7.  Up, Down, and All Around

I guess it's two out of four, actually, thought Evangeline as she scurried after Mr. Filch while he showed her through the castle later in the day.  The caretaker made very sure that she was aware that he, and he alone, was responsible for the care of the castle.  Now he didn't actually say that she was wasting his precious time, since, after all, Professor Dumbledore had asked him to do this task for him.   However he did manage to get the point across very clearly that his time was extremely valuable; and he could've found many more important things to be doing with his time if he didn't have to be indulging the headmaster.  He also let her know that he wouldn't appreciate it very much if her "job" made any extra work for him in the coming months.  Evangeline tried to assure him that once he'd shown her where to find the various paintings, he wouldn't have to be troubled by her again.  She wasn't sure he believed her, though.

If Filch hadn't been so sullen, Evangeline would have enjoyed her day more.  The paintings themselves were fabulous, and she enjoyed examining and talking to them enormously.  She could see that to thoroughly clean all of these paintings would take her months, but there wouldn't be too much actual restoration or re-animation involved.  Most of the paintings were in extremely good shape.  This job was going to be every bit as pleasant as she thought it would be, and she was really looking forward to getting started.

As they reached the dungeon level in the late afternoon, an extremely tired Evangeline turned to Filch and said, "Well, Mr. Filch, I must congratulate you.  Keeping up all these paintings alone would be a tremendous job.  When you add in everything else that you do, it's truly amazing.  I don't know how you do it.  The paintings do need a little professional attention, but their frames are all perfectly maintained, and they're all dust free.  You're obviously terrifically good at your job.  You also must have the stamina of twelve men.  You look as fresh as this morning, while I'm ready to keel over."  Wearily she leaned back against the nearest wall and slid down to the floor, resting her head against the ancient stones.  "This castle is even bigger than I remembered."

That brought a small chuckle from Filch, who unbent enough to sit down next to her on the floor.  "You get used to its size after you've spent as many years as I have scrubbing every inch of it, missy." 

She smiled understandingly at the man.  "Well, there's no doubt it's a labor of love because "every inch of it" sparkles."  He nodded in acknowledgement of her compliment and looked less grumpy than he had most of the day.

"So tell me," she said with a sigh, as she glanced around in the gloom of the corridor.  "Are there many paintings down here in the dungeons?" 

Filch shook his head. "To my knowledge, there aren't any except for those in Slytherin House.   I suppose, Professor Snape could have one or two.  I don't really know.  I only showed you the paintings in common areas of the castle.  The professors may have some in their private chambers, and you'll have to talk to the heads of the various houses to get access to their paintings."

"Fair enough," said Evangeline with a nod.  "Well, I suppose, since we're down here, I might as well tackle Professor Snape.  Can you show me where to find him?" 

He nodded.  "Okay, I'll take you to his classroom, and if he's not there, I'll show you where his rooms are, but then I really do need to get back to my own work." 

Evangeline dragged herself to her feet once more. "Lead on, MacDuff," she said and gestured for him to precede her down the hall.

Professor Snape's potions classroom was dark, gloomy, and down right creepy.  It was also empty of Snape and devoid of paintings.  So Filch led her around the corner and down a short corridor to a wooden door with ornate black iron hinges.  "These are his quarters.  Can you find your way back on your own, missy?" he inquired not unkindly. 

When she assured him that she could and thanked him again for his help, Filch gave her a small rusty smile and turned and walked back up the corridor leaving her alone in front of Snape's door.  Evangeline found herself getting nervous standing there.  Oh, pull yourself together, she thought.  He's not going to eat you.  He may not even be here.  So before she could turn and run off, she raised her hand and knocked firmly on the door.