Hogwarts Outsider Chapter 164: Kitchen
Soon, Professor Horace Slughorn went to "entertain" the other students.
Matthew and the others sat together and continued to eat this slightly simple but delicious breakfast.
"Are there many house-elves in Hogwarts?" Hermione asked softly while eating.
Her impression of creatures like "house elves" was very strange.
Even only in Professor Bathilda Bagshot's class... The history of magic professor is very old, and every time she goes to class, she needs a few house-elves to help her. This is also the only chance to meet this creature at Hogwarts.
"That's right, there are almost a hundred of them." Matthew replied, "They are responsible for the daily housework of the entire castle... Otherwise, Mr. Pringle would not be able to keep busy alone!"
"My God, do they stay in the kitchen all day?" Hermione looked very surprised, "I rarely see such creatures in castles..."
"Oh, they seldom leave the kitchen during the day," Neville replied, "and come out at night to clean and clean...to look after the stove or something...I mean, you're not supposed to see them, are you? ?The mark of a good house-elf is that you don't even know he exists, do you?"
"People don't know their existence, what's going on?" Hermione frowned obviously, she didn't quite agree with Neville's words.
"Yes, this is their duty, isn't it..." Neville replied as a matter of course, "For house-elves, their highest right is to obey their master's orders and serve their master from generation to generation. Don't let the owner feel the slightest discomfort, so..."
"That sounds...a bit like a slave..." Hermione gave him a sudden look, obviously disgusted.
"That's right..." Neville replied casually.
"But do they get paid?" Hermione continued. "Do they get holidays? And - do they get sick days, allowances, everything?"
Neville chuckled: "Holidays...how could house elves need vacations...and house elves don't need sick leave and allowances, they don't even need wages..."
"What, they don't even have a salary?" Hermione questioned in disbelief.
"So they are on strike!" Then, she said angrily, "They are dissatisfied with the current treatment... That's why they went on strike... It's just! Just like the Silesian weavers did in 1842 Like that, and what the silk weavers of Lyon did in 1831..."
"This is just an exception..." Neville quickly shook his head, "In my memory, house elves have always been proud of their labor and ashamed of being free to roam around... How could they do such a thing as a strike? ..."
"Why don't we go to the kitchen quietly?" Hermione suggested suddenly, "Just after breakfast?"
"This..." Neville hesitated for a moment, "I don't know where the kitchen is..."
"We can find someone to ask, we can ask Professor Slughorn...he will definitely know!" Hermione looked very serious.
"No need," Matthew said suddenly, he shook his head, "I know!"
"That's great, Matthew!" Hermione gave him a very happy look.
……
"Let's go!" Hermione said eagerly after finishing her own breakfast.
Matthew didn't waste any time, and quickly nodded; only Neville looked at the unfinished bacon roll with some regret.
However, he eventually gave up.
"Have you finished breakfast so soon?" Professor Slughorn enthusiastically sent them out of the office, "If the problem in the kitchen at noon has not been resolved, you can come over again; A lot!"
"Okay, Professor!" They quickly thanked, "Thank you very much!"
I have to say that after joining the slug club, this is the real benefit they get.
Those ordinary students, I'm afraid they can only starve all morning.
"Matthew, lead the way!" Hermione looked at Matthew expectantly.
"Well, come with me." Matthew took the two friends along the marble stairs into the foyer below.
At the bottom of the stairs, he turned left and hurried toward a door.
This leads to the basement, but not in the direction of the Slytherin common room; the road ends at the Hufflepuff common room.
He and Neville followed Hermione down a stone staircase, which was not a dark and gloomy underground passage like the one leading to the Potions dungeon. Instead they found themselves in a broad stone corridor, brightly lit by torches, and here and there decorated with cheerful pictures, chiefly of things to eat.
"It should be around here." Matthew scanned the pictures on the wall.
Finally, he nudged Neville with his arm and pointed to the picture behind Hermione.
"Here it is!"
The picture shows a huge silver bowl full of fruit.
"It's just a portrait..." Hermione looked confused.
Matthew approached slowly. He stretched out his index finger and gently scratched a big green pear on the picture. Pear squirmed, giggled, and suddenly turned into a big green doorknob.
"It's amazing!" Neville couldn't help exclaiming.
Matthew grabbed it and pulled the door open ~IndoMTL.com~ and waved his hand, motioning for his two companions to follow.
……
After passing through the previous door, a room almost the size of a classroom is in sight.
On the surrounding stone walls, there were many gleaming copper pots and iron basins, and at the other end of the room was a large fireplace made of bricks.
Obviously, this is the Hogwarts kitchen.
However, there is no one...including ghosts, wizards, or house elves...
"Where are the house-elves?" Hermione asked softly.
"I don't know..." Matthew shook his head honestly, "I only know that the kitchen is here..."
"Where are you listening?" Neville pointed to an iron gate in front, "There seems to be a sound inside, go and have a look—"
The three of them tiptoed over quickly.
"Pa... Pa... Pa..." There were bursts of noise from inside the iron gate.
There is also the sound of some creature moaning, which sounds very painful.
The door wasn't locked, it was just ajar.
Along the crack of the door, they can clearly see the situation in the room——
The administrator of the castle, Mr. Pringle, is holding a thick and long leather whip in his hand, with a vicious look on his face.
He was merciless, and he was mercilessly beating the group of little guys sitting on the ground with a whip...