There are numerous vacant rooms at Hogwarts, including an abandoned girls' lavatory located two levels underground. However, Filch, being just a caretaker, lacks the authority to repurpose these spaces, despite considering Hogwarts his home.
The location he designated for the Weasley twins lay outside the castle, near the Forbidden Forest.
"I ain't sure if this is the bleedin' right place." Filch remarked, leading the way with a stern glare directed towards the twins. "If I catches ya lyin' to me...
George interjected confidently, "The task is easy for us; we just need some time."
Fred echoed his brother's assurance, "Nothing can stop us."
Curiosity piqued, Anton's gaze lingered on the faint outline of wooden railings in the distance, nestled within the shadows of the Forbidden Forest. "Mr. Filch, what's over there?" he inquired, intrigued by the unfamiliar territory.
Filch's voice held a note of warning as he responded, "That's where 'Agrid keeps 'is 'ippogriffs. I wouldn't go near there; those critters are pretty 'ard."
Sporting a playful expression, George added,
"Rumor has it that the hippogriff is born from a griffin and a horse."
Fred's face mirrored his brother's amusement as he mused, "So, basically, the Gryffin is like a mix of a lion and an eagle. It's kind of confusing, right?"
The intricacies of the wizarding world continued to challenge Anton's perceptions.
While serious wizards may view dark wizards as evil, in the eyes of ordinary muggles, all wizards are likely perceived as nefarious.
Despite his extensive exposure to the depths of society, there were still aspects that proved difficult for Anton to reconcile.
For instance, the wizarding tradition of displaying air-dried heads on the Knight Bus's windshield.
Their journey led them to the front of a wooden house.
Surrounded by one-meter-high stone walls, the upper section was constructed from wooden boards weathered by prolonged exposure to the elements, while the stone fireplace chimney appeared to be missing a corner.
Anton surmised that this location likely resembled a pigsty, with wooden walls and roofs constructed atop it. Only a fraction of the structure seemed completed, as evidenced by the expansive stone walls adjacent to it.
"This 'ere used to be my gaff." Filch shared wistfully, his grip tightening around the key. "Doin' a blizzard, the 'ouse almost got mashup, so Professor Dumbledore let me stop in the castle."
Passing the key to George, Filch fixed him with a stern gaze. "Yer can't go inter the Forbidden Forest, muck about, or rock up 'ere after curfew. Understand?"
George and Fred stood poised and attentive, echoing in unison, "Yes, sir!"
With a hint of skepticism lingering in his expression, Filch's lips twisted into a stern smile as he quipped, "I'll 'ave me peepers on you lot, rest assured."
"Oi, 'ow long will it take to complete, eh?" he inquired, seeking a clear deadline.
"One..."
Before the George could continue, Anton interjected swiftly, "About a month. Our wand can blow away debris and dust with strong winds. In three months, the cleaning will be top-notch."
Confidently patting Filch's shoulder, Anton reassured him, "Trust us, sir; we can totally do this."
Filch nodded, his gaze lingering on the trio before he departed at a leisurely pace.
George wore a look of confusion as he voiced his initial thought, "I was going to suggest a week."
Fred nodded in agreement, "It doesn't seem too hard for us to finish quickly."
Anton, however, remained resolute as he shook his head decisively, "He'll definitely take back this house in a week once the job's done. It'll be about three months before he gets used to us being here."
With a gleam of determination in his eyes, Anton proclaimed, "This place belongs to us now, and no one can take it from us!"
In harmony, George and Fred chimed in, "You really act like a Slytherin."
"Hehehe," A soft chuckle escaped Anton's lips as he admired the house, a sense of contentment radiating from his smile.
The trio shared a moment of laughter, but soon fell silent.
Despite their efforts to unlock the door, the key appeared jammed, as if the lock were a mere sham.
With a forceful tug from Fred, the entire door panel dislodged.
Thud!
The panel crashed to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
As if in a domino effect, the house emitted a creaking sound before collapsing in sections.
Crash!
A circular wall lamp base tumbled in front of them.
"Bloody hell!" George's exclamation rang out, his expression one of shock and disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.
"Blimey!" Fred echoed, his own surprise mirroring George's as they both gazed at the fallen house.
"Damn it!" Anton joined in, his voice laced with equal parts surprise and frustration, the unforeseen incident catching them off guard.
In a moment of shared shock and bewilderment, the trio exchanged knowing glances.
Anton's smile held a hint of optimism as he proposed, "I've heard of a spell called the 'Reparo' charm. Shall we give it a try?"
"That's a clever idea. A simple flick of the wand should do the trick," George commented, his tone lacking the usual enthusiasm, a shadow of doubt dimming his response.
