Chapter Ten: An Adventurous Spirit
Chapter Summary: Henri takes to adventure and discovers a treasure.
Henri did not feel the deep sense of loneliness and solitude that he had experienced during his first term at Hogwarts. His holiday home had rejuvenated his spirit, and he was no longer truly alone. Mispy, Whispy, and the other house elves might not be human, but their presence in his life prevented him from feeling isolated.
It also helped that Draka's presence was no longer a looming threat. He had come to accept that the Draka he had met on the train was not real, and the demon that had tormented him was the true version. It still hurt to admit, but he was ready to move on. He didn't think he had the courage to fight against her or her cronies, but he didn't have to worry about that anymore. By now, he knew so many secret passages and corridors that he could navigate Hogwarts almost undetected.
He was aware that Draka had assigned her big brutes, who always flanked her like bodyguards, to tail him. But the two were so conspicuous that they wouldn't have managed to follow him even if he hadn't known a lot of secret passages. It never failed to amuse him when she glared at him during mealtimes in the Great Hall, as if his hiding from his bullies was a personal affront.
So while he was still friendless, he was a little less lonely and sad. He had continued his adventures; Hogwarts was a vast castle with so much more to discover. He had always been curious and adventurous from a young age. His papa's gift of an adventure kit was meant to be a humorous nod to his spirit, but it sparked an idea. What if he actually adventured like all those cool heroes from movies, like Indiana Jones? What if he kept an adventure log, had a map, a compass, and all that?
He decided to create his own map of Hogwarts and would keep updating it with every new cool thing he discovered. He also needed to figure out a way to make a working compass, as a Muggle compass didn't work in Hogwarts; it must be all that magical interference. A working compass would help, because Hogwarts was so big and confusing that even though he knew his way around instinctively, he couldn't tell whether he was east or west.
So he opened the journal from his adventure kit and started writing.
Adventure Log by Adventurer, His Awesomeness, Lord Henri Jacques Granger
First Order of Business: Acquiring Tools
1. Wand – check
2. Light – check (torch and wand)
3. Map – work in progress
4. Compass – work in progress
5. Treats – double check
When he showed Mispy his log, she was very excited and offered to be his adventure companion. Henri was just happy she was smiling now. When he had returned to school after Christmas break, he was dismayed when both Mispy and Whispy burst into tears upon receiving the presents he had bought for them. He knew they weren't much—just some spatulas for Whispy and a new sewing kit for Mispy.
He tried to apologize, but that only made them weep harder. A young elf named Tifty told him it was okay; they were just overwhelmed by young master's kindness and thoughtful consideration. He said all this in one breath while staring unblinkingly at Henri with a look of wonder in his eyes.
Henri didn't understand, but Tifty assured him that everything was well. Indeed, when he saw them next, Whispy and Mispy were all smiles and chatted cheerfully with him. He watched in amusement as Whispy made elaborate gestures with her new spatulas while cooking. She even held one even when she wasn't cooking, and Mispy had been sewing non-stop. The mancave was looking more and more palatial.
Henri gladly accepted Mispy's help in his adventures. Whispy was able to help him craft a rudimentary map of Hogwarts, which he was pleased with. He marked all the places he knew, and everything was coming along well. Mispy had warded his journal so no one could snoop.
Henri still didn't know what to do about the map and compass. He wanted the map to be magical, fitting for a magical castle. He knew this would require a lot of magical skill, but Henri was prepared to be patient and do the research. He also needed to find ways to recharge his Game Boy, the battery had already run out. He had played Castlevania II, the first night he returned to Hogwarts until the battery run out.
The adventures with Mispy were fun. No matter how much he thought they couldn't discover anything else amazing, they always did. Not every part of the castle was fun, though; he was almost run through by a sword wielded by a gargoyle. The gargoyle burst into tearless sobs when it realized it had nearly killed a student. It apologized, saying it was its job to guard the room and couldn't allow him to enter. Henri was more than okay with that; he didn't want to know what was in there. He left with his heart racing, calming down from the near-death fright but also amused at the idea of a weeping gargoyle.
The fun with Mispy was that, since she was an elf, she could apparate to any location in the castle. That's how Henri discovered that the professors had a secret lounge/bar in the castle. He was shocked when Mispy apparated to a dimly lit room with flashing lights, where his head of house lay on the floor singing at the top of his lungs the frog anthem, while Professor McGonagall slow-danced with Professor Snape. It was a sight he thought he'd never see, and he quickly motioned for Mispy to disapparate them away before they were spotted.
