Hogwarts - Kitchens (Basement)

[Hollywood Heidi]

Hogwarts - Kitchens

[Vye]

Nicholas

***Nicholas enters from Hogwarts Corridors***

He steps into the room, locating the troublesome poltergeist instantly. The spell he wants is already in his mind so by the time Peeves turns around it’s already too late. Peeves throws a stick bomb his way, but Nick’s spell is already working. When the bomb explodes, it smells like orange blossoms. Peeves realizes this and instantly breaks into a song to the tune of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, something Nick is all too familiar with. “Grumpy old-fart Nicholas, ruining all the fun…” Getting mad won’t help, so he decides to sing along.

“Suggests Peeves leaves the kitchen, if he likes seeing the sun,” Nick interrupts effortlessly, implying he’ll lock him up in an attempt to get on his nerves. Peeves just freezes for a minute and Nick watches him, ready for signs of trouble. A second later the poltergeist sticks out his tongue, giving Nick a raspberry before flying off. Once he’s gone everything is quiet for a minute, and then all the house elves spontaneously break into cheers.

“Thank you Master Nick,” Radbey says. He smiles down at the house elf, reveling in his triumph. It feels good to know he beat the trickster, even if he knows Peeves will be looking for revenge and will most likely exact it at an inopportune time. Still, this will give him something to think about during the sorting ceremony, and for that he is grateful. Speaking of…

“Don’t hesitate to ask if you need help again,” he says to the house elf as he walks to the door. “Now I’m afraid I must go. I don’t want to be late after all.”

“Goodbye Master Nick,” the elves chorus as they get back to work. He slips out the door and starts mentally preparing for the yearly ritual he hates. He pulls up the image of Peeves fleeing the room in his mind and smirks to himself. This year’s sorting looks like it will be easier to survive than the ones from years past. Who knew that the poltergeist could be so helpful?

***Nicholas exits to Hogwarts Corridors***

[Hollywood Heidi]

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NEXT DAY
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

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[Hollywood Heidi]

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Morning classes on the first day of the school year have finished.

Everyone is released for lunch break.

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[Hollywood Heidi]

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Classes on the first day of the school year have finished.

Everyone is released for the remainder of the day to relax, socialize, work on their assignments, and gather for the evening meal.

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[Hollywood Heidi]

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Nearly two months have passed.

Yesterday, October 30th, the delegates from the other schools had arrived for the Triwizard Tournament and a celebration feast was held in the Great Hall where the Goblet of Fire and Triwizard Cup were presented.

Today, October 31st, 2017, the Goblet of Fire remains available in the Chamber of Reception for interested participants to drop in a parchment with their name until the Hallowe'en Feast tonight.

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[Hollywood Heidi]

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A few hours have passed.

It is now time for everyone to gather in the Great Hall for the Hallowe'en Feast where the Champions will be announced.

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[Hollywood Heidi]

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The night passes. It is the morning of the next day.

Classes are postponed for the week to welcome the visiting schools during Tri-Wizard Championship.

A special visit to Hogsmeade is scheduled for today.

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[Anduin]

*** Scarlett, Cami and Coco (coming from Divination Classroom) entered the Corridor to the kitchens ***

Scarlett still thought it was interesting that the kitchens were placed in the cellars.
Maybe she should ask some of the Hogwarts students if they could tell her a story about the reason for that...
Suddenly she remembered what she once had heard about Hogwarts and especially about its kitchens.
"Hey, did you also hear about those house-elves? I haven't seen some since we're here. But, well, that doesn't have to mean they are just a myth."

[DarkSideCookie]

Although Coco usually didn't bother with her straightforwardness and the reputation that eventually had come along with it, she was actually glad when the girls just changed the topic back to the good side of food, because there shouldn't even be a bad side about it in her opinion. Coco, however, was one of these people who were lucky enough to just keep their shape no matter what they ate.

"Hey, did you also hear about those house-elves? I haven't seen some since we're here. But, well, that doesn't have to mean they are just a myth."

She turned her gaze back towards Scarlet before she commented with a shrug: "I've seen zis headless dude flying around and heard zomebody mention zomething about house-elves or ghosts before. Not sure if zere's a difference?"

[Ariel]

"Hey, did you also hear about those house-elves? I haven't seen some since we're here. But, well, that doesn't have to mean they are just a myth."



 "I've seen zis headless dude flying around and heard zomebody mention zomething about house-elves or ghosts before. Not sure if zere's a difference?"

The basement of Hogwarts was unlike anything Cami had seen before. Sure, her parents had a cellar on their farm which could be mildly comparable to the resemblance of the barrels scattered about. But the kitchen itself was massive, encased with stone slabs from walls to flooring. She wandered away from the girls and into the middle of the room, in awe of how massive it truly was as wooden prep tables rested in the middle and stations encompassing the walls, "Do you zuppose we will run into one down here?" Cami asked out loud as she found herself at an open kitchen storage cabinet. She picked up a shiny ladle and inspected it curiously.

