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Chapter 47 – Hufflepuff's Treasury
Audrey left the Potions classroom and headed in the direction of the kitchens.
According to the book, if you go down the stairs near the Hufflepuff common room, you'll reach the kitchens, she muttered to herself. The problem is—I have no idea where the Hufflepuff common room actually is.
It was often said that men and women had different senses of direction, but this was, in fact, a flawed theory.
Most men tended to memorise their surroundings by shape, while most women focused on colour.
Shapes remained constant—but colours changed frequently.
At Hogwarts, staircases appeared one colour in the morning and another at dusk. That alone was enough to make anyone doubt their sense of direction.
Unfortunately, Audrey's memory also leaned heavily towards colour.
She searched every staircase near the Great Hall, yet still failed to find the famous fruit painting said to conceal the entrance to the kitchens.
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"George, do you think this is enough to eat?"
"I'd say so. We're just giving Harry a taste of Hogwarts nightlife, not throwing a banquet. What do you think, Fred?"
"That's fair. Shame we don't have any wine."
"We could borrow some from Wood. He smuggled a bottle of Firewhisky back from Hogsmeade last year."
"We can always go this year and return it."
"But Harry'll get drunk!"
"So will we!"
"Hah! Then we'll all be late tomorrow morning!"
"What class do we even have?"
"…Snape's Potions."
"Oh, Merlin's beard."
"That was supposed to be a ten-point deduction. Now it'll be fifty."
"Fifty's still fifty. Besides, Snape added over seventy points to Slytherin today. He's clearly aiming for their eighth House Cup in a row."
"You're right. With Snape handing out points like that, there's no point struggling."
"What did Audrey call this again?"
"Lie flat!"
"Lie flat!"
"Oh, George, I love that phrase."
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Audrey's eyes lit up as she watched Fred and George emerge from a concealed doorway, arms laden with food.
A mischievous impulse struck.
She subtly adjusted her vocal cords and said coldly, in a perfect imitation—
"Mr Weasley."
The twins froze.
They spun around, scanned the corridor—and saw nothing.
Then they bolted.
"Merlin, George, was that Snape?!"
"It sounded like him! Why didn't he come out and catch us?"
"I don't care! I'd rather Filch lock us up than deal with Snape!"
"Forget drinking tonight—losing points isn't worth it!"
"Exactly! Losing points is fine, but losing points and not having fun is tragic!"
Audrey watched them flee, stifling a laugh.
Her earlier frustration vanished instantly.
Judging by the amount of food they were carrying, the doorway they'd come from could only lead to the kitchens.
She slipped through the same entrance and soon found a staircase leading downward.
A few minutes later, she spotted the fruit painting.
The magical echoes were strongest around the pear.
She tickled it.
The pear let out a giggle, twisted—and transformed into a green doorknob.
Audrey pushed past the invisible barrier and stepped inside.
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The Hogwarts kitchens lay directly beneath the Great Hall, mirroring it in size and layout.
Four long tables stood in the same positions as those above.
The ceiling soared high, the fireplace was enormous, and the walls were stacked with gleaming copper pots and pans.
House-elves bustled everywhere, preparing ingredients for the next morning's breakfast.
"Another honoured witch!" one of them cried.
In an instant, Audrey was surrounded.
"What can we do for you, honoured lady?"
"Little master?"
Momo emerged from the crowd, eyes wide with excitement.
"Is this the little master you always speak of?" asked the leading house-elf in astonishment.
Momo nodded vigorously. "Yes! This is my little master—the very best little master!"
"Oh!"
"Oh!!"
"Wow!!!"
"Dear Miss, we hear Momo praise you often! You are kind, talented, gentle, and extraordinary! Please allow us to serve you!"
Audrey smiled awkwardly and shook her head. "No need. I'm here to learn."
"Ohhh! Momo was right! Such eagerness to learn—truly the most remarkable little wizard!"
Embarrassed, Audrey said quickly, "Please continue your work. Just let Momo stay with me."
"Yes, Momo's little master."
"My name is Audrey Astray. You can call me Audrey."
"No, no—Miss Astray."
"Miss Astray?"
Suddenly, one house-elf froze.
"…Is that the Miss Astray? The one who sings?"
Audrey blinked. "Yes. That's me. Why?"
"It's Miss Audrey Astray!"
The entire kitchen erupted.
"So Momo's little master is Miss Audrey Astray!"
With a snap of his fingers, music filled the kitchen—the nursery rhyme The Hardworking Little Bee, which Audrey had written in 1990 for Charles Primary School.
…Admittedly, the 'little bee' in the song was inspired by house-elves.
"If I get the chance," Audrey said helplessly, "I'll help you record The Hardworking Little Elf instead."
The effect was explosive.
House-elves burst into tears.
"She's too kind!"
"So gentle!"
"We'll have our own song!"
Momo puffed out her chest proudly.
See? I told you!
---
Ignoring the chaos, Audrey began studying the ancient magical echoes woven into the kitchen.
Since she'd already used the food-delivery and communication magic from the Great Hall, she quickly identified that section.
That left the remaining enchantments—which undoubtedly included the anti-ghost wards.
She walked along the perimeter, memorising the patterns.
Then she reached the fireplace.
"…This looks like an entrance."
The magical circuitry here was eerily similar to that of the Headmaster's office.
Lines converged on a single stone brick, marking it as distinct.
Curious, Audrey tapped it.
The magic reacted—
But nothing happened.
She tapped again. Still nothing.
Momo whispered, "Little master… can you see the magic traces too?"
Audrey glanced at her. "Only a little. Don't tell anyone."
"Yes, little master!"
Audrey stared at the stone brick.
She was certain now—this was an entrance to a hidden chamber.
But how to open it?
The kitchens and greenhouses were Helga Hufflepuff's domain…
Hufflepuff—
Her eyes lit up.
The entrance to the Hufflepuff common room required tapping the barrel in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff.
So—
She tapped the stone brick in that same rhythm.
This time, the magic responded violently.
After the seventh tap, the entire fireplace trembled. Pots, pans, and grates were pushed aside as blackened stone slid away, revealing a massive opening.
"Wow!"
Momo's eyes went round. "What is this place…?"
"The entrance to Lady Hufflepuff's vault!"
Several elder house-elves gasped aloud.
"Hufflepuff's Vault?"
Audrey was only mildly surprised. After all, Salazar Slytherin had left one behind as well.
"Miss Astray," an elder elf said reverently, "there is an ancient prophecy among Hogwarts' elves. One day, a young wizard will discover Lady Hufflepuff's vault and inherit her legacy."
"We never imagined it would be you."
Audrey let out a quiet sigh.
She'd only wanted to get rid of the ghosts.
How had this turned into inheriting a founder's legacy?
Still—
A thief never leaves empty-handed.
And since she was already here…
She might as well go in.
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