Chronicles Of Arth: Prince Of Shadows

"You know, I keep a pair of chains in my office, I keep them nice and clean. In fact, I polish them until they shine every single day."

"How nice, what for?"

"Well to hang students up and beat them of course!"

"Hmmmm."

Arth gazed at Filch with sympathy.

"What kind of students did you meet for you to have a d.e.s.i.r.e to beat them up?"

"Well, in my third year here, that was twenty two years ago, there was a boy who thought it was terribly amusing to transform a swarm of frogs. It took me a week to catch all of those stinky little gits."

"How horrifying."

"Even worse, the frogs secreted a thick slime that wouldn't go away easily."

"Oh no."

"Yes, at that time, if the headmaster didn't stop me, I would've grabbed him by the ankles and whipped him head to toe."

"Yes, That would've been a nightmare to clean."

"Of course, however, there is more. My tenth year here, a sixth year thought it would be amusing to get rid of all the HAIR on Mrs. Norris, the poor thing was shivering for weeks."

"How dare he do such a heinous deed! Does he not have a heart! All living creatures must be cared for!"

"Yes! That time, I secretly captured the kid and brought him into my office. I had one ankle tied to a chain when the headmaster came in and stopped me."

"I would've just whipped him. Cats must be loved no matter what."

"Yes, I would've at least vented my anger a bit. Every time I saw my cat shiver, I wanted to storm into that filthy slytherin's room and beat him."

Arth suddenly froze and focused his gaze on his task.

"... it's seems that we have ran out of trophies to clean."

Filch also woke up from their conversation and frowned.

"What a shame... we had such a thing going... I don't think I've talked to anyone like this in forever, except for Mrs. Norris if course."

"Mrs. Norris can talk!"

"She can't but when I tell her my problems, it's almost as if she can talk back."

"Animals do that sometimes."

Arth got up from his crouched position and stretched.

"Well, Mr. Filch, It seems that sadly, I must take my leave."

"It was a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e meeting you Arthur, you are nothing like those bratty students."

"Well, I'll see you around."

"You should get detention more frequently, I'll tell you more interesting things about the school. I did clean the school for twenty five years."

"Thank you for the offer, I'll consider it."

After saying his goodbyes to the surprisingly meaningful story of Filch and his hatred for students, Arth gad to say that Filch was not at all that horrible of a guy. Although, his d.e.s.i.r.es to chain up students and whip them were a bit overboard... they aren't without reason, entirely.

Arth made a small detour to the hospital wing. Ron waved happily at him.

"Hi Arth, never expected you to be the first one to visit me, I reckoned that hermione or Harry would've dropped by by now."

Arth smiled.

"How are you doing?"

"Well," said Ron putting his finger towards his chin. "I'm pretty much alright. I just have this constant queasy feeling that makes me want to barf."

Ron gave a frown.

"However, it's very weird."

"What do you mean?"

"You see, the spell that I would've casted would've been the slug barf spell. However, they casted on me before I could."

"It's as if an author made some changes to a plot but realized that he had to change the storyline yet wanted to see you suffer so made it so that someone casted the spell at you before you could."

"I don't really understand?"

"It's an inside joke."

"Oh, ok."

"Anyways-"

Arth placed his hand on Ron's head.

"What are you doing Arth? This is a bit weird-"

"Obliviate."

Ron's expression changed as though he had his memories reorganized before turning to face Arth.

"Do you know what happened after I got hit with a slug barf spell? I can't seem to remember anything after?"

"Ah, we just broke up naturally. I mean, we had to carry you to the infirmary."

"Hmmmm, I feel like I just forgot something bloody amazing..."

"It must be a dream."

"...maybe."

Mission success. Target has been neutralized.

Arth said his goodbyes and left for the common rooms.

When Arth arrived at the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Hermione were waiting for him.

"How did it go?" Hermione asked. "Filch didn't whip you with chains did he?"

"Did he make you clean the whole trophy room many times over?" Asked Harry.

"Nope, I just cleaned it once. He couldn't pick out any spots I missed." Said Arth with a slight smile.

Seeing that the two visibly relaxed, Arth couldn't help but add in a bit of extra information.

"Plus, Filch isn't that bad of a man."

Instantly, Hermione and Harry snorted.

"Yep, he is the best person in the whole school."

"If he isn't bad, then Voldemort donated to charity."

"No really, Filch isn't bad."

"It's ok Arth, we get it, you are ok, we won't bother you anymore. Well, I'm going to go up and sleep. Goodnight you two."

"Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Harry, Goodnight Arth."

"...I wasn't lying though."

"Goodnight Arth." Said Hermione, a bit forcefully this time.

"...Goodnight Hermione."

Satisfied, Hermione went up towards the girls dormitory.