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Hidden Changes

Chapter 21

Hermione smiled as she watched Harry and Ron practice for quidditch. She waved to them as she sat in the stands and picked up the book she brought along. Warlocks, Wizards, and other Magical Humans was a very interesting read. Apparently, warlocks hated getting involved with wizard quarrels. They tend to remain neutral in wars and don't associate with wizards often. She found one passage particularly interesting.

Once a warlock's true power is unlocked they need no training in how to control their power. They are gifted with already knowing everything they have to know to control their magic. Though being a warlock sounds appealing they are gifted with a great disappointment. They usually cannot bear children. There are cases where a warlock marries a muggle and then they can have a child, only one and it isn't born with magical qualities. This means when a warlock is born they are destined to stop the pure bloodline in order to continue the family. They also are distanced from wizards and witches for another reason. Witches or Wizards are usually the reason that their powers appear in the first place. These wizards and witches are also usually close to their family. It is well known that 'squibs' of pureblood families are treated horribly and that is why the powers reveal in times of great stress. Once the warlock knows what they are capable of they usually leave their families immediately no matter what age they are at the time. The Council of Warlocks actually gave a statement to acknowledge this, "the wizarding world is never at peace and we are constantly pressured to join sides. Leaving at the coming of powers is the best way to avoid wizards' problems. We know when a new warlock is coming of powers and advise them to join us in seclusion. We are different from wizards, we don't want to be in their wars unless we are all in agreement that the wrong side is winning." Usually they go to the muggle world and hide or they pretend to be squibs in the wizarding world. It is common to see warlocks at the age of 11 able to defeat at least 6 adult wizards due to their knowledge and lack of wand or staff. That does not mean warlocks don't have weapons. Each warlock has a specific weapon that is hidden in the strands of magic that are within them. Some warlocks have a sword, others have a large staff, and some even have whips and maces. Usually warlocks never use these weapons except in a dire situation. When these weapons are drawn the warlock is considered extremely dangerous. This is a reason why they are rated XXXXX in Magnificent Beasts and Where to Find Them. Needless to say the Council of Warlocks shunned the Wizarding world due to the fact they were classified as beasts.

Hermione frowned. She didn't like the fact that Warlocks were treated so poorly. She felt déjà vu when she thought this as she remembered how she felt about house elves. She looked up to see Harry attempting the wonky faint or whatever that weird maneuver was called. When he tried to pull up out of the dive he ended up pulling up to hard and throwing the broom over his shoulder and landed on his ass. She looked down worried until she saw him cursing and kicking his broom. She smiled and laughed at him, she couldn't hear him but he looked up at her glaring. He flew up to her.

"Oh very funny, Hermione," Harry said with a glare. "I just busted my ass and you are giggling?"

Hermione smiled, "I was laughing at the look of horror on your face when the broom went over your shoulder, not when you busted your arse."

Harry glared but then smiled, "It was pretty funny. What are you reading?" Hermione lifted the book and showed him the title. "Wow, I never met a warlock."

Hermione smirked, "They sound pretty scary to me actually. They can take down at least 6 adult wizards when they gain their powers no matter what age they are at the time."

Harry smiled, "They'd be great allies."

Hermione laughed, "I doubt it. They hate wizards."

Harry looked offended, "Why!"

Hermione looked at him and back to his pouting teammates, "I'll explain later, get back to practice." Harry smiled and took off on his broom leaving her to think.

They might help us if the Death Eaters start to win the final battle, maybe we should at least try and talk to them. Hermione's mind began to race with ideas, strategies, and arguments to get the Council of Warlocks to even consider the task. Before she knew it, Harry and Ron landed near her telling her practice was over. She smiled, "I have to go to the library really fast! I'll meet you in the common room." Harry and Ron shook their heads and went to the locker room to change.

Hermione dashed up the stairs to find Madame Pince in the library.

"Madame Pince!" She was greeted with a stern shush from Madame Pince and lowered her voice, "I was wondering if you had any more books on warlocks, or maybe how to get in touch with one."

