After eating his fill, Charlie patted his stomach contentedly, took a gleaming Galleon from his pocket, and set it on the table.
"Thank you for the meal. That duck was amazing."
When Billy saw the Galleon, he froze, his tennis-ball-sized eyes widening even further.
"Sir, what do you mean?" Billy's voice trembled.
"Payment for the meal, of course," Charlie said matter-of-factly.
"You pay for food. It's only right."
Billy shook his head and backed away repeatedly.
"No, no, sir! Billy can't take money! Billy loves serving Wizards. It's Billy's honor!"
The other House-elves shook their heads too, all looking terribly agitated.
"Take it," Charlie insisted.
"You did such a good job. You deserve to be paid."
Billy's eyes instantly filled with tears. His hands trembling, he took the Galleon and hugged it tightly to his chest.
"Billy has never met such a kind Wizard!" he choked out.
"You're just like Mr. Harry Potter—the best Wizards in the whole world!"
The other House-elves were just as excited, all talking at once to express their gratitude.
Charlie was a little baffled. He'd only paid for his meal. Was there really any need for such a huge reaction?
"From now on, if you call for Billy in your dormitory, Billy will appear at once!" Billy promised solemnly.
"Billy will do anything for you with all his heart!"
Charlie waved a hand, not taking it seriously.
It was just like saying, "I'll treat you to a meal next time," when parting ways.
"Sure. Well, I'll head back now."
Ernie left the kitchen with Charlie and spoke as they walked.
"You really didn't have to pay. House-elves don't need money. They love working."
Charlie looked surprised.
"People who love working deserve to be paid more, don't they?"
"I never would've guessed you, Ernie, with that honest-looking face, were an evil capitalist. Just you wait. One of these days, I'll hang you from a lamppost."
Ernie flushed and hurried to explain, mumbling that he wasn't a capitalist and that he was a kind person too.
Charlie walked ahead, not listening. Blah, blah, blah.
When he got back to the dormitory, Justin had already gone to bed.
Charlie washed up, lay down, and thought about the plan he'd discussed with the Twins that day.
Half a month passed, and life at Hogwarts gradually settled into a routine.
Charlie had completely adjusted to the rhythm of school, too.
He slept through class, got into mischief between lessons, and occasionally blew up Filch's office. His days were quite full.
With George and Fred leading the way, they explored every secret passage in Hogwarts.
From the passage behind the one-eyed Witch Statue to the tunnel leading to the Honeydukes cellar, Charlie knew them all inside out.
There was just one place that stumped them—the Third Floor Corridor.
That damned staircase seemed to have a mind of its own. Every time they tried to go up, it turned off in a different direction.
"There's definitely something wrong with that staircase," Fred complained.
"We've tried more than a dozen times, and it tricks us every time."
"They must be hiding something important up there," George reasoned.
"Otherwise Dumbledore wouldn't go to such lengths."
Charlie wasn't in a hurry. He'd get his chance sooner or later.
That night, Charlie went to the staircase again.
To his surprise, it was sitting obediently in place, showing no sign of turning.
"This is promising!"
Charlie's eyes lit up. He hurried up the stairs, afraid they might change their minds.
The Third Floor Corridor looked perfectly ordinary, no different from the other floors.
Rows of portraits lined both sides. Moonlight spilled through the high windows onto the floor, lending the place an unusual stillness.
At the end of the corridor stood a heavy wooden door with no markings on it.
Charlie was about to take a closer look when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.
Could someone be coming to catch him out after curfew?
He quickly pulled out his Wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself. Like a chameleon, he blended into his surroundings, becoming impossible to see in the dark.
Just then, four figures came rushing over in a panic—Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville.
Harry was in the lead, looking flustered. It was all because Hermione kept talking about expulsion. He was genuinely scared.
"I told you we shouldn't have come out!" Hermione chattered as she ran.
"That bastard Malfoy was obviously playing us! The midnight duel was a trap!"
"What's the point of saying that now?" Ron panted in reply.
"The important thing is not getting caught by Filch!"
"If you hadn't insisted on going, we'd be asleep in our beds by now!" Hermione kept nagging.
"If we get caught, we'll lose points, and we might even get expelled! And now we're lost, with Filch chasing us!"
Neville struggled along at the back, his face deathly pale.
After listening to Hermione nag the whole way, Ron finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Merlin, I wish I knew the Silencing Charm so I could shut you up!"
Hermione opened her mouth, seeming about to teach him the incantation for the Silencing Charm, but in the end she only huffed and ignored him, leaving the other three to fend for themselves.
The four of them ran to the end of the corridor, and Harry tried the doorknob.
"It's locked," Harry said with a frown.
"Do you think Filch will find us here?" Neville asked cautiously.
Charlie realized they weren't there to catch him out after curfew. He dropped the Disillusionment Charm and suddenly spoke. "Don't worry. He won't find you."
"Ahhh!"
All four of them screamed in fright. Neville even dropped straight to the floor.
"Well, now he'll definitely find us."
Charlie rubbed his forehead helplessly.
After their fright, the four of them calmed down.
"Charlie?" Harry recognized him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Same as you. Out after curfew," Charlie said with a shrug.
"You just yelled loud enough for the whole castle to hear. Filch will be here any second."
Sure enough, Filch's voice came from far away.
"You little brats! You can't get away! I heard you!"
"Go on, Mrs. Norris!"
"Meow!"
"This is bad!" Hermione's face turned deathly pale.
"He really is coming!"
Ron jumped up and down in a panic. "We're done for!"
Harry tugged desperately at the doorknob. "It won't open!"
Neville had already started crying. "I don't want to be expelled!"
"Don't panic." Charlie pulled out his Wand and pointed it lightly at the lock.
"Alohomora."
With a click, the lock sprang open.
"Get inside!" Charlie pushed the door open.
The five of them filed in, Charlie last. He closed the door behind them.
Before you continue