"The only issue is that we can't open the door, or it might collapse again," Fred pointed out, voicing a valid concern that added a layer of complexity to their predicament.
A heavy silence settled over the trio, the weight of the situation sinking in as a shared sense of helplessness and uncertainty enveloped them.
Anton's shoulders sagged as he let out a weary sigh. "This looks like the only way to go; we can't give up yet."
With a fervent nod, George agreed, "We need help!"
Fred's grin widened as he remarked fondly, "I'm lucky to have an amazing brother."
Have you both forgotten Ron, your brother at this moment?
Anton then suggested an idea to create badges as a token of gratitude for those who assisted in the restoration of the 'Weasley Cabin'. "Anyone who helps us out and makes big contributions for the 'Weasley Cabin' will get a 20% discount."
George and Fred exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of the unfamiliar approach.
"These folks will be our first customers, gentlemen," Anton clarified, highlighting the potential benefits of their proposal.
"Woah Oh!" George's delight was palpable, his enthusiasm bubbling over.
"Excellent idea, Mr. Slytherin," Fred chimed in, his enthusiasm matching George.
In this instance, the significance of connections became apparent. The twins rallied individuals from the upper years and summoned their younger brother Ron and his companions.
With limited options, Anton could only enlist the help of his dear dormmate.
Initially, Draco declined. He was cherished by both his parents and house-elves, and had never engaged in strenuous labor since birth.
"Slytherin really needs to stick together." Anton's voice carried a tone of melancholy as he lamented. "I guess my only option is to make Harry Potter smile."
Can this be endured?
He may endure it, but Draco Malfoy cannot.
Not only did he summon Crabbe and Goyle, but he also delivered a speech in the Slytherin common room, rallying numerous classmates of the same age.
Impressive!
Draco's charisma remained undiminished.
Encountering the enemy fueled Harry's competitive spirit upon Draco's arrival. Determined, he sought Hagrid's assistance nearby.
Legend has it that Professor Snape's methods are harsh, while Hagrid's approach involved utilizing four dried, oversized logs—each thick enough for one person to handle—as support for the structure.
As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." Soon, the entire debris site was cleared.
Observing the cleaned-up area, the young wizards speculated that it may have previously served as a pigsty.
Hagrid's actions sparked a mix of curiosity and incredulity among the young wizards as he reached out to touch the stone fence and proceeded to taste his finger afterward. With unwavering certainty, he identified the source, "A Crup dog. Their wee has a sweet and grassy scent, and it lingers for a good while."
The peculiar revelation left the group of young wizards straddling a fine line between fascination and discomfort, struggling to come to terms with this unfamiliar experience..
Undeterred by their reactions, Hagrid gestured towards the heart of the stone enclosure. "The Crup dog be proper loyal to wizards. Old wizards used to love this breed. But too much poop can bring in Flobberworms."
Unfamiliar with Flobberworms, the young wizards observed the mounds and deep pits within the wall resembled the aftermath of a bombardment.
Ron voiced his objection with a hint of frustration, "Are we supposed to dig them out manually with shovels?" His lack of confidence in performing the Levitation charm left him feeling inadequate. Adding to his discomfort, a lingering pain throbbed in his finger from a splinter he had encountered while maneuvering a plank earlier.
Senior students deemed the topic intriguing, yet after extensive deliberation, all proposed plans were dismissed.
The sole reliable solution lay in Transfiguration. However, any disruption to the Transfiguration's magic would revert the ground to its original state.
"We need a drill," Harry Potter interjected with a peculiar yet determined expression. His uncle, a director of the Grunning firm specializing in drilling rigs, often discussed various machinery with colleagues at home.
This plan was also dismissed, as most individuals were unfamiliar with Muggle devices. Hagrid emphasized that Hogwarts Castle possessed potent magic, rendering the use of any Muggle machinery impossible.
At that moment,
They were unaware of when Anton had vanished.
"Is it all done already?"
Anton reappeared, now cradling a small potted plant, stood at the center of the area, his gaze scanning the surroundings with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Draco, the first to express his frustration, couldn't contain his disbelief. "You asked for our help, only to disappear!"
With a smile, Anton explained, "Oh, I just took this little one back to the dormitory." He gently caressed the plant in the pot, a green vine winding gracefully within.
Draco's reaction was a mix of horror and revulsion. "Please keep that away from me. I swear I saw you pour a significant amount of blood on it."
Anton nonchalantly shrugged off Draco's concerns. "Ah, that's the key to its nourishment," he replied cryptically, revealing a side of magic that left his peers both intrigued and unsettled.