somewhere only we belong .h.j.p

fifteen

The pair made their way to the basement corridor, having to take several detours to avoid punishing Professors. It was broad and brightly lit, even at night. The walls were decorated with food related paintings. Harry approaches the frame that houses a painting of a fruit bowl, and tickles a pear, which bursts out into giggles. The pear turns into a large green handle. Alyce looks at it, confused. But Harry opens the painting, revealing the entrance to the kitchens.

The room is high ceilinged, and the walls are home to large amounts of pots and pans. The room itself is gigantic, and has five tables exactly mirroring the Great Hall. It isn't as brightly lit as the corridor outside, and there is a light crackling from the log fire that's burning on the opposite side of the kitchen.

Almost the second they stp into the kitchens, they are bombarded by different house-elves, who bow to them. Alyce looks at Harry puzzled, who smiles back awkwardly. Harry asks if they could have some "hot chocolate, please, and any baked goods if you have any spare."

The house-elves couldn't have moved quicker to complete Harry's request. Their overly large ears bobbing as they flurried around the kitchen. A house-elf with bat-like ears and green eyes that are so large they resemble tennis balls approaches them excitedly.

"Mr Harry Potter, Sir," the house-elf exclaims. "Dobby is most honoured to have you here."

"I'm honoured to be her, Dobby, i've not seen you in a while," Harry converses.

"Dobby knows Harry Potter is very busy, Sir," Dobby says, his head nodding.

"This is Alyce," Harry says, tilting her head towards the Slytherin.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss," Dobby says genuinely.

"Pleasure to meet you too, Dobby,"Alyce says, holding out her hand for him to shake. He tentatively takes it.

"Dobby must get back to working now," Dobby said regretfully.

"See you later, Dobby," Harry shouts as the elf sadly wanders off.

As soon as he leaves two house-elves appear both carrying a tray. The first has a round, bulbous nose, with small squarish ears, and is carrying two hot chocolates, decorated with cream and marshmallows. The other, with large ears that fall down to his shoulders, and bright blue eyes that are so loud they look like they will bulge out of the elf's head, carries a tray with plates of fresh cookies and brownies and muffins. Alyce's mouth starts watering at the smell.

"That looks amazing, thank you," Alyce says, sincerely. The elf with long ears looks as if he could burst with pride.

The elves place the trays on the end of the table and scurry off back to their task. Alyce takes a mug and sips the liquid gold. She immediately regrets her hast and has to awkwardly breath in air to cool her scorched mouth down. Harry laughs at her. "Go away," Alyce says, wiping her mouth clean.

Harry, surprisingly acting with common sense, gets a spoonful of cream and starts there. Alyce decides to indulge in a brownie, taking a bite and sighing as the chocolate melts in her mouth, still warm from the oven.

"This is heaven," Alyce states, her eyes closed and head lolled back in bliss.

"I'm shocked you haven't been here before," Harry remarks. "The Hufflepuff common room is close."

"I know, he's such a traitor," Alyce jokes. "Keeping this to himself."

"I come here a lot," Harry admits. "Dobby's good company."

"How did you meet him?" Alyce asks, she opts for a cookie this time.

"He tried to stop me from going to Hogwarts in second year. Then tried to kill me," Harry said bluntly.