Moments in Love

White Wedding

Giddily, Harry traipsed through the snowdrifts back to the castle, hand in hand with Hermione. Not only had he accidentally uncovered the secret of the screeching Golden Egg, Hermione had agreed to marry him. Still lost in the euphoric haze of the moment, Harry flung open the castle door and began to cross the entrance hall, oblivious to the snow trailing behind him and Hermione.

A surly looking figure appeared and Harry was brought back to reality with a sudden jolt. Filch!

Harry froze and groaned, heart pounding in his ears. Hermione let out an embarrassed little squeak and hid behind him, her face reddening. Harry mentally kicked himself for not paying more attention. He'd done so well until now, avoiding Filch and trying not to leave a mess for him since the Chamber of Secrets business.

Harry wondered how much trouble he'd got himself and Hermione into. What sort of horrible detention did Filch have in store for them? As Filch drew closer, lurching ominously towards them, Harry squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the storm to break.

To Harry's utter horror, Filch's knobby calloused fingers grasped him... and pulled him into a tight embrace as the cranky old caretaker burst into tears.

"Thank ye so much Mr Potter!" Filch sobbed, "Dumbledore tol' me ye were the one ta thank for my Christmas Present... In all my years here, nobody, not once, 'as ever stopped ta think about what it's like cleanin' up without magic in this castle. Not. A. Single. One. I... I can't thank ye enough!

"Thanks ta you, the 'eadmaster not only enchanted all o' my cleanin' supplies, he also gave me a Self-Spellin' wand that obeys my voice commands - I can do magic as long as I'm on Hogwarts grounds... It's the nicest Christmas Present I've ever had!"

Harry was completely flummoxed. He vaguely remembered briefly mentioning something to Dumbledore about how badly he felt for Filch after Mrs Norris had been petrified. But he had no idea that Dumbledore had given his words a second thought, and he wondered why they were only seeing results now.

Harry cleared his throat, trying to think of something to say. He glanced at Hermione for help, but she was too stunned herself to do more than shrug uncertainly.

"Erm... You're very welcome Mr Filch!" Harry finally responded "I...I'm really sorry if I've ever caused you trouble."

"No need ta apologise Mr Potter... No need at all. Ye've always been the politest of the lot really - just like yer mum. Though... I must say, Mrs Norris has always seemed ta 'ave taken a bit of a shine to Miss Granger."

Mr Filch dabbed at his happy tears with a dirty looking hanky, and a mop began to clean up their snowy footprints by itself when he waved his new wand.

Harry's perplex followed him all the way to his - correction, his and Hermione's - private chambers. Hermione beamed at Harry and pulled him into a big wet kiss the moment they were out of sight behind closed doors.

"I love you so much Harry! That was so kind and sweet of you..."

"That's the thing Hermione... I don't really remember saying much to Dumbledore about it. I think I only mentioned that I was sorry about Filch's cat, and I think... er... I think I said that I felt bad about the Kwikspell Correspondence business, and that of course I didn't hold it against Filch that he couldn't do magic..."

"But you were thinking about it at the time Harry. I remember you telling me and Ron about it just after - you told us that you had been thinking about how unfair it was for him to have to clean without magic too. Dumbledore must have picked up on what you were thinking - he is a legilimens after all..."

Harry marveled once again at Hermione's incredible memory.

"But why only now?" he interjected, frowning in puzzlement. "...After all this time?"