Chapter Thirty-Five

Lucy barely slept in the night as she woke up in the morning. Still not knowing Argus was back safe and sound. She wandered towards the great hall that morning without really having any clue on what to do next. He was still missing as far as she was concerned and even worse, his dreadful parents would no doubt have found the letter before he did. She sat down for breakfast but didn't feel like eating as she kept looking at the window. Desperately hoping for an owl but the owl wasn't going to come. The truth was that Argus had completely forgotten he had wrote to her as he was sat up in bed with a nice hot of tea. His parents and brother surrounding him as they watched him sip the tea. The boy had never looked more content as he finally got his parents to acknowledge him once again.

"Don't think you're being rewarded for bad behaviour, Argus" Bard spoke up first.

"I told you, father. I only ran away because I didn't think you would care. I did regret it when I did it" Argus replied.

His mother tutting as she made her way out the room. She wasn't impressed at all now she had time to settle down. Disappointment in her youngest son barely covered it. Argus felt sudden judgement from his father too as he gave him a glare before leaving too. Archibald still sitting on his bed as he watched his parents leave and go back downstairs.

"You got your little bit of attention. Well done" Archibald said rather bluntly.

"Told you nobody cares. They don't want me here but they don't want me gone either. I shouldn't have came back" Argus insisted with his arms crossed.

"Well I want you here. Who else is going to ride with me? Lucy would have missed you too...She sent you a letter back, begging for you not to do it. You should be pleased, father's allowed her to visit on Easter"

"Yes. I am pleased about that" Argus spoke with a small smile before adding..."I do hope father and mother are nice to her"

"What? She's a witch skilled at charms! Mother will love her...she will get to teach her all about household magic. Anyroad, enjoy your tea" Archibald replied with a wink.

His brother looking back at him for a few moments. Watching as he left the bedroom and shut the door. Argus did think about Lucy but it didn't occur to him to write another letter, saying everything was alright. He didn't do it out of malice, he just didn't think. The lad drank the rest of his tea before falling asleep for a few more hours until he was called down for dinner. He came downstairs to find his brother by the fireplace. Another two letters had came from Hogwarts, one was addressed to Archibald.

Dear Archibald,

Please tell me he is alright. I've been sick with worry all night. You know he told me he's ran away. Is he back? I've been so upset over the thought of him being hurt or even dead. I didn't want to tell the headmaster in case he got in trouble but I needed to know what's going on. I hope you're not mad but I told him and he's sent you a message.

From Lucy

The second letter was more professional and addressed to the parents. They were reading it among themselves as Headmaster Dippet enquired about Argus Filch's whereabouts as Lucy was very concerned (and so was he come to that). Bard having to write him a letter back to say he's back home now, it was just a little mistake but everything's back to normal. Argus walked over towards his brother as he looked down upon the letter.

"Oh...I forgot to tell her" Argus simply remarked.

"She's been besides herself. Telling the headmaster and everything...You have a real friend right there, Argus. Don't take her for granted" Archibald spoke.

"I don't!"

"Go and write to her then you selfish git. You kept her up all night and most of today worrying about you"

This made Argus give a slight tut as he rushed back upstairs. He got out his quill, ink and ink pot as he began writing to her quickly...

Dear Lucy,

I didn't think but I have been through a lot. You know. I didn't mean to make you fret but I really did just want to run away last night when I wrote to you. I forgot how slow my brother's owl is. Though I feel much better now. Even better news, father has agreed to let you visit us on Easter. How wonderful is that?

From your squibby friend, Argus

He went to write with hugs but changed his mind. So he just sent it as it was as he went back downstairs and passed it to his brother (who went outside to the barn where his owl lived).

...

Back at Malfoy Manor, Eileen made one of her daily walks into the nearby woods. As she wore her winter cloak and gloves on this afternoon. The manor house in the distance as she made her way under the ancient trees and across the frosty grass. Sometimes Abraxas came with her but he wasn't up to it today as he was too much focused on his books. She walked longer than she would with Abraxas as she came across the nearest muggle village again, a place called Little Bedwyn. She's been here a couple times before but usually she would only watch from the side. Muggle children were playing in the distance. Eileen thinking about much simple life was for them without the secrecy or having to deal with magic. A black-haired boy caught her attention as the lad who looked no older than thirteen was seen throwing a couple of stones towards the woods. He paused as he spotted the girl looking back at him...

"Well, well...Red Riding Hood, is that you?" the boy asked with a small grin on his face.

The other children looked towards her. Eileen feeling rather stupid came out of the woods as she's now been spotted. She was confused as she never heard of the muggle fairy tale before. Though she gathered it must be a simple misunderstanding as she simply said...

"Hello"

"Hello. What's your name? I seen you looking before at us. I gather you're just shy" the same boy replied.

