Chapter 37 – A Kitchen Request

October 15th, 1992

Dad,

I'm so sorry it's taken me a few weeks to write but Harry and I have been especially busy. Lots of news to tell you and most of it is just fantastic!

Harry has discovered a very distant relative here at Hogwarts. I told you once that some of the pictures here contain the magical memories and personalities of people who have died. Well, Harry has found one of his more distant ancestors and he's been telling us a lot of when he was alive and about some of Harry's family. He's also been helping Harry with his magic; so much so that Harry and I have our mental connection again. It's not anything like the bond we had before but Harry and I can talk to and hear each other again. It has to do with a spell used with a special ring that belonged to his ancestor once.

Harry has almost finished his digging in the goblin mine. He has collected a number of special magical gems that he wants to use in creating another staff. He had to pick the magical attributes that were linked to different types of gems. He's got a few specific gems or crystals like Moonstone and Topaz he still wants to find. He doesn't know yet about the process of refining and shaping the special gems he wants to use. Evidently some gems and crystals have a specific shape that works best in focusing or using magic. I guess I can live with one or two things being unexplained.

Professor Snape has returned to teaching the Potions class full time. He's not quite as harsh as he was and his teaching method has improved a lot. He's still picking on Harry a bunch but Harry smiles and takes it. He's even had a detention or two in Professor Snape's private quarters in the last couple of weeks. I'm not exactly sure what is going on with that but their anger towards each seems a little more of a charade to me. Nobody else has noticed it though.

Our former partner Ginny still remains a mystery. She hasn't regained her previous memory of Harry or me yet. She spends a lot of time by herself or talking to one of the younger ghosts in the room where Myrtle (the ghost's name) stays. She still has control of a travelling notebook that the other first year girls ask questions in and other things. Ginny makes sure that she answers any questions or comments personally.

I hope Mom has told you that I've asked Harry over to our house for the Christmas holidays. It won't be exactly like it was last year because of the absence of Ginny but I think it will still be a nice time for him. He's getting really good at playing the mandolin he found in his family vault and we've actually found time to practice playing some music together a time or two. It's a little hard to find some free time where Harry can just relax; it seems he doesn't have much spare time between classes, Quidditch practice, homework and his time in the mine. The Quidditch matches between Gryffindor and the other houses got going last week. We played Ravenclaw and it took Harry about 45 minutes to catch the Snitch and end the game. We were already ahead by a lot of scores but the game does go until the snitch is caught.

I wish you and Mom could come up and watch one of the matches. I think you would like it and you won't believe how well Harry flies. We get to play our rivals the Slytherins next and that horrid Malfoy boy that called me a name a while ago. (He's had a couple of detentions because he's said that prohibited name again in front of a couple of teachers – you'd think he would wise up.)

I've told you the school has a number of ghosts but I don't think I've told you about the one that's the ghost for our house. Nearly Headless Nick – Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington – died in 1492 but his execution by beheading was botched and his head is still attached to his body by a sliver of flesh and muscle. He loves to shock the first years by doffing his head instead of his elaborate plumed hat when he's introduced. He has a marvelous sense of humor and he really does try to help the Gryffindor students with advice or diverting Peeves from attacking us. He's particularly good at warning us if the caretaker is on the prowl. Why Argus Filch is still employed here is another good mystery. The house elves do all the work and upkeep around the school. Oh well, we try to stay out of his way.

I've tried to keep up with Harry when he goes running in the mornings and I think I'm making some progress. I'm keeping up with him longer than I used to and Harry doesn't have to walk to keep me company as often when I can't run anymore. I've started to tell him to go on alone in some cases and then run back to meet me again. He gets a longer work out that way and I'm in no danger since I'm carrying my wand with me. Sometimes Hedwig flies along with us and catches her morning breakfast as we're running around the lake. Thankfully she knows enough not to eat while we're close by as it's a little hard to watch and listen to.

