Chapter 37. He's a Big Figure at Hogwarts
Gabriel smiled and said, "This is our common room.
How is it?
Not bad, right?"
Behind him was the Hufflepuff common room.
The ceiling was a little low, and overall it was a plain, large room.
It was furnished with soft upholstered sofas in yellow and black.
Polished copper fittings gleamed, and the room was dotted with all kinds of plants.
Built against the wall was a large beige mantel carved with a badger, and above it hung a portrait of the House's founder, Helga Hufflepuff.
On clear days, sunlight would pour in through the rounded windows, making the common room feel warm.
Students with nothing to do could sit on the chairs by the windows, bask in the sun, and leisurely watch the rippling grass and dandelions outside.
"Can we eat all of those?" a first-year asked, pointing at the many plates set out on the tables, piled high with fruit, biscuits, and cakes—an assortment of snacks that looked delicious at a glance.
"Of course.
Our House is very close to the kitchens.
In the past, students often slipped out to find something to eat, and over time those kind-hearted house-elves started placing these plates in the common room, constantly replenishing or swapping the food.
You could say it's a Hufflepuff perk."
Gabriel casually picked up a small biscuit and popped it into his mouth.
Chewing, he said indistinctly, "Anyway, in Hufflepuff you never have to worry about going hungry.
Oh, right—one thing to keep in mind."
Gabriel added with a grin, "Don't eat so much you get too fat.
If you get wedged in the entrance and can't get in, that would be awful."
His words made the slightly nervous first-years chuckle.
Their tension eased as they looked for things they liked to eat.
"All right, you can play in the common room a while longer.
If you want to rest, your dormitories are up the stairs on either side," Gabriel called.
"I've told you everything you need to know.
I hope you have a wonderful school career in Hufflepuff!"
The first-years all thanked Gabriel.
After he left, they gathered in small groups, chatting excitedly.
"Duncan, this cake tastes pretty good."
Neville happily circled the plate heaped with pastries like a professional gourmet, recommending each new thing he tried to Duncan.
"You play here for now.
I've got something to do in the dormitory first."
Duncan didn't pause.
He followed Gabriel's path and went up the stairs leading to the dormitories.
"Wait for me, Duncan."
Neville hastily grabbed a handful of snacks from the table and hurried after him.
The corridor curved ahead.
On each door along the way were four or five nameplates listing the students living in that dormitory.
Their eyes roved left and right, searching for their own names.
"Do you think we'll get to live in the same dormitory?" Neville asked.
"It's fine either way.
Even if we're not in the same one, we can talk to people and swap into a room," Duncan replied.
Mainly, he would definitely need to duck into the case often to tend to the magical creatures.
If he shared a dormitory with others, it might be a bit inconvenient.
Neville's eyes widened slightly.
He seemed never to have had that thought before and couldn't help asking, "We can do that?"
"Why couldn't we?" Duncan countered.
"Our prefect never said we couldn't change dormitories."
Neville thought hard and said, "He really didn't say that..."
Talking in low voices, they walked to the far end of the corridor and finally found their names on the last dormitory—two nameplates side by side.
"Looks like we won't have to trouble anyone to switch," Duncan said with a satisfied smile.
He didn't know whether it was a coincidence, or whether Dumbledore knew his situation and deliberately put him in the same dormitory as Neville.
"Great!" Neville pushed open the door, bouncing into the room.
The copper light fittings gave off a warm glow, and in front of the two four-poster beds there was even a very practical copper heater.
At least here they wouldn't have to worry about spending the winter in a cold, damp environment.
Duncan turned, closed the door, and locked it.
He walked to the bedside—their luggage had already been delivered and neatly set to one side.
Duncan picked up his suitcase, turned the button on top in a specific pattern, and opened the lid.
A black blur immediately leapt out.
The Niffler, Pro, hooked its paws into Duncan's clothes and scrambled upward, reaching his shoulder in the blink of an eye before climbing down.
"Why did you only open the case so late?" Pro complained, rather displeased.
It had even helplessly taken a nap inside the case.
Duncan shrugged and replied, "The Sorting took a bit of time."
"This is your dormitory?"
Pro's beady eyes rolled around, lingering over everything that glittered.
"Right.
For all we know, my granddad might have lived in this dormitory too."
Duncan finished, then caught the telltale look in Pro's eyes and warned, "Don't you dare try to steal a single thing from this room.
Otherwise I'll hand you over to Filch!"
"Who's Filch?"
Pro became a little more well-behaved.
"An important figure at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Duncan said in an exaggerated tone.
"His favourite thing is to flay students and strip their bones, then hang them somewhere on a hook.
But if it's a magical creature..."
Duncan bared his teeth at Pro in a grin.
"That would probably be even worse, wouldn't it?"
Fear flickered in Pro's eyes.
It asked cautiously, "Are you telling the truth?
You're not lying to me?"
"How about I take you to see him?
He probably hasn't gone to bed yet," Duncan said airily.
"N-No need."
Pro lay down obediently.
"I'll help you keep an eye on the things in the dormitory.
I promise, not a single piece will go missing until you graduate!"
"I'll trust you this once."
Duncan ducked into the case, leaving only his head sticking out.
"Neville, are you coming in with me?"
"Ah?"
Neville jumped, as if waking from a nightmare.
His voice trembled.
"Th-That Filch..."
Duncan couldn't help laughing.
He hadn't expected Neville to take the words he'd used to scare Pro to heart as well.
He reassured him, "Don't worry.
The professors are here.
As long as you don't provoke Filch, he absolutely won't dare punish you at random."
Neville let out a breath.
"That's good.
I'll definitely keep well away from him."
"All right, come on.
Let's go see how Mori's doing."
Duncan beckoned, lowered himself, and vanished into the case.
"Coming, coming."
Neville casually tossed aside the things he'd just taken out of the case to sort, trotted forward, and followed him into the case.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts