Harry Potter: The Heir to Hufflepuff

The feast was winding down, and the golden plates were slowly clearing themselves. The hum of conversation had softened as everyone grew full and content, the occasional laugh or chatter echoing through the hall. I leaned back slightly, Twig perched lazily on my shoulder, nibbling on a tiny crumb he'd scavenged from my plate.

Just as I thought the night was coming to a close, Dumbledore stood once more, his presence commanding the attention of the entire hall.

"Ahem," he began, his voice warm yet firm. "Just a few more words before we bid you all goodnight. First, a reminder that the Dark Forest on the grounds is strictly forbidden to all students. This is not a suggestion; it is a rule for your own safety." His eyes flicked toward the Gryffindor table, and I could have sworn they lingered there for just a moment longer.

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle, before continuing.

"Secondly, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death."

The hall fell into an uneasy silence. A few whispers rippled through the first-years seated near me, their faces ranging from nervous to confused. I exchanged a glance with Hannah and Susan, who looked equally puzzled.

Dumbledore's demeanor lightened then, and his signature twinkle returned to his eyes. "Now, off you trot. Sleep well, and prepare for the magical adventures awaiting you tomorrow!"

With a wave of his hand, the golden plates vanished, leaving the tables spotless. The students began to stand, and the prefects moved quickly to gather their respective houses.

"First-years, over here!" called a tall boy with dark curly hair and a friendly smile.

"That's Gabriel Truman," Susan whispered to me as we stood and made our way toward him.

Gabriel waited until the group of us had assembled, then gave a warm nod. "Welcome to Hufflepuff, everyone. Follow me, and I'll show you to your new home. Stick close—it's easy to get lost your first time."

We followed him out of the Great Hall and into the labyrinth of Hogwarts' stone corridors. The warm glow of torches illuminated the way, casting long shadows as we descended deeper into the castle. The air grew cooler, and the faint scent of earth and stone filled the space.

As we walked, Gabriel pointed out landmarks. "That staircase there will take you to the greenhouses. We have Herbology classes there. And if you ever need to get to the kitchens, well, you're not far off from where we're headed."

The excitement of the night was beginning to fade into a sense of calm as we reached a long, dimly lit corridor lined with barrels. Gabriel stopped in front of the second barrel from the bottom, middle row, and turned to face us.

"This," he said, gesturing to the barrels, "is the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. Only Hufflepuffs can get in, so don't go trying to bring your friends from other houses." He gave us a teasing grin.

"To enter, you tap this barrel here," he continued, pointing to it, "in the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff.'"

He demonstrated, tapping out the rhythm with precision. The lid of the barrel swung open, revealing a rounded tunnel lined with soft golden lanterns. The warm light spilled into the corridor, inviting us in.

"Come on," Gabriel said, stepping through.

We followed, the tunnel opening into a room that took my breath away. The Hufflepuff common room wasn't just welcoming—it was alive. The space was circular, with low, curved ceilings that seemed to wrap around us like a warm embrace. Soft, golden light radiated from enchanted lanterns hanging from the walls, casting a gentle glow over everything.

The walls themselves were covered in earthy tones, decorated with tapestries depicting lush forests and rolling meadows. Potted plants of every kind lined the windowsills and shelves, their leaves vibrant and glistening as though they had been kissed by morning dew. Some of the plants moved subtly, their tendrils and leaves shifting as if they were stretching to greet us.

In the center of the room, overstuffed furniture in shades of warm yellow and green was arranged in cozy clusters, inviting anyone to sit and relax. A stone fireplace crackled with a soft, golden flame, filling the air with the comforting scent of burning wood and faint traces of lavender and rosemary. Even the floor was welcoming, with soft rugs woven in intricate patterns spread out over polished stone.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt it. The connection. The plants in the room seemed to reach out to me, their presence wrapping around my mind like an invisible thread. It wasn't overwhelming like my first attempts at connecting with nature had been—this was soothing, almost like a gentle chorus welcoming me home. Each plant had its own quiet voice, whispering their contentment at my arrival, as if they recognized me as one of their own.

Twig hopped off my shoulder and onto a nearby table, scuttling toward a potted fern. The plant's fronds shifted to meet him, and for a moment, I could feel their mutual curiosity and delight.

Gabriel smiled as he watched us all take in the room. "Welcome to the Hufflepuff common room," he said warmly. "This will be your home for the next seven years. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me or any of the older students."

He gestured toward two staircases that spiraled upward. "Girls' dormitories are to the left, boys' to the right. Your belongings should already be in your rooms."

As the other first-years began to explore or head toward the dormitories, I lingered near the center of the room, taking it all in. The connection I felt to this place was unlike anything I had experienced before. It wasn't just a room—it was a sanctuary, alive and breathing. The plants here seemed to radiate warmth and contentment, their whispers forming a gentle hum that soothed the edges of my mind.

I placed a hand on the armrest of one of the chairs, and even the wood seemed to resonate faintly with life, as though the magic of the room extended to every corner. For the first time in a long while, I felt a true sense of belonging, as if this place recognized me just as much as I recognized it.

Twig climbed back onto my shoulder, his golden leaves blending seamlessly with the soft glow of the room. I could feel his approval through our connection, a faint sense of pride emanating from him.

"This is it, Twig," I murmured softly. "We're home."

--

After spending a few more moments taking in the warmth of the common room, I decided to head to my dormitory. Twig seemed to agree, climbing down to my shoulder as I made my way toward the staircase Gabriel had pointed out earlier.

