After the school song—chaotic demons dancing wildly—finally came to an end, the Opening Feast was over as well. The students split into groups and began leaving the Great Hall. A tall girl with pink hair led the Hufflepuff students down through the hall and into a secluded corner, where a stack of large wooden barrels sat atop a shadowy stone recess.
"Hm?"
Avada noticed at once that the red glow surrounding the girl—the structure of her life force—was far more complex than anyone else's, and its connection to her mental power was unusually tight. Drawing on years of studying magic and observing magical structures, Avada recognized those extra components in her vitality. Their purpose seemed to be… transformation?
"First-years, pay attention," the girl said in a clear, cheerful voice. "This is the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. To get inside, you need to tap the bottom of the second barrel from the middle on the second row, in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff,' like this—"
As she spoke, she reached out and knocked seven times in a steady rhythm. Instantly, the lid of the barrel spun open, revealing a passageway leading down into the cellar.
"If you knock the wrong barrel, use the wrong rhythm, or tap the wrong number of times," the tall girl continued, "a different barrel will open and douse the intruder in vinegar."
At that, Avada's eyes lit up. "Then if we want to cook for ourselves but don't have ingredients, could we use this trick to collect vinegar?"
He was an old hand at making dumplings, after all!
"Self-taught indeed!"
The tall girl laughed brightly. "Congratulations—you've discovered the main source of vinegar used for Hufflepuff picnics and tea parties!"
"But the type of vinegar is random," Cedric added from the side. "Sometimes it's apple cider vinegar, sometimes black grape vinegar—there's coconut vinegar, white vinegar…"
"Two years ago someone even got a whole barrel of balsamic vinegar," he went on enthusiastically. "The entire Hufflepuff house went wild! The next three picnics in a row were all luxurious Italian feasts—so good that even Slytherin came over to mooch!"
Avada: …
"Of course, since you don't always get something you want," Cedric finished, "unwanted vinegar can be given to the house-elves in the kitchens, or stored for later use."
As Gabriel Truman spoke, he stepped into the passage first. "All right, everyone—back to the common room. Don't forget, we've still got another feast tonight!"
"Another feast?" Avada and the other first-years asked in surprise.
They were met only with mysterious smiles. With no other choice, they followed the group into the Hufflepuff common room.
It was a large, round, plainly furnished chamber with a low ceiling. Through its circular windows, one could see grass and dandelions swaying outside; during the day, it must be filled with sunlight. The room was decorated with polished copper fittings and lush greenery, some hanging from the ceiling, others arranged on the windowsills.
Against the center of the far wall stood a large, honey-colored wooden fireplace mantel, carved with the image of a badger. Above it hung a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff herself. Soft sofas and armchairs were scattered around the hearth, upholstered in black and yellow.
Before Avada could take it all in, an excited shout broke his thoughts.
"Hufflepuffs, rejoice!"
A young man with sandy curls and a face full of freckles leapt in front of the fireplace. His booming voice startled Avada. He lifted one arm gracefully and declaimed in a tone like a sonnet:
"After four long years, a new Auror has finally been born! She is Hufflepuff's big sister—no prefect, yet better than any prefect—our ever-changing Metamorphmagus, who hates having her full name spoken…"
"Ni—Tonks!"
Under the threatening glare of the tall girl—Tonks—he shuddered and swallowed the rest of the name mid-syllable, then continued as if nothing had happened:
"Over this past summer, she passed the Auror Office's examinations and became a trainee Auror—the first Hufflepuff Auror in twenty years! As long as she earns five N.E.W.T. certificates this year, her path as an Auror will be completely clear!"
"Ha! 'NEWTs' certificates!" someone laughed. "Why not have your granddad hand them to her personally, Rolf!"
"That's Rolf Scamander, a fourth-year," Cedric whispered to Avada, barely holding back laughter. "He's the grandson of the famous Magizoologist Newt Scamander. Since his granddad's name happens to be the same as the abbreviation for the top wizarding exams, everyone teases him about it."
"Maybe we could even give him a fire salamander," someone added. "He's researching those lately."
Amid the laughter, Rolf Scamander waved it off with practiced ease and stepped back, making room for the real star of the night—Tonks.
"Let me explain the situation first," she said cheerfully, her hair turning a bright, vivid red. "For the first half of this year, I'll be training at the Auror Office for six months, so I won't be around. Black Magic Defense tutoring will have to stop, too. Let's hope the new professor teaches you all well!"
"After Christmas, I'll come back for the second term and prepare to take the N.E.W.T. exams—though honestly, that's mostly a formality." She scratched her head with an embarrassed grin. "The Auror Office recruited me for my Metamorphmagus talent. My exam results don't matter all that much."
Good-natured laughter rippled through the room.
"But don't worry—I'm not some empty-headed fool," Tonks continued, her expression growing thoughtful. "Everyone here knows my Defense skills well enough. Besides, it's been ten years since the Dark Lord's death, and more and more remaining Death Eaters are being captured. The wizarding world in Britain is getting safer every year. Soon enough, there may barely be any work left for Aurors at all. Maybe in a few years, every dark wizard will be gone, and the magical world will finally know true peace."
"Yeah… I really hope that day comes," Rolf sighed.
He flicked his wand, and a large mug of Butterbeer appeared in front of everyone. "Don't make a fuss—this was arranged in secret with the house-elves. If Professor Sprout finds out, I'll be in detention for sure."
"Then—to peace!" Tonks raised her mug.
"To peace!"
The Hufflepuffs drained their Butterbeer in one go. The first-years followed suit, not fully understanding but finding the taste pleasantly good.
"By the way, let me share one last little secret," Tonks said, her hair shifting to the same golden-brown shade as Butterbeer as she lowered her voice conspiratorially. "According to people in the Auror Office, the savior who defeated the Dark Lord as a newborn—Harry Potter—will be coming to Hogwarts next year."
"It's a shame I won't be here to see him myself. You'll have to admire him properly on my behalf."
She tossed her hair back and raised her mug once more, now somehow refilled. "To Harry Potter!"
"To Harry Potter!"
The Hufflepuffs happily downed another mug of Butterbeer.
"All right, that's enough for tonight. The first-years still need to find their dormitories," Tonks said, wiping the corner of her mouth with a broad grin. "Tomorrow I'm off to the Ministry of Magic to begin my Auror training. I wish all of you a safe and successful new school year, and I hope our new students will truly feel the warmth and joy of Hufflepuff."
"And may you pass all your tests smoothly and stay safe in your work!" Rolf laughed, lifting his mug high. "To Tonks!"
The Hufflepuffs raised their cups together. "To Tonks!"
After the third mug of Butterbeer, the small celebratory feast in the common room came to an end. The older students reluctantly bid Tonks farewell and returned to their dormitories, while Cedric, Truman, and the others guided the first-years around, explained the facilities, handed out their schedules for the term, and finally escorted them to their rooms.
After enduring two feasts in one night, everyone was utterly exhausted. Hardly speaking at all, they changed into their pajamas and collapsed into bed at once.
(End of Chapter)