The Fool in Hogwarts

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Griffin’s birth filled Vade with delight, but it was immediately followed by a very practical problem.

How was he supposed to raise it?

A griffin was not an owl that could be kept satisfied with a little owl food each day.

It was a magical creature, and a mutated one at that. It would grow quickly, had a large appetite, and preferred meat.

Given enough time, Vade would neither be able to afford feeding it nor keep it hidden.

The Forbidden Forest.

The location flashed through Vade’s mind. It bordered Hogwarts and was currently the most suitable place for Griffin to live.

"It looks like I’ll have to find time to speak with Hagrid. Hopefully, the groundskeeper isn’t prejudiced against Slytherins. Otherwise, I’ll have to think of something else."

With that thought, Vade placed Griffin inside the pouch he carried with him.

He did not dare leave a living magical creature in this room. There was no telling what trouble it might cause.

It could still fit inside the pouch for now, but in another few weeks, the little creature would undoubtedly tear through it.

After leaving, Vade did not return directly to the dormitory. Instead, he went to the castle’s basement and stopped before a large portrait of fruit.

The Hogwarts kitchens were behind the painting, beside the Hufflepuff common room. Entering was simple. All one had to do was tickle the pear in the portrait.

As for how he knew, the Hufflepuff first years had told everyone about it on their very first day.

It would have been wonderful if he had been Sorted into Hufflepuff. The Hogwarts house-elves would provide Hufflepuffs with food whenever they wanted, allowing them to live as though they were being waited on hand and foot.

"It’s all that damned Sorting Hat’s fault," Vade cursed inwardly, then tickled the pear.

The pear giggled and transformed into a door handle.

Vade pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Four long tables stood in the kitchen, identical to the four House tables in the Great Hall above. Food was transported to the Great Hall through them.

More than a hundred house-elves worked throughout the kitchen, some cleaning and others cooking, all of them busily occupied.

Noticing someone enter, a house-elf politely approached and bowed.

"Sir, it is not yet time for lunch."

"I know. I’m simply a little hungry."

"Understood. What would you like?"

"Hogwarts usually keeps four kinds of meat available: chicken, beef, pork, and lamb.

"I’ll have some of each. I have quite a large appetite," Vade said somewhat sheepishly. "So it would be best if the portions were generous."

"Certainly, sir. It is a pleasure to serve you."

The house-elf snapped its fingers, and several plates flew over. They held fried chicken legs, steaks, roast pork chops, and roast legs of lamb. The portions were enormous, enough to feed four people.

Vade froze for a moment, then solemnly thanked the house-elf while packing everything away.

When he left the kitchen, the entire experience still felt slightly unreal.

It had been much easier than he expected. House-elves seemed almost incapable of refusing a wizard’s request.

After returning to the dormitory, Vade let Griffin out.

The young griffin immediately grew excited when it smelled the food.

It had only just been born. Before it even had time to look at the wonderful world around it, it had been stuffed into a pouch filled with gold coins.

It had been pitch dark, it could not see anything, and its stomach had been growling with hunger. Still, it now seemed that its mother loved it after all.

Griffin flapped its wings and half ran, half flew towards the nearest leg of lamb. It tore off a piece of meat and shoved it into its mouth.

"Slow down. No one here is going to steal it from you," Vade teased with a smile.

Griffin ate with great enthusiasm. Although it was only the size of a cat, it somehow managed to consume enough meat for half a person.

"I’m furious. This is outrageous!"

Draco’s voice came from the doorway, making Vade’s heart skip a beat. Had they not returned far too quickly?

Without time to think, he immediately stuffed the now full Griffin back into the pouch.

Draco pushed open the door and stormed inside. Mud and several blades of grass clung to his clothes, while his hair was a mess. Crabbe and Goyle, who entered with him, looked much the same.

None of them appeared injured, merely dishevelled.

"Who did you fight?"

"Who else? Weasley," Draco said indignantly. "He didn’t even say a word before attacking me. He has no manners whatsoever.

"Then again, his family is so poor they’ll soon be begging in the streets. What manners could a disgrace to pure-bloods possibly have?"

Vade did not ask what had caused the fight. He knew Draco well enough. Draco had undoubtedly provoked Ron first, and Ron had finally lost his patience and attacked him.

"What about those two?" Vade looked at Crabbe and Goyle, who had gone to the table and begun tearing into the chicken. "Don’t tell me the three of you fought one person and still ended up looking like this."

"I don’t need them to deal with one Weasley. Longbottom caught them off guard."

"You were bullying Neville again?" Vade was left speechless. What had Draco done to drive someone as mild-mannered as Neville into throwing punches?

"What do you mean, bullying him? I was merely telling the truth.

"Longbottom really is brainless, the Weasleys really are dirt poor, and Potter really does have no parents."

"I don’t have parents either."

Draco faltered, then forced out an explanation. "Don’t misunderstand. I’ve never said anything like that about you."

"I know. Still, you should probably keep those blunt truths to yourself in future," Vade advised sincerely. "But how did you return so quickly?

"The match began at eleven, and it isn’t even noon yet."

"Potter caught the Golden Snitch again. It took less than five minutes.

"I don’t think much of Hufflepuff either, but I never expected them to let Gryffindor win so easily," Draco said irritably.

He then heard Crabbe and Goyle devouring their food and rolled his eyes before smacking both of them on the head.

"Could you two eat a little more slowly?"

"We’re hungry," Crabbe said weakly.

Goyle nodded. "Besides, there are four plates and enough food for four people. It was obviously prepared for us."

"Was it?" Draco looked at Vade.

"Yes. That’s right. I prepared it for all of you." Vade gave an awkward laugh and rubbed his forehead. He had no other explanation. He could hardly tell them he was raising a griffin.

"Draco, would you like some as well?"

Draco looked at the fragrant, steaming food and involuntarily swallowed.

"All right. I’ll treat it as an early lunch."

The three of them ate until their mouths were covered in grease. Naturally, they also noticed the leg of lamb that had been torn apart like an old rag.

"My goodness." Draco stared at it in disbelief. "Vade, are you certain you ate that?"

"What’s wrong?"

"What do you mean, what’s wrong? I thought Crabbe and Goyle were impressive enough, but you’re even worse than both of them."

(To be continued.)

◇ You can read the ahead Chapter on Pat if you’re interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)