Name: Crimson Quill (Signed) · Date: 28 Apr 2019 03:42 PM · For: A Filch Story

 

Hey Pix!

 

This is such a cool story and I haven't really see filch with love interest which is written in a very believable way but I thought this piece really worked well. I love a good origin story with Mrs Norris too. I think it's great as a bonding technique between the two of them. I thought it was very special because it doesn't seem like many people ask him his opinion.

 

I thought Ella was such a charming character that she is obviously so kind hearted person and has the ability to build someone up to make them feel more confident so I can see how she had such a lovely influence on Filch so it's not too surprising that Filch was very smitten with someone who listens and wants him to be the best person that he can be. It's obvious that canon filch has been missing that all his life so I loved this imagining that things could have been so different for him.

 

I'm kinda sad that they didn't end up together but I think she is something amazing for filch and the fact that he was able to carry on and be inspired by her to do something that he loved is amazing. I think it's a quite sweet ending that he has kept records and followed her career just as she has done for him. there is obviously a lot of respect and love there. I thought this was very cleverly written! I do love all those snazzy words that you got into this is piece as filch has some interesting slang :P 

 

- Abbi xo

 

Author's Response:

Hi Abbi!

 

So long ago, and I'm finally coming around to responding to reviews.  Anyway, I'm glad you picked this piece.  It was such fun to conceive for the challenge.  I thought Ella would be a great fit for Argus, seeing past his grumpiness and giving him something else that was obviously missing in his life.  Yes, sometimes the longing is the best part, and it hopefully will fill his nights with something other than pesky children. The vocabulary was also fun to incorporate.  Sometimes the best characters have the best dialogue. :)

 

Thanks so much for reading!

Pix

Name: LadyMarauder (Signed) · Date: 28 Apr 2019 03:18 PM · For: A Filch Story

Oh my gosh, Pix, this was so great! I always felt Filch was a miserable old sod who hated his job and everyone in the castle, but after reading this I'm questioning it all. I loved how you wrote his and Ella's friendship and although he didn't end up getting the girl, I liked that they were still in contact with each other and he ended up as happy as he could be - it was a little bittersweet, but I loved it. I loved Ella, she was sweet and really seemed to enjoy his company.

 

I thought it was a nice twist to have them have their own dreams outside of what they were doing - a simpler life for Ella as Penelope the librarian and a creative leathersmith job for Filch, it just seems like they'd have a lovely life in this alternate world they created by the sea together. Although I feel they both knew it could never happen, at least he got to still make the leather boots - it was a lovely touch to have her recommend him for being a great boot maker.

 

I really liked that you made him smart too, because everything I read about him, he's quite a cliche squib, with him being thick as two planks and I really don't think that's fair, so I liked that he was good with numbers. I really think there's a lot more to Filch so this was a great read into his character - I loved it!

Great job! Tasha xxx

Gryffindor Capture The Flag - Team Gold

 

Author's Response:

Hi Tasha!  It's been so long, but better late than never, right?

 

Ah, thank you for reading this little thing.  The challenge was very... challenging, I telll you.  I wanted something that would fill Filch's nights with that wasn't meddling children, something he could really excel at with his abilities.  And Ella was a great way to give him that without breaking canon.  It would have been nice for both of them, but the wishing is part of the charm, don't you think?  I'm so glad you liked this fic!

 

Pix

Name: dirtydeedsdonedirtcheap (Signed) · Date: 28 Aug 2018 09:33 AM · For: A Filch Story

Hey! Sorry this has been delayed. Here I am with your challenge entry review! Thanks so much for joining my silly challenge. 

But the ghosts of his past couldn't hold a candle to the poltergeist that plagued him day in and day out ever since he'd arrived.  It had made for a very long and tortuous three weeks. That left only one thousand, thirty-seven weeks to go. He was a man without a wand in a magical world. That alone was a heavy price to pay for existing at all.

I really loved everything about the above. You’re really turning Filch into a sympathetic character here. 

He made to remove his hat out of respect, before he realized that he wasn't wearing one.
This made me smile. Argus Filch, look at you, smitten. 

Argus found himself transported into the dream with her.  "We'd have the finest leather boots in the whole town that everyone would want a pair," he added, nodding.
First things first, I love Ella. She just sounds so kind and lovable she is the perfect mate for Filch. Second, I love that he feels comfortable enough to share his dreams with her. Oh and their new names they would give themselves so they could start a life and journey together. It’s such a cute idea. 

AW! My heart! I LOVED the ending. Argus didn’t exactly get the girl in the end but he was still content with his life and he was still making her her boots after all of these years. That was just so lovely and touching. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING THIS WONDERFUL STORY FOR MY DEAR FILCH! 

Author's Response:

Hi Deeds!

What a fun challenge!  Thanks for giving me a cool idea to run with.  I'm glad you liked the ending.  It came out way more sentimental than I was comfortable with, but I just ran with it.

