Argus

Argus looks cautiously at the mangled-looking dog on the side of the road. Is it safe to touch? He has heard rumours of children like himself who have suffered from illnesses caused by strays.

The mutt's almost lifeless eyes meet with Argus' own young, bright ones, and any repulsion or hesitation to go over and pet it disappears. He smiles at it, and the dog scampers over, almost immediately burying its matted head into Argus' legs.

Filch crouches down, and since the day his brother had got his Hogwart's letter, but Argus had not, he feels as though he has actual company - willing, welcomed company.

He picks up the dog – that doesn't even struggle in his arms – and takes him to his home, walking straight past his father's shouts of, 'Where the hell have you been, boy?' racing up the stairs, pulling open his bedroom door, and gently lying the stray on his bed.

Argus sits down in front of it, and stays there for the rest of the night, eventually both of them falling asleep together.

Right now, it seems this pitiless, abandoned animal is the only creature that is not repulsed by him.