Beyond the Past
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other names, places, or ideas related to the world of Harry Potter. They are the property of J.K. Rowling.
A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait—I had logistical trouble with this chapter. I know how I wanted it to go, but I seemed to have trouble getting there. Thanks to all who reviewed. Enjoy!
Chapter 2. Punishment and Dreams
Hermione stumbled back a few paces away from the school caretaker. Argus, just as shocked as Hermione, took a step back also while carefully schooling his face into his usual look of disdain. "What do you think you are doing out of bed so late at night?" sneered Filch as he did his best to appear like his usual terrifying self. Hermione whimpered while taking another step back into the library. If this had been any other student, Argus would have taken great pleasure in the fear that permeated the air. Hermione's fear induced adrenaline rush was a tangible thing between them. Argus could taste the heady scent on the air. As it was, he did not particularly enjoy tormenting her in this way, but he knew that there was no way around it.
Argus advanced a step towards Hermione to compensate for the several she had taken back, successfully pinning her against a desk. Hermione clutched an extremely large tome to herself as if it were a sacred relic that could protect her from the wrath (And in her opinion evil) that now stood in close proximity to her. "Well girl, I asked you a question" Argus snarled in his coldest voice, all the while admiring the way her eyes shone in the near darkness. Finally regaining her voice, Hermione stammered out,
"I left a-a…a bit of homework late over this weekend so that I could go to the Quidditch game, and I was just finishing up what I had left so that I don't get into trouble tomorrow." Though she had started out rather unsure, the last part came out in a rush and she was left rather breathless by the end of her statement. Oh Merlin, thought Hermione frantically, I just lied to an adult…oh no what have I done! Another voice answered the first, Hermione, there was nothing to be done for it—you had to lie! Now just stick to the charade or there will be even more hell to pay!
Argus observed her with a calculating stare. He knew her well enough to know that she wasn't being honest. Her character would not allow such procrastination. Hmm, Argus mused, whatever she's doing, it must be pretty important for her to be rule breaking and lying. I'll leave her to it…for now.
"Homework, did you say?"
Hermione gave a jerky nod, her hand instinctively covering the spine and thereby the title of the book that she was so desperately clutching. Argus watched her hands for a moment. He was close enough to see the sweat that she was inadvertently smearing all over the book. He laughed to himself, Dear, dear, Irma would not appreciate that. Not at all. Argus couldn't restrain a slight chuckle at the thought of what Irma would say to this delectable girl if she saw Hermione using it for a shield. Hermione's eyes widened as she heard the quickly suppressed laugh. She clutched the giant volume all the harder. Argus watched as her face became paler and her knuckles turned a bright white. He's toying with me, groaned Hermione to herself, while mentally stealing her body for the worst. In fact Argus was not toying with her…he was thinking of how he would like to toy with her.
The sight of Hermione's clenched fingers seemed to entrance Argus, and being a squib, he could do nothing to fight the magic. Gods those hands…I would make them turn whiter…as they held on to me for dear life…waves of pleasure threatening to send her over the edge…Argus started to reach towards her, all thoughts not related to her ravishment driven from his mind. It wasn't until Hermione flinched that he snapped to. Merlin, good boy, get out of here well you still can!
"Homework is no excuse for breaking school rules!" Argus bellowed, recollecting himself and locking away his rampant hormones. "What shall we do…I can think of some very…," he paused, searching for the right word "appropriate punishments. However, the Headmaster calls these…punishments…torture, and has forbidden me to use them on students." He smirked to himself at the memory of flogging Lockhart after having caught him with some students…doing some rather improper things The students didn't tell…they were afraid of being expelled, and Lockhart was rather fond of his job…as for himself, he had his reasons. Dumbledore had never said he couldn't torture the teachers…Argus was pulled from his sweet memories by a whimper. It seemed that the only word Hermione's terrified brain had understood was "torture."
"Ah, yes…I would indeed very much like to torture you…," but only if you were willing, thought Argus, "…be that as it may, I cannot. You will serve a detention with me tomorrow…and Tuesday, in fact, for the rest of the school week. I will see you at my office tomorrow at eight pm sharp. I now suggest that you get to bed." Argus sneered down at her. She nodded and began to scamper off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.
Whew, thought Hermione as she hurried off to bed, I can't believe that I escaped that nasty situation practically unscathed!
Whew, thought Argus as he slipped once again into the shadows and quietly began to follow Hermione to her common room, I can't believe that I escaped that nasty situation pretty much unhurt!
After watching Hermione slip behind the portrait of the Fat Lady, Argus sighed deeply to himself. "What a long day this has been," he muttered aloud. His hands snaked up through his longish gray hair, and began to massage his throbbing temples. A soft mew just in front of him announced the return of his cat, whom, he was ashamed to admit; he hadn't even noticed was gone. Mrs. Norris gave him a reproachful glare. This was too much for Filch's already strained nerves. He hissed,
"If you don't like the way that I live my life, then you can bloody well get out of it!" He immediately regretted his harsh words. He watched in silence as his only friend in the world gave him a hurt look before turning tail and running away, her pitiful mews sounding almost like human sobs. "DAMN FEMALES!" His anguished bellow resounded around the empty corridor. For a split moment he was afraid that he might have woken someone up, but only silence responded to him, as his echoing voice died away. Like so many other times in his life, Argus Filch was invisible to the rest of the world.