[Anduin]

"I've seen zis headless dude flying around and heard zomebody mention zomething about house-elves or ghosts before. Not sure if zere's a difference?"
"Gosh, luckily I haven't seen him up to now. I'm not sure if I'd be frighten and start to scream like a little girl," she admitted. "But I think the difference is that these house-elves are supposed to be living creatures and ghost are dead."

Scarlett noticed that Cami started to step forward into the kitchen rooms and observed the inventory. She had to admit that it was a quite interesting style.
"Do you zuppose we will run into one down here?"
"That's an interesting question. I'm not sure. Maybe they won't show up when someone's near..."
Suddenly she was interrupted by a hem.
"Ahem! Students should not be here. At least if they have no kitchen police."
Scarlett turned around to get a look at the one who sneaked up and spoke to them.
It was a strange tiny creature with large ears.
Could it be...?
"I'm sorry. We were just curious. Are you... are you a house-elf?"

[DarkSideCookie]

"Gosh, luckily I haven't seen him up to now. I'm not sure if I'd be frighten and start to scream like a little girl,""But I think the difference is that these house-elves are supposed to be living creatures and ghost are dead."

Coco shrugged again, yet, at this point, less tactless than before. This girl was pretty nice and didn't seem to judge others by their looks, although Coco's looks even were supposed to make her differ from the ordinary. Also, she simply liked the gothic style.

"Do you zuppose we will run into one down here?"

Same as Scarlett, Coco turned her attention towards Cami as she stepped forward into the kitchen, watching over the room and inventory in awe.

"That's an interesting question. I'm not sure. Maybe they won't show up when someone's near..."

"Ahem! Students should not be here. At least if they have no kitchen police."

At first, Coco saw nobody but then she realized that the voice had come from a deeper level.

"I'm sorry. We were just curious. Are you... are you a house-elf?"

She remained quiet but was, admittedly, a bit fascinated now herself. She'd never seen a creature like that. So ugly that it was almost cute again, she thought in hidden amusement, not at all meant in a judgemental but rather an analytical way. Coco surely didn't judge others by their looks as mentioned before.

[Ariel]

"Ahem! Students should not be here. At least if they have no kitchen police."

The sudden entrance of the new, squeaky voice made Cami jump. Startled, her body made a subconscious decision to hop right beside Coco. One of her hands squeezed Coco's bicep, seeking security in her moment of fright. The three girls peered downwards at the curious creature that was demanding their attention. Small with ears that reminded Cami of a bat and a pointed nose, they found the large brown eyes of the petite elf surveying them as the elf's gaze traveled silently from girl to girl.

"I'm sorry. We were just curious. Are you... are you a house-elf?"

Cami was just as curious as Coco. She finally get go of Coco and took a few cautious, soft steps towards the house elf. Lowering herself to her knees, Cami tried to match the house elf's height as best as she possibly could with her hands raised beside her, "We mean no harm, and certainly did not mean to trespass," Cami smiled gently as she took note of the house elf's outfit which was more or less a tattered floral tea towel fastened around the elf's shoulders like a dress, "I like ze flowers on your outfit - what iz your name?" Cami asked politely after giving the elf a compliment.

"M-Mitzey is my name, Miss." The house elf stammered, crossing her arms pressingly as she continued to stand her ground with the rules in mind.

[Anduin]

The first moment Scarlett noticed Cami's jump aside Coco for seeking a safe zone nearly made her softly grin.
But she forced herself to not react to that.
Everyone has their own way to react to certain situations.
Especially because Cami overcame her first shock and did her best to talk face to face to the extraordinary creature.

"We mean no harm, and certainly did not mean to trespass,"
"I like ze flowers on your outfit - what iz your name?"

"M-Mitzey is my name, Miss."

Suddenly Scarlett felt like a dumb bull in a china shop.
Her cheeks also blushed a bit because of her embarrasment. She had forgotten her usual manners due to all the excitement of today.
Normally you have to ask politely for someones name when you start a conversation.
Luckily the house-elf - Mitzey, of course - didn't mind.
"We have to prepare the dinner. You... you should leave and also prepare yourself for it, Misses."
Mitzey's face now looked, well, interesting. It took Scarlett a moment to notice that she gave them a smile.
"Oh, of course. I'm sorry, you're right, Mitzey.", she answered.
Just as she started to turn around in order to leave the room the house-elf raised her voice again: "Wait! Please... I think I have something for you, Misses."

Then she turned around just to stop a few steps later to look over her shoulder to be sure that the girls really waited for her. She smiled again when she noticed the three of them waiting curiously and continued her steps to one of the high kitchen cupboards. She picked a stool so that she could reach out for the higher cabinet doors and picked up a cookie tin from one. She came back to them at a quick pace, opened the cap of the tin and offered it to the girls. "Take one. I've made them by myself."

