After

The morning came again too quickly and the realisation that Minerva had the night before about the repair crew's imminent arrival struck her in a different light after she’d had a few hours sleep and a few cups of tea. 

She had already done far more than anyone would have expected, it was ridiculous to feel that she had to go back and check over everything again. She could have put it off. She could have sent everyone who arrived into the school with no set plan, to attack wherever they saw a problem. That would have worked just fine. Except that going into things without at least the rough idea of a plan, is not Minerva’s style. 

So she appeared once more in the school, starting at the front gates with a roll of parchment and a quill, ready to note everything that was as of yet, out of its rightful place. Then she could more effectively assign tasks to those who volunteered to assist with repairs. She made a few notes about the grounds around the path to the castle as she headed to the front doors. 

She had already noted a number of things on the outside of the castle, missing gargoyles, broken turrets and spires, when she reached the front steps. She had the feeling there was someone else in the wards, and made a note that the wards around the school would need to be strengthened, then started up the stairs, keeping an eye out for the someone else who was somewhere in the castle. 

Thankfully she did not have to look for long, as she reached the top of the stairs and the doors into the school she saw a recogniseable, slightly stooped, figure in the corridor beyond. 

Filch was waiting for her in the main corridor, looking around the space, awestruck, and did not notice her. “You’re a day early, Argus,” She said as she came through the Entrance Hall.

He jumped and turned to face her. “I… I wasn’t keen on waiting for the repairs to start,” He muttered, looking around him in shock and awe. “I… Well I’ve been seeing the lights on from the village, I couldn’t get in to come looking but Irma figured it musta been you. But we never figured on this.” 

“I daresay you won’t be the last person to have that reaction, and I’m sorry to say you aren’t the first,” Minerva said drily as she walked past him. “But I’m glad to know that you and Irma are back on speaking terms,” She added. The librarian and the caretaker had been married for a great number of years, but the last school year had driven something of a wedge between them. 

“Aye, eventually she let me in the house,” Argus answered, sighing repentantly. “Had te stay above the three broomsticks a few nights.”

“Well, at least things are on the mend,” Minerva said, hoping that was the end of it, having never been one good at discussing relationships. 

“Aye, that’s not the only thing on the mend though, is it?” Argus asked, gesturing vaguely around the corridor. “You’ve done alla this on your own?” He asked, though he seemed to know the answer already.

Minerva turned back to him, nodding, “Yes. I did.” She looked to her list then and said, “However, there is still a great amount of work to be done before this school is back to its proper state. I was just compiling a list now.

“I see, well, I’ll gladly come back tomorrow with the crews, I might not be able to do the heavy lifting, so to speak, but I’ll do whatever you see fit, Headmistress,” He said with a slight deferential bow. 

Minerva, who was not used to this level of respect from the old caretaker, said, “Argus, I know that the last time we spoke I was not kind, I don’t recall most of it, but I know I said something I should be ashamed of. I won’t make excuses, and I do apologise.”

Argus, who was not used to this level of respect from the old professor, said, “I don’t hold it against ya, I did some things this last year that I ain’t proud of now, and I know it musta hurt you more than once, I’m the one who ought to be sorry.” 

Minerva nodded, silently accepting his apology, as he had accepted hers. She recognised why he had come early. He was the castle caretaker after all, surely he had expected there was work to be done and wanted to get a head start on anything he could manage. So Minerva, after a brief moment of uneasy silence, said, “Well, now that we have that out of the way, I wonder if you might assist me in checking this list? Your knowledge of the castle is, perhaps, as extensive and detailed as mine, and two pairs of eyes are always better than one.” 

Filch readily accepted that offer and the two of them continued on down the main corridor, marking down each portrait, cabinet, trophy case, tapestry, suit of armour, and statue that was missing or broken. 

“By the by,” Minerva started, stopping in the middle of the hall to turn to the caretaker, “What of Mrs. Norris? I suppose you found her after… everything?” 

The caretaker seemed relieved and a bit exasperated as he answered, “Oh, yes, I found ‘er alright. I found her in a dust bin outside the old Zonko’s joke shop, gnawing on some bone.”