Madame Pince frowned, "Warlocks are not to be trifled with, Miss Granger. I am sorry there are no more books in the library on that subject and about contacting them… well I advise you talk to the author of the book. He is pretty as much of an expert you can get on warlocks."

Hermione frowned and looked at the book, "There is no name as to who wrote this book!"

The librarian smiled, "That is because it is an only copy. This isn't a published book. It was written for me by a friend of mine, his name is written on one of the back pages. He knows what he is talking about trust me."

Hermione flipped eagerly to the back of the book skimming for a name. She turned to a blank page with handwriting on it that said; To Madeline Pince, I hope this satisfies your thirst for knowledge on this subject. There are more gruesome details that I did not write in but you may ask me anytime. –Argus Filch

Hermione stared at the inscription and looked to Madame Pince in shock who said, "Who would know more about it than a squib?" Madam Pince looked at her clock saying, "He is probably feeding Mrs. Norris in his office at this time."

Hermione nodded and rushed to the Caretaker's office. She straightened her robes before knocking on the door and hearing s gruff, "Come in."

She looked around the office seeing four file cabinets of student discipline records one drawer of the cabinets was labels 'Weasley Twins'. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products were piled in a corner under a sign that said 'confiscated items'. She saw him standing behind his messy desk next to a door that must have led to his rooms.

Argus Filch was feeding his dusty looking cat when he looked up at her, "Eh? A student? What do you want?"

"My name is…"

"I know who you are Granger, what is it?" He growled.

Hermione set down her bag in one of the two chairs near her clearing her throat she lifted the book he wrote up. "Madame Pince… she said you wrote this."

Filch glared and sat in a chair behind his desk and motioned for her to sit. He pet Mrs. Norris and glanced at Hermione, "yes and?"

Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "Well I was wondering if you could tell me more about it Mr. Filch."

Argus Filch raised an eyebrow, "What did you want to know?"

"Why didn't you publish this?" Hermione asked.

Filch scoffed, "The ministry would never let that book get published; they try to keep warlocks out of their lives. For a good reason too… Warlocks are… very vengeful. Complete dislike for wizards. Warlocks tend to go unchecked and left alone for this reason." He looked at her, "Why the interest?"

Hermione stuttered for a moment, "Well I just thought… I mean Harry mentioned…" At that moment Harry and Ron burst into the office staring at Hermione. Mrs. Norris hissed at the boys and Filch proceeded to calm down his cat. Hermione stared at Harry and he mouthed, 'the map.'

Hermione glared before hearing Ron say, "Uh… we thought you would be here!"

Filch growled, "Potter, Weasley."

There was a long and awkward pause.

"So! What are we talking about?" Harry exclaimed.

She rolled her eyes and Filch scowled, "close the door you incompetent children."

Harry and Ron looked at Filch with dislike as Ron shut the door. Filch stood up and brought a chair out from the other room while Hermione pulled her bag out the other chair.

Ron and Harry sat down looking at Hermione expectantly. She sighed, "Mister Filch is the one who wrote that book that I am reading right now. We were just about to talk about it before you rudely barged into his office."

Ron blurted, "Why haven't I heard of Warlocks before! Mom and Dad never told me about them."

Mister Filch sat in his chair tenser than before, "What do you want to know?"

Harry cut off Hermione, "Would they make good allies for us in the upcoming war?"

Argus scoffed, "You obviously haven't read the book yet have you?"

Harry turned red in embarrassment and shrugged. Hermione shook her head, "only I have read the book and I haven't read the whole thing yet, just some of the warlock parts."

Filch nodded in understanding, "If warlocks joined the war they would be joining the light side, there is no doubt about that the light side would win." Harry looked ecstatic and was about to say something when Filch cut him off, "BUT you do not want their help."

Ron yelled, "Why not?"

Filch growled as Hermione put her hand over her face in embarrassment, "They are extremely vengeful."

