Halloween in the Kitchen

Professor McGonagall strode down the stairs, her green robes billowing around her. One look at her was enough to tell anyone that this witch meant business.

Snape followed behind her. His black robes spread like an old bat's wings as he descended, his face cold as frost, though his eyes kept sweeping over Harry.

Professor Flitwick came close behind. His short legs carried him faster than even Quirrell behind him, and he gripped his wand as though ready for a fight.

Quirrell looked badly shaken. When he saw the Troll, he clutched his chest and gasped, as if the sight of it lying on the floor had frightened him out of his wits.

The teachers all saw the Troll's small head buried in its chest, and the corridor coated in bitterly cold ice.

Professor Flitwick's eyes lit up. With his skill in charms and experience in duels, he grasped the situation at a glance. His gaze darted over the young Wizards' hands, but the only wand he saw was in Will's. He raised an eyebrow. A first-year had taken down a Troll on his own?

"Well done, Wi—"

He was about to praise him when the witch in green cut him off.

"What on earth did you think you were doing?" Professor McGonagall's voice was icy with anger. Her cold gaze swept over the students, and the young Wizards felt the full weight of it.

"You're lucky it didn't kill you. Why couldn't you stay in your dormitories where you belonged?"

"We came to save... save..." Ron faltered. Hermione hadn't even been in the Girls’ Bathroom when it happened. What had there been to save her from?

"Professor McGonagall, they thought I was in the Girls’ Bathroom and came to warn me about the Troll," Hermione explained. She was still the same kindhearted young witch. "Will, Sylvia, and Neville only followed because they were worried about my safety."

Professor McGonagall's expression softened a little.

"Trolls are extremely dangerous creatures. You should have learned that in class. Countless adult Wizards have died beneath their clubs!" At that, McGonagall glanced at Quirrell, who was still clutching his chest, and changed tack.

"Perhaps you haven't studied them in detail, but you should understand how dangerous they are!"

Professor McGonagall kept her eyes on Will and Hermione as she spoke.

"Well, the important thing is that no one was hurt," Professor Flitwick said, stepping in to smooth things over. "Could you tell me how you dealt with this great brute?"

"Here's what happened, Professor." Sylvia's eyes brightened at Professor Flitwick's question. "When we came down, Harry and Ron were running through the corridor. They drew its attention; Will froze its head with a spell, and then the big idiot ran into the wall. It might have killed itself."

"Clever, very clever, Mr. Berens. I've never seen a first-year Wizard bring down a Troll." Professor Flitwick clapped his hands. "Excellent use of spells. Twenty points for you, and five points each for everyone else's courage."

Smiles spread across their faces, but Professor McGonagall soon dampened their spirits. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, your recklessness will cost you five points each."

The two boys' faces fell.

"Apparently the famous Mr. Potter couldn't bring the Troll down with his reputation," Snape said, still dispensing his venom freely.

But Will knew Snape was probably the one who cared most about Harry out of everyone there.

"Now that it's over, I'll say no more, though I will inform Headmaster Dumbledore. You'd best hurry back to your common rooms. The other students are still enjoying the Halloween Feast." At Professor McGonagall's urging, they left the Underground Classroom.

Ron and Harry trailed behind. "Professor McGonagall is terrifying..." Ron whispered with a shiver.

They parted at the stairs. Hermione and Neville naturally had to return to their common room for the Halloween Feast, while Will and Sylvia could hardly follow them into the Gryffindor Common Room.

"Will, are you going back to the Room of Requirement?" Sylvia knew he disliked staying in the Slytherin Common Room with those arrogant young Wizards.

"No. I'm going to have a proper dinner tonight." Will had no intention of neglecting his stomach. He loved good food; otherwise, he would never have learned those spells from Conjure a Tableful of Delicacies and The Magical Kitchen.

"This isn't the way back to the common room," Sylvia said, puzzled. Was Will planning to eat with another house?

"Come with me. I'll show you somewhere." Will refused to tell her where they were going.

Ten minutes later, Will stopped before a painting of a bowl of fruit and gently tickled one of the pears. It giggled, then turned into a green door handle under Sylvia's astonished gaze.

Will took hold of the handle and turned it gently. "Welcome to the Hogwarts Kitchens."

He opened the door, and the rich scent of pumpkin washed over them.

Sylvia looked around curiously. The Hogwarts Kitchens occupied a vast room with a high ceiling, as large as the Great Hall above. Gleaming copper pots and pans were stacked along the stone walls, and a large brick fireplace stood at the far end.

The room also held four long tables arranged exactly like the house tables in the Great Hall. Some magic connected them to the tables above, allowing dishes placed here to be sent to their counterparts in the hall. The staff could control the process, of course.

Busy House-elves were everywhere, constantly sending dishes for the Halloween Feast up to the common rooms.

One of the House-elves spotted Will and hurried over. "What can Duo Ke do for the honored young Wizard?"

Sylvia took little notice of the House-elves. There were plenty in her own home.

"Bring us something to eat. A little of everything on tonight's menu."

"Duo Ke is very happy to serve you!"

The two sat down at a long table, and the House-elf named Duo Ke soon began bringing out dish after dish.

Pumpkin soup, roast pumpkin, smoked duck with pumpkin purée, beef Wellington, shepherd's pie, roast lamb, veal, pumpkin pudding...

Before long, the table was covered with delicious food. Will was already starving. After a quick wash of his hands, he pulled over the fragrant roast lamb and dug in.

"Young Wizard, here is your Pumpkin Juice." A House-elf brought over a large pitcher filled with sweet orange juice.

"You're the House-elf who brought me food whenever I came here a while back, aren't you?" Will recognized him, which was no easy feat. House-elves all looked rather peculiar.

"Yes, yes, young Wizard! You remember Anco! Anco is honored!" Anco bounced away happily to bring them pumpkin stew, and Will thanked him.

"Thank you, Anco."

"The young Wizard thanked Anco! Oh, Anco is ashamed. It is what Anco should do." Despite his delight at the praise, Anco fled into another room in embarrassment.

Watching him go, Will couldn't help thinking there was something unhealthy about the little creatures' behavior. But House-elves were all like that, and he didn't dwell on it. Nor did he share Hermione's idea of fighting for their freedom. That was far too naive.

The business with Anco was only a brief interruption. Sylvia never spoke to any of the House-elves; she couldn't even recognize all the ones in her own home.

"When did you find this place?" Sylvia asked as she looked around the kitchen and cut into the pumpkin-braised chicken on her plate.

"One night, I wanted a late-night snack, so I went looking. I actually found it, and I've been coming back ever since." Will pulled over a plate of smoked duck with pumpkin purée. "We can come here often. These House-elves are excellent cooks."

Sylvia shook her head. "No, thanks. I don't think I'll come here often."

Seeing Will's questioning look, she explained, "I don't want to eat so much that I lose my figure. You should watch out too, Will. Just think of Selwyn. He looks like a wild boar from Kent."

"Could we not talk about things that ruin my appetite? This is my first Halloween, you know." Will pretended to gag, earning an eye roll from Sylvia.

But she still asked, puzzled, "Is this really your first Halloween?"

"Of course. Why would I lie to you?"

It really was his first Halloween.

His alcoholic mother had never celebrated holidays like this, and after she died, he couldn't be bothered to prepare anything himself.

Sylvia looked at Will's earnest face and raised her glass of Pumpkin Juice. "Then let's celebrate every Halloween like this from now on. To all the Halloweens ahead—cheers!"

The clear clink of their glasses brought Halloween to a perfect close.