"Eileen Prince. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare, I just don't see many other children around these parts"

"Oh...Well my name is Tobias Snape"

"Nice to meet you" Eileen said before looking at the other children.

Tobias was the oldest. He looked back at them as he told them to "Clear off!". The younger children stepped back before doing just that. They were his siblings, he had five in all. He was the oldest of six. Eileen giving a nervous smile as she watched his four sisters and one brother run back towards one of the few cottages in the village.

"Sorry about them. Nosy aren't they?" Tobias spoke in a tone that meant it wasn't a question.

He had black unwashed hair and a crooked nose however he was quite tall for his age. His clothes looked slightly big on him as well as looking tatty. Eileen however didn't let any of this bother her. She always thought of herself as ugly, so she didn't think she had any room to judge.

"I come from a house in the woods. Just four miles or so from here" Eileen began to explain.

"I haven't got that far. It's funny...When I do go into the woods, I keep remembering something back at home"

"Muggle-repelling charm" Eileen muttered under her breath without thinking.

"Pardon?"

"Oh! I said...Not much there to see. It's not very charming" Eileen quickly responded.

Tobias giving her a slightly amused look. He looked back towards his siblings to check if they were alright. He was thinking about the house in the woods that this girl lived in. He really would have to give it another try again he thought as he asked her...

"Why don't you take me there?"

"Oh I can't. Father will go spare if he sees me with a mugg" Eileen paused quickly before saying..."Boy"

"I see. Well you can come back to the village, can't you? It would be nice to talk to somebody who wasn't related to me"

"I would like that. I like your surname by the way, Snape...It sounds good"

"Well I like your surname too, Prince. It sounds good"

This made Eileen giggle slightly at his joke. She told him that next time, she will come down a bit earlier. Tobias just giving a nod in agreement. His mother began calling him over for dinner. He waved goodbye to Eileen before going in the opposite direction. She felt slightly rebellious and it was nice to not be around pureblood fanatics for once.

"Tobias!" Eileen quickly called back.

"Yes?"

"I got boarding school again soon but I will come back at Easter and summer. If you want"

"If you want, I want. See you again soon, Red Riding Hood" Tobias spoke back.

Eileen thus went back into the woods and watched until the muggle boy was out of sight.

...

1940 had began as students returned to Hogwarts after the break. Some happier than others. Lucy smiling as she gave her three friends a hug as Ruth, Poppy and Victoria put their things back in the dormitory. As the students prepared to settle in again and begin lessons for the upcoming exams. Victoria bending down to see her cat Cinders had kittens now. The Hufflepuff common room was once very busy, Bartemius Crouch nearly fell up the stairs as he was carrying so many books up towards the boys dormitories. Meanwhile in the Slytherin common room, Tom found himself again surrounded. His roommates walked up the stairs with their suitcases and books. Tom sitting on his own bed as he briefly looked up at them, Nott was the first to speak as always as his eyes went straight towards Tom's broomstick...

"Tom! Where did you get that?" Nott asked as he looked at the 'Cleansweep Three'.

"Slughorn"

"Gosh...I wish Slughorn liked me that much"

"I won't use it. You can have it.. Just don't let the daft old fool know, he will be offended" Tom replied with a small smile.

His 'friends' laughing in response at that remark. Tom really knew how to play Slughorn. Nott was over the moon as he grabbed onto the broomstick, not understanding that Tom was playing him in the same manner he played Slughorn. Tom turned towards Rosier, the lad he trusted the most as he gestured for him to come over with his finger. Rosier sat down on the bed as he looked up at him. The other lads were busy admiring Nott's new broomstick...

"I was thinking about some things over the break. As you know, I had to spend Christmas with the mudbloods and listen to them going on and on. Something occurred to me though during this time, they don't really have any fear. They are too settled, if you know what I mean?" Tom began, choosing his words carefully.

"I think so...I mean, they don't fear purebloods really. Do they?"

"Right. I was thinking that perhaps they need a bit of a scare, just something simple. I wouldn't want any of us to get into trouble on their behalf. I read something about a Polyjuice potion. You know what one is of cause?"

"Yes. Of cause...You change into somebody else. It's advanced stuff...I don't think we get taught that until seventh year"

"Never mind that. Slughorn gave me an advanced potions book, it's more difficult than what we are being taught now but I can do it. The point is we can get away with anything we want" Tom explained.

Rosier giving a knowing smile as he clicked onto what he was saying. That did sound very tempting indeed. Of cause Tom wasn't using this just to mess around with muggle-borns. He needed to be able to get into certain rooms or corridors without being noticed to try and find the 'Chamber of Secrets'. There was only so much he could do while in his normal body and he needed distractions.

"Sounds good, Tom" Rosier admitted as he thought about the nasty things he could do to them.

"Well I won't tell the others yet. Especially Nott, he would only give the game up easily" Tom replied.

...

TBC