Ella was also smitten in her own way, but the wc limit didn't let me explore her as much as I might have if it had been longer.  Haha.  At least I can mark this thing COMPLETE.

Yay for complete fics!

Pix

Name: Argus Filch (Anonymous) · Date: 17 Aug 2018 08:04 AM · For: A Filch Story

Wild Card - Critique Section

 

A fic about me, eh? About time! About damn time someone wrote about ME and not anymore of those aggravating students that get all the praise for doing nothing.

My, my, you certainly know me well. You've written this tormenting caretaker job of mine well. I like you, Pix, because you understand that I'm not just stomping up and down the corridors (unlike those irritating student brats). No, I'm actually working. And I like that you got down my eye for detail. Of course I would be excellent with numbers, and I would be good at cataloguing all the list of repairs this ridiculous draughty castle requires - a Squib's got to manage somehow.

Cats! Kittens in the Astronomy tower! I hope they do not get run over by the clumsy feet of those student hordes. Or even be hit by the careless spells from their wands. I love 'em. I love those sweet little kitten darlings and their mama, and I'm glad you recognise my soft spot and that I do have a gentle heart. I'm not just miserable surly Filch the Squib Caretaker who takes all his resentment out on students. No! If students were as trouble-free as cats I'd tolerate them a lot more.

A love interest for me, Argus Filch? Pix, you're too kind. Nobody, nobody I say, would ever think about writing poor old Argus a happy moment. No! It's always me crackin' a whip and punishing scallywags who deserve to be punished anyway, or me being pranked upon by that Weasley infestation, or being tortured by that disgusting poltergeist...and then there's you, who write me in such a beautiful way, and with such a beautiful character of Ella Vanderblundt. I like Ella. She is definitely someone I would warm to - so soft and tender with those kittens - I could spend all day with her talking about cats! You reckon she;d love to meet Mrs Norris? Baking me pumpernickel bread as well!

Ah, bless you. You developed Ella and my relationship so beautifully. There are tears in my eyes. I like that we both have dreams, and that we're both not living these dreams. I like that we can bond over this. She understands me, this Ella. I wish she were real. If she were, I'd resign from my caretaker job in a heartbeat and get us a place by the sea.

 

The part where I had to part with Ella was sad, but 'least it wasn't a huge terrible miserable affair. I guess Ella always knew she had to go, and I couldn't follow. But that ending segment!

 

Now wasn't that just the prettiest of endings? I'm at peace, I am, and with Mrs Norris, too! I'm so glad you decided to feature darling Mrs Norris, the best cat in the world.

 

Pix, I, Argus Filch, thank you for writing such a sensitive and thoughtful piece about me. This has brought my much joy and I hope everyone will see me in a better light: not just murderously grumpy Filch who enjoys inflicting punishment upon students, but as a real breathing human being with feelings. Because y'know, I am.

 

Enjoyed your story, and hope you write another one, hopefully with more Mrs Norris this time.

 

Yours

Argus Filch

Author's Response:

Oh, bless you too, Mr. Filch.

You are appreciated!

Pix

Name: Chemical_Pixie (Signed) · Date: 11 Aug 2018 07:42 PM · For: A Filch Story

Quodpot Review: Match 3 - chapters with zero reviews

Hello!

I've been meaning to get back into reading fan fic for a while now, and I'm glad that I've come across this lovely story! I see that it's written for two challenges. I'm impressed that you were able to weave all the requirements from two challenges into one cohesive piece.

Flich is such an interesting character: you almost love to loathe him. You can connect well with how some of the students feel as they try to sneak around his rules, which seem to be unfair but there must be there for some reason. But in this story, you get to see Filch in a new light instead of "grouchy old custodian." We see Filch as an outsider, which we knew after finding out that he's a Squib. But you've done your part in humanizing him--which is essential in understanding that everyone, regardless or not we like them, is a human being.

I like the spin you give Filch: the reason why he started at Hogwarts is because of debts. I also like the intereaction he has with Ella. When she mentions that she would like to be a librarian who would like to change her name, I was hoping she'd become Madame Pince!

The way you build their connection around the cats to their dream of libraries and leathersmithing is very cute. I am curious to know more about Ella, why she seeks out Filch, and what kind of work she does as a diplomat... perhaps they could reunite at the Triwizard Tournament! 

Overall, well done at constructing Filch in a very human way and altering my perspective of him!

 

Author's Response:

Hey there!

This one-shot was written with both challenges in mind from the get go, so all the requirements went into the planning of the plot.  It wasn't too hard to give Filch a voice that fit the words.  It's one reason I combined the challenges.  And, it's fun to use those words!

Ah, letting her become Pince would have given Filch the possibiliy of a happy ending, and then I'd have to explain a few things that I didn't have the wc for.  I know we all like happy endings, but this was as close as I was willing to get to one.  At least Filch has someone in his life who appreciates him.  

Thanks for the cool review!

Pix