Leo arrived at the Hogwarts kitchens early to make final preparations for the gathering.
The underground kitchen was already bustling with activity. House-elves darted back and forth like swarms of busy bees, carrying trays, chopping ingredients, and polishing dishes with astonishing speed. The entire room buzzed with energy as dozens of meals were prepared simultaneously.
Among them, Leo quickly spotted Garcia.
The hardworking little house-elf was balancing three baskets at once while directing two younger elves with impressive efficiency.
"Garcia," Leo called with a smile, "I came to check if everything's ready for the party."
The thought of the upcoming meal filled him with unexpected nostalgia. After eating traditional Hogwarts food for weeks, he suddenly found himself missing homemade meals more than ever. Still, cooking together with friends somehow sounded even better.
Garcia immediately abandoned his task and rushed over.
"Honored young wizard!" he squeaked excitedly. "Everything is prepared exactly as requested! The lamb leg is ready, and Garcia gathered all the seasonings you asked for—cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, everything!"
As he spoke, he eagerly pointed toward another preparation table.
"There are fresh vegetables as well! Potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms. Garcia thought they would roast nicely beside the meat!"
Leo carefully inspected the ingredients before nodding with satisfaction.
"Excellent work, Garcia. Thank you."
Then he reached into his pocket and produced two Galleons.
Garcia nearly had a heart attack.
"No! No, honored wizard!" he cried frantically, waving both hands. "Serving Hogwarts students is our duty! Garcia cannot accept payment!"
Leo simply pressed the coins into the elf's hands anyway.
"You worked hard," he said seriously. "Hard work deserves a reward. Take it."
Garcia hesitated for several long moments before finally clutching the Galleons tightly against his chest. His large eyes immediately became watery with emotion.
"Thank you, honored young wizard," he whispered gratefully. "Garcia will personally deliver everything to Hagrid's hut in half an hour!"
Leo smiled and nodded before leaving the kitchens to meet the others.
Meanwhile, several of their usual companions had gone off to pursue their own activities. Pansy had apparently decided to take a nap after class, while Blaise wandered off to explore the castle. Others had returned to the Great Hall.
After all, the original invitation only included Leo, Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione, and Rose.
As the group made their way across the Hogwarts grounds toward Hagrid's hut, curiosity gradually grew stronger.
"So," Ron asked eagerly, practically vibrating with excitement, "what d'you reckon Leo's making this time?"
His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Hermione sighed and lightly elbowed him.
"Ron, all you ever think about is food."
Then, after a brief pause, she added more quietly,
"Though... I am curious too."
Rose immediately hooked her arm around Hermione's and grinned.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure Leo's prepared something amazing."
Harry smiled.
"Maybe it's something we've never tried before."
Although Harry was interested in the meal, part of his attention remained trapped in thoughts about Snape and his parents.
Draco noticed immediately.
"Relax," he said smugly. "Leo wouldn't disappoint us. You worry too much."
According to one of Leo's strange explanations about foreign customs, close friends in certain distant countries insulted each other affectionately. Draco still wasn't entirely convinced that was true, but he had started experimenting with the concept occasionally.
Leo glanced sideways at him.
"You're getting a little too comfortable."
Draco smirked proudly.
"See? That means it's working."
The others looked completely confused.
As they continued walking, Leo finally spoke again.
"Don't worry about the food. You'll see everything once we get there."
Then he looked toward Harry.
"By the way, Harry, we'll probably need the open space outside Hagrid's hut later. I'm planning something special."
Harry immediately nodded.
"That shouldn't be a problem. Hagrid's always welcoming."
He hesitated briefly before adding,
"Though... we did decide this pretty suddenly."
Leo immediately understood the concern.
"Don't worry," he reassured him. "We're inviting Hagrid too. Besides, from everything you've told me, he doesn't seem like the sort of person who would turn people away over a little food."
That finally made Harry relax.
The group soon reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid's wooden hut stood nestled beside the trees.
Even from a distance, the place was unmistakably Hagrid's home.
A massive crossbow leaned against the wall beside the doorway, while a pair of gigantic boots sat nearby. Judging by their appearance, they were probably made from the hide of some magical creature.
The entire place radiated wilderness.
Harry stepped forward first while Leo knocked on the door.
A loud bark immediately erupted from inside, accompanied by crashing noises and heavy footsteps.
"Back up, Fang! Back up!"
A moment later, the door swung open.
Hagrid's enormous bearded face appeared in the doorway.
The moment he spotted Harry, his expression brightened instantly.
"Harry!" he boomed happily. "Blimey, yeh've made quite a few friends, haven't yeh?"
Then his eyes shifted toward Leo.
Recognition immediately flashed across his face.
"Oh! Nicholas!" Hagrid exclaimed. "I remember yeh from the station. That silent spell o' yours was brilliant."
Even Leo looked slightly embarrassed by the praise.
"You can just call me Leo," he replied politely. "And thank you. I hope we're not interrupting anything."
"Course not!" Hagrid replied immediately.
Only then did he realize everyone was still standing outside.
"Eh—come on in, then!"
The students squeezed into the hut one by one.
The interior looked exactly like what Leo would expect from someone who spent most of his life caring for magical creatures.
Chaotic.
But fascinating.
The entire hut consisted of a single large room packed with strange objects. Hams and cured pheasants hung from the ceiling beams alongside bundles of herbs and mysterious animal bones.
Near the fireplace, a copper kettle boiled over open flames. Its handle appeared to be carved from the horn of some magical beast and shimmered faintly in the firelight.
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
He recognized materials like that.
Artifacts crafted from magical creature parts were expensive. Wealthy wizarding families often collected them as decorative treasures.
Which meant Hagrid casually used expensive magical artifacts as kitchen equipment.
That was impressive.
Scattered around the fireplace were piles of old spellbooks, oddly shaped stones, tangled ropes, and clumps of fur that had probably come from various magical creatures.
In one corner stood Hagrid's enormous bed. The blanket appeared to be stitched together from several different animal pelts, with half of it hanging onto the floor. Various tools and jars had been tossed carelessly across the mattress.
The entire hut looked cluttered enough to collapse at any moment.
Yet somehow it still felt warm.
Comfortable.
Welcoming.
At the center of the room stood a heavy wooden table surrounded by mismatched chairs of various sizes.
Everything about the place screamed Hagrid.
Leo glanced around the hut one more time before silently reaching a conclusion.
What a waste.
This man had been born to be a druid.
....
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