The Journey to the Hufflepuff Common Room
The journey to the Hufflepuff common room felt like a warm hug.
The first-years clustered at the front of the line as the prefect led them away from the Great Hall, down a broad stone staircase that curved gently into the heart of the castle. Every step revealed something new. Paintings whispered to one another as the students passed. Suits of Armor nodded stiffly. Ghosts drifted through walls with absent-minded politeness.
Leo felt almost dizzy trying to take it all in. Orion, Lyra, and Vela had told him stories about Hogwarts for years, but none of their words could compare to this. The magic was alive here, breathing through stone and candlelight. He slowed unconsciously, drifting toward a painting of a wizard attempting to juggle teacups while arguing with his own reflection.
"Careful there, star-gazer."
A gentle but firm hand caught the back of Leo's robe.
The female prefect smiled down at him, round-faced and plump with soft cheeks and warm brown eyes. Her hair was pulled into a neat bun that somehow stayed perfectly in place despite the stairs.
"That's Prefect Matilda Crowley," Rowan whispered loudly, as if this were crucial survival information.
Matilda chuckled. "And you must be Leo Lee. You're not the first first-year I've had to rescue from wandering artwork."
Around them, the other first-years were having reactions of their own.
Cedric walked with his head tilted upward, eyes constantly flicking from ceiling to walls. "My brother said the staircases move," he murmured, half-awed, half-alarmed. "I thought he was exaggerating."
Elowen gasped softly every few steps, fingers brushing the stone walls as though committing the texture to memory.
Maribel was whispering excitedly to a dark-haired senior named Iris Holloway, theorizing how many enchantments must be layered just to keep the candles floating.
Rowan nearly walked straight into a ghost who drifted through the floor, yelped, apologized instinctively, and then laughed at himself.
Another boy, Felix Morcombe, stared openly at a group of portraits arguing over chess strategies, while his friend Anya Whitlock waved enthusiastically at every ghost that passed, whether they noticed her or not.
The castle seemed pleased by their wonder.
As they descended deeper underground, the air changed. The stone corridors grew warmer. The faint chill of the towers vanished, replaced by the comforting scent of baking bread, honey, and dried herbs.
Angus the male prefect with buck tooth slowed and pointed to a large painting of a fruit bowl.
"Keep an eye on that one," he whispered conspiratorially. "Tickle the pear, and it opens straight into the kitchens. Very useful for midnight snacks."
He grinned. "Last year, someone tried it during patrol and ran straight into Professor Sprout carrying a tray of treacle tarts."
A boy near the back turned bright red.
"That was one time," muttered Oliver Pike, while his friends dissolved into laughter.
Matilda laughed too. "All in good fun. Just remember to run faster next time."
They continued on until they reached a sunlit alcove where a stack of large wooden barrels rested against the wall, polished smooth by time and use.
"This," Matilda announced proudly, "is the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room."
She tapped the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, carefully in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff.
"And remember," she added cheerfully, "get it wrong and you'll be sprayed with vinegar. So focus."
The lid swung open, revealing a warm, earth-toned tunnel.
One by one, the first-years crawled through.
Leo gasped as he emerged.
The Hufflepuff common room was round and cozy, with low ceilings and soft golden light glowing from everywhere at once. Giant circular windows looked out onto rolling grass and flowers that swayed gently, even underground. Overstuffed yellow sofas and armchairs were scattered invitingly across the room, layered with knitted blankets and mismatched cushions.
Vines trailed from hanging plants above, their leaves casting soft shadows like lace against the walls. Moss grew naturally between the stones, glowing faintly as if it had absorbed centuries of magic. Near the far wall hung a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff herself, smiling warmly, as though she had been expecting them.
The air felt alive, kind, welcoming.
"It's like a badger's sett," Cedric whispered, reverent. "It's perfect."
Leo smiled, feeling something settle gently in his chest.
After the seniors disappeared into their dormitories, the first-years was ask to stay a little bit longer, laughter echoing softly, exhaustion mixing with excitement.
