Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 83: Ghost
"Harry, how long are you planning to stick with me?" asked Dudley with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean, stick?" Harry replied defensively, pretending not to understand.
Hermione just gave Harry a sharp glare. Ever since Ron had gone on holiday, Harry had been spending more and more time with Dudley. The two cousins had grown closer, and Hermione had noticed the change.
Suddenly, Dudley reached out and touched Harry's forehead. "You're not sick or anything, right?"
"No, I'm not sick," said Harry, pulling Dudley's hand away from his face.
"Don't tell me you're into that kind of thing," Dudley teased, wrapping his robe tightly around himself and mimicking a timid, exaggerated feminine pose.
Harry blinked in confusion, clearly not understanding what Dudley meant. Hermione, on the other hand, had seen enough Muggle films to catch the implication, and the image gave her immediate goosebumps.
Without thinking, she picked up a book and smacked Dudley on the head.
"Ouch! What was that for?!" Dudley complained, rubbing the spot.
"Dudley, don't do that again. That was disturbing," Hermione said firmly, her face slightly flushed.
"Hahahaha! Alright, Hermione," Dudley chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender.
"What did Dudley mean?" Harry asked, turning to Hermione with genuine curiosity.
"Don't ask if you don't want to get smacked too," she warned, narrowing her eyes.
Harry gulped and wisely stayed quiet.
Trying to shift the subject, Dudley said, "Do you want to join me in something?"
"Join you for what?" asked Harry.
"Have you ever watched Ghostbusters?" Dudley asked, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Both Harry and Hermione stared at him, completely thrown off by the sudden question.
"What do you mean, Ghostbusters?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"Yeah, Dudley," added Harry, unsure whether he was joking.
"I want to catch the ghosts in this school," said Dudley seriously.
Their jaws dropped.
"Excuse me? Could you repeat that?" Hermione asked, stunned.
"I said, let's become Ghostbusters and catch ghosts," Dudley repeated, completely earnest.
"Are you kidding me?" Hermione replied, frowning.
Even Harry looked puzzled.
"No, I'm not kidding. But first, calm down," Dudley continued. "I found a way to remove ghosts."
That silenced them.
"Really?" Harry asked, eyes widening.
"If you're making fun of this, Dudley, I swear you'll regret it," Hermione warned, eyes narrowing.
"I'm serious," said Dudley. "First, let me explain the difference between regular ghosts and poltergeists. Nearly Headless Nick is a ghost, while Peeves is a poltergeist. The key difference is that ghosts are magical imprints—they aren't actually alive. Poltergeists, on the other hand, are conscious magical beings. Peeves is alive in a strange sense, but ghosts like Nick? They're just residual memories or we called magic imprint."
Harry and Hermione exchanged skeptical looks.
"Are you saying ghosts aren't actual souls?" Hermione asked.
"Exactly. They're not souls. When some witches and wizards die, they unconsciously release a powerful magical imprint if they die unwillingly or tragically. But it's not the same as a soul being trapped or killed."
"But Myrtle was killed by Tom Riddle," Harry cut in.
"She was killed by the basilisk," Dudley corrected. "But that's not the point. According to my findings, these ghosts aren't alive. They're echoes—haunting memories or past memories. That's why I want to remove Professor Binns from his position as History of Magic professor."
"Do you know what you're suggesting?" Hermione asked, shocked.
"Yes. I'm suggesting we get a living professor who can actually teach us more than goblin rebellions. Someone competent. Hermione, Hogwarts is the only school I know of that allows a literal ghost to teach. Students laugh at our history lessons because our teacher has been dead for decades."
"Why not just ask Dumbledore to assign a new professor?" Hermione proposed.
"You think no one's ever asked before? Binns has been teaching for decades. I'm sure many students have requested a new professor, but nothing has changed. I'm going to do it myself."
Hermione was momentarily silenced. She didn't want to admit it, but Dudley had a point. Everyone slept through Binns' lectures. She had even dozed off once herself.
What Dudley hadn't told them was that he'd discovered all this through his unique magical abilities. His status notification system and access to ancient magic allowed him to see the magical 'hooks' binding ghost imprints to specific locations. If he severed the hook, the ghost vanished.
He'd originally planned to do it alone, but since Harry had been sticking to him like glue, he decided to give his cousin something exciting to remember about Hogwarts.
"So, Harry, are you in?" Dudley asked.
Harry hesitated but finally nodded. "Yeah. I'm in."
"Harry, you too?" Hermione said, exasperated.
"Come on, Hermione. You can't deny Professor Binns' class is a nightmare. He's still stuck teaching about events from a hundred years ago. Nothing about the current war, nothing recent."
Hermione sighed and crossed her arms. "Fine. But this is ridiculous."
"Welcome to Team Ghostbusters," Dudley grinned.
"Childish," Hermione muttered, but she couldn't help smirking a little.
---Professor Binns---
The three of them stood outside the History of Magic classroom. Dudley raised his wand and whispered "Revelio."
"No one else is nearby. Only Professor Binns. Hermione, I need you to go in first and ask a historical question to distract him. Harry and I will strike from behind."
"Are you sure about this? This feels wrong," Hermione said nervously.
"If you don't want to help, you can wait outside. I'm doing this for Hogwarts students," Dudley replied seriously.
Hearing that, Hermione gulped, then took a deep breath. "Alright. I'll do it."
She knocked twice.
"Please enter," came Binns' ghostly voice.
Hermione stepped inside, holding her books close. Meanwhile, Harry and Dudley used Disillusionment Charms and cast Muffliato to mask their footsteps.
"Hermione Granger, do you have something to ask?" Professor Binns asked, floating gently above his desk.
Game Mode Activated.
Dudley now saw the familiar glow of ancient magic. He spotted the hook that tethered Binns to the classroom. Raising his wand, Dudley aimed carefully and pulled.
Within seconds, the hook severed—and the magical imprint began to fade he then turning off his game mode.
To the others, Professor Binns slowly vanished. He made no noise, no protest, and no sign of pain. He simply disappeared.
The mission was complete.
Harry and Dudley removed their Disillusionment spells. All three stood in silence.
"We… we just erased a professor," Hermione whispered.
"No," Dudley said gently. "We honored him. He's been dead for years. It's time Hogwarts moved on."
Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 111: Voldemort Meet Dudley
Chapter 112: Dudley VS Voldemort
Chapter 113: Kreacher VS Nagini
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