An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Aug 27, 2023 5:27:03 GMT 10
Kody had totally spaced on grabbing an apple while at breakfast (and at dinner and...) so he decided to head to the Kitchens after class.
On the way, he wrote a letter to his mum and stopped by the Owlery to send it. The handwriting was, as always, rather messy and rushed but that was just his style. The greasy fingertips were leftovers from breakfast -- Sorry mum!
I don't know if you talked to Grandma and Grandpa but we lost our first Quidditch match. I kept letting goals in and let my team down (they don't seem mad at me at least so I guess I'm allowed to keep playing!). I did have a lot of fun and my broom is SO COOL! I was zooming and zipping and stuff!
But the rain was a pain in the butt! I was so cold when I finally got inside. But I listened to Reena and had a deliciously warm soup for dinner (it's called Potato and Leek, can we have it over Christmas? It was super yummy!).
Speaking of Christmas, I can't wait to see you and the house and garden and the cat and Grandma and Grandpa! Don't decorate before we get there so we can help!!! Hope you're looking forward to Christmas too.
I've missed you and I've been saving up lots of big bear duck hugs just for you Mum!
See you soon soon soon!!!
Love: Kody
With that done and a very plump owl on its way to his mum, Kody had made a beeline for the Kitchens.
Kody entered with a curious look on his face. He had never had a reason to show up here before. He hoped they wouldn't mind handing him a few apples. He stood at the side and waited for one of them to look less busy so he wouldn't feel so bad about approaching.
'Hello, I is Dippy,' said the House Elf that approached him, giving Kody a low bow that almost bumped his nose against the floor. He was especially polite, and kept looking at Kody oddly. 'You is looking familiar. I is not sure why.'
Shaking his head, ears flapping in the process, Dippy regained focus and set Kody with a determined look.
'I is here to help,' he said, standing taller as if proud to be doing so. 'What is you needing?'
Post by Kody Ashworth on Aug 27, 2023 15:29:31 GMT 10
"Hiya Dippy!" Kody greeted the House-Elf that approached with a big smile. He resisted the urge to nosey around the Kitchen and then realised what Dippy had said.
"Huh? I do? Maybe you know my brothers or sisters?" Kody couldn't remember if they had ever told him about coming into the Kitchen before... But then again, it was easy for Kody to miss stuff like that.
He was probably thinking about a creature at the time the conversation happened.
"Yes, um! Can I have a few apples? I need them to help with something." He asked, hopeful that Dippy would be able to help. If not, he'd have to be more attentive during meal times instead.
Either way, he was glad to meet Dippy! Kody wondered why he had never tried to come meet the House-Elves before.
Dippy was a bit startled by Kody's enthusiasm, as well as getting a greeting in return. A bit flustered, his cheeks turned red and he poked the floor with his toe while hearing what the Gryffindor was there for. But the familiar look about him was not easy to let go.
'You is looking like someone from long ago,' Dippy peered a bit closer. 'Dippy is sure of it. You is looking just like him. The kind one, who loved pineapples.'
Confident he had solved the mystery, Dippy then focused on what Kody was there for. The fact he'd asked for a type of fruit earned a bit of a smile from the House Elf.
'You is needing apples? Okay! I is getting you apples now,' he said, already turned to hurry towards baskets of fruit.
He climbed onto a stool, and took his time picking out the best ones. A few Elfs nearby had to work around him, preparing apple pies nearby. Dippy was determined to do a good job, and didn't budge until he accomplished his task.
'Apples.' He proudly presented Kody with an apple in each hand, as if they were made of pure gold rather them being a simple fruit. 'Is you needing anything else?'
Post by Kody Ashworth on Aug 27, 2023 21:52:53 GMT 10
Someone from long ago...? Kody puzzled over it for a second and then gasped, "Maybe you mean my mum or dad? Probably more my dad..."
He didn't expect it and there was a slight lump in his throat. Luckily, Dippy took that moment to seek out the apples that Kody wanted and he had a chance to stop himself from getting teary.
Knowing his dad loved pineapples probably wasn't an important titbit but it felt big to Kody since he knew so little.
When the House-Elf returned, a big smile was back on his face, "These are perfect! Wow, thank you so much, Dippy."
He took them and carefully put them into his pocket. He wondered if there was anything else he could get while he was here... "Oh, maybe some raw meat? I need a piece to do a task for class, if that's okay?"
Or was he being too greedy? Kody would let Dippy decide if he was allowed some or not. He was just grateful for the apples to begin with.
'You is best be asking Noody,' Dippy said, not wanting to give the wrong answer. 'He is be knowing him a long time. Noody will know for sure. They is sharing everything.'
His enthusiasm sank a little when Kody then asked for some raw meat as well, to which Dippy wanted to give him but he'd already given apples. He shook his head in apology, as that wasn't fair on the other students who made requests. It wasn't a rule the House Elves particularly liked, but it was probably best not to hand out all of their supplies in a single day, to anyone who came asking.
Desperate to not disappoint Jody though, Dippy at least indicated to a far corner of the kitchen -- implying that the Elf busy trying to unscrew an overhead cupboard handle was Noody. He was oblivious to their attention, tongue poking out as he worked on making it hard for anyone to get to the lesser-used but noisy pots and pans.
Noody stopped moving when someone addressed him, then glanced slowly at Kody -- staring, without blinking, at the Gryffindor until certain if he was there to get him in trouble or not. With the offer to help, Noody determined that Kody was good company.
Yet the Elf shook his head, and simply continued undoing it until the handle slipped off, and clattered onto the floor. Without hesitation, Noody climbed onto a table nearby and sat cross-legged to give Kody his proper attention.
