Squib Wizard
a Harry Potter fan-fic
by Ozma
Epilogue: Another Lesson Learned
Everything really belongs to J. K. Rowling
I stumbled out of my red-and-gold Door into a dungeon corridor that seemed, at first glance, to
be mercifully deserted.
Blushing shades of red that even the Weasleys had yet to discover, I backed up against the wall
opposite my tapestry, and slid down to sit on the floor. With a soft moan, I buried my face in my hands.
The corridor was not empty. However, the approaching steps were familiar and trusted ones, so I
did not look up.
"Ah, Filch," a voice as smooth as black silk said. "What dreadful thing have you done now?"
I greeted his comment with a mortified silence.
Professor Snape sighed.
"Have you landed anyone in the hospital wing?" Severus asked.
His voice held very little of his customary sarcasm. And he'd had the courtesy not to add "this
time" to his question. The fact that he'd truly forgiven me for what I'd done to him warmed my heart,
even though I felt miserable over my newest offense.
"No, Professor," I said, my voice muffled. "No one has been hurt."
"Surely, then, it can't be that bad?"
I looked up at Severus, stricken. Though my mood could not help lightening a bit at the sight of
him.
Snape's condition was greatly improved. His color was back to normal; still sallow, but no more
so than usual. He was strong enough now to walk down to his rooms in the dungeons unaided and had
finally been permitted to leave the hospital wing.
He would be able to resume teaching his classes in a few more days, though Poppy had given him
strict instructions about "not overdoing things."
Professor Snape's expression, when he looked at me, was torn between amusement and concern.
"It seems," I told him, sadly, "that every time I discover something new about how I can use the
tapestries, I always find some new way to misuse them shortly afterwards."
"Yes," he agreed with me, "you certainly do have a gift."
Snape's quick agreement had stung, though I couldn't glare at him with a clear conscience. He
was right, after all.
"I am not sure if you knew this," I said, "but, the Doors can bring me to a person, as easily as
they can bring me to a room..."
Professor Snape gave me the sort of look that he usually reserves for poor Neville. The "it's not a
question of *will* you get yourself into trouble with that, it's only a question of *when*" type of
expression.
"Go on," he said.
"I had things to discuss with Professor McGonagall. A detention for some of her Gryffindors. So
I asked red-and-gold to take me to Minerva..."
I gulped.
"It seemed perfectly reasonable," I said, defensively. "She had asked to see me as soon as
possible! How could I have known that she would be in the staff bathroom... taking a bath?"
"I don't suppose..." Severus said, his voice carefully deadpan, "that Professor McGonagall was
pleased by your intrusion?"
"Professor," I asked him, mournfully, "are you familiar with the story of Actaeon...?"
"Of course. But you seem to have gotten your chaste goddesses a bit confused. It was Artemis that
Actaeon disturbed at her bath."
"The idea is the same," I said, in a very small voice.
"Minerva would never turn you into a stag and have you hunted to death by your own hounds,
even if you had any hounds, Argus. I suppose, in your case, she would have to Transfigure you into a
mouse and set Mrs. Norris on you. But she would not do it. She wouldn't even curse you." Snape was
trying not to smile, but he was losing his battle.
"No, she wouldn't. Not with magic, or even with words," I said, blushing. "But the way she
*looked* at me..."
Severus shook his head, smiling openly now. "If your intention is to hide yourself down here,
you are being foolish. The dungeons are the first place that Professor McGonagall will search for you."
"I'm not hiding," I said, with as much dignity as I could manage. "I'm just... going to be in my
office for a while. With my door closed."
******
I heard the soft padding of cat feet behind me before I reached my office.
Somehow, I knew that it was not Mrs. Norris.
When I turned, I saw a sleek tabby, regarding me sternly.
"Deputy Headmistress." I murmured.
Minerva stood there a moment later. Dressed in her customary green robes, hair once more
wound into a neat bun.
The memory of that long, black hair swirling around her pale shoulders in the water made me
blush.
She had looked like a lovely mermaid.
"Mr. Filch..." she began.
"Argus," she continued in a gentler tone when she saw my embarrassment, "I want you to know
that I realize what happened was an accident."
"Yes, Ma'am." I said, very chagrined. "I'm very sorry, Ma'am."
"Mr. Filch, your apology is accepted. Now, please do not keep `Ma'aming' me to death."
"Yes, M... er.. Professor." I was still blushing. "I j-just want you to know that I have nothing but
the deepest respect... the most sincere admiration..."
"Yes, thank you." Minerva's face grew faintly pink too. "It's quite all right."
