#6 Make up and mischief snack

Ben had just about managed to grab some food of the table before it had disappeared just like that! Strange. At least he was not hungry anymore.

Unfortunately, the elf nearest him that he spoke to was busy preparing pastries. She squeaked in surprise to being spoken to, and rushed to alert another elf. That elf looked over at Joe, then hurried to apologise for making him wait.

'Hello,' said the elf. 'I is Dippy. What is you needing, Sir?' Dippy hadn't heard the request Joe just made, as the other elf had been too startled to remember what it was. He stared at the Ravenclaw boy though, intent on listening to every word.

Meanwhile, the startled elf resumed her work on pastries. She looked ashamed of herself for not being able to help the student who'd joined them. 

Dippy peered around Joe though, as if he expected someone else to be standing with him. He wondered if he'd imagined things, but quickly focused all his attention and dedication back to Joe. 

Joe stared after the house elf as they hurried away from him and wondered if he done something to offend them.
Turned out however that they had just been busy and alerted another house elf to his presence.
He smiled at the first house elf apologetically before turning his attention to the one that now spoke to him

So house elves did speak English.
Excellent.

"Hello Dippy" It sounded like a name a pet would have. Was it a weird name for a house elf? He wouldn't know.

"I was wondering if I could get a sandwich for my cousin and I, please?"

His eyes lit up mischievously as he remembered he felt Ben had followed him.
"Oh- and something for my friend" He grimaced at calling Dover his friend. "Maybe some sheep's liver with jam, oatmeal and onions on toast?"

Would serve him right...

He spun around, feeling caught when he heard the painting behind him open-
To his surprise it was not Ben who entered but rather a First Year girl from Hufflepuff.

Joe smiled at her awkwardly.

Had it been her all the time following him?

"Hey...", he greeted her weakly, not knowing her name and hoping she had not heard his strange request.

If it had not been Ben following him... That would make his request quite the waste. He hoped he had not been mistaken afterall and that there had just been two different students following him this entire time.

House elves! If that wasn’t about the coolest thing he’d seen today!

Ben walked up to the girl. “Hi, I’m Ben. You could be a Gryffindor! Seriously, kitchens freak me out.”

Dippy nodded along with what Joe requested, though was utterly confused by the odd combination at the end. Then again, Dippy didn't know if that was an odd request for the boy or if perhaps wizards enjoyed food he didn't know of? It didn't sound very nice, but he was there to help!

Then another student joined them and also requested something to eat. That was too big a job for just Dippy, so he hurried to speak with an elf checking a clipboard. The students would overhear that her name was Fanrey. She paused in supervising food preparations to set some other elves to work on fulfilling the requests.

Determined to get it right, Dippy handled Joe's weird one. Normally that would be a task for Sorbey, but Dippy was so eager to help that he decided it was something he'd do himself.

And unfortunately for the Ravenclaw, the result was offered to him in full earshot of both Ruby and Ben. 'Your toast, Sir. Boiled sheep's liver, strawberry jam, warm oatmeal, and fried onions,' Dippy said. He was so proud of himself that his cheeks blushed pink. 'Is that what you is wanting or did Dippy prepare things wrong? Did you want the onion raw?  Do you not like strawberries? Oh no, Dippy forgot to ask important things! Does Dippy need to make it again? I is willing to fix it.' The elf stressed, as he hadn't thought to ask Joe how he wanted everything, simply assuming the most edible options. 

While Dippy was distraught over his crisis and uncertainty of if he'd failed in his task, Fanrey rushed over with a plate of assorted sandwiches for Joe and Ruby to choose from. She even offered Ruby a bowl of fruit salad, concerned about the girl having missed lunch.

A few elves, while not unfriendly, did eye Ben when he said he wasn't there to steal food. It just seemed like a rather odd greeting, and his statement of being freaked out by kitchens wasn't all-explanatory of his nervousness. 

'You is needing anything, Sir?' Fanrey asked Ben, still holding the fruit bowl in offer for Ruby. The sandwiches had been placed on a small table nearby that seemed to be used to place things on when they had visitors making requests. She also lingered in case there was anything else the students needed.

Curiosity grew among the house elves though, as Ben was yet to state a purpose for being there. It was very rare anyone came by just to keep them company while they worked.