Mom probably hasn't said anything in trying to protect us but Harry and I have been getting a lot closer this year since the accident with Ginny. I've even gotten over some of my shyness and have asked Harry for hugs and kisses from time to time. He is still being very much the gentleman and never asks for anything so we're not doing anything inappropriate. I think I'm asking you not to play the overprotective father in advance of our coming home for the Christmas holidays. Please?

The rest of school is going very well. Madame Pince, our librarian, has been teaching me a lot about restoring old books. Harry found a couple in an old chamber he visited recently. There's a lot of old powerful magical spells in one of them at least from what we can tell so far. It's a very complicated bunch of work in preserving the pages from becoming more deteriorated and reverting them back to their original condition. Becoming a magical historian hadn't been a career I'd even known about before this year. You know how much I love books; I can see me doing something like this after Harry and I graduate. But it's still over five years away and I'm pretty sure a few other life choices will make themselves known to me.

So now you know what's going on in this little patch of Scotland. Days are getting shorter and the nights are getting a little colder. Life goes on and your little girl still studies just as much. I miss you and Mom very much and Harry and I are looking forward to coming home and being with you for the holidays. And, as always, I still remain…

Your loving daughter,

Hermione

Xxxx xxxx

"Do you really think your father is going to give me a hassle about being your boyfriend?" Harry and Hermione were walking back from the owlery after sending her letter off with Hedwig.

"You peeked – you …sneak you! What if I had written something personal about you Harry Potter?" Hermione was upset that Harry had maybe donned his invisibility cloak and watched over her shoulder while she had written her dad. That was a serious invasion of privacy.

Harry held his hands up in self-defense. "I wouldn't do that Miss Granger. I can't help if you 'reviewed' your letter as we were walking up to catch Hedwig.

"I thought I was talking to you about what gems you had left to find?"

"You did. But Hermione you just don't realize how many things you have going on all at the same time in that pretty little head of yours. You were talking to me, reviewing your letter to your dad, thinking about your Charms spells test next week and.."

"And what else Harry?" Harry was currently blushing so Hermione really wanted to know what else he had thought she was thinking about. She hoped it wasn't her little fantasy about them finding the prefects bathroom and doing a little skinny-dipping. Hermione covered her mouth quickly as Harry responded to that particular thought and stopped on the stairway and turned around.

"I'm sorry Harry about my mind running to that." Hermione tugged on Harry's shoulder and he reluctantly turned around. She saw that he had his hands folded carefully in front of him. 'Did he have …?'

"Yes, you caused that, er, this." Harry shrugged his shoulders but made sure that Hermione didn't get a good look at what he was concealing. Hermione made a little disgusted sound and sat on the steps. She folded up her knees and rested her hands and head on them.

"I'm getting to be a nuisance to you Harry. Do want to talk to Godric about reversing that particular spell of us having mental contact again?"

Harry carefully sat down next to Hermione and placed an arm around her shoulders. "It's ok Nonnie. I just got a little weirded out because your mental image of the prefect's bathroom included both of us naked. You overestimated my 'endowments' and underplayed your own. My memory of you in that black set of unmentionables a few weeks back was what got such a sudden rise out of me."

Hermione looked at him strangely for a second and then laughed. "Do you suppose other teenagers go through this stuff?"

Harry smiled back. "I certainly hope so. Maybe without the shared mental images but I'm sure boys and girls do imagine what some of the other sex might look like without clothes."

Hermione lowered her head and whispered. "Maybe we ought to take care of those false impressions."

Harry brought Hermione's face up from where she had hid it. "We'll get there. When it's right for both of us. Anyway, the last thing I 'caught' from you before was whether your mom or dad would leave us in the Granger house alone so we could snog for a bit."

Hermione smiled mischievously. "Well that is a valid question, isn't it? Please don't try to make me believe that the thought hasn't occurred to you once or twice since the invitation was offered."

Nodding his head in agreement, Harry was about to respond when his stomach rumble again. He hung his head in embarrassment; the last week or two of working in the mine had certainly jumped started his appetite. While he still ate his normal meals, his metabolism had been increased and he found himself hungry at the oddest times.

