Cedric was confused. "What do you mean, Mr. Filch?" he asked, trying to understand the older man's words.
Could it be because he'd asked Filch to take care of the newcomers, and now the man was upset? Cedric wasn't sure, but he decided not to push it. If Filch didn't want to help, that was fine. It seemed it would be a challenge to make him popular among the new students anyway. Perhaps it was better if he focused on something he was more comfortable with, like researching the potion to cure squibs.
Filch quickly waved his hands, trying to dismiss the idea. "No, no, no! It's not like that!" he stammered, his voice full of embarrassment.
He turned away slightly, clearly trying to hide his discomfort. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small red card. Cedric instinctively reached for it, but Filch quickly avoided his hand, saying, "I will do it myself!"
Filch carefully untied the silk ribbon from the delicate greeting card, as if it were some precious treasure. With both hands, he spread it out before Cedric, his fingers pointing to the sign. "Look, this is my name, Mr. Filch. And this card—Tyne gave it to me!"
Cedric blinked. "Oh, is that so?" Only then did he realize what was going on. He remembered Tyne's name, one of the eleven Muggle-born wizards at Hogwarts. Cedric recalled when his family had sent him off to school and taught him various "little tricks" after school, like sending little trinkets as gifts. Cedric had received plenty of similar gestures himself when he first arrived at the castle, many of which were tied to people like Tyne, who often relied on such displays to make connections.
Although Cedric didn't find this kind of flattery too impressive, he knew it could serve a purpose. For Filch, it was a means of transformation.
"See, Filch, it's not so hard to be liked, right?" Cedric said encouragingly.
"But I..." Filch began, his hand instinctively rising to touch his face, as though reflecting on his own appearance. "I don't think people like me because of how I look."
Cedric nodded sympathetically. "I get it, but that's not everything."
"Okay," Cedric continued, taking hold of Filch's hand to guide him along. "You couldn't tell me that the student who sent you that greeting card couldn't see you, right?"
As they walked further along, Cedric took a moment to reflect on his strategy. It was evident that Filch's transformation wouldn't be quick, but he had a clear idea on how to encourage the man. "Of course," Cedric added with a grin, "it wouldn't hurt to clean up a bit!"
"I... I can try!" Filch said, seeming more determined now.
"You're a Hogwarts man. There's so much you can do here if you want to!" Cedric continued. "For example, think about the moving staircases. They confuse the first-year students. You could help them with that, tell them how to avoid getting lost. There's a lot of ways to make yourself useful."
Filch listened carefully but seemed a bit skeptical.
"Remember what I told you before? Punishment doesn't earn respect. Yes, students will be punished for breaking the rules, but you can also guide them with the reasons behind the rules. You can show them the dangers of breaking them."
Filch scratched his head, still processing Cedric's words.
Cedric smiled and explained further. "Take the rule about not being outside at night. You know why it's important, right? Because there are real dangers. A young wizard named Latral once wandered outside after dark and got seriously hurt by a magic trap."
Filch nodded, remembering what Cedric had said. "And then there's the Forbidden Section of the library. A little wizard once tried to chant a spell from there and ended up with a lizard's head on his body for weeks. He spent half a semester in the infirmary."
Cedric chuckled. "Exactly! There are countless examples of why these rules exist. When you're handing out punishments, you could explain the history behind it. Tell them about the dangers they might not know about."
Filch seemed deep in thought now, as if the idea of teaching students about the dangers and history of Hogwarts was beginning to make sense.
As the two continued to walk through the dark corridors of the castle, Hagrid led the group down a narrow, steep path. The light from Hagrid's oil lamp barely illuminated the surroundings, and most of the students had to fumble along in the darkness, with their feet unsure on the uneven ground.
At this point, Filch raised the lamp higher, holding it out to light the way for others. "Watch your step, everyone," he called out to the group behind him. "Just around the corner, you'll see Hogwarts for the first time!"
Cedric, walking beside Filch, couldn't help but chuckle. "At least we're heading toward Hogwarts, right?"
Filch laughed nervously, but it was clear that the moment was special for everyone. Hagrid, who had been leading the way, turned to look back at the group. "Alright, children, gather 'round! I'll show you Hogwarts!"
As they rounded the corner, the group was finally greeted by the sight of the magnificent black lake. On the opposite shore, towering above them, was Hogwarts Castle. Its spires rose into the sky, and the warm, yellow glow from the windows of the castle created a welcoming aura. The sight was awe-inspiring.
Hagrid waved his arms dramatically. "Each boat can seat up to four people!" He jumped into one of the boats himself, a grin spreading across his face.
Filch, now fully embracing his new role, helped each student into their respective boats. As he assisted, he even had a minor squabble with two of the students, his natural gruffness showing. But it was clear that something had shifted in him.
Cedric, who had already been helped into his own boat, couldn't resist a small complaint. "Great. Now I end up alone in this boat?"
But despite the minor inconvenience, Cedric was willing to put up with it. After all, he had earned some experience points for his efforts in guiding Filch toward helping others. "It's a small price to pay for making progress," he muttered to himself.
As the boats slowly began to drift across the lake toward the castle, Cedric marveled at the sight before him. Hogwarts, with its towering spires and age-old magic, continued to grow larger as they approached. It was a sight to behold, one that left an imprint on every new student's heart.
Of course, Cedric wasn't just admiring the view; he was also thinking about what lay ahead. The magic of Hogwarts had always been mysterious, but he couldn't help but feel that this year would be different. The possibilities were endless.
Soon, they passed through the ivy-covered curtain that marked the entrance to the castle. The boats glided into the underground dock, where the students disembarked, climbing up a series of narrow stone steps. After a few more minutes of walking, they finally arrived in the main hall, officially entering Hogwarts.
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