Caretaker's Office

The Caretaker's Office was tucked away in what was likely the least-visited space of the castle, the North Tower. Younger students hardly ever had reason to venture up the flights of stairs, and the electives offered in the neighboring rooms were exactly that, electives. Non-mandatory for older students. Upon entering, one would notice the room's noticeably cooler atmosphere. The damp chill of the office seemed to lift the scents of mint, honey and citrus across the space.

A bay window provided a charming view of the castle grounds, though slightly warped by the centuries-old glass. Years of dust and grime had nestled its way into the nooks and crannies of the window frame, the sheer amount of it making cleaning it a time-consuming task that wasn’t quite worth it. In an attempt to liven up the area, branches of eucalyptus and bouquets of dried flowers hung in the window, framing the view in a curtain of nature.

In the corner of the room was a small mahogany desk, dilapidated from years of neglecting the wood. Ink stains, rings left behind from coaster-less beverages and hardened drips of old sugar covered the thing. The legs of the desk were extended with blocks of mismatched wood in an attempt to level the surface, leaving it awkwardly tall. The drawers underneath the desk were full of student records (that were mostly alphabetized), blueprints, discarded issues of the Hogwarts Headliner, and copies of outdated educational decrees. They must have been enchanted some time ago, as random bits and bobs that shouldn’t fit in the depth of the drawer always seem to pop up.

There was a conversation area next to the door, two differently patterned loveseats, each with a plush cushion, gathered around a fireplace which crackled with life during the cold winter months. A round coffee table sat in the center, its surface tarnished by water marks from years of coaster-less mugs and cups.