Argus Filch was a man of few joys and many grievances. As the caretaker of Hogwarts, his days were filled with the endless task of cleaning up after messy, disrespectful students who seemed to take pleasure in making his life harder. He was grumpy, resentful, and bitter—traits that had only deepened over the years. His obsession with discipline was well-known; he often fantasized about the days when students were punished with whips and chains. Yet, despite his harsh demeanor, Argus was fiercely loyal to Hogwarts. It was his home, his purpose, and the only place where he felt he belonged.
But there was one thing that gnawed at him more than anything else: his lack of magic. Argus was a Squib, a non-magical person born to a magical family. It was a cruel twist of fate, one that left him perpetually insecure and filled with envy. He despised the students not just for their messiness but for their magic—the very thing he had been denied. His only solace was his cat, Mrs. Norris, his constant companion and partner in patrolling the castle.
Argus's greatest wish in life was simple: to cast a spell, to perform magic—no matter how small. He had tried everything, from ancient rituals to dubious potions, but nothing had worked. In the end, he could only watch the students with a burning jealousy, his bitterness growing with each passing year. He knew his resentment made him unpleasant, but he couldn't help it. Life had been unfair to him, and he couldn't forgive the world for it.
Then came Dante Malfoy.
Argus had first heard about the boy before he even entered Hogwarts. Rumors spread like wildfire: a genius who improved potions, a prodigy who could perform seventh-year spells as a first-year. Argus burned with jealousy. How could someone so young, someone from a family of known Death Eaters, be blessed with such talent? It wasn't fair. Argus wanted just a sliver of that magic, but it was denied to him.
When Dante disappeared from Hogwarts, Argus thought little of it—until he heard the boy had created something called Magic Circuits. These circuits allowed even the magically less-talented to perform advanced magic. For the first time in years, Argus felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could use these circuits to perform magic. Maybe he had a minuscule amount of magic, and the circuits could amplify it.
For the next three years, Argus threw himself into studying runes and Magic Circuits in secret whenever he could. He learned how to recreate small spells, though he couldn't power the circuits himself. He even convinced a first-year to try one of his creations, and it worked perfectly. The problem wasn't the circuits; it was him. He had no magic at all.
That day, Argus cried alone in his office, the bitterness in his heart overwhelming. And yet, Dante Malfoy's name kept coming up. The boy had undone a mind disability, healed a soul, and now, according to The Daily Prophet, he had removed a bloodborne curse using the Killing Curse. The Killing Curse! The very spell that sent people to Azkaban had been used to heal. It was unheard of.
Argus sat in his office, staring at the front page of The Daily Prophet. Dante's face stared back at him. Argus's mind raced. If Dante could heal the impossible, could he heal a Squib? Maybe being a Squib wasn't a permanent condition. Maybe it was a sickness, one that no one had tried to cure before. Not someone like Dante, at least.
That night, Argus made up his mind. He would approach Dante Malfoy. He knew the boy often stayed in the library late at night, and the headmaster had instructed the staff to leave him be. This was his chance.
The library was quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of pages as Dante flipped through a book in the restricted section. Argus approached nervously, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Dante glanced up, his silver eyes giving Argus an uninterested look before returning to his reading.
"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy," Argus greeted, his voice uncharacteristically timid.
Dante acknowledged him with a slight nod but said nothing.
Argus swallowed hard, gathering his courage. "I was wondering... is there a way to heal a Squib? To make them a normal wizard?"
He braced himself for mockery or a sarcastic remark, but none came. Instead, Dante looked at him with genuine interest. "Why are you asking?"
Argus blinked, surprised. "You... you don't know I'm a Squib?"
Dante's expression didn't change. "I know. I'm asking why you want to know if there's a way to heal a Squib."
Argus hesitated. Wasn't it obvious? "I want to learn magic," he said finally, his voice trembling. "It's my greatest wish."
Dante tilted his head slightly. "Have you tried to learn before?"
Argus nodded eagerly. "I've tried everything. Everything that gave me even a glimmer of hope. But nothing worked." He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, intricate Magic Circuit he had created. "I even made this, hoping it would work. But I couldn't power it. A first-year could, though, so I know the circuit works. It's me. I have no magic at all."
Dante took the circuit, examining it closely. For the first time, Argus saw a flicker of surprise on the boy's face. "This is impressive," Dante said, his tone sincere. "More impressive than many so-called skilled wizards I've met. A squib learning and creating what experienced wizards struggled with."
