Hogwarts Kitchens! A chance encounter with Quirrell!

Inside the kitchens.

Several busy house-elves gathered in front of the three of them.

They showed no surprise, having long since grown accustomed to all this.

"Honored wizards, what would you like to eat?"

"Two pumpkin juices, and two servings of roast potatoes with steak."

The Weasley twins spoke in unison.

"I'd like a glass of lemon juice, along with some fried sausages, bacon, and fried eggs, please. Thank you."

"Thank you? Sophie, did you hear that? The honored young wizard actually thanked Leah!" Leah became astonishingly excited, grabbing a nearby elf and asking over and over.

The house-elf named Sophie looked on with unconcealable envy.

"All right, Leah, don't keep our honored guests waiting!"

"You're right! Leah has kept our honored guests waiting! Leah is a bad elf! A bad thing!"

As though something had set her off, Leah thrust her head forward and slammed it against the wall.

Argus froze, unable to react for a moment.

While he was distracted, Leah had already brought over the food the three of them had ordered.

The difference was that the Weasley twins' food had simply been prepared as requested and placed haphazardly on a plate.

The sausages and bacon Argus had wanted, however, were exquisitely arranged.

A thick sauce covered the bacon, and even his glass of lemon water had a little pure white flower on it.

"Honored guest, Leah prepared this sauce especially for you!"

"Please try it!"

Leah's eyes were full of anticipation.

The Weasley twins looked at Argus's exquisite meal, then at their own heap of food that looked like pig swill.

They were utterly jealous!

"That's such a double standard! Why didn't we get this treatment when we first came here?"

"No, Argus, we demand to swap meals!"

Leah looked at Argus in panic, her mouth turning down. She opened her mouth, wanting to stop them.

Yet she did not dare speak.

Argus smiled and patted her head reassuringly.

He cut off a piece of bacon with his knife and dipped it in the sauce.

"It's delicious! Thank you for the meal, Leah!"

"The honored guest praised Leah!"

Leah was delighted and kept showing off to the other elves.

Not to be outdone, the crowd of house-elves in the kitchens brought out their finest culinary skills.

One delicious dish after another was brought before Argus as though they cost nothing.

They longed for Argus's praise.

For the first time, Argus felt that too much good food could also be a form of torment.

By the end of the meal, Argus's belly was bulging. The Weasley twins had benefited considerably from his presence, tasting plenty of delicacies they had never tried before.

The three left under the house-elves' reluctant gazes.

George could not help remarking, "Looks like we'll have to bring Argus along next time we sneak into the kitchens."

"Otherwise, we definitely won't get food like that!"

Fred nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'm worried that after tonight's meal, I won't be able to stomach anything else!"

"Don't worry, there'll be other opportunities."

Argus certainly did not think he would obediently stay in his dormitory every night from now on.

The library's Restricted Section and the chambers of Hogwarts' several Founders were all places he intended to explore.

If he had the chance to get the Marauder's Map from the Weasley twins, he would definitely have to find time to visit the Acolytes as well.

By that reckoning, he really would not have much time to spend in his dormitory.

Since the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms were not along the same route, the three went their separate ways after their late-night snack.

The Weasley twins had intended to walk Argus part of the way, but he declined.

Argus crept quietly along the route they had taken earlier.

His memory was fairly good. Even though he had only walked it once, he could remember the way back perfectly clearly.

"Meow!"

Suddenly, a cat's cry rang out in the silent passage.

It was followed immediately by the hoarse voice of Filch, Hogwarts' caretaker.

"Mrs. Norris, has someone sneaked out again?"

"Sniff carefully!"

Just my rotten luck!

How could I run into him here?

I absolutely have to learn the Disillusionment Charm when I get back!

Silently cursing his bad luck, Argus looked around, leaped onto a staircase, and ducked into a nearby classroom.

The pitch-black classroom held not a glimmer of light, and Filch's footsteps drew closer behind him.

Worried about being discovered, Argus did not dare use magic for light.

Keeping a hand against the wall, he felt his way forward in the dark.

He did not particularly care about losing points.

Only children cared about something as childish as playing house.

The reason he did not want to be caught was that he feared it would make Dumbledore suspicious of him.

Ever since their last conversation in the Headmaster's Office, he had known that Dumbledore had grown wary of him.

And there was still a long time to go before Voldemort's resurrection.

He certainly did not want Dumbledore turning his attention toward him.

"Another door?"

"Wait, why does this door look so familiar?"

Recalling the series of stone statues and cobwebs he had felt along the way, Argus gave a wry smile.

"Surely it couldn't be such a coincidence?"

"How did I end up at Fluffy's place?"

Through the crack in the door, he heard faint snores coming from inside.

He immediately understood where he had ended up!

The first trial Dumbledore had set for Harry, the hiding place of the Philosopher's Stone.

It was also the place guarded by Fluffy, the three-headed dog!

He would never believe that Dumbledore had not placed some sort of magic here!

For all he knew, Dumbledore would find out the moment he opened the door.

"I'll take a gamble!"

Argus hid in a corner, raised his wand, and pointed it at himself.

"Scourgify!"

A faint wash of magic passed over him, and the dust and odors on his body slowly faded.

The footsteps of Filch and Mrs. Norris sounded outside the door.

"Did someone come in here, my dear?"

Stooping, Filch held up his oil lamp and picked up Mrs. Norris.

He poked his head inside and carefully looked around for a while.

Apparently deciding that no one was inside, he muttered for a bit, then turned and left with the cat in his arms.

"Good thing I used magic to remove my scent beforehand."

"I'd better hurry back to the dormitory. If I run into a professor, they won't be as easy to fool as Filch."

Argus waited a while, only emerging from the room once he was certain Filch had left.

But before he had gone far, Argus discovered something tragic.

He was lost!

Yes!

Hogwarts' staircases led every which way. He had only jumped onto a different staircase once and taken a few turns, yet he could no longer find his way back.

"If I'd known, I would've let the Weasley twins walk me back!"

"How long am I going to keep going around in circles like this?"

Argus bitterly regretted his earlier gentlemanly behavior.

He craned his head to look down toward the lower part of the castle, hesitating over whether to jump straight down.

A strong smell of garlic rushed into his nostrils.

Then came a stammering voice.

"A... a Slytherin first-year? W-what are you doing here?"