The Chamber of Desire [ Tomarry

Free Knives?

September 1st, 1992.

Harry was currently hiding in one of the food cabinets in Hogwart's kitchen, twiddling his wand between his fingers in a clear display of anxiety.

Today was the big day.

Harry had never been on the field before, and although he was finally out in the open, he was given an easy task- report to Tom about the new Slytherins. Even though it was simple, Harry couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of excitement and dread.

Over the summer, Tom had taught him how to smoke-Apparate, which according to Tom was easier than regular Apparation (Harry wouldn't know- his soulmate didn't want him to splinch himself), and Harry had quickly perfected it. So, after months of training, and after months of begging, Harry was allowed a task. Well, him, Ron and the twins, but that was unnecessary information.

And Harry was damn excited.

He knew what he had to do- wait in the kitchen until the students arrived ('which is any moment now,' Harry thought anxiously), then smoke up into the ventilation system above the multiple ovens and follow the main path towards the Great Hall, then he could look down the vents and see the Sorting Hat. It was all planned out. All Harry had to do was be patient.

Harry had to wait until he saw a red light shine through the cracks of the cupboard, a signal from Ron and the twins that there were students arriving. If it were green, it is a teacher alert, and blue, it means a student had somehow found the kitchen entrance.

Dobby had faithfully informed him that he knew many House Elves who worked in the Hogwarts kitchens who said that they didn't start cooking until all the students were seated- for safety purposes.

'And they still get the food done in a half an hour or so?' Harry questioned himself in the darkness of the cabinet, ten days after he was told this information. 'House Elves are more magical than wizards, it's confirmed.'

Although this plan required patience, Harry could practically feel himself jumping out of his skin. Every little noise he made, made him think he was going to get caught. His breathing sounded like it was amplified by a sonorus.

But at the same time, even in a cramped cabinet fearing getting caught, Harry felt free. Over the past months, he'd heard so many stories about people going out on tasks for Tom, what they did, and Harry couldn't help but wish he could do it also. Now that he were here, it felt exhilarating, as if he were about to skydive. He quite liked it.

Harry almost shit his pants when he saw the red light making its way through the cracks of the cabinet. He quickly and nervously casted the spell to turn his body into smoke, and travelled through the cracks and into the ventilation system.

It was really easy to manoeuvre in the vents- the vent he was supposed to follow was about three times the size of the other ones branching off of it. In no time at all, Harry found the Great Hall, and saw all the students piling in. Materializing the waist up, he grabbed a small piece of parchment and a quill from his upper robe's pocket waited until the Sorting Hat started singing.

'Man, this is boring,' Harry thought, gazing down on the crowds of people. 'The Hat sounds like it hasn't drank in years. Well, it probably hasn't, because it's a hat,' Harry laughed at himself lightly. It wasn't funny, but he needed something to calm his nerves.

Soon enough the song stopped, and a strict old lady (Harry remembered her as Professer McGonnagal) walked up to the Sorting Hat and lifted it up, hereby commencing the Sorting Ceremony. One by one, the students made their way to the hat, and one by one, the students were sorted into their Houses.

In total, thirteen of the new students were Slytherins, which was considerably good, because Slytherin usually has the lowest amount of kids anyways, and there were about sixty new kids in total. Smiling down at the list, Harry had also noted down the Ravenclaws (eighteen in total), for his own benefit. Why? He didn't know.

Harry once again waited until everyone left the room, including the Professors and the Headmaster. Making sure the coast was clear, he went back down the ventilation system and into the kitchen, where Ron and the twins were waiting on chairs. Seeing Harry, they stood up. "Got the names?" Ron asked, and when Harry nodded, Ron sighed in relief. "Thank Merlin. And you didn't get caught?" Harry shook his head as a no. "Praise it, mate."

"It's weird being in the kitchens," Fred signed, gazing wistfully at the snacks. "Never actually been in here before. Honestly never knew there were kitchens here before this mission. Kinda thought the food appeared out of thin air. Don't tell Hermione I said that."

"Yeah, man," George continued, "free food? Free knives? Maybe there's a reason why we weren't told about this."

After their slight discussion, they all turned into smoke and left the kitchen, trailing along the walls and floor. They quickly and efficiently found one of the passages Fred and George had found from a map they had lost, and slid into a slight crack in the wall. Once fully concealed, they materialized.

"Man, I didn't know that would be that easy," Harry giggled as they made their way down the passageway. "Got fooled by a bunch of twelve year olds, they did."

"Harry, we're nineteen," Ron corrected bluntly. Then he gasped in horror. "Oh Merlin, I'm turning into 'Mione."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Saying we're twelve gives it a bigger oomf, mate. And no, she would probably be scandalized because I generalized the professors and Headmaster into the whole population of the school."

Everyone laughed, but Ron was only laughing slightly, looking somewhat even more awkward, as if walking slouched because the passage was too small wasn't awkward enough. Harry was quick to apologize. "Sorry, mate. You know 'Mione's my friend."

"I know, it's fine," Ron said, before they reached the trapdoor that led them to Diagon Alley.

They quickly left the shop and entered Diagon Alley, with their masks and hoods pulled up, and quickly found one of the Death Eaters they had to find, whom was holding four broomsticks, all of them Firebolts. Harry had never flew on a broomstick before the previous summer, unless he counted when he was six, which he didn't, so he was going to fly in the middle of the group.

"My Prince," the man greeted, presenting the four broomsticks on his knees. "I have brought you your broomsticks for your travels."

Harry smiled warmly. "Thank you. I shall make sure you get rewarded."

The man's face turned red. "Th-thank you, my Prince. It was a pleasure to be of service."

With that, they all mounted their broomsticks and took off into the night.