'Who is you; Kody what?' he asked, tilting his head. He wasn't a mind reader, though was trying to give it a go in case this time it worked. 'Who is you talking about?'
Noody's eyes widened comically large when he heard the surname, unable to even raise his hand to consider shaking Kody's offered one. He just sat there, in shock for a moment, then inched closer to really look at Kody.
'You is looking like Marcus Ashworth,' he uttered, in absolute awe.
Which was immediately followed by tears welling in the Elf's large eyes. With a wail, he hugged himself -- then summoned something to his hands, to clutch it to his teary face. It was a note or photograph, as far as Kody could tell from the back of it.
Others around them shot Noody a glance as if he was being rude to them, or disrespectful to Kody, with all his noise. Noody wailed for a bit, then managed to get it down to sniffles. He crawled to a fruit basket nearby, picked a small pineapple to hug as well. He sadly bit into it as if it was an apple, grimacing at the sourness.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Aug 28, 2023 17:33:49 GMT 10
Kody didn't know what to expect but hadn't expected that!
He was shocked into becoming a statue and then felt the lump in hus throat growing. Then his own eyes welled up.
"H-Hey... I'm sorry... I..."
His bottom lip started to wobble and Kody bit down hard. He watched as Noody grabbed the pineapple and didn't know what else to do but comfort the House-Elf.
So he wrapped his arms around Noody and hugged him, "It's okay... I miss him too." A loud sniff followed and soon Kody's cheeks were wet.
Several House Elves gasped when Kody hugged Noody -- who also froze at the action, mainly out of surprise and trying to work out if it was a form of attack or just some weird thing wizards did. Noody seemed to calm down a bit, mostly out of shock.
Elfs stared at Kody, unsure what to think of his pure kindness in comforting for the poor Elf. Some had tears welling in their own eyes at such consideration. Others turned pale and hurried off to work even harder on preparing things for Lunch.
After a while, Noody seemed to be okay again and had placed the pineapple in his lap to free hands for hugging the photograph. His eyes remained a bit shiny, and he stared at Kody with such awe that it was rather overwhelming.
'You is as kind as Marcus Ashworth, too. You is very much so,' Noody managed to say, gently touching the photograph. 'Noody is most honoured to meet you.'
Post by Kody Ashworth on Aug 28, 2023 21:38:57 GMT 10
What was deemed proper or not when it came to interacting with House-Elves was unknown to Kody. But, luckily, he also didn't notice how the others reacted.
He was concerned with Noody and felt his cheeks blaze at the kind words directed his way. He noticed the photograph again and managed a small smile.
And when he spoke, his voice was quiet and full of emotion.
"I can tell he meant a great deal to you so the honour is all mine. If you feel up to it, can you tell me about him? What he was like?" Kody wanted to see the photograph too but that could wait.
"And what's the deal with pineapples?" This was followed by a light chuckle and Kody gave it, and Noody, a gentle pat-pat.
'Marcus Ashworth is kind to poor Noody,' the House Elf answered Kody earnestly, though seemed a bit shy as he thought of those fond memories. 'He is making sure others are kind to House Elves too. He is a lot like Noody -- finding fun, even when others say it's trouble. Calling Marcus Ashworth and Noody mischievous, they is.'
He sighed, wiping his eyes again. Noody hugged the photograph, then warily turned it just enough that Kody could sort of see it -- yet kept a tight grip on it, as if scared it might be snatched from him. At first, Kody thought it was a slightly manipulated photograph of him -- but the features weren't quite the same, and his hair a bit lighter. A little less curly.
But their blue eyes matched, and the grin.
It was his dad, younger than Kody was now; possibly 1st or 2nd year. He was also dressed in a full Hufflepuff uniform, and hand an arm looped round the shoulders of Noody. As it was a magical photograph, young Marcus waved eagerly at Kody. That was just how photographs worked, but Noody looked at it as if Marcus saw them and was waving specifically for them.
'Pineapples?' Noody stared at it. 'Sentimental. Noody is not knowing why Marcus Ashworth needs pineapples. He is asking for them all the time, but only sometimes for eating. He is saying it is for very important reasons, but Noody is not knowing what. Marcus Ashworth is most serious; asking Noody not to find out.'
Post by Kody Ashworth on Aug 29, 2023 5:44:32 GMT 10
It was nice to hear his dad had been good to House-Elves. Kody sort of puffed up his chest a little and hoped he could be half as good as his dad.
And it was validating to hear his dad maybe got into trouble too.
"He sounds so cool." Kody said, his voice a little shakey with emotion. It hurt, a little, inside his chest to talk about his dad. Everything felt a little tight but he knew Noody wasn't trying to hurt him.
He just wished his dad was still here.
The picture was held tightly by the House-Elf but Kody shifted to the side, leaning in a little so he could see it and it made everything better and worst at the same time.
"Woah... He looks..." Just like him, kinda. And happy too. Kody felt a little shy and waved back -- would this younger version of his dad know who he was? It was a stupid thought.
"That is a very precious photo. Thank you for sharing it with me and for keeping it safe all this time." His smile was a bit wider and a little less shy this time.
The pineapple thing was puzzling! Kody didn't know if his mum liked it or if they had ever had it at home... Had he even tried some before? Fruit was something Reena or Jaxen probably would encourage Kody to eat...
While he would want something he deemed more fun.
"Hmm... I don't think it rings a bell for me. But maybe I can find out somehow? Hey Noody... Would it be okay for me to come to the Kitchen to see you again?" He liked this House-Elf and wanted to keep the connection alive.
00 | 
22 | 
20
December