The Hufflepuff House Rules
Once every first year had settled into the common room, Prefect Angus Smith clapped his hands gently, the sound somehow carrying without being sharp.
"Alright, first-years, before you all collapse where you stand, a few house rules," he said cheerfully.
he ticked them off on her fingers.
"First: Hufflepuffs look after one another. If someone's lost, help them. If someone's behind, wait for them. No exceptions."
Several students nodded immediately.
"Second: No wandering the castle after curfew unless you fancy scrubbing greenhouses with Professor Sprout. Third: The kitchens are not an all-you-can-eat buffet—no matter what you hear from older students."
Rowen and Tobias groaned quietly.
"And lastly," Matilda added, smiling knowingly, "if you're ever unsure what to do—be kind first. Helga valued that above all."
With that, he waved them toward their dormitories.
Angus lead the male first year while Matilda lead the girls.
The Boys' Dormitory
Angus lead the four boys to their dorm room
The room was circular, with warm honey-colored walls and four sturdy wooden beds arranged evenly around the space. Each bed had thick golden quilts embroidered with subtle badger patterns. Trunks sat neatly at the foot of each bed, already waiting for them.
Leo's bed was beside Cedric's, close enough that he could reach over and tap the frame if he wanted.
"That's mine," Cedric said, relieved. "Good. I hate sleeping near doors."
Rowan immediately flopped onto his mattress. "This bed is softer than my entire house."
Tobias poked his pillow suspiciously. "Do you think it's enchanted? It feels… supportive."
Leo laughed. "If it starts lecturing you about posture, I'm switching rooms."
They unpacked lazily, making small jokes, Rowan showing off socks his mum had accidentally charmed to squeak, Tobias admitting he'd packed six books on wizarding etiquette "just in case," they all laugh at this because there is no sense of etiquette he exude in the great hall few hours before and Cedric carefully lining his shoes beneath his bed as if they were soldiers.
By the time the lights dimmed magically, exhaustion hit them all at once.
"Night," Cedric murmured.
"Night," three of them echoed.
They were asleep almost instantly.
Morning Quirks
Leo woke first.
Soft golden light filtered through the underground windows, illuminating the dorm in a peaceful glow. He turned his head—and immediately stiffened.
Cedric lay perfectly still, arms folded neatly over his chest, breathing so shallow it was almost invisible.
For a split second, Leo panicked.
"…Ced?" he whispered.
Cedric snorted suddenly and rolled onto his side.
Leo exhaled. "Merlin don't ever sleep like that again."
Rowan, meanwhile, snored like a troll with a blocked nose, each breath felt like it could rattling the bedframe. Leo stared in awe, amazed of himself on how he could sleep through a noise like that.
Tobias's pillow had somehow ended up on the floor, while Tobias himself hugged the mattress like it was trying to escape.
Leo smiled.
This was the first time he'd ever slept among strangers—and it felt… safe.
He pulled out the sketchpad he'd bought from a Muggle stationery shop and quietly sketched them as they were: Cedric's precise posture, Rowan's dramatic snoring, Tobias mid-sprawl.
Afterward, he gently shook them awake.
"Morning," Leo said. "Baths before breakfast—or we'll smell like yesterday's food."
Breakfast and Schedules
The Great Hall buzzed with morning energy.
As they ate, Prefect Matilda hurried over, looking sheepish.
"Morning hahaha, Right your schedules," she said, handing them parchment. "I meant to give these last night. Completely slipped my mind. Sorry!"
First-Year Weekly Schedule (Hufflepuff)
Monday:
Morning – Charms
Afternoon – HerbologyTuesday:
Morning – Transfiguration
Afternoon – Free StudyWednesday:
Morning – History of Magic
Afternoon – Flying LessonThursday:
Morning – Potions
Afternoon – Defence Against the Dark ArtsFriday:
Morning – Charms
Night – Astronomy
"Why so many gaps?" Maribell asked.
"Because you're first-years," Matilda said kindly. "And Hogwarts likes to ease you into chaos."