Wentworth gently tickled the pear on the painted fruit bowl. It promptly turned into a green doorknob. He turned it, and the door to the Hogwarts Kitchens swung open.
As soon as he stepped inside the Hogwarts Kitchens, the House-elves spotted him, and a crowd of them hurried over.
"Sir, is there anything we can do for you? Would you like some dessert first? How about a chocolate-filled pastry?"
Wentworth took the chocolate-filled pastry the House-elf offered and took a small bite. The rich chocolate flavor burst across his taste buds.
"That's delicious. Thank you!"
Wentworth spoke sincerely. He felt more certain than ever that he had made the right choice by insisting on attending Hogwarts, and he was very pleased to have been sorted into Hufflepuff.
Ravenclaw had been another option on his list, after all. But clearly, Wentworth preferred the persona of a food lover to that of a top student.
At his praise, the House-elves around him immediately began cheering and dancing with delight.
Then Wentworth pulled a slip of paper from his robes. It listed some ingredients he had just written down.
"Could you help me prepare these ingredients? I'll need them tomorrow."
One of the House-elves took the slip from Wentworth. The others crowded around at once, eager to look at the list, while Wentworth leisurely enjoyed his chocolate-filled pastry.
"Mr. Wentworth, the items on your list won't be too difficult to find, but we'll need to buy many of them in the Muggle world. People at Hogwarts rarely eat these things."
The House-elf seemed reluctant to continue, but another House-elf beside it added:
"So, Mr. Wentworth, we may not be able to get everything ready until tomorrow at noon."
All the House-elves looked embarrassed.
Wentworth wasn't bothered by their answer at all. In fact, he thought they had put it rather gently.
Some of the ingredients on his list were rarely eaten not just at Hogwarts but perhaps anywhere in Britain. He was already surprised they could have them ready by noon the next day.
"That's all right. If some ingredients are too hard to find, it won't matter if you're missing one or two. Just have them ready before lunch tomorrow."
At Wentworth's reply, the House-elves visibly breathed a sigh of relief. The one who had looked embarrassed soon regained its enthusiasm.
"No problem, Mr. Wentworth. We'll have all the ingredients ready before lunch tomorrow!"
"Are you planning to cook a few dishes with these ingredients? If you'd like, you can leave us the recipes, and we'll prepare everything for you. We'll make sure the food is brought to you at lunch tomorrow."
But this time, Wentworth cruelly turned down the House-elves' kind offer.
"No, thank you. It's more fun to make this dish myself. See you tomorrow at noon!"
The House-elves were a little disappointed that Wentworth had refused their offer to cook for him, but they still said goodbye to him cheerfully.
Early the next morning, Wentworth had just finished getting ready and stepped out of his dormitory when he ran into Cedric, who had been waiting for him in the Hufflepuff Common Room.
"Hi, good morning, Wentworth! Want to get breakfast together? Afterward, I can show you around Hogwarts."
Wentworth happily accepted Cedric's invitation, and the two headed to the Great Hall to eat.
"Yesterday evening, I wrote to my father to let him know I was safe. I told him you'd been sorted into Hufflepuff, and this morning I got his reply by owl. He was very happy and told me to make sure I looked after you."
On their way to the Great Hall, Cedric spoke to Wentworth with a beaming smile.
"Really? Mr. Diggory sounds like a very kind man."
Only then did Wentworth remember that he hadn't bought an owl. Rosier hadn't reminded him, either. It looked like he'd have to find the right time to buy himself a pet, Wentworth thought.
After breakfast, Cedric led Wentworth around Hogwarts Castle.
First, Cedric showed Wentworth the classrooms they would use that term, so he wouldn't end up scrambling around and unable to find one.
But as they passed a small, windowless room with a single oil lamp hanging forlornly from the low ceiling beside the door, Cedric suddenly lowered his voice.
"Remember, stay away from this room. Don't go near it!"
Cedric's mysterious manner instantly piqued Wentworth's curiosity.
A big part of why he had insisted on coming to Hogwarts was that he wanted to see its mysteries for himself.
Seeing Cedric act like that, Wentworth suppressed his excitement and asked in a quiet voice, his nerves mingled with curiosity:
"Cedric, what's in there? Is it where Hogwarts keeps Dark Magic objects?"
Cedric shook his head.
"Then is some kind of magical creature locked inside?"
Cedric shook his head again.
Now Wentworth's curiosity was fully aroused.
"Or did something terrible happen in there?"
This time, Cedric nodded with utmost solemnity.
"How terrible?"
"Beyond horrifying!"
Wentworth hadn't expected that, besides Myrtle's tragic incident in the girls' bathroom on the third floor, something terrible had happened in another room at Hogwarts.
He glanced back at the room, and a strange chill crept over him. He couldn't help asking:
"What exactly is that room used for?"
Cedric answered with a grave expression:
"That's Hogwarts caretaker Filch's room!"
Wentworth: "..."
Seeing that Wentworth didn't seem very interested, Cedric couldn't help asking:
"Aren't you curious what Filch does?"
"I think I can guess."
Wentworth replied.
Before long, the morning was nearly over. Cedric was about to head to the Great Hall with Wentworth for lunch when Wentworth suddenly grabbed him.
"Cedric, thanks for the steak last night. I've prepared a special meal for you myself today!"
With that, Wentworth tugged Cedric toward the Hufflepuff Common Room.
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