Argus was stunned. Praise? He didn't know how to respond.
Dante stood up, his expression thoughtful. "Being a Squib isn't a sickness to be healed," he said. Argus's heart sank, but then Dante continued. "But we can make you into a wizard. That's a completely different thing."
Argus's eyes widened. "What?"
"Follow me," Dante said, already walking toward the deeper parts of the restricted section. Argus hurried after him, his heart pounding.
Dante waved his wand, and a hidden staircase appeared, descending into darkness. Argus had never known this was here. They descended the stairs, reaching a strange well at the bottom. Dante turned to him. "Jump after me."
Argus hesitated but followed, landing in an otherworldly place. The ground was made of silvery liquid, the walls glowing with crystalline light. Long pillars stretched toward an unseen ceiling. Argus had never seen anything like it.
"Where are we?" Argus asked with a shocked tone.
"This is the true heart of Hogwarts, its greatest secret and can only be accessed by me. Now, keep up" Dante answered, already walking ahead. Argus followed, passing through gates of shining liquid that transported them to strange halls. Finally, they entered a room with what looked like a stone table.
"Lay on the bed," Dante instructed.
Argus obeyed, his mind racing. For the first time in his life, he felt a glimmer of hope—not just for magic, but for a future he had never dared to dream of.
"Thousands of years ago, this place was created to absorb the magic from a magic lanes that crossed this area. And a thousand years ago, Hogwarts was built on top of it in order to share and archive knowledge but also to store children's excessive magic and emotions" Dante explained.
"The power stored here can be used to convert a non-magical person to a wizard. I have tested this theory around 3000 years ago" Dante said with a smile.
Argus just laid there staring at him [What did I just hear?]
"I am telling you to relax, it was tested before. Now keep laying there" Dante said.
Argus's mind was a whirlwind of questions and disbelief, but he forced himself to stay still. None of the strangeness mattered—not the glowing walls, not the cryptic explanations, not even the absurd claim about 3,000 years. All that mattered was the possibility of becoming a wizard.
Dante stepped back a few meters and waved his wand. The walls and ground around them lit up, glowing vines of light expanding and reaching toward Argus. They wrapped around him completely, their warmth seeping into his body. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either. Minutes passed, the vines pulsing with energy, before they finally retreated.
"You can stand up now" Dante's voice rang out.
Argus obeyed, his legs shaky as he rose from the table. Dante approached him, holding out the Magic Circuit Argus had created. Argus took it.
"Focus on the circuit," Dante instructed. "Imagine pushing something from your hand into it."
Argus did as he was told, pouring all his concentration into the task. Suddenly, the circuit lit up, and a small flame burst from it. Argus stared, then tears welling in his eyes. He looked at Dante, his expression a mix of hope and disbelief.
"Congratulations, Argus," Dante said, a faint smile on his lips. "You're a wizard now."
"I... I can learn magic now?" Argus asked, his voice trembling. "I can be like everyone else?"
Dante's expression softened slightly. "You're too old to catch up with the children. You'll never match their skill or control. But you can develop Magic Circuits. With enough practice, you might become as capable as an average wizard."
Argus nodded, his heart swelling with gratitude. Even this limited potential was more than he had ever dared to hope for.
Dante turned and began walking away. "Let's leave."
Argus followed, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. As they walked, a thought struck him. "I'll never tell anyone about this place or what you told me," he said solemnly.
Dante glanced back at him, amused. "You won't tell anyone because I'll erase your memories of this place and what happened here. You'll only remember that you have magic and how to power the circuit. I can't have anyone knowing about this place yet."
Argus nodded. He had magic now—that was all that mattered.
As they reached the exit, Dante paused and looked at Argus. "Argus Filch, I hope you'll keep learning magic and developing Magic Circuits. You have quite the talent for it."
Argus nodded again, his gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.
___________
The next day, the school buzzed with rumors. Argus Filch, the Squib caretaker, had become a wizard overnight. Students whispered in the halls, professors exchanged disbelieving glances, and even the portraits seemed to gossip about the unexpected turn of events.
Argus, for his part, walked through the castle with a newfound sense of purpose. He didn't remember the details of how it had happened, but he knew one thing for certain: Dante has made him into a wizard, and he must work and develop magic circuits to become a capable one.
As he passed a group of students, one of them dropped a book, and it floated back into their hand with a flick of their wand. Argus watched, a small smile tugging at his lips. He will be able to do that eventually.