"This isn't a place e coming to." Filch fixed Malfoy with his cat-like, bulbous eyes, with a hint of animosity and jealousy, which was his expression towards most students, even more so, because he clearly remembered that his spiritual sustenance, Mrs. Norris, was almost killed because of this little brat.
Malfoy didn't reply immediately, but surveyed the surroundings. An oil lamp hung from the ceiling, the light flickering dimly. Beside it hung sets of iron chains and handcuffs, polished until they gleamed, ready for use to punish unruly students once he was given permission, which was his favorite thing to do.
The room was also filled with the smell of grilled fish, it was unknown whether he ate it himself, or it was prepared for his beloved pet.
"Firstly, sir, I apologize for the mistakes I made last semester." Malfoy's face was heavy, filled with regret, "You know, that wasn't my intention."
"Is that so?" Filch still looked at him with a scrutinizing expression, but his face softened a lot. He heard that Malfoy's tone was very sincere, which made him feel a long-lost respect.
His secret had been exposed last year. He was born into a wizarding family, but he was a Squib. Was it his fault?
He had been dedicated to the management of Hogwarts, but there were always many troublemakers to interfere with his work. Some students would laugh at him in person, and some would laugh behind his back, mocking his dress, mocking his bald forehead, mocking his old and slow movements, and of course, more mockery was directed at his biggest flaw—he couldn't do magic.
A wizard who can't do magic is truly ridiculous.
He thought that this secret could be buried forever, at least to ensure confidentiality among the students, so that he could retain a little of his only dignity. Unfortunately, he revealed it himself last year.
From then on, there was something more in the students' eyes when they looked at him, something called sympathy and pity.
His heart was even more gloomy. Being loyal and devoted but not being understood made his heart more and more twisted. Now he only felt that punishing those disobedient students could bring him pleasure.
But today was different. He didn't see ridicule or pity in the eyes of the student in front of him, just the ordinary look he was looking forward to.
His wish was nothing, he just wanted to be an ordinary wizard (even without magic), he just wanted to be treated equally.
"You are a respectable caretaker, and I am very sorry for what happened last year." Malfoy apologized again, "So I hope you can forgive me."
"Meow." A cat's meow suddenly came from above the two, it was Mrs. Norris's call.
"Oh, your nose is quite sharp, take it." Mrs. Norris keenly noticed the package in Malfoy's arms, and pounced down directly from the ceiling lamp, so Malfoy threw one of the packages to it. Mrs. Norris was not shy, and used its bony paws to open the package and enjoy the delicious food.
It was a pack of dried fish.
Seeing this, Filch's originally ferocious face became more and more gentle.
Appealing to one's interests is always the fastest way to achieve a goal.
"I almost forgot the business." Malfoy put on a look of waking up from a dream, and hurriedly took the other black package behind him to the front and handed it to Filch.
"What is this?" Filch couldn't help but ask, trying to make his voice gentle. Respect is mutual. He knew his problem. His voice was often ridiculed, and sometimes when he became serious, it always made people feel funny. The two little Weasley boys often imitated him.
"Prank toys." Malfoy said calmly.
"What?" Filch's face changed immediately, and the eyes under his deep-set eye sockets began to bulge out again, somewhat like a demon. This was what he hated the most. Almost instantly, he felt that this boy was here to humiliate him on purpose.
"The Weasley brothers are causing chaos throughout the entire building, so I confiscated all their toys." Malfoy said the word 'confiscated' very slowly.
"I think there is only one destination for these prank toys." Malfoy's eyes passed Filch and moved to the drawer under the table behind him. He knew that there was a drawer specially prepared for the twins, and another drawer with the words "Confiscated materials, highly dangerous" written on it.
"Those twins are just turd-stirrers, they always cause big troubles. Many professors have complained to me about that screaming letter last time. I also told Professor Dumbledore, but the headmaster always said that I should be more tolerant, for example, look at it from a different perspective, their pranks are also an art, I don't know what kind of art that is!" Speaking of the Weasley brothers, Filch, who had not said much, also opened up. These twins were his nemesis, sometimes even more annoying than Peeves. The more he spoke, the more excited he became, and he even slammed the table heavily.
In addition to catering to their preferences, sometimes setting up a common enemy as a target is also a way to build relationships.
Filch felt that the student in front of him was becoming more and more pleasing to the eye. He didn't want to pursue the past events of Mrs. Norris anymore. At that time, he applauded when he learned that Malfoy had caused his academy to lose the Academy Cup due to the Chamber of Secrets incident, but now he felt that such a polite good boy must be innocent.
Well, if he knew that all the prank toys in the bag were outdated products that Malfoy had spent money to buy from the twins, he might not think so.
"This is a small contribution I have made to the stability of Hogwarts." Malfoy said modestly, "And now, I think I should personally pay tribute to a caretaker who is conscientious in his post but is misunderstood by students."
As he spoke, he took out the last thing he brought today from his arms.
A bottle of wine, judging from the packaging, it was still strong liquor.
Filch's eyes shrank immediately. This thing should be considered contraband at Hogwarts. Just as he was hesitating about how to deal with it, Malfoy spoke.
"This bottle of wine will only be contraband that you found in my dormitory. Only you know how to deal with it, it has nothing to do with me." Malfoy spread his hands, making an obvious hint.
"Students can't drink." Filch frowned.
"I think I can be a listener." Malfoy said with a smile.
Looking at his own face reflected on the wine bottle, Filch took the bottle with his dry palm, his expression complicated, and he still opened the bottle cap. For a time, the aroma of wine filled the entire office.
Not long after.
"Ever since I can remember, I have felt that I am not quite the same as other peers." Filch leaned drunkenly on the table, recounting his tragic childhood and his entire life.
"You say, in a person's life, why is it always so unfair?"
Prejudice, ridicule, and sympathy made him inferior and sensitive. After he became the caretaker, he could only be mean and rigid. This was his disguise, but if he wore the mask of disguise for a long time, maybe he really couldn't take it off.
Looking at Filch, who was drunk and lying on the table, Malfoy sighed slightly.
"Also a pitiful person." Malfoy thought silently, then got up and walked out of the room. The sober Mrs. Norris curled up on the table, silently gnawing on the dried fish, and watched Malfoy leave.
(To be continued.
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