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Chapter 1284: Rumors of Ghosts
🕑 Added 2024-11-07 21:04:48 +0000 UTCJust then, Nearly Headless Nick floated over, hovering between Evan and Harry.
"Hello, did you have a good summer? Speaking of which, a lot of things really happened during these holidays!" He deliberately said in a very sad tone, his head wobbling on his neck. He looked obviously prepared, as if he was reciting, "A lot of people died, bad things happened every day, and the Wizarding World fell into panic..."
"You're well-informed. You know everything," said Ron casually, stuffing another piece of cake into his mouth. He swallowed hard and made an indistinct sound. "Bet you haven’t left Hogwarts."
"I didn't leave, but I could see it in the newspaper," said Nick unhappily, somewhat dissatisfied with Ron interrupting him. "Every morning, Dobby the house-elf would give me the latest issue of Hogwarts Magic, and I would tell him the news I collected in the castle. I learned from it what is happening in the Wizarding World..."
In this way, Hogwarts Magic collected information from ghosts and sorted them out.
Every day, house-elves Apparated to the residences of various ghosts, collected various information, and then fed it back to the newspaper headquarters. A special editor was responsible for organizing it, and Dobby was responsible for the transmission of information between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.
In this way, along with the house-elves employed by Fred and George's shop, Evan and his team had now become the second largest employer of house-elves in all of Britain after Hogwarts, and the number of house-elves working for them was increasing. Next, if they could convince the house-elves in the Underground World to come out to work, they might even surpass Hogwarts, becoming the largest employer of house-elves.
Hermione intended to use this approach to gradually promote her S.P.E.W. ideology, which was a new idea she’d come up with recently.
It sounded far more effective than simply calling for people to treat house-elves kindly.
Although they were still unwilling to accept wages and holidays, it was an indisputable fact that the treatment of house-elves had improved.
If this improved treatment could become the standard for hiring house-elves, perhaps it could change the current situation.
Hermione's intentions were good, but Evan felt that the real problem with house-elves was that they were not servants hired by wizards, but slaves without wages and freedom. Even if treating house-elves well became the standard, it would not fundamentally change anything.
Because that was the standard for "employing" house-elves, not using the label of slaves.
"Don't think ghosts are so ignorant. Even though we've been dead for a long time, we will still try to accept new things," Nick emphasized, looking at Ron who was struggling with food. "I read the newspaper every day now, and I don't miss any section. I know what's happening in the Wizarding World, and what Evan did in Egypt. I know everything."
"That's amazing," said Ron perfunctorily, not even looking up at him.
"A ghost that can read a newspaper is really amazing," Elaine interrupted.
"It's actually not that difficult, is it?" Nick immediately turned his head to look at Elaine with a smile. "However, I am indeed the only ghost who does this. The others have no patience; they find it troublesome. They all ask for information from me. You remember..."
He went on to tell them that thanks to the newspaper, he was now the best-informed of all the ghosts.
Even Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore came to him for information.
Sir Patrick, captain of the Headless Hunt, had always looked down on Nick for not having a fully severed head. Nick had invited him and the other headless knights to his Deathday Party, which had turned into a nightmare that evening. They messed up the party, but of course, most of the ghosts thought it was funny.
Nick finally said that as a hobby, he thought reading the newspaper was much more valuable than kicking one’s head around like a ball.
Evan was skeptical of this claim; given the chance, Nick probably still wanted to join the Headless Hunt.
Moreover, based on what Evan knew about the organisation, it was also doubtful they’d actually treat Nick with much respect.
"Seems like you’re all very concerned about the situation in the Wizarding World?"
"Yes, the ghosts are talking about what happened recently. Everyone wants to know the latest news, so they come to me," said Nick. "All kinds of rumors are flying fast among us, making it hard to tell what’s true."
"What rumors?"
"A lot. The scariest thing is that You-Know-Who and his followers are hunting us down everywhere. Many ghosts have disappeared," said Nick, and suddenly lowered his voice. "It is said that there’s a form of Dark magic, the most evil kind, that requires human souls. Ghosts are also a kind of soul, so they’re hunting us down everywhere. Sounds scary, doesn't it? I can't imagine what kind of magic that would be."
Evan blinked. He knew what kind of magic this was...
When transforming into an evil god, a large number of souls were needed as energy and necessary materials. From the information currently known, the specific casting process of this magic was divided into very detailed parts, and the materials required were beyond imagination. Different souls had different uses, and special souls such as ghosts might be involved.
So, Voldemort and his men had already started to attack ghosts? Or was it really just a rumor...
"Although I suspect those who disappeared might have just gone into hiding, it’s undeniable that this rumor has made everyone very scared, so many ghosts have come to Hogwarts," said Nick, returning to his normal tone. "After all, with Dumbledore here, this should be the safest place in the Wizarding World. You may not know that during this holiday, the school's security measures have been strengthened a hundredfold. It’s very reassuring."
Evan had felt this as he entered the school gate. There were protective spells everywhere.
Previously, it was still possible to use Portkeys or specific fireplaces to leave, but now that was entirely out of the question.
Of course, there were still some loopholes; no protection could ever be flawless.
"Besides that, what people ask about the most is the things about you two, which is also the main reason why I am so popular," said Nearly Headless Nick, inclining his barely connected head toward Evan and Harry so that it wobbled dangerously on its ruff. He added with some pride, "I am considered something of a Mason and Potter authority; it is widely known that we are friendly. I have assured the spirit community that I will not pester you two for information, however. ‘Evan Mason and Harry Potter know that they can confide in me with complete confidence,’ I told them. ‘I would rather die than betray their trust.’"
