The pear wriggled as if ticklish, giggling, and transformed into a green doorknob. Theo grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open, and everyone entered one after another.
This is a very expansive room.
The area and layout of the room are the same as the hall above, and there are also four long tables, but they are empty. Many gleaming kitchen utensils are against the stone walls surrounding it, and at the other end, there is a brick fireplace with Incendio burning fiercely and emitting a roasted meat aroma.
There are many strange-looking creatures in the room with bat-like large ears, eyes bulging like frog eyes, as large as tennis balls. They have pencil-thin, long noses, thin limbs, and tea towels printed with the Hogwarts crest worn as robes.
The little creatures turned to look upon hearing the commotion. They looked at the students with eager, expectant eyes but didn't rush over helter-skelter. Vid and his friends looked in a certain direction, and the little creatures bowed and curtsied to them, appearing very respectful.
"My goodness!" Michael exclaimed in shock, enviously saying, "So many House-Elves."
"Welcome to Hogwarts' kitchen!!" Theo said with open arms: "This is the best place at Hogwarts!"
"You can tell them anything you want to eat, the House-Elves are very enthusiastic." Leian also said.
"Hello," Vid bent down to look at a House-Elf nearest to them and asked, "Could you help us get some food?"
"Of course! Certainly, sir!" the House-Elf said in a soft voice: "It's my honor."
The House-Elves were extremely happy to hold out various delicious foods like pies, steaks, roasted potatoes, tarts, raisin puddings, and presented orange juice, pumpkin juice, and vegetable juice, and even two bottles of Butter Beer. After everyone ate and drank their fill, the House-Elves brought many desserts, vowing to make them fully satisfied.
"I can't eat another bite." Neville said with difficulty, licking an ice cream in his hand.
"Almost every Hufflepuff student knows the kitchen's location because our common room is nearby. So, it's an open secret." Theo told Michael: "Our common room always has various delicacies—Hufflepuffs never go hungry!"
"It's wonderful." Michael sighed as he drank Butter Beer: "Why am I not a Hufflepuff?"
"What are you saying?" Leian teased: "I remember during sorting, someone said—if they got sorted into Hufflepuff, they'd rather drop out."
"Ravenclaw isn't all that great." Michael sighed: "The Ravenclaw Tower is too high—it truly is too high—I nearly die every day climbing the stairs—it takes a lot of determination each time after class to return to the common room..."
He seemed to have drunk a bit too much and spoke with grievance.
Vid managed to not overeat, but clearly couldn't handle alcohol well as he was knocked out by just two rum-filled chocolates and a cup of Butter Beer. At this moment, Vid's head was spinning, and he saw everyone with double vision.
He supported his chin, lazily yawning while recognizing one House-Elf after another—
"Coco, Amy, Becky, Habi, Lola, Phil..."
Having their names spoken by a wizard seemed to be an immense honor to the House-Elves. They lined up to tell Vid their names, as if participating in some ceremony.
"Hmm, Zoe? Are you a girl?" Vid recognized the House-Elf who first spoke to him.
To be honest, House-Elves all have faces as wrinkled as octogenarians, and apart from their names, it's impossible to tell their gender based on appearance or dress.
"Ye—Yes, Mr. Gray." Zoe said nervously and excitedly, twisting her fingers.
"Do you usually help us clean the rooms and do the laundry?" Vid asked.
"Ye—yes, sir." Zoe nodded vigorously, looking at Vid with earnest, big eyes: "Zoe, Habi, and Phil are responsible for Ravenclaw Tower."
Taking a closer look, this House-Elf's tea towel decoration was a very small flower—she was indeed a girl.
"Are the other places in the castle cleaned by you all too?" Vid asked again.
"Yes, sir."
"Did you also carry our luggage from the train?"
"Yes, sir."
"It must be hard." Vid sighed: "What a heavy workload."
"N-No—how could it be?" Zoe hurriedly replied: "We love working! Our work never feels hard, only without work would be truly terrible!"
The House-Elves all expressed how wholeheartedly they dedicated themselves to their jobs, never lazy. They exerted all their efforts to make dinners satisfying for everyone, polished every silverware till it gleamed, washed students' muddy shoes clean, and always appeared and disappeared quietly, never disturbing others, being exceptionally good House-Elves.
Vid silently watched them for a long time without speaking.
...
After dinner, it was almost curfew time. The elves enthusiastically packed them with many cream cakes and jelly donuts, then everyone returned to their respective common rooms.
Vid and Michael climbed up the moving stairs, and when the two were panting, the armor lining the walls suddenly swayed, and a white figure lunged out with a beast-like howl.
"Ah!" Michael was startled and sat on the ground with soft knees.
"Hahaha..."
The white figure held his belly and laughed heartily, floating in the air, kicking wildly.
Michael laughed with anger: "Peeves! You're hiding here to scare people again!"
Peeves is a special ghost at Hogwarts who can float, gain physical form, and touch objects, most loving to cause chaos. Just like his name, he's—an incredibly mischievous fellow.
"Look! Here are two young wizards! Wandering outside at night instead of sleeping!" In the hallway, Peeves circled around Vid and Michael, saying with ill-intent: "Just wait, I'll call Filch over! Catch you little troublemakers!"
Peeves loves to frighten students roaming at night, then chase them away to see them scurry back to their dorms, sometimes pulling robes or tugging their hair to tease them. But this time he miscalculated because Vid waved his magic wand and golden words appeared in front of him, showing the current time.
"Ha!" Michael laughed while catching his breath: "It's seven minutes till curfew! You can't fool us, Peeves!"
Peeves' round eyes twirled slyly, saying: "Seven minutes—not long enough for you to return to Ravenclaw Tower."
"Yes. But by the time you bring Filch, we'll surely be back." Vid said confidently.
Peeves pouted, grumbling: "Hmph, dull Ravenclaw!" He turned and floated away, looking for other students to prank.