[HP] Being a problem student at Hogwarts

The next campus life seemed to have returned to calm, and there were no major worries except that the Defense Against the Dark Arts class was taken over by Professor Snape and the difficulty of the course suddenly increased.

In the process of exchanging pet-raising experiences with Mr. Filch, in order to better prepare food for the pets, Mr. Filch finally told Tom the location of the house elf that he had not had time to tell him last time.

"Listen, go down the hall stairs and turn left," Filch said, looking at him with a critical eye, as if he was considering whether to tell him at any time. "In the corridor, I found a painting full of fruit. A portrait of a huge silver bowl, scratch the big green pear and it will turn into a doorknob for you. Behind the door is the Hogwarts kitchen, full of house elves."

"House elves, ugly, noisy little monsters," said Filch disgustedly. "Whether you're refilling your laundry detergent or making birdseed for your dark bird, they All very, very happy to provide services to wizards.”

Tom didn't understand why he hated house elves so much if they were really as willing to help wizards as Filch said. But he wisely didn't ask any more questions. After all, after he asked too much last time, Filch immediately turned against him and kicked him out. If it weren't for Mrs. Norris's sake, Filch would probably never talk to him properly again.

Tom found the corridor according to Filch's directions. The wide corridor was lined with food-related paintings on both sides, which looked very pleasant and full of appetite.

The painting of a silver bowl filled with fruits was hidden in it. Tom reached out and scratched the green pear, and was surprised to see that the pear started to tremble, and while trembling, he laughed "chichi". .

The realistic pear looks a bit scary when she smiles like this, she can't even see her mouth! It's like there is an invisible ghost dubbing in your ears. Tom thought, taking a cautious step back.

The pear squirmed and turned over, suddenly turning into a green doorknob.

Tom hesitated for a moment, reached out and pressed the door handle, and opened the door.

Behind the door is a room as large as an auditorium. In the middle are four long academic tables similar to those in the auditorium above. The ceiling is very high. There are many gleaming copper pots and basins piled on the surrounding stone walls. Those kitchen utensils are more of a short monster with a slender nose like a pencil, big bat-like ears, big round eyes like tennis balls, and slender hands and feet.

These little monsters were dressed in neat uniforms - a tea towel with the Hogwarts school crest wrapped around them like a robe. They were turning their heads to look at him in surprise and joy, with smiles on their faces, bowing or saying goodbye to him. Curtsy.

"Distinguished Mr. Wizard!" Several little monsters shouted in their high-pitched voices, looking at him with longing eyes, shouting: "What do you need? We can prepare everything for you, sir, whatever!"

The strongest of them pushed his way to the front, looked up at Tom eagerly, and shouted: "Rollo at your service, sir! Would you like anything to eat?"

Tom's back was pressed against the closed kitchen door. He swore that if he hadn't still remembered that this was Hogwarts, the theoretically safest place in the wizarding world, he would have run away!

Just imagine, if this was in a Muggle fairy tale, you walked to a strange place alone, and met hundreds of strange-looking little monsters in a closed room. With an exaggerated, pasted-and-copied enthusiastic smile, he looks at you longingly and asks eagerly: "What would you like to eat, sir?"

The subtext behind it is simply "How do you want to be eaten?"

terrible.

Tom thought about Filch's description again, and somewhat understood why Filch used two "very" words in a row to describe the house elves' warm service.

"Uh..." Tom put one hand into his sleeve and grasped the wand tightly, "Can I have a cup of tea?"

Immediately, at least six house elves hurried over carrying a huge silver tray. There were several teapots on the tray. Through the transparent pot body, you could see different flavors of fruit tea, milk tea, etc. , there was also his cup, a jug of hot milk, and a large plate of finger biscuits. The other house elves gathered around him and invited him to sit at the table.

As soon as he sat down, several house elves worked together to push a small dining cart. There were different snacks on each floor of the dining cart, all of which were his favorite flavors.

