hastened at the thought of this newfound endeavor. "I...I'll 'ave a word with 'em tomorrer." he vowed, his voice wavering with a mix of determination and nervous anticipation.
Retreating with a sense of urgency, he grasped the lantern handle and mimicked the motion of casting a cleaning charm. Each 'Tergeo!' charm seemed rehearsed countless times, flawlessly executed.
"Tergeo!"
"Tergeo!"
"Tergeo!"
The murmured incantations faded along with the light footsteps, gradually receding into the distance.
Anton silently watched Filch depart, a tinge of emotion stirring within him. Perhaps Filch's greatest misstep was dwelling in a wizarding castle, surrounded by young wizards who failed to recognize his latent talent.
Yet, this was not the most crucial matter at hand.
The paramount achievement lay in securing his own laboratory at Hogwarts, enabling him to continue his research.
"Haha, Mr. Filch will definitely help them find a good spot to work on this project with a lot of excitement." Anton remarked with a hint of amusement, envisioning Filch's newfound dedication to the project.
With a sense of satisfaction and anticipation in the air, Anton concluded, 'Great!'
Departing in high spirits, Anton took his leave from the hidden four nestled within the armor, bidding them a warm "Good night."
In unison, the four figures emerged from their concealed spot, their voices blending harmoniously as they echoed, "Good night."
As Anton's figure faded into the distance, the group huddled together, exchanging meaningful glances that hinted at a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling within them.
"Did you hear that? He came back from Snape's office late at night, planning to cast a bad curse in the castle!" Harry's attention gravitated towards the mysterious and unusual, his mind already spinning elaborate theories.
Ron, sporting a hint of dejection, sighed softly as he lamented, "George and Fred never share their inventions with me."
Neville, his gaze fixed on Anton's retreating form, contemplated quietly, "If only I could be like him."
Observing the lackluster expressions of her companions, Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation. "I've had enough for tonight. I'm heading back!" she declared firmly before turning on her heel and departing, the echo of her footsteps fading through shadowed corridor.
...
...
...
"What?" George and Fred exchanged perplexed glances, their curiosity piqued by Anton's unexpected actions.
Undeterred by the confusion around him, Anton skillfully sliced open a loaf of bread, artfully layering it with bacon, fragrant coriander, and a drizzle of rich mayonnaise, expertly crafting a sandwich.
"I managed to persuade Filch to secure a workspace for us and even put in an order," Anton explained, a note of pride in his voice as he shared the progress of their project. "It's just a fake wand for now, but it's a good start."
"Woah!" George marveled, his eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and disbelief. "It's still hard to believe."
Fred let out a chuckle as he regarded Anton with a newfound respect, "It looks like the Weasley family could use some Slytherin cunning with you around, Anton. It's really fun working with you."
"Really?" Anton's grin widened as he savored a bite of the delectable sandwich, savoring the medley of flavors that danced on his taste buds. "I told you, our partnership will will bring good results."
Raising his eyebrows thoughtfully, he continued, "Remember our plan for the Great Hall? That could be our first step."
Amused by the prospect, George let out a hearty laugh. "Haha, in that case, Filch is in for quite a surprise."
Fred interjected with a mischievous glint in his eye, "Oh, George. Our dungbombs will undoubtedly be a hit, and Filch will have a field day testing out that 'Tergeo' charm to its fullest extent."
A perfect blend of mischief and collaboration was in the making, a concoction sure to captivate the Hogwarts community.
With the vision of their shared venture dancing in their minds, Anton resumed to his hearty breakfast, washing down each flavorful bite with a refreshing gulp of pumpkin juice.
From afar, seated at the Gryffindor table, Ron cast a wistful glance towards Anton and the twins, a flicker of envy flickering in his gaze. "I'm starting to get mad at Anton. It feels like he's taking my brothers from me."
Hermione, always quick to pick up on any tension, rolled her eyes in exasperation. "What are you trying to say now, Ron?"
Ron shifted his attention to the pile of unfinished homework before him and Harry, a perplexed frown marring his expression. "Well, at least he wrote it out for us. It's your fault, Hermione. If you had let us copy the homework, we wouldn't have needed to ask for his help." he lamented, a note of blame creeping into his tone.
"Each of you should be responsible for your own work!" Hermione retorted, her voice laced with frustration as she rose from her seat, her patience wearing thin at the two.
Harry and Ron gave each other a knowing nod, then focused on their homework again. They promised silently to do their own work in the future and not depend on that Slytherin student's homework.
It was indeed a good choice.
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