Arthur woke up before the sun rose.
Cedric was still asleep, not that anyone would be expected to be up at 5 in the morning.
Nevertheless, he couldn’t have that.
Thinking about the health and well being of his new friend, he went to his bed and shook him awake.
While Cedric made excellent points in his favor, Arthur was far past listening.
Good habits should be practiced as soon as possible.
And the way he looked at it, a morning person was the de-facto ruler of everyone’s sleep schedule, not that anyone could stop them on account of them being asleep.
Besides, he couldn’t go about his day if he knew that someone might be having an objectively better time than him.
Cedric, finally relenting, got up grumpily and started getting ready.
Arthur left him in the dorm and got a head start on the day.
He had not gotten a good look at the common room yesterday.
With the sun just beginning to peer in through the small circular windows he could now fully appreciate just how cozy it all looked.
Something about how round and low-ceilinged the room was made him feel like he was in a cartoon.
He loved that it felt like a burrow.
There were lots of yellow hangings around the room giving it a distinct look.
Arthur was positive he had never seen a room with this much yellow in both his lives combined.
The overstuffed sofas and armchairs upholstered in yellow and black made the place fell very welcoming.
It felt like it was designed to gather people.
There was also a large, honey colored, wooden mantelpiece with carvings of badgers on it located underneath a portrait of the house’s founder, Helga Hufflepuff.
Arthur looked at the smile on her face which radiated kindness and felt himself smiling.
His dormmate joined just at the sunlight started to fill the space, and with it brought a stunning view of the ground filled with rippling grass and flowers of different colors.
They both sat down in their sofas and admired the view.
…
Their peace and quiet was interrupted by a crashing sound from behind.
Arthur hurriedly got up to check and immediately noticed an upperclassman sprawled on the floor.
Cedric, as always, ran ahead to help her.
Arthur caught up just as Cedric was trying to turn them over.
Arthur gasped as he saw the face, it was a sickly shade of green.
Not figuratively, but literally a sickly green color.
On closer look her entire body had turned green including her nails and her hair.
“She might be cursed!” hissed Cedric.
Arthur had no frame of reference for what a curse would look like or what it even meant so he trusted the boy who had grown up in a magical home.
“We have to take her to the infirmary.” Cedric said as he started lifting her arm, “Help me carry her.”
Arthur grabbed her legs and started lifting.
Huffing they lifted her off the ground and started moving her towards the common room door.
“Honestly! you guys are no fun.” said the person being lifted causing them to immediately let go.
“Ouch!” she said as she started to get up, “Mind the goods.” The color of her skin slowly changed back to a healthy white, her hair on the other hand started to rapidly change in a dizzying slide of colors, but mostly dominated by pink.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were sick.” said Cedric looking the part. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Arthur was baffled at the action.
It made him realize that his new friend might not know as much magic as he was led to believe.
Clearly his parents had left the educating part to the proper teachers.
“Jeez kid.
Unclench.” she said, “It’s just a prank.
I’m Tonks by the way.”
“I’m Cedric and this is Arthur.”
“How did you do that?” Arthur asked Tonks, pointing at her now bright pink hair that reminded him of a bubblegum.
“I’m a Metamorphmagus which means that I can change my physical appearance.” said Tonks as she changed her head to resemble a pig and quickly changed back, “It’s a rare magical talent.”
“So What are a bunch of first years doing in the common room so early in the morning?” Tonks asked, “I thought you guys always slept late.”
“Cedric wanted to explore the common room.” Arthur said trying to control the narrative.
Arthur looked at Cedric who gave him an angry look.
Arthur got the message and started lying even harder, “He wanted to see the sunrise. He said…”
….
Arthur stayed laying flat on the ground after Cedric finally got a good whack on his face with a cushion.
He thought the chase would last longer.
He would have outrun Cedric too if not for the limited space in the common room.
Honestly, the kid had monster reflexes.
It didn’t help that Tonks was blocking the common room door preventing any possibility of escape.
Arthur figured that she must have been enjoying the chaos.
“Get up.” Tonks said throwing a cushion at him, which he dodged to look at her, “Let’s get a head start on the breakfast.”
“What about our class schedule?” Cedric pointed out.
“Find Levi after the meal.
He was the prefect that led you last night.
It won’t take long.” Tonks said , “Come on!
I’ll show you someplace nearby for breakfast.
It’s a Hufflepuff feature.
”
Cedric helped Arthur up and they followed Tonks.
She took them to a portrait containing a large painting of a bowl of fruit.
She then tickled a single pear.
The pear actually giggled and transformed into a large green door handle.
Wizards and their magical doors.
They pushed open the door to reveal a room pretty similar to the great hall. Get faster updates on g.com.
Stone walls were lined with heaps of glittering brass pots and pans, accompanied by a massive brick fireplace at the opposite end.
The space was filled with small creatures with oversized heads, large, pointed, bat-like ears and huge, bulging eyes who all looked pretty busy preparing food.
Some of the creatures were turned to look at the intruders, their gazes resembling that of a curious owl.
Tonks instructed them to stay at the door as she made her way to the group of creatures.
“What are they?” Arthur asked elbowing Cedric.
“House elves.
Mom says that they are like butlers.” Cedric said, “Dad says you have to be pretty rich to own them.
Mostly purebloods have them.”
“Are they really expensive?” Arthur asked not believing anyone would want such scrawny creatures around.
“Can you afford a butler?” Cedric asked back.
“Good point.”
Their conversation was interrupted by Tonks as she brought a house elf towards them.
“Guys this is Blinky.” Tonks said introducing the elf, “She’s here to take your orders.”
“Blinky’s here for orders.” said the elf in a squeaky voice, “For Breakfast.”
Arthur looked at Tonks who nodded at him so he addressed the small elf before him, “Hey Blinky. I’m Arthur.”
“Arthur. What be having?”
“Can I get a glass of mango juice and a bowl of cereal?”
“Yes.” the elf said.
“Cedric will have some boiled corn.”
“No I will not.” interrupted Cedric and muffled Arthur, “What even is that? I’ll have pancakes.”
“No corn.” asked the elf to confirm.
“No corn.”
…
They all sat in a table by the side and started eating.
Curious, Arthur questioned why they were not sitting at the main tables.
Tonks explained that apparently they were located directly beneath the Great Hall, and the five long wooden tables sat in the exact same positions and alignments as the four house tables and staff table in the Great Hall above.
The House-elves then placed prepared food directly onto these bottom tables, which was then magically transported up to the corresponding dishes in the Great Hall.
By the time they finished their food, the elves had started placing some dishes on the table and snapping their fingers causing the food to vanish.
“That means that people are in the hall.” Tonks said getting up , “Let’s grab your schedul..” She didn’t even finish her sentence before she fell down.
“Is this another prank?” Cedric asked nervously looking at Tonks sprawled on the floor.
“No. It really hurts.” Tonks answered with her face bright red in color now.
Her hair turned red to match her face.
“So, you’re just clumsy.” Arthur asked for confirmation.
Tonks didn’t bother to respond to the accusation.
“Do you need help?” Cedric offered.
“No.” she said as she tried to get up and promptly fell down again, “Yes, please.”