"All things considered, it would be in the best interests of everyone concerned if you were to use
this new ...talent very sparingly in the future," she continued.
I nodded. "I agree. I shall only ask the Doors to take me to specific rooms. Not to people! I... I'm
very sorry, Professor."
She smiled, a wry expression in her clear grey eyes. "There was no lasting harm done, and no
reason for you to fret any further about what happened. We'll just put this down as yet another learning
experience."
I sighed, unable to avoid the sinking feeling that I had a lot more "learning experiences" coming
my way.
END OF EPILOGUE
Author's Notes:
It occurred to me that poor Filch could really get himself in trouble, by asking to be taken to a specific
person. And that he was better off learning that lesson quickly.
Thanks to the nice folks who reviewed the last chapter of "Squib Wizard!" and, also "The Squib and The
Werewolf!"
Some of these thank you's have already been included at the end of "The Squib and The Werewolf," but
new comments have been added, because more people reviewed, and some folks reviewed both stories!
(YAAAAY!)
Rabbit: Thank you!! My next story idea that involves Snape very intensely is rather dark and is not
completely formed at the moment. But I'm working on it.
Alchemine: Thank you!! I still have more "fifth year" ideas lying around in my head.
Elspeth: Thank you!! Yes, Gred and Forge were numbers five and six on The List.
Ariana Deralte: Thank you!! I think I have a story idea with Sirius, but it's not completely formed yet.
Gramarye: Thank you!! Your latest chapter gave me an idea for a way to have Colin in a Filch story. ;-)
Lyansidde: Thank you!! I've got more ideas in the works, but I need to get them to settle down a little and
behave so I can write them. (Sirius may show up, the dark story idea that involves Snape involves him too,
but I haven't gotten that story completely under control yet.)
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!! I hope you're feeling better by the time you read this.
Laureen N. Edgeworth: Thank you!!
Emma: Thank you!!
RioRaptor & Shadow: Thank you!! Thank you!! Yes, I love the "Wizard of OZ" books! That's where my
penname comes from.
Unrepentantreader: Thank you!!! You went and reviewed all my stories!!! Wow!!!
Bibphile: Thank you!!
Kris the Intrepid Geek Queen: Thank you!!
ColdCoffeeEyes25: Thank you!! Yes, Lupin's a sweetie!
Bluemeanies: Thank you!! (I've always thought that the moon looked sort of like swiss cheese...)
Jelsemium: Thank you!! I've got some more ideas for stuff Filch has left lying around in his file cabinets.
He only burned his forms, not the items he's confiscated.
Filch would find the thought of Harry viewing his father's (and the other Marauders') detention forms a
bit distressing. Those forms are supposed to be confidential. On the other hand, I doubt that either Sirius
or Remus would have cared if Harry saw their forms.
Some of the ideas I have currently forming involve Harry, the other Gryffindors and Crookshanks too. I've
got so many ideas I'm dizzy. (Well, I'm dizzy anyway, but you know what I mean.)
The idea of Filch "dropping" someone during a journey through a Door is one that I've had in the back of
my mind for a while. But, that would be a fate reserved for Death Eaters.. because the result would be
death. The realm inside the Doors is a terrible place. Filch might take a student through one of his Doors
to save that student's life, as he did with Neville and Ginny, but it would be a last resort.
Nmber1hateddaughter: Thank you!!
Zebee: Thank you!! Yes, Lupin added the mice. All your idea for animal-frightening boggarts made me
laugh! Especially Fawkes and the bucket, and the big packages scaring the owls!
Jorsen: Thank you!!
Andolyn: Thank you!! Yes, exactly. It's control, not power, that gives someone real strength.
RADKA: Thank you!! Filch didn't destroy any items, just his forms. He still has everything in his
"Confiscated & Highly Dangerous" collection. There was a lot of stuff in his "Confiscated, but Probably
Harmless" collection that he couldn't return because the student was no longer at the Castle and he didn't
think their next-of-kin would be interested.
Lataradk: Thank you!! I did consider having Dobby and Winky disappear with Mrs. Norris, but that
would have been far too traumatic for poor Filch, especially since he needed his cat's moral support when
he went to face Snape.
Yes, Lily's sketchbook was a way for Filch to repay Ginny's kindness. (The sketchbook is something that
will come up later.. it gets Harry's attention and makes him notice that something is different about the
caretaker.) I confess that I have a weakness for sappy stuff. (Usually, I try to resist, but sometimes I just
can't.)
