Chapter 87: "Hallow's Eve 1989"

As another month flew by at Hogwarts, the days unfolded smoothly, without any notable disturbances.

Harry's birthday came and went, marked by a small celebration in the gardens near the Great Lake. Harry did get some presents from his family, like clothes and supplies for pranks, which Sirius had sent. Harry had been writing to Sirius about all the prank wars going on at school, and Sirius was thrilled to hear Harry was keeping up the pranking tradition. Sirius was a proud godfather. Of course, Harry made sure to magically seal his letters well because he didn't want anyone snooping and finding out what was inside.

During this time, Harry's self-studies advanced at an astonishing speed. He was on the verge of completing the sixth-year coursework and was poised to embark on the seventh-year NEWT coursework soon. Harry was very confident in completing his Hogwarts coursework this year. Thanks to the Ravenclaw Diadem, his nightly study sessions were incredibly productive, showcasing the magical artifact's remarkable abilities.

The 31st of October rolled around, marking the occasion of Halloween—a day steeped in traditions and celebrated with fervor in both the non-magical and wizarding communities.

Hogwarts was adorned with festive decorations, though they were somewhat subdued compared to the grandeur of the opening feast. Nevertheless, the day wasn't without its share of mischief and pranks.

Students roamed the corridors, some with pumpkins jammed onto their heads, others smeared with pumpkin pie, and a few even shrieked in surprise as they navigated the dimly lit passageways and got scared out of their wits.

The evening promised a grand feast, similar to the lavish dinner that welcomed them at the start of the academic year. However, Harry had decided to sit this one out.

Years had passed since the tragedy that marred this date for the Potter family, and though he had found a way to live with the memories, celebrating Halloween with the same joy as his friends was beyond him.

The day was a stark reminder of the events that had irrevocably changed the course of his life. To respect those memories, he decided not to take part in any pranks that day and just wished for the day to go by fast. Harry also felt sad because he couldn't visit his grandparents' graves like he used to do every year, breaking a tradition he held dear.

The day's classes got over and Harry informed his dormmates that he wouldn't be attending the evening feast. They were shocked that Harry did not want to eat the lavish meal of the feast but when Harry explained the reason for his absence, they understood.

11-year-old children in the wizarding world had more emotional intelligence than normal and Harry did not need to explain in detail why food was not important for him this day.

Choosing not to join the grand feast yet not wanting to go without dinner, Harry decided it was the perfect opportunity to explore the Hogwarts kitchens for the very first time. So, after the rest of Hogwarts made their way to celebrate, Harry went down to the basement near the Hufflepuff common room to find the kitchens' hidden entrance.

The doorway to the kitchens was cleverly disguised in a corridor filled with paintings of various foods. The secret to gaining entry to the kitchen was simple: you had to tickle a pear depicted in a painting of a fruit bowl.

When Harry tickled the pear, it giggled delightfully before transforming into a large green door handle right before his eyes. With a pull on the handle, the door swung open, granting him access to the kitchens beyond.

Inside, Harry was met with a vast expanse that was spotlessly clean, its stone floors, walls, and ceilings shining under the lantern light.

The kitchen housed four long tables at its center, arranged to mirror the layout of the House tables in the Great Hall above. Along one wall, stoves stretched out in a continuous line, while preparation tables were scattered throughout the room. Gigantic ovens were embedded into another wall, and the opposite side was lined with an extensive array of cooking utensils and tools.

A corner of the room was dedicated to a massive sink system where water flowed, and brushes and rags moved of their own accord, ensuring everything was cleaned, dried, and put away properly.

Many house elves bustled about the place, diligently preparing meals and managing the feast's demands. Already, dishes from the ongoing feast were being returned for washing, indicating the dinner upstairs was in full swing.

Noticing Harry, one of the house elves cheerfully approached him, eager to know if the young wizard needed anything.

Harry explained his situation calmly, sharing that he had decided to skip the feast but still wished to have dinner, and he wondered if it would be alright to eat there in the kitchens.

The elf was more than willing to assist, quickly providing Harry with the meal he requested.

As Harry ate his food, he observed the house elves working tirelessly around him. Despite their workload, there was a sense of joy and satisfaction among them as they went about their duties, a testament to their kind-hearted nature.

Harry was touched by the elves' dedication and the warmth they showed him, making his meal all the more enjoyable amidst the company of these hardworking magical beings.

As Harry enjoyed his meal in the kitchen, he also kept an eye on the Marauder's Map, scanning the castle's various floors for any sign of mischief. Given the history of troubles that tended to find Harry, especially on this day, he felt it best to stay one step ahead.

As Harry browsed through the Marauder's map, he quickly noticed a challenge with the map: with everyone gathered in the Great Hall for the feast, it struggled to display all the names. The map flickered through the attendees, making it hard for Harry to spot if anyone was notably absent.

Giving up and sweeping his gaze across the map to the staff table, Harry saw it was just as packed. Even Madam Pince, who typically preferred the quiet comfort of her library for meals, was there among the crowd.

However, as Harry reviewed the list of professors, he realized one name was missing – Professor Fletcher, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

This absence set off alarms in Harry's mind, confirming his suspicion that trouble might be brewing. It seemed almost a tradition for the DADA professor to be at the heart of any disturbances at Hogwarts, and Harry braced himself for what might come next.

Setting aside his plate, Harry focused on the map, searching the castle for any trace of Fletcher. It didn't take long before he spotted his name in the school library, likely up to no good.

Harry considered the situation but decided against intervening. The library held little danger, and Fletcher's presence there probably meant he was searching for something specific. Madam Pince's usual presence in the library had probably stopped him from going there until now.

Harry couldn't help but draw parallels between Fletcher and the notorious thief Mundungus Fletcher from the Harry Potter books. The same family name and the shared penchant for pilfering, left Harry puzzled over Dumbledore's decision to employ such a character. Surely, Dumbledore should be aware of Fletcher's notorious reputation.

Deciding that any potential problems were for the professors to handle, Harry returned to his meal. His life at Hogwarts wasn't about policing the faculty or jumping into every possible fray. Curiosity tugged at him, but not enough to abandon his dinner and investigate.

Surrounded by the bustling yet content house elves, Harry continued to eat. While he was enjoying his peaceful meal in the kitchen, Harry noticed that the house elves became less busy as the evening progressed.

Seeing that they could free themselves from some work now and intrigued by their unique roles within the castle, Harry struck up a conversation with Inky, the elf who had kindly served his dinner.

Harry was curious about everything – from whom the elves were bonded to, to their responsibilities beyond cooking, and even the hierarchy of who they answered to.

Inky was more than willing to share. She explained that she and the other elves were bonded directly to Hogwarts itself. They took their orders first from the castle, then the headmaster, followed by the professors, and finally, the students.

Harry found it fascinating, and a bit surprising, that the elves claimed to receive instructions from the castle itself, hinting at some form of sentience within the ancient walls of Hogwarts. However, when Harry pressed for more details, the elves couldn't offer much beyond somehow knowing it when someone needed their help or Hogwarts wanted them to do something, suggesting a mysterious connection between the castle and its caretakers.

Inky went on to detail the elves' other duties, which included taking care of the castle. Cleaning dormitories when the students were in class, managing the hallways during curfew, and assisting with various tasks to support the professors and the upkeep of the school's facilities, like the greenhouses.

As Harry's conversation with Inky unfolded, providing him with new insights into the life of Hogwarts' unseen helpers, the castle suddenly trembled, shaking as though caught in an unexpected earthquake.