Argus Filch: Something More

3: Longing

Their breakfast was simple and meditating all the same. The simplicity of the hash and bacon was not much compared to the coffee that soothed Filch's headache somewhat. Perhaps, caffeine was for morning, alcohol for the evenings. His headache was still present, though the caffeine diminished it. The other half of his meditation came from laughing at Cecilia's jokes, which her brother seemed to not appreciate, at least as not as much as Argus.

"What do you call a half-drunk person whom complains a lot? A winer!"

Henry rolled his eyes. Filch, on the other hand, gave her a half smile, half grimace.

"That's better than your last joke anyway," he told her.

Cecilia smirked. "You mean it's butter than my last crumby joke."

"Where did you even get that from - we're not even eating toast!"

"So?"

"Nothing, I'm just saying there is not a single slice of toast anywhere and you just made a joke about a nonexistent slice of bread."

Cecilia touched his index finger with hers. "I never knew Filth like you was such a perfectionist."

"I'm a caretaker, it's what I do," he spat.

She pulled her hand back and smiled slightly. "Well, it is time for work."

"Work?"

Henry looked at him. "I still haven't forgotten about throwing you out."

"I had thought you were not serious about that," Filch said, giving the younger man an unfriendly grin.

"Since when am I never serious?"

"You have not been in the half a day I've known you."

"A sarcastic perfectionist," Cecilia mused.

"Part of being a caretaker naturally."

Henry looked at the two of them before standing up with his hands in the air. "What to do with the two of you?" He did not answer or allow them to, for a few steps later he was staring into the orange flicker of the flames. He threw something into the flames and they changed to a bright green. He gave Cecilia a smile then simply nodded at Filch before stepping into the flames and disappearing.

"Nice fireplace."

"Argus, not everything in this world is about magic."

"Alright, then name something that doesn't involve magic in Diagon."

"That pub of theirs, the Leaky Cauldron, does not involve magic," she said with a smirk.

"No, don't you need a wand to get in?"

"To get into Diagon Alley, yes, but you don't need one just to stop by and get a drink."

"No, but you need one to go to the actual Diagon Alley."

Cecilia sighed. "A wise man once said magic is not needed for fun in the world, but the world may be more fun with it."

"Way to make me feel better about being a Squib."

"Filch, the least you can do is be glad you don't have magic because every good thing you believe comes with magic, there is an equally bad thing that comes with it."

"Like?"

"Like if you Silenced someone, there is a consequence if you don't know the counter curse."

"What is the counter curse anyway?"

"There isn't one." She smiled sympathetically at his dumbfounded expression.