Hufflepuff Common Room

By the time the feast ended, Adam had already met all of this year's new students, as well as several older students seated nearby.

Was loving good food really a Hufflepuff trait?

It felt like he could open a chain of French restaurants and Chinese eateries in the Wizarding World someday.

As the food vanished from the tables, Professor Dumbledore rose and addressed everyone:

"At the start of the new school year, I must remind you all of a few things: First-year students, please note that the forest behind the school is off-limits to all students—some upper-year students would do well to remember that too."

Professor Dumbledore's gaze flicked toward the Gryffindor table.

"Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you all not to cast spells in the corridors between classes. Quidditch trials will be held during the second week of this term. Those interested in joining their House team should contact Madam Hooch."

At this point, Professor Dumbledore paused and spoke with greater emphasis:

"Finally, I must tell you not to go near the corridor on the right-hand side of the fourth floor of the library, if you do not wish to bleed from all seven orifices and die a painful death."

When his words fell, the Great Hall went quiet for several seconds.

The new students looked at one another, while the older students frowned as they considered this additional warning, one that had not been there in previous years.

"Right, that is all I have to say. Finally, let us sing the school song together. You may each choose whichever tune you like."

After a hodgepodge rendition of the school song, Professor Dumbledore had the prefects lead their students back to their respective dormitories.

The four groups left the Great Hall and split apart at the stairs—Ravenclaw and Gryffindor went up, while Hufflepuff and Slytherin went down.

"The advantage of having our dormitories underground is that our stairs do not run about on their own, and even during storms, we can enjoy quiet, comfortable sleep in our dorms."

An older student Adam had met during the feast introduced the place.

"Besides, although both our dormitories and Slytherin's are underground, ours are much warmer. And also... ah, here we are!"

The Hufflepuff group stopped before a huge painting of a bowl of fruit. Prefect Bruce turned to face them all.

"Up ahead are the Hufflepuff common room and dormitories, but allow me to stop here and introduce this place first. Before you is the Hogwarts kitchen—yes, it is right next to our dormitories."

Amid the excited murmurs of the new students, Bruce smiled and walked up to the painting.

"Look, all you need to do is reach out and tickle this pear—"

The pear seemed to have been tickled. After a shiver, it turned into a green door handle.

"It turns into a door handle. Pull it, and you can enter the kitchen. I am sure some of you get hungry late at night, just like I do."

Rubbing his little belly, Bruce sighed.

"On a cool night, who could refuse a steaming cup of pumpkin juice with a big plate of roasted sausages?"

"Give it up. In summer, you'll be asking for iced Butterbeer and chips!"

An older girl who seemed quite familiar with Bruce teased him, drawing laughter from the little badgers.

"Oh, Vivian, don't embarrass me at a time like this... But you have to admit, they go perfectly with a scorching summer day, don't they?"

Bruce shrugged, apparently unbothered by the older girl's teasing.

"There is Butterbeer at school?"

Adam looked at the older student who had introduced the place to him earlier.

"Not at school, but Hogsmeade has it. Once you reach third year, you can visit Hogsmeade. Then you can buy Butterbeer and ask the House-elves in the kitchen to keep it for you."

The older student explained:

"If you are willing to leave them the barrel after you finish drinking it, they will be very happy."

After introducing the kitchen, the group continued onward. Not far to the right of the kitchen entrance stood a stack of enormous oak barrels. The entrance to the Hufflepuff common room was there.

"Remember how to get in. Knock on the bottom of the two middle barrels in the second row to the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff,' and the lids will automatically rotate open."

Bruce spoke as he demonstrated for the new students.

"Do not knock on the wrong ones, or you will be drenched in vinegar. Also, while we do not reject students from other Houses, please keep the method of entering the common room secret. I think everyone needs some relatively private space, right?"

As he spoke, the barrel lids had already opened. Adam and the others followed the passage ahead and entered the Hufflepuff common room—a round, low-ceilinged room with the faint fragrance of earth.

The earthy tones, yellow of the copper decorations, and green of the plants made up the main colors of the Hufflepuff common room. A ring of round windows sat close to the ceiling, and a warm fire burned in the fireplace.

Above the fireplace hung a large frame decorated with several dancing badgers. Helga Hufflepuff, within the frame, saw the students enter and smiled as she raised the Golden Cup in greeting.

"The passage on this side leads to the boys' dormitories, while this side leads to the girls' dormitories. Incidentally, although I trust your morals, to avoid unnecessary trouble, boys are not allowed into the girls' dormitory area."

Bruce clapped his hands.

"Alright, we will split up now. Older students may return to their dorms. Male new students, come with me. Female new students, follow Vivian. She is your female prefect."

Led by Bruce to a dormitory door that resembled an oak barrel lid, Adam bid farewell to the enthusiastic prefect and entered the dormitory with his future roommates.

Among his roommates were Uther Ramesses and Bernard Lancelot, who had sat beside Adam during the feast. There were also two other students:

Eugene Crowell, a big fellow taller than most boys his age. He had not spoken much during the feast and spent most of the time listening to others talk. Adam only knew that he liked fish.

Well, because of the few times he had taken the initiative to speak earlier, two had been to ask whether Adam's family's restaurant served fish and how it was prepared.

Colon Palmier, a very lively boy, had introduced himself with great enthusiasm and thoroughness. He liked Quidditch, Wizard's Chess, Gobstones, and all sorts of other games.

Adam had also learned that his family bred magical creatures and ran a shop called Magical Menagerie in Hogsmeade.

Under the warm light of copper lamps, five black-and-yellow four-poster beds stood before them. Each bedpost bore its owner's name, so there was no fear of taking the wrong one. Bernard was the first to sit on his bed.

"Whoa~ This dormitory is even bigger than I imagined."

Looking around, Bernard was startled by the packages beside Adam's bed, stacked so high they nearly reached the ceiling.

"Whoa! What are these?"

Adam had also sat on his bed and was checking his luggage. Hearing this, he stood up and took a look.

"Oh, these are books I bought from Flourish and Blotts. Looks like they have arrived."

"Books?!"

Colon turned around and gaped.

"So many? Did you empty out Flourish and Blotts?"

"Actually, more or less. I did buy a copy of most of the books at Flourish and Blotts."

Adam stroked his chin in thought, then nodded.

"I quite like reading."

"...I can tell."

To Colon, who loved games and hated studying, that mountain of books was practically a horror story. He shuddered and looked away before changing the subject.

"Anyone want to take a bath? Shall we go together? I saw a map in the common room earlier."