It took Argus longer than usual to make his way down to his dungeon office. His feet seemed weighted with lead…but it was not this burden that consumed his time and energy. It was his leaden heart that seemed to be trying to drag him down into a deep, black chasm. Argus walked in a haze, his eyes filled with unshed tears, and long buried pain. He could see the chasm stretching its mouth wide, ready for him to enter. His feet seemed to push him closer to the yawning expanse. He felt a cold wind whip across his face and was jolted back to reality, finding himself precariously perched on the railing of a balcony. Buck up boy! You've endured worse…Argus shook himself and climbed down off of the railing. He proceeded on towards the dungeons and bed, tightly reigning in his darker thoughts. He finally reached his battered door, and whispered the password that Dumbledore had set for his rooms this year, "Fuzzy Slippers." His door creaked open with a sigh that seemed to reflect Argus' inner turmoil. Filch shuffled in to his dank office and walked to a filing cabinet next to his desk. He opened the top drawer and stuck his hand inside of it. The filing cabinet disappeared to be replaced by another battered door. Argus pushed this one open with little difficulty and entered his private rooms.
Despite the rather nice, clean décor, Argus instantly felt awkward and ill at ease. He had been living here for many years now, but he had not yet overcome his feelings of discomfort that his rooms seemed to radiate. Slipping off his shoes and his overcoat, he slid into his bed, otherwise fully clothed. His emotional distress caused him to be exhausted, and his breathing quickly became slow and deep, as his consciousness left him. Only now, in the arms of sleep, did he feel at home.
A young boy with shining black hair and grayish-blue eyes jumped over a stile in a large field. He managed to clear the small height, but fell on the landing, smearing his clothes with mud and getting a mouthful as well. He quickly jumped up, and continued to run while spitting behind him. His legs and lungs were starting to burn in protest, but all he did in response was wipe a dirty hand across his mouth. He turned sharply around an outcropping of trees, almost falling again. There it was, home.
In a little valley before him lay an old and sprawling house, not a mansion, but very large and roomy. Its construction and size were not important, for it exuded a sense of welcome and friendliness. Upon seeing it, the little boy spurred his tiring body faster. He came to the slight hill, and could no longer control his speed. His arms pin wheeled before he lost his footing, fell, and began the painful process of rolling down the gravel drive. He came to a stop at the feet of a tall boy with smiling, intelligent eyes. His eldest brother bent down to pick him up, chuckling at his appearance. An exasperated sigh from a beautiful woman standing a few feet away, hinted at future trouble, but that could wait, as the tall boy firmly hugged his youngest brother. He smiled down into the shining eyes, and said, "It's good to see you again Argus."
Argus Filch smiled in his sleep as the memory of his brother faded to be replaced by another, equally happy one
The same young boy was walking along beside a beautiful chestnut mare. It was a gorgeous day and the sun was shining upon the long golden hair of a graceful young girl. She was only four, five years younger than her elder brother, but there was a fast friendship between the two youngest members of the Filch family. Argus was careful to lead the horse smoothly along the ground. They came to a shady corner of the lawn. The horse automatically stopped, knowing that this would be his young masters' stopping point. "Argus?" the young girl astride the horse asked.
"Yes, Athena?" he replied as he stared up lovingly into the face of his only sister.
"Could you help me down?" Athena implored, her gray eyes flitting about their beautiful surroundings before coming to rest on the face of her brother.
"Sure thing 'Thena," Argus smiled, "But you'll have to stop squirming like that"
"I'm not squirming Argus!"
"You are too Athena."
"Am not!" Athena said petulantly.
"You're right, you're not," Argus laughed indulgently.
It was a game they often played, but neither ever tired of their little verbal battles. Athena always won and this suited them both fine. Everyone in the Filch family knew that Athena had Argus wrapped around her little finger. Argus knew it too, but he would never admit it. Argus was a doting older brother, and indeed how could he not be? Athena was stunningly beautiful, powerfully magical, kind, and intelligent; despite her young age. When she got in a temper, which was rare, she couldn't be controlled by anyone, even though her mom was a very talented witch and her father an equally talented wizard. This was not why Argus was always at her beck and call, he just genuinely adored her.
Argus stretched out his arms and gingerly lifted his young sister out of the saddle and onto the thick cushion of grass. He tied the horses' reins to a low branch and pulled two apples out of the saddle bag. He handed one to his sister and flopped down under the tree, resting his head on its trunk. Athena scooted over to him and lay back with her head on his chest. The two stared lazily up at the clouds eating their apples in companionable silence. In this moment life seemed perfect.
Their peaceful laziness was interrupted by a shout coming from a boy mounted on a broom. "Ah, Arg' 'Thena! There you are! We've been looking for you." He jumped off his broom with a flourish, landing like a cat in front of his two younger siblings. "APOLLO! ARCHIMEDES!" the boy bellowed over his shoulder, "I'VE FOUND THEM!" The vociferous boy of 14 turned back around to face Athena and Argus.