Whenever Mispy was busy with Hogwarts duties, she would design a treasure hunt for him. Most of the time, the treasure at the end was treats, which he didn't mind, although he thought his Papa would. But sometimes, there were other treasures too. He once found a talking bucket. A talking bucket! Mispy told him a student must have enchanted it. But to Henri, it was a great find. He kept the bucket in his mancave, and whenever he was bored, he'd make it talk. It didn't have a wide vocabulary and was not much of a conversationalist, but to Henri, it was fantastic. He loved the fun, whimsical, and fantastical nature of magic.
He made sure not to neglect his schoolwork; just because the course load was easy wasn't an excuse to be a slacker. He also spent a lot of time in the kitchen listening to Whispy, now with her signature spatula in hand. He listened intently as Whispy shared fascinating tales folklore, about house-elf magic and their unique role at Hogwarts. Her stories about how elf magic worked, the bond between elves and wizards, and the history of house-elves captivated Henri far more than his regular classes, especially Binns' lectures. Whispy's knowledge was vast, and her passion for sharing it made each lesson an engaging escape from Henri's usual routine.
Henri was very interested in house-elves and how their magic worked, and Whispy was more than happy to indulge him. His enthusiasm and respectful curiosity were endearing, and Whispy took pride in teaching him about the world of house-elves. She explained how elves had their own brand of magic, one deeply connected to their service and loyalty to the wizarding world.
The time Henri spent adventuring with Mispy or alone, in the kitchen, and in the mancave was slowly transforming his experience at Hogwarts. Without noticing, he was gaining confidence, and once in a while, he'd chime in during conversations with his housemates at meals or in the common room. He was not chatty by any means, but he was slowly engaging.
His letters home were filled with stories of adventure and new facets of Hogwarts history he had learned that day. He wrote for pages about how interesting elves were. His parents replied with love, wishing him fun on his adventures and reminding him not to let his schoolwork lag. His Papa cautioned him about the amount of treats he ate. But deep down, his parents worried; every letter they received, they hoped to see a mention of a friend, but so far, their little boy had no one except the house-elves.
One particular day in January, Mispy was swamped with chores. She had promised Henri she'd design a treasure hunt for him, but being so busy, she couldn't manage it. Instead, she found a room that looked interesting enough, ensured it was safe, and took him there. She told him she'd come to collect him in an hour, and if he ran into trouble, he should just say her name and she'd come get him.
It was a spacious, dimly lit chamber, filled with an assortment of curious artifacts and dusty old furniture. But Henri's attention was immediately arrested by the centerpiece of the room—a large, ornate mirror, its frame intricately carved with magical symbols. Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi was inscribed on the mirror. It was truly beautiful.
Henri slowly approached the mirror with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. As he gazed into its reflective surface, he was startled to see not his own reflection, but an image of himself sitting on the banks of the Black Lake, laughing and enjoying a pleasant conversation with Draka. He had his arm around her, and they were both laughing at the antics of Xerxes and Cassiopeia, who flew above them, each bird trying to capture all the attention. They both looked genuinely happy, their faces lit with joy. For a few moments, Henri sat there, mesmerized by the peaceful scene, almost believing it.
But with a pang in his chest, he turned away. No amount of illusion could ever undo the hurt that Draka had caused him, even as he thought this, he felt an urge to turn around and look just one more time at how things could have been.
However, when he turned back, the illusion was gone, replaced by his own reflection this time. Well, not quite. His reflection was not as still as he was. He watched as his reflection put something into its pocket. Instinctively, the real Henri patted his pocket and felt something. His eyes widened in surprise and disbelief as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a stone. It was irregular in shape, vibrant red, and pleasantly cool to the touch. Henri admired its beauty and wondered if it might be one of the rare gemstones he had seen in his Maman's magazines. He decided to keep it as a special present for her.
Overall, Henri was pleased with this treasure hunt. A part of him felt raw because of the Draka illusion, but he also felt a sense of satisfaction, especially with the cool new gift for his Maman.
When Mispy arrived to collect him, she was delighted to see Henri's satisfied smile. She had worried he wouldn't enjoy the hunt due to its lack of elaborate planning, but he had found it enjoyable. She admired the red stone he had discovered, and together, they returned to Henri's mancave. It would be kept there until Easter break when he would take it home.
"Thank you, Mispy. This has been one of the best hunts yet," Henri said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Mispy beamed, pleased that she had helped create such a memorable experience for him. "I is very glad you enjoyed it! We's be exploring more soon."
As they settled into the mancave, Henri couldn't shake the feeling of the mirror's illusion. Though he was surrounded by laughter and friendship, a shadow of uncertainty lingered in his heart. He resolved to focus on the positive moments with Mispy and the discoveries yet to come, but he couldn't ignore the bittersweet memory of what he had seen.
