Hogwarts: Third Dark Lord

Cedric allowed Wentworth to pull him into the Hufflepuff common room, which was completely empty at this time.

After all, as a true Hufflepuff, one would never miss mealtime, so most of the little badgers had already headed to the Great Hall for dinner.

"What's going on? Why so secretive?"

Once inside, Cedric couldn't help but ask curiously.

Instead of answering directly, Wentworth said, "Wait here for me. I'll be right back!"

Without waiting for Cedric's reply, Wentworth dashed out of the common room, leaving Cedric standing there alone with no choice but to wait.

Just as Cedric was beginning to wonder if Wentworth had gotten lost somewhere in Hogwarts and was about to head out to search for him, Wentworth finally returned. Not only that, but he was accompanied by several house-elves carrying an assortment of items.

"Alright, put this large basin here, charcoal in the basin—thank you very much. And these things, just set them over there."

Cedric stared, dumbfounded, as Wentworth directed the house-elves, who carefully placed various items next to him. Only then did Cedric notice that the elves had been carrying food ingredients.

"Wentworth, what are you doing?" Cedric asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"I'm treating you to a meal—something you've definitely never had before! I learned this from Muggles!"

After saying this, Wentworth hurried to his dormitory, soon returning with a cauldron in his arms. He placed it on the charcoal and added water.

"Could you light the charcoal for me?" he asked one of the house-elves, who had been watching with wide-eyed curiosity.

With a snap of its fingers, one of the elves caused the charcoal to burst into flames.

Wentworth busied himself again, adding all sorts of peculiar things to small bowls and stirring them occasionally.

"Are you brewing me a potion?" Cedric asked skeptically as he watched.

"A potion? No, in the Muggle world, this is called hot pot!"

Without even looking up, Wentworth responded as he began tossing ingredients, like mushrooms, into the cauldron.

Before long, the water in the cauldron began to boil. Wentworth finally stopped his preparations and turned around, placing four small bowls in front of Cedric.

"This is called hot pot," Wentworth explained. "You cook various ingredients in boiling water—though this isn't ordinary water; I've added many things to make what Muggles call the 'broth base.' Then you pick ingredients you like, cook them in the broth, and dip them in these special sauces. It's absolutely satisfying!"

Cedric looked at the bowls and the cauldron, still a bit confused. Wentworth, unfazed, pointed to the four bowls and said, "I've prepared four kinds of dipping sauces: sesame, chili, oil-based, and seafood. Which one do you prefer?"

After some thought, Cedric pointed to the bright red sauce. "I'll take the chili one. I like spicy food."

Wentworth pouted slightly, handing Cedric the chili sauce while muttering, "Sesame sauce is the perfect match for hot pot. Everything else is just heresy!"

He then brought out a platter of thinly sliced meat rolls and began placing them into the cauldron, stirring gently.

At that moment, a Hogwarts house-elf approached and asked, "Gentlemen, would you like something to drink? How about some sparkling gillywater?"

Wentworth thought for a moment before asking, "Do you have butterbeer?"

The elf shook its head apologetically, explaining that Hogwarts strictly forbade alcohol for students. They were instead offered a fruit soda, which the two accepted.

As the broth bubbled again, Wentworth and Cedric quickly fished out the cooked meat and placed it on their plates.

"Cheers!"

They toasted with their drinks and took a sip.

At first, Cedric looked hesitant about the meat on his plate, cooked in the cauldron.

"Don't worry, the cauldron is brand new—I've never used it before. Go ahead and try it! Oh, and could you use a Scouring Charm to clean the cauldron afterward? I'm not good at cleaning spells yet," Wentworth said with a grin.

Perhaps it was the thought of rejecting Wentworth's invitation, or perhaps it was the irresistible aroma of the food, but Cedric finally closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and placed a piece of meat in his mouth.

The next moment, Cedric's eyes widened with delight, his gaze sparkling.

"Hey, leave some for me!" Wentworth pretended to complain as Cedric eagerly scooped up more meat from the cauldron.

"There's more, isn't there? Just add some!" Cedric replied, his mouth full of food.

Wentworth chuckled and brought out more ingredients.

Cedric watched in astonishment as Wentworth grabbed a gray, cloth-like piece of food, dipped it into the boiling cauldron, and swished it up and down several times before eating it with great satisfaction.

"What are you eating? And why the ritual?" Cedric asked.

"This," Wentworth explained with a grin, "is a mystical tradition from the mysterious East. They call it 'seven up, eight down'—it makes the food taste better."

Though skeptical, Cedric mimicked Wentworth's actions and was soon marveling at the taste.

"Wow! Muggles eat this? It's incredible!"

"Don't just eat the meat—have some vegetables to cut the grease," Wentworth suggested.

"If you think it's greasy, you eat the vegetables. Leave the meat to me—I don't mind the grease," Cedric retorted without even looking up.

Wentworth stared at Cedric in shock, astonished that such shameless words could come from someone like Cedric.

In his past life, Wentworth had always wondered how someone like Cedric—Hogwarts' Triwizard Champion and undoubtedly one of the most outstanding students of his time—ended up in Hufflepuff instead of Ravenclaw.

Now, watching Cedric devour the food before him, Wentworth couldn't help but think: Hogwarts doesn't sort students into the wrong houses; they only enter the wrong rooms.

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