The House-Elf Tangtang

Muya returned to her room and immediately crawled into the trunk. She fed Qiqi and Miao Miao dinner first, then took some snacks and drinks upstairs.

Today, she played something competitive. Muya controlled a little character, savoring the thrilling heartbeat and rush of adrenaline.

"Aaaah! Don't catch my big brother!"

At three thirty in the morning, Muya immediately shut off the computer and went out to sleep. As for why she did not stay up until four...

Muya: Hehe, the number 4 was so unlucky. She was afraid she might see something paranormal at night.

That day, Snape was going out to buy some things. Muya wanted to go with him, but Snape refused on the grounds that someone needed to watch the house.

It was fine. She had not wanted to go out wandering anyway. Really!

Muya lay on the bed and sighed when she suddenly heard tapping at the window.

Muya sprang up and went to open the window. It was an owl carrying a letter.

Muya took the letter, fed the owl some biscuit crumbs, and only then began reading it.

Dear Ya Ya, I thought of you today while I had nothing to do, and I wanted to ask how you were doing at Professor Snape's house. I thought you might be a little bored, so after much consideration, I decided to write this letter and ask about your current situation. I hope I have not disturbed you or Professor Snape. Your friend, Ced.

Oh, so it was Cedric. He had actually guessed that she was bored and had nothing to do.

Muya immediately took out a sheet of paper and wrote Cedric a reply.

Dear Ced, although Professor Snape's house does not look like much, it is fairly comfortable to live in. However, I was startled by him this morning after sleeping in, and then he went out alone to buy things. I really am bored right now, so it is a good thing you sent me a letter. Your friend, Ya Ya.

Muya put the letter into an envelope and handed it to Cedric's owl. "Off you go, little guy."

The owl blinked at her twice before flying out the window.

Muya went downstairs and spotted a somewhat small, somewhat battered cauldron beneath the stairs. An idea suddenly came to her.

She had found a way to pass the time. She planned to grow strawberries in that cauldron. It was not too badly damaged, with only a few holes, making it just right.

She got to work at once. Muya took out the little shovel she had used to play in the sand as a child and went to the backyard to dig up some soil.

She planted a jasmine seed and watered it a little.

Muya carried it to Snape's study. She wanted to see whether there was a potion that could make plants grow quickly.

After searching for around two hours, she finally found one. Snape even had all the potion ingredients she needed. Heaven was truly helping her.

However, Snape definitely would not allow her to touch his potion ingredients.

Feeling the mirror in her bag move, she carried the cauldron back to her room.

She took out the mirror and tapped it with her wand. Calori's face appeared.

"Ya, look over here." In the image, Calori was surrounded by small glowing blue flowers.

"Wow! What kind of flowers are these?"

"Fluorescent Blue. I heard they're also a rare potion ingredient. Do you like them?"

The moment she heard they were rare, Muya's eyes lit up. "I do, I do."

Calori said she would bring her some when she returned to school, and Muya agreed with a grin.

There was suddenly a sound downstairs. Muya went to check and saw Snape climbing out of the fireplace. Behind him seemed to be a house-elf.

"Oh, is this the little master Tangtang is meant to care for? Oh dear, why has little master frozen up? Could she have been frightened by Tangtang?"

"Tangtang is bad, Tangtang is bad!" Before Muya could react, the house-elf called Tangtang suddenly grabbed the corner of a table and began slamming his head against it.

Snape, carrying a huge pile of things, frowned. "Stop, Tangtang!"

Tangtang stopped. There were still marks on his head from where he had struck it. He stood there awkwardly, twisting his hands together as his eyes furtively glanced at Muya several times.

"This is the house-elf who will usually take care of you, Tangtang. Go to him if you need anything." After Snape spoke, Muya obediently nodded.

He carried the things into the kitchen, and only then did Muya realize that Snape had bought vegetables too.

"Ahem. Tell Tangtang what you want to eat." Snape avoided Muya's bright, intent gaze.

"Okay, Professor!"

Dumbledore really ought to come and take a good look. Snape was far more like a guardian than he was.

Far away, Dumbledore, who was speaking with Nicolas Flamel, unexpectedly sneezed.

It had to be said that Tangtang was a good cook. Muya liked his food very much.

Muya had heard Hermione mention that house-elves were born with magic. They could use many spells without wands.

Muya thought for a moment, then had Tangtang come to her room. "Tangtang, can you make the seed inside this sprout?"

"Of course, little master." Tangtang snapped his fingers, and a tiny green shoot immediately appeared in the middle of the cauldron.

"Tangtang is amazing."

A few days later, Muya simply brought her computer downstairs to play with. Once, Snape saw it and could not help asking what she was holding. As a result, Muya gave him a whole explanation full of things he did not understand.

Who would have thought that the foldable black square object of unknown origin could display images as well? Muya often laughed out loud while watching what was on it.

Snape glanced at it a few times. What appeared most often was a yellow square and a pink starfish.

Snape wrote to Dumbledore to ask what it was. Looking at Dumbledore's reply, Snape sighed. How did those ordinary people live such good lives? Even their entertainment devices were so advanced.

Half a month passed, and Dumbledore, Muya's bargain-bin guardian, finally came to Snape's house to see her.

"Ya, my child, I missed you so much!" The moment Dumbledore appeared, he hugged Muya, leaving her no time to dodge.

Muya: Hehe, I didn't miss you much, Old Mischief-Maker.

"Heh, it is truly an honor for my humble house to receive a visit from our busy headmaster." Snape sat in his chair, his tone bland as venom dripped from his words.

Muya had not heard Snape speak like that in a long time. She nodded. Sure enough, Snape was still the Snape she knew.

"Old Mischief-Maker, what are you here for?" After Muya spoke, she seemed to hear Snape laugh. She was not sure. Better listen again.

"Ahem, Ya Mu, I want to ask you a very serious question." Dumbledore sat down and took a sip of the tea Tangtang had brewed.

Muya nodded, signaling for Dumbledore to ask. Snape also drank tea as he listened.

"Are you interested in learning alchemy? I have already spoken with Nicolas Flamel."

At the mention of alchemy, Muya thought of the Weasley twins. "Sure, but have you returned the Sorcerer's Stone to him?"

If Nicolas Flamel no longer had the Sorcerer's Stone and went to paradise before he finished teaching her, leaving her half-trained, that would not do.