Chapter 22: Kitchens and Offices

"Glad to see you looking better, Simon."

Cedric smiled warmly as he met Simon, George and Phoebe outside the Hufflepuff common room. He raised his eyebrows slightly as he saw an additional figure join them.

"Sharon heard we were getting food and asked to join," George shrugged. Sharon seemed to pop up whenever he and Simon were off to somewhere. George honestly found it somewhat unsettling.

"I am soooo excited to get some pastries! Like…"

"Actually, can Row join as well?" Phoebe spoke up, cutting off the loquacious Ravenclaw, "I thought it was going to be us five but if more can join anyways then…"

"Yeah sure, why not?" Simon concurred, "Fred isn't even here yet – late as usual."

Cedric admired the back and forth between Phoebe and gave George a knowing look. George slowly realised what they were doing and glanced at Sharon. The girl did not notice a thing.

Many minutes later, Cedric tickled the pear in the painting of a bowl of fruit before guiding his friends, as well as Sharon, Row, Lee Jordan and his Hufflepuff roommate Michael into the kitchen. House-elves busied themselves but a few paused at the entrance at the sight of the throng of students.

"Are you all hungry? Mitty can whip up some custard tarts quickly," a sharp-nosed house-elf told the children, "Pitts would be too preoccupied to notice right now anyways."

"Pitts?" Fred queried.

"That would the house-elf who leads the kitchen, basically the chef de cuisine here," Cedric explained, clearly having entered here with other Hufflepuffs quite a few times already, "Thank you Mitty, that would be wonderful."

Simon took in the exchange. It would seem like the kitchen staff hierarchy was the same as introduced in Hogwarts Mystery. Jae Kim was indeed standing near a burly house-elf (as burly as a house-elf could be), who was ordering him to make more sandwiches.

"Jae has endless detentions in the kitchens for all the trouble he gets into," Fred grinned in admiration, "So cool."

"And what would all that trouble be?" Row asked.

"Selling contraband mostly, but also for skiving classes, starting a major betting ring for quidditch games, letting loose ever-bashing boomerangs at a feast two years ago, and supplying alcohol for most post-game parties on campus. The man is a legend," Lee smiled as he confidently recited all of Jae's questionable accomplishments.

"And he apparently still passed most of his O.W.L.s and got an Outstanding for DADA!" Michael added, as everyone looked surprised at his comment, "Hey! Not only Gryffindors know him! Plus, we Hufflepuffs see him in the kitchen often enough."

Simon eyed the sixth-year student who was the topic of discussion. Most of what was shared was in-line with what Simon knew of Jae from the Hogwarts Mystery game – up to the point he played in his past life. However, Simon did not recall any discussion of a Jacob who got expelled, a sibling of this Jacob, or major curse-breaking adventures led by the current sixth year students. It seemed like many of the game characters do exist in Simon's wizarding world or even in canon but the key adventures of the game never really crossed over. It was interesting to see how much of the Harry Potter side projects like video games and theatre plays actually had any bearing to the world he inhabited.

Any thoughts about these older students from the Harry Potter video games were extinguished from Simon's mind as he munched contently on the snacks Mitty had provided them.

"Are these or Flitwick's dancing cupcakes better?" Fred asked as Simon went for another custard tart.

"Anything that dances is infinitely better," Simon responded, earning a nod from Sharon who would be sharing her experience if her mouth was not so full. Simon had often noticed Sharon in Professor Flitwick's office before or after his office hours.

"Teacher's pet," muttered Fred as he recalled George telling him about the many office hours Simon had been attending.

"Hey! I am getting insider information and keeping them distracted while you guys wreak havoc around the castle!" Simon retorted, "Imagine how much quicker Professor McGonagall would have arrived at the scene of the flooded bathroom!"

"She arrived just in time to see a redhead in blue robes," Fred smirked, "Impeccable timing."

"Well, she came across a redhead in red robes who looked awfully like the one in blue later that day. Except this time having set off a dungbomb before running off," George added, "Pretty sure that balanced things out for the day."

Cedric and Phoebe looked at each other, relieved that not one Weasley twin got sorted into their respective houses.

"You have not been going to office hours of Professor Wiblin as often though, right Simon?" Sharon turned to ask Simon, clearly much more interested in her housemate's academic pursuits than Ravenclaw's sabotaged chances at the House Cup thanks to George and Fred's antics.

"Err…yeah. He is not *that* helpful, mainly talks about himself…"

Simon thought about the two meetings he has had with the DADA professor of the 1989-1990 school year. A descendant of the famous dueller Samson Wiblin, Professor Douglas Wiblin seemed to be more interested sharing about his family's illustrious history to any student who went to speak with him 1-on-1 instead of answering their questions. Simon was getting a sense that Professor Wiblin was only teaching at Hogwarts to add something more on his resumé and would leave the following year when another shinier opportunity arises. At least he was a competent lecturer and did not seem evil or possessed at this point? Simon internally screamed at how low the bar was to be a decent DADA professor at Hogwarts.

---

It took many hours before Simon felt like he had truly digested all the custard tarts in his system. Thankfully, it occurred around the same time as Raze returned to his bedside.

*"They are all ready when you are."*

"Okay, come over here George."

George joined Simon's side at their empty dormitory. It was getting late but not anywhere near bedtime so the others were not back yet. The two had spotted Roger and Jake playing gobstones in the common room while Fahim sat nearby leafing through his charms textbook just a few moments earlier.

"Mitty!"

A loud pop could be heard as the sharp-nosed house-elf appeared before them.

"Yes, Mr Li and Mr Weasley?"

"Can you take us to the kitchens?"

"Yes, now if you just hold on to my arm…"

The boys obliged and Raze clung onto Simon's shoulder as well.

Another pop later, they found themselves surrounded by hardworking house-elves and the smell of hot cocoa.

The boys helped themselves to the drinks and food as Fred, Cedric and Phoebe appeared in subsequent pops.

"I am still quite proud you got the cue," Phoebe smiled as she picked up a chocolate chip cookie.

"We have Simon's mother and her maze to thank," Cedric responded, "You and Simon gave us the same look when you want to make it an adventure for us five only and leave Sue, Ron and Ginny to work out a part of the maze on their own."

"Would also be too much work for Mitty to apparate so many of us into the kitchen anyways!" Fred laughed.

Simon grinned at his friends noticing their intention to keep some things to themselves. He was not sure if Cedric, Fred and George had the same reasons as him but he was sure Phoebe did. Any Slytherin would know to keep the knowledge about the house-elves' ability to apparate within the Hogwarts Castle and on-demand for students within a small circle.