Chapter One: A Sad Story
A/N: This fanfic is based on a headcanon involving Argus Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris and an idea I had after reading it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That honor belongs to J.K. Rowling
Two Hogwarts students hid in behind a statue on the seventh floor. Rob Tyler, a Slytherin fifth-year had dragged his Hufflepuff friend, Frank Smith, also a fifth year to plan out a prank.
"Rob you're crazy! You can't turn the Head Boy's robes bright pink!"
"Of course I can Frank, don't tell me I can't."
"What if you get caught?"
"Oh come on! Who's going to catch me?"
A voice spoke out from the other side of the statue.
"Maybe I will."
The two students turned in horror to see that Argus Filch had found them, probably had heard the entire conversation. Mrs. Norris wove around Filch's feet.
"Damn cat." Rob muttered under his breath. He was sure that the cat had seen them go behind the statue and had reported them to Filch.
"You fools," Filch said, "I think you two should be properly punished. These detentions are pointless! Strung up by your ankles is what should happen to you!"
Frank was struck by a sudden thought.
"Why do you hate students so much? You don't seem to have a reason."
"I do have a reason! It's quite a good one too!"
Rob's interest was aroused. Here was a question that generations of students had been wondering about.
"Tell us then. It would clear up an issue or two."
Filch glared at them.
"You don't care. You just want to get out of punishment!"
"No not at all," Frank saved. "We just want to know, because you always seem so bitter, even after you picked up a little magic."
"Oh, so you noticed?" Filch asked, flattered. "Fine I'll tell you. But you're still both going to be reported to the Headmistress.
"When I first took the position, I was a much younger man, and if I may say so, a little more handsome. Well in those days, there was a young teacher, who taught Ancient Runes. My, was she a beauty! Devastatingly intelligent too.
"In any case, I fell for her from day one. But I thought, seeing as I'm a Squib, I'd never be her equal, so I never asked her out.
"This got back to her somehow, and it turned out she loved me just as much as I loved her, so she, along with her best student, snuck into the Restricted Section and found a spell that can un-magic a witch or wizard.
"As a surprise to me, they called me in and cast the spell, but it… it went horribly wrong. I can't figure out why, because it all seemed right to me. I've never liked students since."
Frank and Rob were both touched, although it was quite a strange image of Filch as a young man. Still less someone actually falling in love with him.
Rob was wondering two things though. What was the name of Filch's love? How did the spell "go wrong"? There was a nagging suspicion at the back of his mind, but he'd have to check it later, when he had a free period.
Frank was reflecting too. He was thinking about what spells could possibly remove magic from someone and how they could possibly go wrong. He also wondered if such effects were reversible. He'd have to enlist other's help, possibly his older brother who was in Ravenclaw.
Such questions, but they were best left for later.
