Harry curiously glanced around the Hufflepuff common room, noticing how homely and comforting it looked. He absently listened to the speech the 5th year perfect was saying, the 6th and 7th year perfect's next to her. He understood that this house was the House of the Badgers, a family, where everyone can rely on each other.
This delighted Harry, he loved his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, but he always wanted a large family, cousins, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, you name it. He didn’t know where this urge started, maybe when he saw the group that looked as close as a family when he went on a field trip to London.
They were sent to their rooms after the speech, where they discovered they all had their own room but were close enough to others of their own age.
‘How wonderful.’ Harry thought, looking delighted at his new schedule, ‘I have a free period after breakfast so I can go look around.’
He did exactly that, as soon as breakfast ended he went looking around the school, starting from the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. Before he could start to explore, he noticed an open painting not far down the corridor, deciding to investigate, he went up and looked through.
“Can wez helpz you?” A voice asked from below making Harry look down. He was a small creature with floppy ears and large rotund eyes. His skin was very pale and looked quite similar to the tea bags in the corner, he did look comfortably dressed in Hogwarts servant robes.
“Right, where am I?” Harry turned to look back at the creature, “And what are you?”
“I amz a House Elf sirs, I workz in the kitchen at Hogwarts. My namez is Silly.” Silly, the house elf apparently, introduced himself and the area he found himself in.
Harry was interested in the kitchen, back with Aunt Petunia, he always took care of the cooking since he enjoyed doing it and it was very relaxing.
Harry eagerly looked towards the elf, “Would you mind if I used the kitchen also?”
“But-but yuoz is just a student, itz the house elf’s duty to cook.” Silly looked alarmed, twisting his hands in his clothes and glancing everywhere.
Harry looked taken aback, not sure how to deal with it, “It’s just that I really love to cook and it’s very relaxing, I’m not trying to take your job,” Harry could see that Silly was slowly calming down at his words, “How about a compromise, I will do the cooking and everything and if need help, either with the cooking or just getting me ingredients, I’ll ask you.”
Silly now fully calmed down, looking at Harry with calculating eyes, gauging and seeing how truthful he was. He finally nodded and let Harry pass through, heaving a sigh of relief, he followed the elf.
He decided to explore the school another day and just decided to cook today, and asked the house elves to get him the ingredients to make some cookies and other desserts.
Harry cheerfully hummed as he pulled the sugar and chocolate chip cookies out of the oven, the delicious smell wafting through the kitchen. He put them on a rack and sat at a table, sipping the rose tea he had the house elves prepare.
Soon the cookies were done and he plated them to take them back to the hall, he told the elves that he’ll take them back since the Hufflepuff common rooms are right across the hall.
He thanked them profusely once more and let them know he’ll come back sometime when he’s not busy with school or anything else.
He hummed cheerfully as he walked back to the common room, plate carefully balanced in his hands, the smell wafting through the hallway.
He walked into the common room, after putting in the password, and walked to a couch a bit off to the side and in the back, just under Helga’s Hufflepuffs portrait. He placed the plate on the table right next to him before he pulled out his Potions book, planning to read a little before his class.
The hours slowly passed by, Harry switching to his Charms and Transfiguration books when he got tired of Potions and alternated until it looked to be 5 PM. He placed the book down and leisurely stretched, looking much like a cat arching his back in the warm sun.
He leaned over and grabbed a sugar cookie, nibbling and enjoying the taste of the cookie, nearly moaning as the warm sugar melted in his mouth.
“So this is where the smell is coming from.” An amused voice broke his thoughts, glancing over at the small group that stood in front of him.
He recognized some of them, Hannah and Susan were standing together, blonde and brown hair blending together. Justin stood just to the side of them next to the 2 unidentified 3rd year Hufflepuff’s.
“Yes.” Harry said after swallowing down the bite, “Can I help you?”
The male Hufflepuff laughed as he stared at Harry, “No we were just curious about the smell, we didn’t know where it was coming from so we went looking. Looks like we found a 1st year eating some cookies.”
Harry huffed as he grabbed the plate of cookies, “Excuse you, I’ll have you know my cookies are not just some cookies, they’re cookies of awesome sugary goodness.”
“But they’re just cookies made by the house elves, amazing but not out of this world.” The female Hufflepuff said, confused by his reaction.
“Excuse you once more, I made these cookies without the house elves helping me. They only brought me the ingredients.” Harry playfully turned his nose on the two 3rd years.
The two Hufflepuff’s gaped, rather unattractively, as they heard that he made them. They couldn’t believe that as the house elves let nobody use their kitchen beside them, to hear that they let a person use their kitchen was a shock.
“I-Is that a big deal?” Justin hesitantly asked, having been raised a muggleborn he didn’t have a clue how significant that was, especially since he cooked at home.
“Yes, a pretty big deal,” Susan admitted, “Most house elves let no one in their kitchen and since most purebloods hate work, it’s even more unheard of.”
“Whatever, pureblood traditions are that. I personally love cooking and it’s relaxing so I bargained with the house elves that in exchange for cooking, I’ll let them bring me anything I need as long as I cook.” Harry shrugged carelessly, not caring what they think, “Anyway try some, the house elves loved the cookies also.”
The male nodded first, “Thanks, I’m Cedric Diggory.” He flashed a charming smile to Harry, making his heart flutter.
“Yea thanks, names Mathilda Jones.” Mathilda gave a cocky smirk, reaching forward and grabbing a chocolate cookie.
“Yea, here.” Harry shoved the plate forward so everyone could grab a cookie and start eating.
As one they all took a bite of the cookie and moaned at the taste, it was the best thing they’ve ever eaten. The cookie was incredibly soft, the chocolate cookie was melting instantly and it wasn’t overpowering the cookie dough. The sugar cookie was the same, it melted instantly and didn’t overpower their tastebuds.
“Bloody hell this is amazing.” Cedric was in heaven as he tasted the delicious cookie.
“This is one of the best cookies I’ve ever had.” Hannah said in awe.
The other three nodded their heads as they grabbed more cookies, wanting to have more and more.
“Really? Thank you.” Harry humbly said, not many people ate his food besides his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin so to hear compliments was very encouraging.
“Well I’m planning on making more desserts throughout the year, so I can share what I make. I do make a large variety of desserts so there’s a lot of everything.” Harry offered.
Cedric nodded his head, quite looking like he’d break his neck, at that, really wanting to taste more delicious desserts.
“Yes we definitely want more.” Mathilda said, amusement coloring her voice as she looked at Cedric.
“I can help you with homework in exchange,” Cedric continued quickly when it looked like Harry would object, “Well you’re spending your time making desserts and sharing it with us, I wanted to repay you.”
“Us too.” Hannah, Susan and Justin chimed in, Mathilda nodded her head with her cocky smirk.
“Fine.” Harry sighed in defeat, already seeing that he was going to lose this fight and accepted their help.
After eating the food, they all separated. Justin, Hannah, and Susan were going up to their rooms and said they’d meet Harry at the entrance before breakfast tomorrow. Mathilda went to the library to hang out with some other friends from the other houses and Cedric sat next to Harry, chatting and talking about how everything is going and how Harry is adjusting, after learning that Harry was muggle raised.
The next two hours were spent with Cedric, both of them relaxing on the extended couch they moved onto. Eventually it came to an end and they separated with promises to meet tomorrow after classes to hang out some more.
Harry headed to bed with a smile, feeling that today was a great day and it would get even better throughout his years at Hogwarts.