An: sorry for the lack of chapters today I had a really really really important chemistry test that I had to study really really really hard for but don't worry I'll keep posting as much as possible ❤️👍😓
———————————————————
Hydrus Lestrange left the Potions office and headed toward the kitchens.
"In the original layout, you're supposed to go down the stairs leading toward the Hufflepuff common room to find the kitchens," Hydrus muttered to herself. "The problem is—I have no idea where the Hufflepuff common room actually is."
There was a saying about men and women having different senses of direction, but it was mostly nonsense. Most men remembered environments by shape; most women remembered them by color.
Shapes stayed the same. Colors changed.
A staircase in the morning did not look the same at dusk. That subtle shift was often why women felt they were "bad with directions."
Unfortunately, Hydrus remembered by color too.
She wandered every staircase around the Great Hall and still failed to find the legendary fruit painting that opened the kitchen door.
"George, is this really enough food?"
"I think so. We're just showing Harry how lively Hogwarts nights can be, not throwing a party. What do you think, Fred?"
"Makes sense. Shame there's no alcohol."
"We could ask Wood to lend us some. I know he smuggled back a bottle of Firewhisky from Hogsmeade last year."
"We can go to Hogsmeade ourselves this year and return it later."
"But Harry will get drunk!"
"So will we!"
"Haha—then we'll all be late tomorrow!"
"What class do we have tomorrow morning again?"
"Snape's Potions…"
"Oh. That's awful."
"Yeah. What would've been ten points is probably fifty now."
"Fifty it is. Snape gave Slytherin over seventy points today anyway—he's clearly pushing for their eighth win in a row."
"You're right. With Snape handing them points, our effort doesn't matter. If points must be deducted, so be it."
"What did Hydrus call this again?"
"Lying flat!" ×2
"Oh, George, I love that phrase."
Hydrus watched Fred and George emerge from a doorway, her eyes lighting up.
Grinning mischievously, she adjusted her voice and perfectly mimicked Snape's tone.
"Mr. Weasley."
The twins nearly jumped out of their skins. They spun around, saw nothing, and immediately bolted toward the Gryffindor common room.
"Merlin—George, was that Snape?!"
"It sounded like him! But why didn't he grab us?"
"Who knows?! Bloody terrifying. I'd rather serve detention with Filch than with Snape!"
"Forget it—no drinking tonight."
"Yeah. Losing points is one thing. Losing points without fun is unforgivable."
Hydrus watched them flee, her irritation from being lost instantly lifting.
Judging by the food they were carrying, the doorway they'd come from had to lead to the kitchens.
She slipped inside.
Sure enough, a staircase descended downward.
Within minutes, she found the fruit painting.
To her eyes, the pear was the densest cluster of ancient magical echoes.
She tickled it.
The pear giggled, twisted—and transformed into a green door handle.
Hydrus dropped her invisibility and stepped inside.
The kitchen lay directly beneath the Great Hall, identical in size. Four long tables mirrored the ones above. The ceiling was high, fireplaces enormous, and the walls were stacked with gleaming copper pots and pans.
House-elves bustled everywhere, preparing ingredients for breakfast.
"Another honored witch!" one elf exclaimed as Hydrus was noticed. Instantly, she was surrounded. "What may we do for you, honored lady?"
"Little Master!"
Momo squeezed her way forward, eyes shining.
"This is the Little Master you always talk about?" another elf gasped.
Momo nodded fiercely. "Yes! The best Little Master!"
"Oh!"
"Oh!!"
"Wow!!!"
"Honored Lady, we've heard so much about you from Momo! Kindest, cleverest, gentlest, most remarkable young witch—please allow us to serve you!"
Hydrus smiled and shook her head. "No need. I'm here to study."
"See?! Momo was right! So studious—truly the most amazing witch!"
Embarrassed, Hydrus waved them off. "Please, get back to work. Just let Momo stay with me."
"Yes, Momo's Little Master."
"My name is Hydrus Lestrange. You can call me Hydrus."
"We wouldn't dare, Miss Lestrange."
"Miss Lestrange…?"
One elf froze. "The Miss Lestrange… who sings?"
Hydrus nodded. "That's me. Why?"
"It's Hydrus Lestrange!"
The kitchen erupted. Cheers rang out as the elves clapped and danced.
Hydrus cleared her throat. "Next time, I'll make a song just for house-elves."
That was all it took.
They burst into tears, sobbing with joy.
"She's too kind!"
"So gentle!"
"We're getting our own song!"
Momo puffed out her chest proudly.
See? I told you!
Ignoring the emotional chaos, Hydrus focused on the ancient magical echoes in the kitchen.
She quickly identified the sections responsible for food delivery and communication—the same ones she had already used in the Great Hall.
That meant the remaining structures handled other functions.
Including ghost exclusion.
She walked the perimeter, memorizing everything.
Until she reached the fireplace.
"…This feels like an entrance."
The magical construction here was almost identical to the one guarding the Headmaster's office.
Countless lines converged on a single brick.
Hydrus tapped it.
The magic reacted—but nothing happened.
She tapped again.
Still nothing.
Momo whispered, "Little Master… you can see magical pathways too?"
"Just a little," Hydrus murmured. "Don't tell anyone."
"I won't!"
Hydrus studied the brick again. She was certain this was a hidden chamber.
But how to open it?
The kitchens and greenhouses were Helga Hufflepuff's domain…
Hufflepuff…
Her eyes lit up.
The Hufflepuff common room was opened by tapping a barrel in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff's name.
So—
She tapped the brick in that rhythm.
The reaction was immediate.
After the seventh tap, the entire fireplace rumbled. Pots, cauldrons, and grates were pushed aside as the soot-blackened wall slid away, revealing a vast opening.
"Wow…"
Momo stared. "This is…"
"The entrance to Lady Hufflepuff's hidden vault," an older elf breathed.
"Hufflepuff's vault?"
Hydrus was surprised—but only briefly. Salazar Slytherin had left one behind too. This felt… fair.
"Miss Lestrange, a prophecy has been passed among Hogwarts' elves for generations," the elder elf said reverently. "One day, a young witch would find Hufflepuff's vault and inherit her legacy."
"And that witch… is you."
Hydrus sighed softly.
She had only wanted a way to keep ghosts away.
How had she ended up inheriting a founder's legacy?
Still—
One doesn't leave a founder's vault unopened.
After all…
She was already here.