Harry warily said, "Isn't that good?"

Hermione sighed, "Warlocks are practically tortured by wizards."

"Not wizards, usually wizarding children." Ron and Harry looked completely confused and Argus grumbled before saying, "Warlocks can only come about from an extremely pure magical bloodline and their powers do not appear until they are put in an extremely taxing position. An old ministry law restricts a person from telling children under the age of 16 about Warlocks which is why you have never been told. Most parents neglect to tell their kids after the age of 16 because they most likely will never run into one."

Ron stared, "Why aren't kids told?"

Filch sighed, "The extremely taxing position is usually caused by massive bullying from pureblooded children who do have magic. The kids believe the non-magical child is a squib and can't fight back anyways." Filch laughed, "Then it backfires on the snotty kids when the powers show."

Harry sighed, "So warlocks are forever scarred by the fact that their families let other kids beat up on them even though it unlocks those powers."

Filch nodded, "If you don't get your full power by the age of 21 you don't get it at all."

Hermione jumped, "That is where your theory comes in right! The magic from the warlock gets transferred to a muggle and that creates muggleborns!"

"It isn't a theory, it is truth but since I can't really prove it I have to say it is a theory." Argus replied.

"How do you know it is truth if you can't prove it?" Ron questioned.

Argus Filch paused and stared at the three students before sighing, "you know I am a squib so I can speak frankly. The magic that I had limited use to when I was younger was with me for 21 years, I could recognize the magic when the muggleborn who was granted my powers walked into the school. I know it is true because I can feel it."

Harry looked at him, "How vengeful are warlocks? Are you sure we wouldn't want their help?"

Argus looked at him, "It would end up a slaughter fest. Warlock police themselves much more strictly than wizards. There is no Azkaban only physical punishment or death. I have been to one of their executions. There was a wizard named Barnaby Cottlesworth who attempted to assassinate his cousin out of jealousy because she was more powerful. The wizard was given his wand and was allowed to 'protect himself.' The warlock carrying out the execution actually came into his power because of Barnaby and his friends. The wizard didn't stand a chance; the warlock toyed with Barnaby for about 30 minutes before actually beginning to harm him. I had to leave the room before it was over." Filch shuttered.

Harry looked at him, "The ministry didn't get involved?"

Argus looked at him, "the ministry ignores warlock activity because it has no chance against the Council of Warlocks. If you involved Warlocks they would judge the dark side without the ministry intervening and kill them all unless they were under the imperious or threatened. They would probably judge the light side as well." Argus looked up thoughtfully, "I am pretty sure Moody would fail their tests with the way he interrogates people." Filch shrugged, "It really doesn't matter they wouldn't join the battle anyways."

"Well, if we were able to come up with a solid argument and a contract to not make that happen?" Hermione questioned.

Filch looked at her, "It is possible but you would have to find a warlock willing to bring you to the Council."

"We can't just send an owl or something?" Ron asked.

"You can request a meeting with the council but, well, they don't always send the nicest replies back." Filch searched through his desk drawers and pulled out a sheet of paper handing it to Hermione, "you must read address out to the owl you are sending or they will never find the council. You should probably speak to the Headmaster before contacting them though."

The clock chimed nine o'clock and he looked at the three students, "You should get to your common rooms, I have work to do."

The trio got up and thanked him before filing out.

"Granger," Hermione turned to face the caretaker, "If you have any questions about this feel free to ask later." Hermione smiled and nodded. Filch's lips twitched in response. Hermione never saw him smile so she assumed that was the closest she was going to get from him.

Ron and Harry walked with Hermione up to the common room in silence, before Harry said, "What do you guys think?"

Ron sat into a cushy chair and said, "I don't know what to think about asking them. Is it really worth the risk?"

Hermione sat silently, "We should ask them if they would intervene if Voldemort was winning at the very least."

Harry nodded, "we should talk to Dumbledore first though."

It was agreed in the morning they would talk to the Headmaster.

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Love~

Mousie