At dusk, the house-elves bustled around the long tables in the Hogwarts kitchen, preparing a lavish dinner for the students of Hogwarts.
Suddenly, a harsh, discordant series of pops rang out from a corner of the kitchen, startling the already frantic house-elves.
Several house-elves nearly flung the food they were carrying out of their hands.
A platter of stewed potatoes that had nearly fallen to the floor froze in midair, as though someone had pressed pause, then returned to the house-elf's hands as if rewinding.
"Sorry, I startled you."
A gentle voice rang through the kitchen. The house-elves, who had been rushing about in a panic, stopped what they were doing and turned toward the source of the voice.
"Mr. Anderson!"
No one knew which house-elf had recognized the owner of the voice first and called out Albert's name, but delighted smiles soon appeared on the others' faces as well.
They set aside their work and crowded around, only to notice Hermione and Dobby beside Albert. Their faces immediately filled with undisguised contempt and disgust. They all avoided the two of them as though they carried some terrible contagious disease.
Still, two house-elves brought Albert tea and pies.
"Thank you for the hospitality. I won't disturb your work any longer." Albert took a pie from one of the house-elves, thanked them with a smile, then left the kitchen with Hermione and Dobby to avoid causing any more unnecessary trouble for the busy house-elves.
"They seem to really like you. How did you do it? I mean, how did you make them like you?"
Hermione looked at the closed kitchen door, then turned toward Albert, who was holding a pie, with an envious expression and asked curiously about the secret of his popularity.
The difference between the way she and Albert