Hermione huffed and looked at her watch. "I supposed you could just ask Patchum to bring you something when we get back to the common room. Luckily we don't have any study groups tonight."

"Why Hermione, where's your sense of adventure?" Harry had that strange look in his eye again that told Hermione that something different was just about to happen.

"What's wrong with going back to the tower and asking for some food to be brought to the almost–as-hungry-as-Ron Weasley-Harry Potter?"

"Nothing as long as you don't want to see the kitchens where the house elves prepare our food. I thought we could go see what kinds of leftovers are available instead of them bringing me something fresh."

"And how did you find this secret out Harry? Did Godric tell you?"

"Nothing so elaborate. I gave Fred and George a galleon for the info and a promise of future employment of some sort. All they wanted in return was a promise not to tell Ron or Luna since they didn't want the morning meals to show up half-eaten."

"That's ok then. We've an hour before curfew. I could use a nice cup of tea myself. Where are we going?"

Harry held up one finger. Hermione looked up and Harry laughed. "First floor Hermione. Do you know where the painting of the giant fruit bowl is? That's where the hidden passageway is." Harry held out his hand and Hermione grabbed hold of it and they finished the walk down from the West Tower and the Owlery talking about plans for the upcoming holidays.

xxxx xxxx

Hermione was amazed that tickling the pear in the fruit basket caused it to giggle and transformed it into a normal (but green) door handle. Harry pulled open the door and they saw a stairway that led downward. A small sign listed the destination as the Hufflepuff dorms. At the first landing a small corridor branched off to one side. Harry and Hermione walked along this hall for a few minutes. They paused at the end of the hallway and looked around at a large room before them. The heat and the wonderful smells coming from the room made it a sure bet that they had found the Hogwarts kitchen.

One of the many house elves scurrying about met them as they came out of the hallway. "Can Dendle fetch something to eat for Lord Potter and his miss?"

"Your fame precedes you again Harry." Harry scowled briefly at Hermione but reached over casually and ran his fingers just across her short ribs. She twisted away giggling and Harry spoke to the house elf. "Yes, Dendle. If it's not too much trouble, I'll take some of the meat pies and a roll or two if there are any left over from supper. My friend, Hermione Granger would like a cup of Darjeeling tea. And a piece of apple pie with some whipped cream if there's any available. And it's just Harry and Hermione please."

Dendle showed them to a small table and chairs set up in a little nook toward the back of the kitchens. He bowed to them both and then turned and hurried away back through the confusion. Harry and Hermione sat down and watch a very large number of house elves walking to and fro carrying a variety of pots and bags of unknown ingredients.

Harry looked around at all the hustle and bustle and was glad he wasn't actively involved with making meals for the students and faculty. He looked at Hermione's smiling face and frowned suddenly. "I'm sorry Hermione."

"For what Harry?"

"For ordering for you as if you weren't even here. I'm sorry to be so presumptuous."

Hermione reached over to hold her companion's hand. "You did just fine. You knew what tea I like at this time of the day and that I have been missing my mom's homemade pies for a time now. I'm not upset. Actually in a lot of dating etiquette books I've read, it's perfectly fine for the man to order for the female. If I hadn't like what you ordered, I would have objected."

"So this is a date then?" Hermione glanced up to see Harry with a surprised look on his face.

"Not as formal as the private supper on my birthday but yes. You're taking me out to an exclusive dining spot for a fabulous meal after all. This is a kind of romantic spot if you want to think of it that way. Maybe Lily and James sat at this very table many years ago and had a midnight snack together as they talked about things."

"Can I ask why you've been reading etiquette books Hermione?" Harry had smile on his face as he waited for an answer. Dendle appeared at that moment with a small tray. He set down the food, drink and silverware and told the couple that if they needed anything else to call out loud for him. Harry thanked the house elf for a meal and they both started eating.

