I find my way through the maze of hallways to the Hogwarts kitchens, where the house-elves toil. The students don't really know about it, probably because they never stop to think about where the lavish feasts come from.
A floor-to-ceiling realistic painting of a bowl of fruit is mounted at a dead end of a long, stone corridor. I reach my arm out of my invisibility cloak to tickle the pear a foot above my eye level on the left side of the painting. It tries to stifle its giggles, then laughs outright and morphs into a green doorknob. I smile; seeing a piece of fruit laugh is always mildly amusing to me, no matter how many times I see it. Then I turn the pear/handle and slip into the kitchens, closing the door softly behind me.
When I enter, a few of the nearby house-elves greet me enthusiastically.
"Adalinda! You didn't come this morning. Is there anything you'd like to eat?" one of the elves, Pokey, asks. I only know a few of their names because I don't like to disturb their work. They work all day, preparing the students' meals and cleaning up after them. I spend a lot of time here, but I normally just sit in a corner and think or read a book. I've told them a few things about me, and they know I don't attend school here, but they don't ever talk to the students because the students don't know about them.
"I'm not too hungry today, nothing large or anything. I don't mean to cause you any trouble. A roll, maybe?" I answer. "Oh, and I didn't come earlier because I wanted to look something up. I remembered something interesting about Professor Slytherin and was curious." Pokey smiles.
"Just as curious as always," Pokey teases; she's the most comfortable around me. I'd like to consider her my friend, if she wasn't so dead set on playing the 'lowly servant.' She pulls a fresh roll from seemingly nowhere, then hands it to me and continues. "By the way, I'm assuming you haven't seen Professor Slytherin today?"
"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't. I thought it was strange. How did you know that?" I inquire, intrigued.
"Hanky was cleaning a room near the Headmaster's office last night when he heard shouting. The four founders were arguing."
"They always do. What's different this time?"
"Hanky said this time it was really bad. Master Salazar only wants pureblood wizards and witches to come to Hogwarts. The other three want any witch or wizard to be allowed. Hanky said that master Salazar was very angry and left the room."
"That doesn't sound good. He might be plotting something," I say to myself. Pokey shrugs.
"Pokey doesn't know. Pokey only knows that none of the house-elves have seen master Slytherin since the fight."
A shiver runs down my spine. That can't be good. He must be planning something.
"Thank you so much for telling me, Pokey," I tell her honestly. "Goodbye, then."
"Anything for Adalinda. Bye!"
—
I walk slowly back to the Slytherin common room, contemplating Professor Slytherin's strange behavior. What could he be planning? He's probably cooking up something nasty for the other three founders, or thinking of a way to get his point across. Who knows what twisted method he'll use?
I reach the door to the common room and whisper the password. The bricks slide away, creating a hole to go through. I enter the common room and find Professor Slytherin pacing the floor. I take off the cloak slowly. When he sees me, he glares.
"Adalinda Mea Slytherin, I have been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been?" Slytherin asks hurriedly, then rushes on. "Never mind that. You're not to leave your room, Adalinda. Do you understand?"
"What?! You can't make me—" He cuts me off by grabbing my wrist in his iron grip. He then drags me to my room, pushes me into it, and shuts the door. I hear him mutter an incantation and the lock clicks. I jiggle the door handle; it doesn't budge. I slam my fist against the door.
"You're. Not. To. Leave. Your. Room," he commands through the door. I hear his footsteps echo through the common room, then fade away.
I sink to the floor with my back against the door, staring off into space. I realize now that what he is planning may be far worse than anything I could have imagined.
A/N: Oops. Sorry. I hate cliffhangers (does this count as one?). Well, this was a slow chapter. It will pick up next time. Just so you all know, this is meant to be a short story. It's probably going to be 5 chapters or less.
To that guest who keeps imploring me to update: I am very sorry that I update slowly. I haven't really had the drive or inspiration to write this story for a while. I just had to think of something. I hope you aren't disappointed with this chapter.
To everyone else who has been waiting forever, again, I'm sorry. I hope you liked it just a bit, maybe. Please review if you find it interesting!
Thanks for reading,
~Rebecca