[DarkSideCookie]

And again, Coco remained the silent observer for a while, which made her become more aware of the situation for sure, though. She couldn't tell if the other girls did, but she noticed the sudden change in the little creature's stance. Its body language, tone, and features all changed right the moment Cami had addressed it more politely, more personally, and had asked it for its name. Her name, of course. Mitzey seemed surprised, almost like this had never happened before.

Coco smiled at her, even more so when she announced to have something for them. It was also quite cute how she used a chair to reach the upper cupboards. Coco, however, hid her amusement about that as good as she could when Mitzey returned with a big tin in her hands.

"Take one. I've made them by myself."

"Oh wow, zhose look delicious!" she proclaimed immediately now, not hesitating to get a first try. An audible tone of appreciation for the taste left her while chewing the cookie. "And zhey are, thank you," Coco managed to mumble between.

[Ariel]

"Take one. I've made them by myself."



"Oh wow, zhose look delicious!"  "And zhey are, thank you,"

Cami's hand traveled cautiously in the air towards the cookie that was being offered. She had never had food prepared by a house elf, so she was not sure what to expect. This particular circumstance would never pass at home, for they made their own way without any house elves or slaves to be subjected to such abnormalities. The cookie was suddenly passed into her hand, and with the large pleading eyes of the house elf before her, Cami had no choice but to partake in the involuntary enjoyment of the biscuits. She took a bite, and her eyes immediately widened at the senses that she was currently feeling. Joy, euphoria and longing all at once for such a small morsel that was fed to them. Truly this house elf was a baking genius, "zey are absolutely delectable," Cami said, nodding along with Coco as she looked down upon the helpless yet hopeful filled face that looked back up at them.

[Anduin]

"Oh wow, zhose look delicious!" "And zhey are, thank you,"

"zey are absolutely delectable,"

Scarlett watched the other girls who had tried the house-elf's special present and their reactions.
It was obvious that they weren't cheating just to please the little creature.
Perhaps she should try it, too...
Gosh! Sometimes - even if she inwardly disliked it - she caught herself acting like many of these anorexic models.
She had come to the kitchen to find one of these 'forbidden sweets' but now when she had found one she hesitated to take and eat it.
So she pulled herself together and also took one of the offered cookies.
First she picked up the scent of the pastry. It really smelled delicious.
"Is... is something wrong with your cookie?" It was the house-elf, Mitzey. She looked worried.
Scarlett needed some seconds to realize that she was causing a misunderstanding. The elf might thought that she didn't trust her and her baking-skills so that she had to took a scent test before she even thought about eating that cookie.
"Oh, no. Everything is fine! I just wanted to enjoy your gift as much as posible. Thank you, Mitzey."
And so she took a bite.
It really was delicious. Especially for someone like herself who didn't have sweets very often.
"Wonderful!", was all that she was able to say at the first moment.
Mitzey sighed with relief.
"I am glad that you liked my cookies, Misses."
Now she even bowed before them.
"And I will be grateful if the three of you are going to visit me again in the future. You are very kind young ladies."

The house elf stopped for a moment and took a look at a great clock on the wall.
"But now you should prepare yourself for dinner, Misses. So do I and the others."

[DarkSideCookie]

Coco smiled at Cami while swallowing down the last bit of her cookie. She had seen the other girls' hesitation, though, probably for different reasons. However, she was able to guess her best friend's reason, now feeling slightly ashamed for not having hesitated for a second even. On the other hand, Mitzey seemed really and truly happy about them liking what she had offered. It was their daily life to serve, she guessed. Still, the thought of other wizards might treat them like slaves was very sad. Coco hoped that was not the case, but, deep down, already knew the answer was that some of them did.

"I am glad that you liked my cookies, Misses.""And I will be grateful if the three of you are going to visit me again in the future. You are very kind young ladies.""But now you should prepare yourself for dinner, Misses. So do I and the others."

"It was a pleasure trying zem first and for free," Coco stated almost unusually politely. She just wanted to give this creature a different feeling than said other wizards might. She even bowed slightly herself. "Looking forward to zee 'ou next time, Mitzey."

[Ariel]

"It was a pleasure trying zem first and for free," "Looking forward to zee 'ou next time, Mitzey."


Cami followed suit, stepping in line with Coco to give the little house elf a slight bow in farewell, "If we cross paths again, perhaps it iz we zat will 'ave something sweet for you - in return for your kindness," Cami suggested, looking down at Mitzey she smiled sweetly, "Au revior!" Cami twirled around, inserting herself between Coco and Scarlet and linked arms with both girls, "Scarlet, we shall escort you back to your quarters, zen we will freshen up for dinner. Thanks for the hangout, it waz nice to get to know you, even zo you are our competition." Cami tilted her head to face Scarlet as she shed her a wink before the three girls exited the kitchen.

*** Cami, Coco and Scarlet exit ***