"It was poorly prepared in a hurry," Luo Luo said sharply, "Sir, please use some first. If you want to use something else, we will do it right now!"

"No need." Tom was a little overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the house elves. While he was touched by this unimaginable eager and thoughtful service, he also felt that there might be something wrong with such enthusiasm.

"These are already very good, great, thank you." Tom said.

"Mr. Wizard actually said thank you!" The house elves around him burst into tears and bowed to him with screams. Some of them were trembling with excitement. "What a kind and friendly wizard you are!"

The house elves couldn't help but pile more food and drinks on the table. If Tom hadn't firmly refused, they would have wanted to feed him themselves.

Tom squeezed his wand tighter. This kind of enthusiasm was a bit hard for him to bear. Even a slave would never treat his slave owner with such heartfelt and wholehearted enthusiasm.

If house elves are not artificial beings created by wizards for the convenience of life and do not actually have independent thoughts, then their minds must have been distorted by some kind of witchcraft.

Tom couldn't help but think of Professor Quirrell. Perhaps for some reason, perhaps just out of curiosity, or perhaps out of a whim, he tried a black magic and was then coerced into doing bad things. It was coercion at first, but what happened next? Principal Dumbledore said that many dark arts can subtly distort the user's temperament.

Is the person who distorted his thoughts still himself?

Magic also has a scary side. Tom thought.

Although he knew that his suspicion about house elves had no evidence, after having this idea, Tom became more and more angry when he saw the house elves in the kitchen who were looking at him eagerly or quietly pricking their ears and waiting for his instructions. Feeling unwell.

He hurriedly asked the house elves to help him replenish the washing powder. He wanted to finish his words and leave early. Unexpectedly, the house elves were surprised that "the distinguished wizard sir actually had to do such rough work with his own hands" and "they didn't think of asking sir in advance." "Speak for yourself" he burst into tears and banged his head against the wall, which startled Tom. He quickly mastered the correct way to talk to the house elves:

"Stop!" he shouted, "Don't cry! Don't hit the wall! In short, stand still and talk normally!"

The order was effective, and the chaos in the kitchen immediately calmed down. 7K妏揩

"Sir, you don't have to do the rough work yourself," Luo Luo sobbed, "we will wash your clothes cleanly."

"Uh, thank you." Tom quickly added, "Don't cry!"

"Is there a laundry room in the school? Should I send it there myself? Or should I give it to you directly?"

Tom didn't know which word touched their sensitive nerves again. Anyway, these house elves started wailing one after another, trembling and begging him not to.

Tom: "???" Didn't you offer to help me wash my clothes?

"Sir, just leave him alone." Luo Luo was stronger and cried, "We will serve you regularly."

"Oh, okay..." Tom said hesitantly, "I also want to make some pet meals, for cats and crows. What do you think would be better?"

The house elves were determined not to allow Tom to take action himself. Whenever Tom spoke forcefully, they would howl loudly and punish themselves for daring to block Mr. Wizard's order.

Tom had to give in, sitting at the table and eating snacks, waiting for the house elves to enthusiastically pack pet meals and snacks that he must take upstairs to enjoy.

"Thank you very much - don't cry!" said Tom.

Luo Luo personally escorted him out of the kitchen.

"Do you usually make pet meals?" Tom asked.

"If sir, please—" replied Luo Luo sharply, looking at him longingly, waiting for his instructions.

"I might drop by from time to time—"

Before Tom could finish speaking, Rollo replied cheerfully: "No problem, sir! Still for the Cat and the Crow? We'll be happy to prepare everything for you!"

"Do I need to prepare the ingredients myself?" Tom asked, "How do schools charge processing fees? How much do I have to pay you?"

"Money!" Rolo exclaimed in horror, as if he heard Tom say a dirty and rude word.

"House elves don't need wages!" Rolo said seriously, "It is our nature to serve wizards, and the work itself is happy enough." It showed a big, flattering smile at Tom.

Tom looked at the smile on the little monster's face and felt cold all over.