The steps spiraled gently upward, the stone cool underfoot. The hum of nature's presence in the common room followed me, a constant, comforting background as I climbed. At the top of the staircase, I found a hallway with several wooden doors, each adorned with a small brass plaque listing names.

I walked along the hallway, scanning the plaques until I found one that included my name:

Cassius Hufflepuff

Wayne Hopkins

Justin Finch-Fletchley

Ernest Macmillan

The names were neatly engraved, and I paused for a moment, taking it in. This was my room—my space for the next year. With a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The dormitory was cozy but simple, with four neatly made beds arranged in the form of two sturdy bunk beds. The warm, honey-colored wood of the frames matched the rest of the Hufflepuff aesthetic, and each bed had thick, yellow-and-black blankets folded neatly at the foot. A small wooden chest sat at the end of each bed, presumably for personal belongings.

The walls were lined with more plants, hanging from shelves and draped over curtain rods. A small enchanted window on one side of the room let in soft, golden light, mimicking daylight despite being deep underground. The air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of herbs and flowers, but the layout of the room made my chest tighten for a moment.

The row of beds, the small chests, the slightly cramped feeling—it reminded me of my younger years at the orphanage. Nights spent in shared spaces with too many children, too little privacy, and always the faint hum of unease in the air.

I had to suppress a frown as the memories surfaced. This was different, I reminded myself. These weren't strangers crammed together out of necessity—this was my house, my dorm, my peers. It wasn't the same.

Twig must have sensed my mood because he chirped softly from my shoulder, a gentle reminder of his presence. I gave him a small pat on his head as I walked further into the room, claiming the lower bunk of the bed furthest from the door. The mattress was surprisingly soft, and the blankets looked warm and inviting.

I set my pouch down on the bed and took another deep breath, letting the earthy warmth of the room settle over me. The other boys hadn't arrived yet, so I took a moment to collect myself, running a hand through my hair and shaking off the lingering weight of old memories.

I sat on the edge of my bed, leaning back against the sturdy wooden frame as the hum of the room settled over me. The plants hanging from the shelves and trailing over the curtain rods seemed to fill the space with a quiet sense of life and warmth. The dormitory's earthy tones, soft golden light, and faint scent of herbs gave it a homey atmosphere.

Twig lounged on my lap, his golden leaves shimmering faintly as I absentmindedly scratched under his tiny chin. He chirped softly, clearly enjoying the attention.

The door creaked open, and I looked up to see a boy with light brown hair and a friendly, slightly bashful smile step into the room. He carried a satchel over his shoulder and seemed to hesitate before stepping fully inside.

"Hi there," he said, raising a hand in a tentative wave. "I'm Wayne Hopkins."

"Cassius Hufflepuff," I replied, standing and offering my hand.

Wayne's eyes widened slightly as he processed my name. "Wait, the Hufflepuff? You're, like, related to the founder?"

I nodded with a small smile. "That's what they tell me."

His grin spread wider as he shook my hand. "That's amazing! You must feel like royalty or something!"

"Not quite," I said with a laugh. "Nice to meet you, Wayne."

He claimed the bottom bunk across the room, tossing his bag onto the bed with a soft thud. As he started unpacking, the door opened again, and another boy stepped in.

This one was a bit shorter, with neat blond hair and an air of polished confidence about him. His robes looked freshly pressed, and his posture was impeccably straight.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley," he announced with a smile, looking around the room. "Looks like we're all in this together."

"Cassius," I said, nodding at him.

"Wayne," added the other boy, waving from his bunk.

Justin's gaze landed on Twig, who was now perched on my shoulder, watching him curiously. "What's that?" he asked, tilting his head.

"His name's Twig, and he's a Bowtruckle" I said, reaching up to let Twig climb onto my hand.

Justin's expression brightened with interest. "Brilliant!"

"Just be careful if you ever meet one in the wild, they're incredibly picky about who they trust." I said, chuckling as Twig tilted his tiny head at Justin before scuttling back up to my shoulder.

The door opened a third time, and a taller boy with wavy blond hair stepped inside. His robes were immaculate, and he carried himself with a natural confidence that didn't feel overbearing. His gaze swept over the room before he offered a polite smile.

"Hello," he said in a clear, steady voice. "Ernest Macmillan, but everyone calls me Ernie."

"Cassius," I said.

"Wayne," added the first boy.

"Justin," said the second.

Ernie nodded to each of us before choosing the top bunk above Justin's. He set his neatly packed bag down with care and began arranging his space. "Well, this is certainly cozy," he remarked with a smile. His gaze lingered on Twig for a moment before he returned to adjusting his bedding.

As the boys settled into their spaces, the room gradually filled with easy conversation. Wayne was bright and enthusiastic, going on about how excited he was for Herbology and how he hoped they'd get to work with magical plants like Fanged Geraniums.

Justin leaned against the frame of his bunk, mentioning his Muggle upbringing and how surreal it was to finally be at Hogwarts. "I mean, it's all real—magic, wands, everything. It's a bit overwhelming, honestly," he said with a grin.

Ernie listened with interest, occasionally chiming in with his own thoughts. "You'll get used to it," he assured Justin. "The wizarding world can be a bit much at first, but there's a lot of beauty in it too. You'll see."

I leaned back against my bedframe, watching the three of them interact. It reminded me a little of the orphanage, with its shared spaces and camaraderie, but this was different. There was no underlying tension here, no sense of competition or unease. Just four boys, starting fresh in a new chapter of their lives.

{Word Count - 2263}