Disclaimer: As you can tell I don't own any of the characters and also I know Filch is a squib but as the story progresses it should be easy to understand some of these events.

Seamus strolled through the halls of Hogwarts, munching on the contents of a packet of 'Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans' when he decided to drop his rubbish on the pleasant green grass once he entered the courtyards. Everything seemed so simple, it was the middle of the school year and it seemed everyone was getting along swimmingly. There was no controversy over at the Ministry of Magic nor had any recent articles been posted in the Daily Prophet reporting incidents of Death Eaters or word of 'He Who Must Not Be Named'. The only news students had been chatting about were uncomplicated and relatively cheery, like Argus Filch's holiday and return to Hogwarts and who was Lavender Brown's new beau?

"Hey Harry, hi Ron!" Seamus waved casually as he passed them by. They lazily waved back, not looking up from their potions text book. It surely wasn't their favourite class but there was an upcoming exam and they were getting busy; Seamus on the other hand totally unconcerned.

When all of a sudden, it was as though he'd been stung by a bee, Seamus could feel a searing pain nipping at his right ear. He turned to see Filch's menacing grimace spread across his wrinkled face. "You gonna' pick that rubbish up, hmm?"

"Yes, yes! So sorry sir!" cried Seamus as he scrambled on the ground to pick up the plastic package he had dropped earlier.

"I'm not letting you away with it this time!" grumbled Filch, tugging at Seamus' ear once more towards his office after he'd stood back up, rubbish in hand. "Toss that in the garbage as we go past. I'd like a word with you in my office!"

Seamus sat in Filch's filthy, dark and terrible excuse for an office. He was feeling sorry for himself and doodling on the stale piece of parchment Filch had thrown at him when he first sat down. "How much longer do I have to be in here?"

Filch sat cross-eyed in his chair for a moment then started to glare. He seemed a bit more hostile and crazier than usual and it was frightening. Guessing that maybe he had a lousy holiday and was just taking it out on him, he was started when Filch pounced out of his seat and pointed his wand at the boy. "Forever!"

"W-what do you mean?" he stammered, panicking and sweating frivolously. "What are you doing with that wand? I thought you couldn't do magic!"

"Do you think the staff here at Hogwarts work all day just to see you defile our grounds?" snapped Filch, bits of his saliva flying into Seamus' face. "Avada Kedavra!"

Meanwhile, Harry, Hermione and Ron sat clueless in the courtyard. Quidditch had been the hot topic of choice until Ron noticed the spot where Seamus had been taken away by Filch moments earlier. "Hey, did either of you see how angry Filch got when he saw Seamus littering?"

"No, I wasn't there," Hermione heaved a sigh. She never got to see any of the stimulating gossip as it went down. "I was waiting with Luna at the library for Neville just to be stood up. If you want to study around here it's best to do it on your own –"

"Well anyways," Harry interrupted, "he looked as if he was going to explode with rage! I'm not even exaggerating! He was –"

But Draco cut in, "Oh there you are..." His voice was nasally. "Weaselby, Scarhead," he stroked his chin pensively, "Hmm, seems I need a more personalised nickname for you Granger. For now I guess you'll just have to live with Mudblood," he snorted. Blaise and Pansy were by his sides, gleaming with pride and arrogance just as Malfoy was.

"Oh Malfoy give it a break!" Harry sighed, rolling his eyes at Draco attempts to make trouble. "What do you want Malfoy?"

"Superiority," he answered quickly. "But also to let you know about the game this weekend..."

"I already know that we have a match against Slytherin," Harry looked unimpressed.

"Well be prepared because we will crush you! Or at least, you might want to take extra care around bludgers Potter, they sure plan to take extra care of you!" he chortled along with Blaise and Pansy who had stayed quiet but remained in a sassy pose.

"You little twerp!" Hermione glared at him angrily. "I'll report you to Madam Hooch and it won't be too hard to decide who to believe."

"I wasn't talking to you mudblood," he held his hand up in front of her face. "Maybe 'snitch' will make an appropriate nickname for you?"

"Don't speak to her like that!" shouted Ron, standing up in protest.

"And what are you going to do about it?" he snarled then shoved the red headed boy over. Ron got to his feet and looked up to see Blaise and Pansy standing by Draco almost like body guards as they both rolled their sleeves up to their elbows.

"Malfoy!" snapped Filch as he wandered into the courtyard. "No bullying! You're going to have to come with me!"

"But they started it!" he lied obviously.

"Codswallop!" swore the man as he nipped onto Draco's ear as he'd done with Seamus. "You're coming to my office!"

Draco grimaced at the disgusting man as he drooled on the desk. His eyes were partially open and rolled back into his head. He looked like he was sleeping.

"Are you dead?" Draco enquired and prodded the man as he briefly left his desk with his wand.

"Get back to your seat!" Filch growled in his sleep.

"Ah!" jumped Malfoy as he quickly scampered back to his seat.

"You woke me," Filch's eyes shot open and he glowered at the nervous blonde. "You've been really starting to piss everyone off – but I've thought of a nice solution..."

"You can't speak to me like that. Don't you know who my father is?" he scolded pretentiously.

"Is his name..." Filch pulled out his wand and pointed it at him. "Avada Kedavra?"

To be continued...