Your reviews are always wonderful, and I love getting them, even if you don't do one for every chapter!
a Harry Potter fan-fic
by Ozma
Epilogue: Another Lesson Learned
Everything really belongs to J. K. Rowling
I stumbled out of my red-and-gold Door into a dungeon corridor that seemed, at first glance, to
be mercifully deserted.
Blushing shades of red that even the Weasleys had yet to discover, I backed up against the wall
opposite my tapestry, and slid down to sit on the floor. With a soft moan, I buried my face in my hands.
The corridor was not empty. However, the approaching steps were familiar and trusted ones, so I
did not look up.
"Ah, Filch," a voice as smooth as black silk said. "What dreadful thing have you done now?"
I greeted his comment with a mortified silence.
Professor Snape sighed.
"Have you landed anyone in the hospital wing?" Severus asked.
His voice held very little of his customary sarcasm. And he'd had the courtesy not to add "this
time" to his question. The fact that he'd truly forgiven me for what I'd done to him warmed my heart,
even though I felt miserable over my newest offense.
"No, Professor," I said, my voice muffled. "No one has been hurt."
"Surely, then, it can't be that bad?"
I looked up at Severus, stricken. Though my mood could not help lightening a bit at the sight of
him.
Snape's condition was greatly improved. His color was back to normal; still sallow, but no more
so than usual. He was strong enough now to walk down to his rooms in the dungeons unaided and had
finally been permitted to leave the hospital wing.
He would be able to resume teaching his classes in a few more days, though Poppy had given him
strict instructions about "not overdoing things."
Professor Snape's expression, when he looked at me, was torn between amusement and concern.
"It seems," I told him, sadly, "that every time I discover something new about how I can use the
tapestries, I always find some new way to misuse them shortly afterwards."
"Yes," he agreed with me, "you certainly do have a gift."
Snape's quick agreement had stung, though I couldn't glare at him with a clear conscience. He
was right, after all.
"I am not sure if you knew this," I said, "but, the Doors can bring me to a person, as easily as
they can bring me to a room..."
Professor Snape gave me the sort of look that he usually reserves for poor Neville. The "it's not a
question of *will* you get yourself into trouble with that, it's only a question of *when*" type of
expression.
"Go on," he said.
"I had things to discuss with Professor McGonagall. A detention for some of her Gryffindors. So
I asked red-and-gold to take me to Minerva..."
I gulped.
"It seemed perfectly reasonable," I said, defensively. "She had asked to see me as soon as
possible! How could I have known that she would be in the staff bathroom... taking a bath?"
"I don't suppose..." Severus said, his voice carefully deadpan, "that Professor McGonagall was
pleased by your intrusion?"
"Professor," I asked him, mournfully, "are you familiar with the story of Actaeon...?"
"Of course. But you seem to have gotten your chaste goddesses a bit confused. It was Artemis that
Actaeon disturbed at her bath."
"The idea is the same," I said, in a very small voice.
"Minerva would never turn you into a stag and have you hunted to death by your own hounds,
even if you had any hounds, Argus. I suppose, in your case, she would have to Transfigure you into a
mouse and set Mrs. Norris on you. But she would not do it. She wouldn't even curse you." Snape was
trying not to smile, but he was losing his battle.
"No, she wouldn't. Not with magic, or even with words," I said, blushing. "But the way she
*looked* at me..."
Severus shook his head, smiling openly now. "If your intention is to hide yourself down here,
you are being foolish. The dungeons are the first place that Professor McGonagall will search for you."
"I'm not hiding," I said, with as much dignity as I could manage. "I'm just... going to be in my
office for a while. With my door closed."
******
I heard the soft padding of cat feet behind me before I reached my office.
Somehow, I knew that it was not Mrs. Norris.
When I turned, I saw a sleek tabby, regarding me sternly.
"Deputy Headmistress." I murmured.
Minerva stood there a moment later. Dressed in her customary green robes, hair once more
wound into a neat bun.
The memory of that long, black hair swirling around her pale shoulders in the water made me
blush.
She had looked like a lovely mermaid.
"Mr. Filch..." she began.
"Argus," she continued in a gentler tone when she saw my embarrassment, "I want you to know
that I realize what happened was an accident."
"Yes, Ma'am." I said, very chagrined. "I'm very sorry, Ma'am."
"Mr. Filch, your apology is accepted. Now, please do not keep `Ma'aming' me to death."
"Yes, M... er.. Professor." I was still blushing. "I j-just want you to know that I have nothing but
the deepest respect... the most sincere admiration..."
"Yes, thank you." Minerva's face grew faintly pink too. "It's quite all right."
