Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 61: Argus History
"Argus, relax. I know you want to drink more, but do you think the ingredients to concoct this potion are cheap?" Dudley questioned.
Hearing this, Argus froze for a moment before he opened his mouth.
"I'll pay," said Argus. "How much do you want? I'll cover all of it."
"Mr. Argus, calm down. We still don't know the effects of the potion when used long-term," Hermione interjected.
"Yes, Mr. Argus. Even Felix Felicis will turn bad if consumed regularly," added Hannah Abbott.
Argus didn't stop. Instead, he sobbed, releasing his grip on Dudley's robes before beginning to speak.
"You have no idea what I've been through for the past sixty years," said Argus, tears streaming down his face.
"We're here for you. You can share it with us if you want," Dudley said, trying to comfort him.
Sometimes, it's better to share your burdens with friends, otherwise, you might burst from holding it all in. And looking at Argus, it was clear he had no friends—living as a Squib in the magical world.
Argus looked at Dudley's face, then at the others in the room, and decided to share his story.
"My parents were wizards from the Filch family, and I was their only child. They didn't have anyone else but me," Argus began, introducing his background.
"Filch family?" Susan muttered.
"Yes, the Filch family—one of Britain's pureblood families," Argus replied.
"I remember the archives, the Filch family is indeed one of the pureblood lines," Hannah Abbott said.
"Continue, Argus," Dudley encouraged, eager to learn the truth behind Argus's life.
"Before I turned eleven, my parents were proud of me. I had no siblings, so all their love and attention was focused on me. But on my eleventh birthday, I didn't receive a letter from Hogwarts," Argus said.
Everyone gasped, imagining what would happened next.
"My parents... my parents turned from loving to brutal," Argus continued. "At first, they were sad for me and wanted to have another child. But after two years, they gave up, and I don't know why."
Dudley nodded, making mental notes about Argus's story.
"But things got worse. They began experimenting on me, and I was nearly killed. Finally, unable to bear their disappointment and anger, they cast me out. The last I heard of them was thirty years ago when they died and the Filch family came to an end," Argus said, wiping his tears.
"We're so sorry," the girls murmured sympathetically.
"It's alright. It's a long story, but it feels nice to finally share the burden," Argus replied.
"Argus, what do you mean by 'they gave up'?" Dudley asked.
"They tried to have another baby, but after two years, they failed," Argus explained.
"Now, my hypothesis is confirmed. I know why you became a Squib," Dudley responded.
"What? You know why I became a Squib?" Argus asked, shocked.
"Yes, and I've also done research on why Muggle-borns can wield magic while some purebloods cannot," Dudley replied.
"Tell me—why?" Argus pressed.
Dudley glanced at Hermione, who nodded in approval.
"It's because purebloods have been marrying other purebloods for so long that, over time, their blood and DNA became twisted. This affected the ability of some of their children to wield magic," Dudley explained.
"Dudley, is what you said true?" Susan asked.
"Yes," Dudley answered, pulling out a book and handing it to Susan. "Here's all my research, along with the results."
"Purebloods can't marry other purebloods?" Hannah repeated, astonished.
"You can read the book with Susan, Hannah," Dudley said.
"Argus, is there any Muggle-born or half-blood in your family?" Dudley asked.
"No, my family is purely pureblood," Argus replied.
"Was your mother a cousin to your father? What about your grandparents?" Dudley inquired.
"Cousins? What do you mean?" Argus asked, confused.
"Did your father marry a close relative, like a cousin? And what about your grandparents?" Dudley clarified.
"Yes, my parents were cousins," Argus admitted.
"That's likely why your parents lost the ability to have more children. Marrying close relatives could have damaged their reproductive systems," Dudley said. "It's just my theory, but it explains why they gave up after two years."
Susan and Hannah's eyes widened as they read about DNA. Even though Susan had heard about it from Dudley at the Black house, seeing the report further cemented her understanding.
She passed the book to Hannah and then asked Dudley, "So, Dudley, is what you said earlier about Muggle-borns being new blood?"
"Yes," Dudley confirmed.
"Then, does that mean what You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters did will only make wizards extinct?" Susan asked.
"Exactly. They wanted to exterminate Muggle-born wizards, but the truth is, purebloods need Muggle-borns more than they realize," Dudley explained.
He turned to Argus, who was listening intently to their conversation.
"Argus, in pureblood society, are there different ranks, or are all pureblood families treated the same?" Dudley asked.
"They're different. Pureblood families like the Malfoys are highly respected, while others, like mine, aren't. Poor purebloods are often looked down upon," Argus explained.
"I still don't understand why purebloods would want to attack Muggle-borns like us, Dudley," Hermione said.
"It's simple, they're redirecting their hatred," Dudley replied.
Everyone perked up, intrigued by Dudley words which is a new concept for them.
"Redirecting their hatred?" Hermione repeated.
"Yes. Do you know the difference between China and America?" Dudley asked.
"Political systems?" Hermione responded.
"Exactly. America is a democracy, while China is a communist. If the Chinese government fails, the people's hatred would be directed at the government, so they create an imaginary enemy—America. In America, if people are dissatisfied with the ruling party, they can vote for the opposition. In China, the only way to change the government is by rebellion, so they need to redirect the people's anger outward."
"Interesting," Hermione's eyes lit up with curiosity.
The others, however, were confused. "What's Democracy? What's China?" they wondered.
"Death Eaters come from pureblood families, and they target Muggle-borns because they fear losing their high status. Muggle-borns are excelling in education and innovation, threatening the superiority that pureblood families have enjoyed for generations," Dudley explained. "They don't want their children to be overshadowed by Muggle-borns."
Author Notes: To read advance chapter you can go to my patreon and don't forget to donate powerstones.
-patreon.com/zorojurown