Ira explained nervously, and Sean learned something new about Sir Cadogan's past.
Because the knight was bored for so long, he would even appear in that tiny painting in the kitchens. As he put it:
"If I can't eat and I'm not even allowed to watch—by Arthur's crown!—you might as well toss me on the fire."
Over time, he got to know most of the house-elves.
Long ago, there'd been a young wizard who bullied the elves here—his favorite trick was making them bang their heads to see if they would stop.
The furious knight chased the boy down and scolded him for a full week. Headmistress Dilys Derwent praised the knight's conduct, and the elves grew very fond of him—though the knight himself hardly cared.
Eventually, that goodwill naturally shifted to Sean.
"Lord Cadogan said, 'If anyone else can be called a noble knight, it would be Master Green…'"
Ira's voice stayed tiny, but whenever Sir Cadogan came up, its eyes sparkled.
For the first time in a while, Sean conjured a cushion and sat in the kitchens, listening as Ira recounted Sir Cadogan's exploits—how he felled a troll single-handedly, and could even hold his own against three.
Justin bustled about making desserts, working from Professor Sprout's notes on culinary charms.
Hermione, still excited, tried to interview the elves; they were a bit frightened, and could only shiver and stammer their answers.
Justin called the Hogwarts kitchens the best place in the castle, and Sean saw him at full power—turning out dish after dish in no time at all. Even the house-elves were only a touch faster than he was.
Naturally, Sean ate too much.
So when a lazy afternoon settled in again, a few more young wizards found themselves at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
The soft sunlight felt unusually gentle.
They stopped a dozen paces from the dark, crowded trees. The towering trunks formed a high wall of deep green, but graciously gave way to a slope carpeted in soft moss.
Sunlight sifted through the upper leaves, sprinkling dappled gold. In the thickest patch of light, an ancient beech stretched its great branches.
The air was damp, earthy, with a faint, elusive scent of wildflowers.
"On the train, it's the house-elves who send our luggage to Hogwarts. They do the laundry and the cooking too…" Justin explained to Hermione, his voice mingling with a few airy birdsongs from deeper in the forest and the sudden rustle of some small creature in the brush.
"They can Apparate at will, and cast Disillusionment—" Hermione questioned and filled in details as she took notes.
That made Sean recall what Ira had said:
"Ira wants to help Mr. Sean Green. If Mr. Sean Green needs food or things, Ira can fetch them—Mr. Sean Green only has to call Ira."
Sean looked around at the nervous ring of house-elves and nodded quietly.
Then he saw Ira lifted up and fussed over by the others.
All in all, Sean had earned himself unlimited pumpkin juice privileges—perhaps unlimited food, too.
He didn't know how much time had passed when Hermione and Justin drifted onto the topic of the Forest.
"Plenty of Gryffindors want to go exploring in the Forbidden Forest. I can't believe they can be so foolish!" Hermione's impatience slipped out when she mentioned those reckless Gryffindors.
"At least they only think about it, right? Mr. Scamander got himself outright expelled," Justin said, half teasing.
There were loads of Hogwarts legends about the famed magizoologist—like how he broke several school rules by keeping magical creatures.
One tale even had him venturing into the Forest with Leta Lestrange.
In truth, aside from a few Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs rarely push their luck with the rules.
This isn't the era of Headmaster Black: the Forbidden Forest isn't something you "grind" every day, and the way students say hello is with a wave—not by rubbernecking the latest scandal.
Justin and Hermione seemed absorbed in their discussion, but in fact they'd already stolen quite a few glances at Sean.
A damp breeze blew off the Black Lake, and the three young wizards' shadows lengthened until, before long, they ran together.
"Ira?"
Night, in the Ravenclaw dormitory.
Sean called softly, and within two seconds a small figure slowly appeared.
"Mr. Sean Green, sir—an honor to help you," Ira said, pinching the ragged hem of its clothes, plainly anxious.
"I'd like a cup of hot milk. Oh—and this is for you." Sean set a piece of candied crabapple in Ira's palm. He'd tried making it in the kitchens from memory. Strictly speaking, candied crabapple shouldn't be so quick to prepare, but magic isn't big on common sense.
"N-no, no! Ira cannot take a gift from Mr. Sean Green—serving Mr. Sean Green is what Ira should do!" Ira looked thoroughly alarmed, until bright little tears gathered in its eyes.
"Please take it," Sean said.
In a flash, the stunned little elf was gone—replaced by a cup of hot milk and a plate of biscuits.
Sean sipped in silence. He knew his health was much improved. Hogwarts never lacked for food, and the nutrition was rich and complete.
Of course, Professor Snape's potions had helped a great deal. Sean felt at least more than half recovered. As for what was still missing, it would take longer convalescence—but not too long, given how potent the professor's draughts were.
At the dormitory window, Sean held his Nimbus 2000, feeling its build and the magic thrumming through it. He knew this was a clear knack—real talent for alchemical craft.
His notes grew again—not only with Transfiguration study, but thoughts on tomorrow afternoon's flight test.
Night deepened.
At another window, Hermione still read by candlelight. To stop the busybodies from commenting, she cast a nonverbal spell and moved to the sill.
She was still a little surprised that Justin had managed to get Sean to take a whole day off—and she had no idea what the knight's portrait had said to make it happen.
"Fine—let's say he's like a room with all the doors and windows shut. That's alright. I'll just keep ringing the doorbell—"
Hermione could almost hear Justin's light, steady voice saying it again.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!