Argus Filch was the caretaker of Hogwarts Castle.

He was born into a wizarding family in Ireland but showed no signs of being able to use magic.

As a Squib, he couldn't attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and his parents didn't send him to a Muggle school either.

For the first half of his life, Argus Filch cleaned houses like a house-elf, occasionally read newspapers, and if he was lucky, he could accompany his parents to Diagon Alley to buy things—and, most importantly, he wrote to Hogwarts every week, hoping for a chance to go to the school.

As time went by, Argus grew taller, his beard grew out, and then wrinkles appeared...

And the content of his letters to Hogwarts also changed little by little—Filch had long forgotten how many letters he had written.

At first, it was an application for admission, then slowly it became a part-time job, then a clerk in Hogsmeade village, and even…

"Even a house-elf in Hogwarts Castle? I am really a wizard."

If it was like a stone sinking into the sea without a trace, perhaps he would give up, or choose to abandon it.

The cruelest, and also the luckiest, thing was that Argus Filch received a reply from Hogwarts every month.

A letter from Albus Dumbledore—who would patiently explain the reasons and advise him to try looking at other jobs.

Until more than twenty years ago, a turning point that Argus Filch had dreamed of finally appeared in Hogwarts' reply.

"Hello, Mr. Filch. The original caretaker, Apollyon Pringle, plans to retire in July. Are you interested in coming for an interview?"

…………

Filch passed Dumbledore's interview smoothly—in fact, he was the only candidate.

He followed Mr. Pringle's rules, recorded the information of those punished students, and stored them in the wooden filing cabinet in his office.

At night, Filch would patrol the corridors, catch students who were not sleeping and wandering in the corridors, and put those little guys in detention according to school rules.

On the other hand, he respected most of the teachers and helped them with their affairs as they requested.

Nevertheless, most of the faculty still didn't like Filch's temper and way of doing things…

Of course, there was also his Squib identity—many professors believed that a Squib was not suitable for working in Hogwarts Castle.

"I personally believe that Mr. Filch will not stay here for a long time, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with his attitude or character."

Professor McGonagall said seriously in the headmaster's office, she suggested that Dumbledore should start looking for another caretaker.

"When he stays longer, he will realize that he will have a very hard time at Hogwarts. A Squib without magic cannot deter students, and even the slightest prank by students or Peeves will take a lot of his energy to deal with—the job of caretaker is a painful, difficult, and almost unrewarding job for him. When he understands these things, he will leave here… You didn't see, he has to clean for a long time with just a few stains."

But Filch didn't leave, he stayed, and the rumors about Filch being a "Squib" disappeared silently at Hogwarts.

People said that he might be like Madam Pince in the library, just not liking to use magic in front of others.

…………

Recently, Hogwarts Castle caretaker expanded its recruitment, adding two more wizards as assistants.

In addition, student prefects were also selected to share the daily campus conflicts and disciplinary management that Filch could hardly handle.

Of course, Argus Filch continued his work stubbornly and seriously—he was almost seventy years old, suffered from rheumatism, and was hunchbacked.

He was pale, his cheeks were loose and sunken, his veins were crisscrossed, he had a pair of bulging light-colored eyes and hands with prominent joints, the flesh on his double chin often trembled, and he often gasped and dragged his feet when he walked. Whenever he had the flu, his nose would be abnormally red and runny.

But these did not prevent him from patrolling the entrance hall and corridors, punishing those naughty and troublesome students.

The identity of caretaker allowed him to easily deal with most disobedient guys.

Except for…

"Peeves! You are… done for!"

Filch wiped the cold water off his face and roared in a low voice.

He had been awakened by cold water. When he woke up from bed and saw the small ghost floating in the air, he couldn't wait to pounce on it and tear it apart.

The "war" between the Hogwarts caretaker and Peeves had lasted for hundreds of years, but before that, Peeves had never "entered" the caretaker's room, especially at this midnight hour, to carry out such a prank—the tacit understanding of the night truce and the "safe territory" of both sides was completely torn apart by the falling water balloon.

"Hehehe, old man, I have something good to show you, I'm waiting for you in the Great Hall… You'll thank me then."

Peeves arrogantly folded his arms and flew around in front of Filch, tapping his feet in a tap dance of glee.

Before Filch could open his mouth, it passed through the door panel and floated towards the Great Hall.

The Great Hall?

What the hell does that bastard want to do?

Filch frowned and climbed out of bed, grabbed a coat and put it on, and chased out with a lantern.

There was no one in the corridor. Peeves floated far ahead in the corridor, occasionally turning back to make a rude gesture, seemingly afraid that he wouldn't follow.

Argus Filch tried to suppress the urge to curse, and chased forward in silence—he glanced at the clock before leaving, it was only five in the morning—the professors and students were still sleeping. He didn't know what Peeves was going to do, but Filch didn't want to wake up a second person, it was bad enough that he was woken up alone.

A moment later, he came to the door of the Great Hall, he heard the sound of someone talking inside.

The flickering light shone out from the half-open door, casting an orange shadow on the dark floor.

At this time… in the Great Hall?

Filch leaned sideways and carefully approached little by little, tightly clutching the pull ring above the lantern in his hand.

When he was a few steps away from the door, the Great Hall door suddenly opened.

A figure he had never expected stood there, smiling at him and waving.

"Professor D-Dumbledore?!"

Filch opened his eyes wide and exclaimed in disbelief.

And Peeves' figure also窜了出来, grabbing his feet and rolling excitedly in mid-air, seemingly anticipating something.

The originally "missing" Dumbledore stood quietly in the light and shadow, holding a wooden box that looked a little simple in his hand.

"Argus, I'm very sorry to wake you up in this way..."

Dumbledore said gently, he walked to Filch and solemnly handed him the wooden box in his hand.

"However…"

"I think this gift should be able to serve as compensation—your wand."

Dumbledore patted Filch on the shoulder, and Filch stared blankly at the open box, wondering if he was dreaming.

In fact, he couldn't figure out what was happening now, and various questions were intertwined and mixed into a团 in his mind.

"Professor Quirrell is inside the Great Hall, he will guide you on how to use this wand, and how to cast spells..."

Dumbledore pointed to the Great Hall behind him and walked across Filch towards the廊桥 outside the door.

"Also… help me tell Professor McGonagall—about the changes in Hogwarts."

"W-what changes?"

Filch stuttered, holding the wand box.

"Professor, you know, I, I can't—this, what do you mean by this, and you—"

"The magical world is not static, you are the change… Argus."

Dumbledore smiled and strode towards the 廊桥 in the night.

"Go, Professor Quirrell is waiting for you—"

"And… welcome to, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Snap.

When he reached the end of the stone bridge, he finished his words.

With a soft snap, Dumbledore apparated directly and disappeared into the vast night.

————

————

咕~