"All things considered, it would be in the best interests of everyone concerned if you were to use
this new ...talent very sparingly in the future," she continued.
I nodded. "I agree. I shall only ask the Doors to take me to specific rooms. Not to people! I... I'm
very sorry, Professor."
She smiled, a wry expression in her clear grey eyes. "There was no lasting harm done, and no
reason for you to fret any further about what happened. We'll just put this down as yet another learning
experience."
I sighed, unable to avoid the sinking feeling that I had a lot more "learning experiences" coming
my way.
END OF EPILOGUE
Author's Notes:
It occurred to me that poor Filch could really get himself in trouble, by asking to be taken to a specific
person. And that he was better off learning that lesson quickly.
Thanks to the nice folks who reviewed the last chapter of "Squib Wizard!" and, also "The Squib and The
Werewolf!"
Some of these thank you's have already been included at the end of "The Squib and The Werewolf," but
new comments have been added, because more people reviewed, and some folks reviewed both stories!
(YAAAAY!)
Rabbit: Thank you!! My next story idea that involves Snape very intensely is rather dark and is not
completely formed at the moment. But I'm working on it.
Alchemine: Thank you!! I still have more "fifth year" ideas lying around in my head.
Elspeth: Thank you!! Yes, Gred and Forge were numbers five and six on The List.
Ariana Deralte: Thank you!! I think I have a story idea with Sirius, but it's not completely formed yet.
Gramarye: Thank you!! Your latest chapter gave me an idea for a way to have Colin in a Filch story. ;-)
Lyansidde: Thank you!! I've got more ideas in the works, but I need to get them to settle down a little and
behave so I can write them. (Sirius may show up, the dark story idea that involves Snape involves him too,
but I haven't gotten that story completely under control yet.)
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!! I hope you're feeling better by the time you read this.
Laureen N. Edgeworth: Thank you!!
Emma: Thank you!!
RioRaptor & Shadow: Thank you!! Thank you!! Yes, I love the "Wizard of OZ" books! That's where my
penname comes from.
Unrepentantreader: Thank you!!! You went and reviewed all my stories!!! Wow!!!
Bibphile: Thank you!!
Kris the Intrepid Geek Queen: Thank you!!
ColdCoffeeEyes25: Thank you!! Yes, Lupin's a sweetie!
Bluemeanies: Thank you!! (I've always thought that the moon looked sort of like swiss cheese...)
Jelsemium: Thank you!! I've got some more ideas for stuff Filch has left lying around in his file cabinets.
He only burned his forms, not the items he's confiscated.
Filch would find the thought of Harry viewing his father's (and the other Marauders') detention forms a
bit distressing. Those forms are supposed to be confidential. On the other hand, I doubt that either Sirius
or Remus would have cared if Harry saw their forms.
Some of the ideas I have currently forming involve Harry, the other Gryffindors and Crookshanks too. I've
got so many ideas I'm dizzy. (Well, I'm dizzy anyway, but you know what I mean.)
The idea of Filch "dropping" someone during a journey through a Door is one that I've had in the back of
my mind for a while. But, that would be a fate reserved for Death Eaters.. because the result would be
death. The realm inside the Doors is a terrible place. Filch might take a student through one of his Doors
to save that student's life, as he did with Neville and Ginny, but it would be a last resort.
Nmber1hateddaughter: Thank you!!
Zebee: Thank you!! Yes, Lupin added the mice. All your idea for animal-frightening boggarts made me
laugh! Especially Fawkes and the bucket, and the big packages scaring the owls!
Jorsen: Thank you!!
Andolyn: Thank you!! Yes, exactly. It's control, not power, that gives someone real strength.
RADKA: Thank you!! Filch didn't destroy any items, just his forms. He still has everything in his
"Confiscated & Highly Dangerous" collection. There was a lot of stuff in his "Confiscated, but Probably
Harmless" collection that he couldn't return because the student was no longer at the Castle and he didn't
think their next-of-kin would be interested.
Lataradk: Thank you!! I did consider having Dobby and Winky disappear with Mrs. Norris, but that
would have been far too traumatic for poor Filch, especially since he needed his cat's moral support when
he went to face Snape.
Yes, Lily's sketchbook was a way for Filch to repay Ginny's kindness. (The sketchbook is something that
will come up later.. it gets Harry's attention and makes him notice that something is different about the
caretaker.) I confess that I have a weakness for sappy stuff. (Usually, I try to resist, but sometimes I just
can't.)
Your reviews are always wonderful, and I love getting them, even if you don't do one for every chapter!