Ancient Wizards Return to Hogwarts...

Chapter 178 Death Anniversary Party and the Blood Man Barrow (Bonus Chapter, Please Subscribe)

"That's incredibly stupid." Rice shook his head. "He doesn't treat the Hogwarts students and staff like human beings at all. A simple spell could have killed him."

"What was that just now—?" Daphne asked curiously.

Rice told Daphne about the monk's method of intrusion.

Daphne and Astoria both covered their mouths in shock: They were being transported to Hogwarts by rain? This was unheard of, and impossible to defend against!

"It's not a big problem, because this kind of 'entrance' requires special props, and they probably don't have a second one."

"Even if there were a second one, they might not be able to find someone who could use it," Rice added to himself.

As Rhys severed the Secret Order's reach towards Hogwarts, Harry managed to escape Filch's office and return to the corridor. There, he encountered the ghost of Gryffindor, the nearly headless Nick.

Harry started chatting with him.

"This year's Halloween will be my 500th birthday." Judging from Nick's tone, he seemed quite proud.

"I'm hosting a party in a fairly spacious underground classroom. Friends from all over the world will be coming. I would be honored if you could join me, and Mr. Weasley, along with any other living person, would be a most welcome guest—but I dare say you'd rather attend a school party, wouldn't you?"

"No, I will come." Harry accepted Nick's invitation.

Harry and Nick's conversation caught Rice's attention.

Seeing that Rice was observing the Gryffindor ghost, Daphne also introduced him to the ghost and the origin of his nickname.

"He's a ghost of Gryffindor, unlike our Barrow. Almost Headless Nick is a more active fellow. His real name is Nicholas de Minsie-Poppinton. He studied at Gryffindor and became a court wizard after graduation. However, due to a magical accident, Sir Nicholas was sentenced to beheading—the executioner's axe was very dull, and he was chopped forty-five times, but even so, his head was not completely severed from his neck," Daphne said softly.

Rice frowned; this was clearly not a story that would please a wizard.

"So that's the significance of the secrecy law," Rice concluded after a moment of silence.

To many pure-blood advocates, the Law of Secrets was an insult and blasphemy against wizards, but Rice, hailed as the "founding father" of pure-blood theorists, believed that the Law of Secrets was a protection for wizards.

There's no way around it, because wizards have never established a government or created anything like a magical kingdom, which has kept them dependent on Muggles.

Vines can exist by clinging to large trees, but they cannot replace large trees.

There were indeed regimes established by people who possessed magic, such as those in ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Norse gods, but they have all disappeared into the annals of history. The Norse gods, in particular, were destroyed by wizards themselves.

From the moment wizards refused to become servants of the gods, thus triggering Ragnarok, the Law of Secrecy became the only option for wizards who did not want to integrate into the Muggle world.

In Rice's view, his awakening could not change the fact that wizards were absolutely weaker than the Muggle world—even with the addition of his three old friends, it would still not change anything.

Wizards these days are so lame. Not to mention the current ones, even this little guy downstairs from 500 years ago is ridiculously lame—a Hogwarts graduate who can't even understand Transfiguration, and he gets disarmed and captured by Muggles, locked up overnight, and publicly beheaded the next day with no one coming to his rescue. I really can't comment on that.

The difference in strength is too great; it's best to stay hidden. The good news is that wizards are quite adept at hide-and-seek.

As for the integration of the wizarding world and the Muggle world, Rice felt that it was impossible, at least given the current public opinion in the wizarding world. Wizards were much more conservative than he had been back then, and simply dared not come into contact with the Muggle world.

Just then, Nick, who had almost lost his head, floated past Rice and his two companions. He seemed to be in a good mood, probably because he had invited the boy who had miraculously survived to his death anniversary party.

Rice suddenly remembered something, so he called out to Nick.

"Sir Nicholas, will Barrow be invited to your anniversary celebration? Will he accept?"

Nick, who was called to a stop, seemed quite surprised. He stood there, looked at Rice and the other two, and then remembered that they were Slytherin students.

"Of course!" Nick said with considerable pride, "This is the grandest anniversary party of the century. No ghost can resist such a temptation, and Barrow is no exception."

Rice nodded. That was for the best. He wanted to talk to Barrow, but he hadn't had the chance before.

Nick's nearly headless words reminded Rice of Ravenclaw, trapped in her seal. If she could escape, she certainly wouldn't miss this grand event, would she?

"May I attend your death anniversary party, Sir Nicholas?" Rice wanted to take advantage of Nick's party to have a good chat with his student, Barrow.

He was eager to understand Barrow's thought process. He still couldn't believe that Barrow would kill Ravenclaw's daughter.

Upon hearing that Rice wanted to attend his death anniversary party, Nick, who had almost lost his head, was first taken aback, then a look of joy appeared on his face. He nodded repeatedly, shaking his head so much that it almost fell off: "Absolutely no problem, it would be my greatest honor! The same goes for the other two ladies who are as beautiful as white roses."

"certainly."

"I would be delighted."

Seeing that Rice had volunteered to attend the anniversary party, Daphne and Astoria eagerly accepted Nick's invitation. They were both filled with curiosity about this event held only in the Ghost Realm.

As for the school's Halloween party, that happens every year, but a ghost anniversary celebration is a different story. Maybe by the time it's held next time, they themselves will be ghosts.

"Fantastic!" Nick was overjoyed to have invited three living people to his party after just a casual stroll. However, before leaving, he made a rather embarrassed request: he asked the three of them to admit that Nick made a very strong and terrifying impression when facing Sir Patrick, the captain of the Headless Hunters.

Perhaps for ghosts, instilling fear in the living is a source of great pride.

This was naturally no problem, and Rice readily agreed.

Halloween is just around the corner.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Here's the bonus chapter! I still owe one more chapter, I'll get back to writing!

Today's funny picture: French Porter

(End of this chapter)