The Stars on the Staircase

Flipping Filius

Filius Flitick. A charming man, a powerful man, observant, free with his affections. My close friend, gossip buddy and otherwise drinking companion for all liquids from tea to fire whiskey. I need him now more than ever. I require his friendship to make it through my time here. I won't last five minutes if I am turned away by him too. When I enter his office his face cheers for a fraction of a second before it finds a frown.

"Hello! I'm here. Finally." I try to say lightly, but I know he is upset. His body is all consternation.

"Imagine if you will, what it is like to have a student that one can see as a protégé. Someone who could be trained to take over one's life work. Then! You beg them for years to join you in your work only for them to say no, they would rather their quiet life making jewellery. But! Surprise! They are coming after all, what joy! Only to be dashed upon the rocks when you find out she is only coming at the behest of her secret lover who is a murderer and an agent of the most evil wizard known to man!"

"I see Minerva has told you." I smile cheekily like it's a silly thing rather than a betrayal.

"Told me!? The question is, my dear, why didn't you tell me!?" he shouted. "We have been close friends these many years have we not?"

"Filius, no one knew. None of my friends, no one except Minerva ever knew. She only knew because she caught us." I downplay.

"She what! When?" He demanded. "Doing what?!" He added as an afterthought.

"If memory serves I was straddling his lap applying mint oil to his temples."

"Fully clothed?"

I laugh. "Fully clothed. It was before we ever..."

"It makes me so enraged to think of him behaving like that when you were a student! How dare he!" My friend has steam shooting out of his ears I can almost see.

"I take it Minerva explained the mitigating factors?"

"There are no mitigating factors that would allow for such disregard of the rules. Sparks when you touch or no."

"Did she tell you I aged up?"

"No."

"I became 29, after the sparks."

"Spontaneously?"

"Quite."

"Curious." He muttered, thinking it over. "You were 29 for most of your final year then?" He asked.

"Yes, almost all of it. In fact, I'm still 29. I check every year."

"That's why you were suddenly extra excellent at charms?"

"That was more to do with Severus training me to compartmentalise my mind."

"Oh I'm sure he taught you more than that." He spat sarcastically.

"Oh he did." I smirk, looking down modestly but baiting the lover of gossip to ask me more rather than turn me out as a spy. He almost smiles at my cheek but then it slides away again.

"I can't believe that the whole time you and I were having private lessons you were also having private lessons downstairs."

"Why? Did I belong to you? Your protégé, not for him to play with?" I ask coyly, dropping onto a sofa.

"Oh stop it! You know what I meant. I was taking you under my wing and he was taking you - oh argh." He is getting flustered with the thought of it. "It seems it's you come when he calls, not me."

"I came for you, Filius."

"Hardly! You're here to be his eyes and ears."

"Certainly not as he and I are no longer... together."