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Chapter 344: Hufflepuff Common Room
Chapter 344: Hufflepuff Common Room
Over half an hour had passed since curfew, and in the corner to the right of the kitchen corridor, a brown head occasionally popped out from a pile of wooden barrels, only to retreat at the slightest sound.
Soon, one head became two, like two mushrooms sprouting from the ground.
"It's been a while," Ryan said.
"Yeah," Theo replied with a frown.
"Vold might have already returned to the common room," Ryan said. "You know he can transform into an eagle and fly out through any window. He doesn't have to take this route."
"I know, but I messaged him, and he hasn't replied yet," Theo said.
"Maybe he's just not checking his friend's account. Once he starts studying, he won't look at messages for half a day," Ryan added.
"It's late; you should go to rest, Ryan. I'll wait here," Theo said, trying to shoo him away.
Ryan hummed but remained silent and didn't leave.
Leaning against a nearby barrel, Theo propped his chin on his hand and yawned. "Do you think we should go find Professor Sprout or Professor McGonagall?"
Hanging on the other side, Ryan replied, "Do you think Professor Snape is some kind of Krabbe monster that eats kids? Even if Vold accidentally angered the professor, he wouldn't be boiled in a cauldron."
"I know, but..." Theo sighed worriedly.
Professor Snape didn't single out any particular Hufflepuff for criticism; he was fair in his reprimands. Theo had rarely been scolded since he and Vold were always partners in Potions class.
But when that professor had a stern look on his face, it was enough to make the entire Hufflepuff House tremble in fear.
"Professor Sprout is like a mother, though." Theo thought of his own Head of House and felt relieved.
Ryan nodded in agreement.
Just then, Ryan heard light footsteps in the corridor and quickly pulled Theo down, whispering, "Someone's coming!"
Although Theo didn't hear anything, he trusted his partner's hearing and immediately hid, holding his breath and remaining still.
Ryan listened carefully again, and a smile appeared on his face. "It's not Filch—it's Vold!"
So, the two 'mushrooms' poked their heads out once more.
After waiting for a moment, they indeed saw Vold's figure appearing at the end of the corridor. He furrowed his brows slightly, gazing at the ground in front of him, his expression unusually serious.
Theo stretched out his arm and waved, calling out softly, "Vold!"
Vold lifted his head and looked at the two of them, a bit surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you!" Ryan replied briefly.
"Come in quickly!" Theo waved his arms anxiously. "Filch might come by soon!"
Although Vold wasn't concerned about that, he still hurried over, accommodating Theo's wishes.
In the middle of the pile of large wooden barrels, there was a slightly inclined circular entrance, and Ryan and Theo squeezed themselves into it.
By this time, Ryan had already disappeared through the entrance, and Theo waved at Vold, then retreated and crawled inside.
Vold stood there, looking at the entrance as if he were about to crawl into a cement pipe on a construction site.
However, the surrounding 'pipe' was made of wood, emitting a faint aroma of wine and a sweet, creamy scent. The bottom and sides were polished to a mirror-like shine from being rubbed so often.
After crawling for a short distance, a spacious area opened up before them. The circular basement was much lower than the Ravenclaw common room, reminding one of a badger lying on the ground.
The room was bathed in a warm, orange-yellow glow, with the fireplace blazing brightly. The sofas and armchairs, upholstered in yellow and black velvet, added to the cozy atmosphere. Shelves, windowsills, and even the ceiling were adorned with magical plants, some emitting a soft luminescence, others swaying gently, and a few in full bloom, creating a vibrant and lively ambiance.
The air was filled with the fragrant aroma of plants and flowers, and insects not commonly seen in other common rooms, such as fireflies and butterflies, added a whimsical touch. Above the fireplace, a honey-colored mantelpiece carved with badgers displayed a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff, the founding head of the house. Her round face bore a warm and joyful smile, similar to Professor Sprout's, that seemed to uplift the spirits of those who gazed upon it.
Unfortunately, it was already night, and the windows offered no view of the sunlight streaming through the circular windows.
The three of them were alone in the common room, and Vold couldn't help but ask, "Where are the other students from the house?"
Theo replied matter-of-factly, "They're asleep. It's quite late already."
Vold hesitated, "Well, that's true..."
He thought that in the Ravenclaw common room, there would likely be students studying or doing homework in the corners, and as for Gryffindor, the Weasley twins probably hadn't returned yet.
Vold didn't know much about the Slytherin students, but he doubted they would all adhere to a strict sleep schedule.
The two Hufflepuffs, who usually went to bed early, were fighting off sleep as they sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Theo, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "Vold, did you go to Professor Snape? Did he give you a hard time?"
Vold asked strangely, "How did you know?"
Ryan explained, "On our way back, we saw Malfoy by chance. He reported to Filch that a student was wandering around the underground corridor near the Potions classroom at night—we guessed it might be you."
Since the Potions classroom was located near Professor Snape's office, they had a good idea of Vold's intention.
"Did you go to Professor Snape for Neville's sake?" Theo asked with concern. "What if he starts targeting you too?"
"Of course, I didn't just rush to the professor and accuse him. I just wanted him to know that Neville can feel pain too, that he's not a stone that's immune to insults and accusations."
Vold reassured them, "Don't worry, Professor Snape wasn't angry with me. But whether the outcome of our communication will meet my expectations, I can't say."
"That's good," Theo sighed in relief, then quickly added, "I'm not saying I don't care about Neville, it's just that..."
"I know," Vold said with understanding, smiling. "Thank you, Theo, and Ryan. I appreciate your concern."
Ryan shook his head. "When Neville cried, I felt terrible too, but I didn't know how to help him. I..."
He lowered his head in shame, his voice barely audible as he said, "I'm sorry... I didn't have the courage to stand up to Professor Snape..."
(End of Chapter)
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