Hermione took a sip of her tea and watched as Harry cut up one of the meat pies and made a sandwich of part of it with one of the rolls. "To answer your question, Ginny and I started looking at etiquette books when you started talking to Neville about becoming a lord. We were hoping not to be an embarrassment to you whenever you got to assuming the titles you have. Professor McGonagall found us some books for up and coming witches and we had been looking at them together."

"I can't ever think of how you would embarrass me Hermione. No matter what the situation."

Hermione smiled as she toyed with the remaining bit of her pie. She was having a nice time just talking to Harry and being alone with him. She noticed Dendle coming back toward their table with two elves that neither she nor Harry had met before. She nodded with her head to let Harry know that they had approaching company.

Dendle seemed to hesitate just a bit before he spoke. "Lord… Master Harry, could I introduce you to Talvon and his mate Frap? They are the elves that are responsible for the Hufflepuff house and they have a request of you." Saying that Dendle took up the empty plates and tea cup and walked away.

Harry turned and smiled at the seemingly nervous pair of elves before them. "Hello Talvon and Frap. It's nice to meet you. Is there something I or Hermione can do for you?"

"Lord Gryffindor…" began Talvon. Harry left his chair and got down on his knees before the house elf. Both Talvon and Frap backed up a step in surprise.

"My name is Harry and my being a Lord is a secret I would like to keep other of the students or other people from knowing. I will help you in whatever way I can but I'd rather have your friendship than any perceived loyalty or fear at my being a lord."

Hermione smiled about two seconds before the house elves did. Harry got up and sat back in his chair as he waited for Talvon to resume speaking. "We have been told an old tale that there was a way for the founders or their heirs to venture into places in Hogwarts that have been lost or forgotten over time."

"Yes, I and Hermione have explored some of the castle that I don't even think you house elves have been in for a long time."

Talvon looked at Frap for a second or two trying to make up his mind about something. "Would your Lor…. Could you and Miss Hermione follow us? It's not very far and I'm sure you might understand once you see it."

Harry nodded and he and Hermione followed the smaller pair through the kitchens. It seemed to be a roundabout way as they made a number of twists in going around stoves and pantries and other closed doors that had no names on them. They finally arrived at an old wall that was completely blank except for one section. Harry and Hermione read the inscription over the massive fireplace and grabbed each other for support.

Harry turned to the littler house elf. "Frap do you know if Professor Sprout is still up and dressed at this time of the evening?"

"Yes. She always has her quarters open for anybody that wants to talk to her until curfew."

"Would you mind going and fetching her? Tell her Harry Potter and Hermione Granger have found something very interesting in the kitchens and it's important for her to come and maybe meet someone important?"

Frap smiled and nodded. She spun a little sideways and disappeared. She reappeared about three minutes later with Professor Sprout. She took one look at the figures before her and started to speak. "Good evening Mr. Potter and Miss Granger. Frap tells me you have something interesting to show me?"

"Actually Professor Sprout it's something Talvon and Frap brought us to see." Harry indicated the wall behind where the Herbology instructor was standing and she turned slowly around to see where Harry was pointing.

She also took in a deep breath as she read the inscription on the wall.

"Is that… what I think it is? I've been through the kitchens any number of times through the years and I never seen it before."

Talvon spoke up then. "The house elves only recently rediscovered this section of corridor few days ago. Both ends had been blocked off with old casks and temporary pantries that had seen better days. I found this after the old junk had been cleared away. I was unsure of what to do next as I considered the old legends."

"Thank you for bringing it to my attention Talvon but may I ask what Mr. Potter and Miss Granger have to do with all this?"

Harry tried not to blush as he answered the Head of House's question. "Talvon remembered another old legend and he thought I might be helpful in getting to the bottom of this unexpected discovery."

Professor Sprout watched curiously as Harry reached for and removed a chain from around his neck that had an old key on it. Hermione moved over to stand beside the older witch and started whispering to her as Harry took a look at what was before him.

Harry held his key out before him and read the inscription over the fireplace again. He stepped forward and approached the 'Hearth of Friendship' as it was labeled. He grew a little excited as he prepared to open the second of the Founder's Chamber's!