Chapter 24: Not Even a Crup Would Want This

Hufflepuff's common room was nestled deep within the underground passages of Hogwarts Castle. The entrance, cleverly hidden in a pile of large barrels located in the kitchen corridor's right-hand corner, was both inconspicuous and charming in its simplicity. Gaining entry was straightforward: students had to follow the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff's name, tapping the bottom of the second barrel in the second row. The lid would then rotate, revealing a passageway leading into the cozy common room.

Unlike the other houses, which relied on frequently changing passwords or riddles, Hufflepuff had the most practical system. Their fixed entrance sequence meant once you learned it, you were set for all seven years. No need to worry about keeping up with new passwords every week, which was certainly a relief for many students.

"Remember, it's Helga Hufflepuff. The order must be exact," Hufflepuff's prefect, Harris, reminded the cluster of nervous first-years, slowing down the demonstration to ensure they memorized it correctly.

A small boy in the crowd raised his hand, his voice quivering with anxiety. "What if I get it wrong? I'm not good at remembering things. Will I be stuck outside the dormitory?"

Harris smiled reassuringly but walked over to the barrel, ready to make a point. "It's worse than that." He tapped the barrel twice, deliberately wrong, and quickly stepped back.

In an instant, a torrent of sour-smelling vinegar sprayed from the neighboring barrel, drenching the space where he had stood just moments before.

"As you can see," Harris said, waving his wand to clean up the mess, "if you get the sequence wrong, the other lid bursts open, and you'll be covered in vinegar. If you don't want to smell like a vinegar bottle for the rest of the day, I suggest you practice. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it."

The group chuckled nervously, but the message was clear. Harris ran through the correct sequence a couple more times, ensuring everyone understood before leading them through the now-open passage into the common room.

At the end of the tunnel, the new students were greeted by a large, circular room that exuded warmth and simplicity. This was the Hufflepuff common room. The low ceiling, only about three meters high, made the space feel intimate, while the cozy black and yellow armchairs scattered around the room invited relaxation. The walls were alive with a variety of fascinating plants, adding a touch of nature to the underground setting.

Kyle's eyes scanned the room with interest. Beyond the usual decorative plants, he spotted several rare species that he knew were valuable. He recognized a Rue plant, Dittany, and even the prized Hydrangea. His gaze then fell on the most striking plant of all: a Wind Chime Sunflower placed right in the center of the lounge.

If I'm not mistaken, Kyle thought, that Wind Chime Sunflower alone is worth about 300 galleons.

Beside it stood the Golden Hydrangea, slightly less expensive but still a luxurious 279 galleons at Diagon Alley. It was clear to Kyle that Professor Sprout, renowned in the wizarding world for her expertise in Herbology, had handpicked these plants for the common room. The subtle display of rare and valuable plants, arranged with casual elegance, reflected a certain low-key luxury.

Kyle suppressed the temptation to snatch one of the prized plants, turning away with effort. His attention shifted to a large honey-colored wooden mantelpiece, carved intricately with badgers, the Hufflepuff house emblem. On it sat several jars, which, according to Head Prefect Harris, were filled with various snacks—sweets and treats that the students could enjoy at their leisure.

Above the fireplace hung a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff herself. She was depicted as a kind-faced witch, holding a golden cup and smiling warmly down at the students. The cheerful expression of their house founder added to the comforting and welcoming atmosphere of the common room, making it feel like a true home for Hufflepuff students.

...

At that moment, more Hufflepuff students began entering the common room one by one. They greeted the new students warmly and offered them small snacks as gifts.

Kyle received quite a bit, and his robe pockets were soon stuffed with colorful candies and preserves—enough to last him more than a month.

"What do you think? Pretty cozy, isn't it?"

Cedric approached Kyle, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "No other house has such a comfortable environment."

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Diggory," Kyle replied, clearly unimpressed, as he brushed Cedric's hand off his shoulder. "What, not worried about being misunderstood by Professor Snape at a time like this?"

"Come on, Kyle, that's just for show," Cedric responded with a smirk. "Our friendship is unbreakable, I swear."

Kyle found Cedric's explanation even more irritating and quickly stepped away from him, though he knew Cedric was only teasing. He wasn't truly angry—just annoyed by the remark.

Besides, Cedric had said it was all for appearances. Did he really think he was Harry Potter, constantly catching Snape's attention? What was going on in his head?

Kyle shrugged it off. He couldn't shake the feeling that Cedric's behavior seemed oddly familiar, particularly the way he deflected blame so smoothly. He had definitely seen that style before.

But who was it?

Kyle racked his brain, but couldn't pinpoint the person. Finally, he gave up, figuring it was probably—maybe—the Weasley brothers.

...

As the common room filled with more people, Harris, one of the prefects, gestured for the newcomers to sit on the sofas. He explained that the professors had asked him to inform the first-years about Hogwarts' rules and help everyone get to know each other.

He and the other female prefect soon returned from the nearby kitchen, carrying biscuits and large glasses of fresh juice. This was one of the perks of Hufflepuff being so close to the kitchens—something the other houses didn't enjoy.

Soon, the tables in the common room were piled high with all kinds of snacks.

"Welcome to Hufflepuff," Harris said cheerfully. "There aren't too many rules at Hogwarts, but make sure to remember the following…"

While Harris spoke, Kyle scanned the room and spotted Kanna sitting on the outer edge of the crowd. Without drawing attention, he moved over to her.

"I was out of line earlier," Kyle whispered, "I'm sorry."

Kanna looked startled. When she realized it was Kyle, she whispered back, "No, it's okay. It was partly my fault too. I'm so dumb—I should've guessed you were joking. There's no way Hogwarts uses spells like that to sort students."

Kyle shook his head, his expression serious. "It's not the same. A joke is only funny if both people find it funny. I was definitely wrong for scaring you like that, so I needed to apologize."

Seeing how earnest Kyle was, Kanna bit her lip, then looked up and said sincerely, "Alright, I accept your apology."

After saying that, she gave him a light slap on the arm. "Now we're even."

As for the force of that slap... It was barely enough to knock off any dust.

"Not quite, just a second."

Kyle smiled and took out a handful of the prettiest brown-wrapped candies from his pocket. Handing them to her, he said, "This is your compensation. We're only even if you accept them."

"Well, okay..."

Kanna accepted the candies, popped one in her mouth in front of Kyle, and then extended her hand with the remaining ones toward him, smiling. "Here, I'll buy you a candy."

"No, no," Kyle quickly shook his head, mumbling, "Who in their right mind eats Licorice Snap? Not even a Crup would eat this stuff."

"Crunch!"