"Hey Aristotle!" Argus said to his elder brother. "Why are you guys looking for us?" Aristotle gave his youngest brother a condescending look before replying,
"Come on Argus. The three of us are leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow; you should be spending the day with us. We won't see you again until Christmas."
"Oh," Argus replied, feeling rather small. "I'd forgotten."
"'T's no problem," Aristotle clapped his younger brother's shoulder fondly. "I myself have been trying to forget that our dear brother is starting school this year. It will be hell with him running around stealing all the girls."
Argus snorted. His brother Archimedes, who had turned eleven this summer, was by far the best looking male member of the family. Both Apollo, Argus' eldest brother, and Aristotle were good looking, but eleven year old Archimedes was drop-dead gorgeous. Grown women fantasized about him. He looked the epitome of every woman's ideal sex toy, and he wasn't wont to let anyone forget it. He was also the biggest git in the family. Argus had heard Apollo and Aristotle say that if both of Archimedes' heads were the same size, then he really would be every woman's fantasy. All in all, the idea of Archimedes stealing girls away from Aristotle was laughable. Archimedes was handsome, yes, but Aristotle, the Ravenclaw keeper, was a hilarious and popular trouble maker, whom everyone loved. Archimedes would get the sex, but Apollo and Aristotle would get the girls.
Lost in thought about his elder brothers' eminent return to school, Argus didn't realize that Apollo and Archimedes were dropping out of the sky, until Archimedes made a very ungraceful landing on top of his head. Argus snorted. The broom can't support his big heads!
Archimedes glared at him. It was clear that he was about to say something mean, but Apollo forestalled him by hauling an angry Athena out of the tree. Argus jumped to his feet, not having realized that his sister had been climbing the tree at all. A guilty lump rose to his throat as his eldest brother gave him a sad and reproving look. Apollo was Argus' favorite brother and he hated to disappoint him. Argus opened his mouth to apologize, but Apollo shook his head and instead asked him. "Give us a song, eh Argus?" Argus immediately opened his mouth and began to sing a beautiful song. After he finished, he sang another, and another. The Filch children spent the rest of the afternoon in this happy manner.
Argus stirred in his sleep, a happy smile spread wide across his features, but as always with his dreams, the happy moments of his childhood were all too soon replaced with sadder, darker ones.
A dark mist seemed to permeate the air, chilling the Filch children as they sat around the tree. Argus watched as his brothers disappeared, and then as Athena's face too slipped away. He then found himself standing in front of a mirror, looking at an older, wearier face. The shining lights of the blue-gray eyes were almost completely blackened by sadness. A noise startled him, and he turned around to meet the cold, cruel eyes of his cousin, Ares. The two boys were the same age, but had always despised one another. Ares was smirking at Argus, with a cold, calculating stare. Argus seemed to feel cold all over when he was in the same room with Ares. Actually, he seemed to get the same cold feeling when he was in a room with any member of Ares' immediate family. Ares reached his hands deep into his robes. Argus froze, but Ares wasn't doing anything vile, at the moment.
"So," Ares said in the tone of a superior talking to an inferior unintelligent person.
"So, what?" Argus replied wearily.
"I've heard that your father, my dear, beloved Uncle Asclepius, has finally gone 'round the bend." Argus' hands balled into fists, but he gave no other indication that Ares' words had affected him at all. "I've heard," Ares continued in a soft mocking tone, "that he has even taken to beating you…and doing much worse to my dear little cousin Athena."
"That's not true," Argus whispered in a hoarse voice.
"Which part?" Ares asked, in a silky voice. "Because I know for a fact that Uncle A. has been doing stuff to Athena. How sad, my sister Arachne was to find out that he was fucki—" His last word was stopped as Argus' fist shot out and hit him squarely on the mouth.
"THAT IS NOT TRUE YOU…" but Argus broke off as Ares pulled out his wand.
Ares smiled wolfishly at his cousin. "You rose to the bait Argus." He pointed his wand at his cousins' throat. "Self-defense, you know…" Ares let his words hang in the air. Argus gulped, his eyes shifting around the room, looking for a way out. "What are you going to do Argus? A little squib like you…look around. Your mother's dead. She can't save you now…"
Argus screamed and everything turned black.
Argus awoke with a start, awakened by his own screams. He was drenched in sweat. Shaking, he rolled over and vomited over the side of the bed. He flopped back down, so that he was lying on his back. A soft furry thing jumped on his chest. Mrs. Norris nuzzled his cheek with her nose, all previous offences forgotten. Argus put his arms around the cat. The only one who had always been there for him. Not even…not even…He began to cry into her thick hair, matting it down with his tears. He lay awake the rest of the night sobbing.
A/N: Well, that was rather longer than the last chapter. Hope it didn't get too boring for you. There will be more Hermione/ Filch action soon---I promise! Well, now that you've read, please REVIEW! Oh, and if you are curious about the "Lockhart doing some inappropriate things with some students" incident, be on the lookout for a oneshot that I am writing, which will explain all. I hope to get it up soon.