Heavy Is The Crown (Harry Potter × Arthurian Legend)

[Third Person's PoV] 

Arthur, Merlin, and Lance made their way down a series of winding hallways, the echo of their footsteps bouncing off the stone walls..

After a few moments of walking, Arthur held up a hand and came to a stop. "Wait here for a second," he said, his gaze flicking toward a nearby corridor.

Neither Lance nor Melin said anything as they waited and before long they heard the scurrying of steps and a meow that accompanied it a second later. 

"Mewww!"

Cosmo, the small feline creature with eyes too intelligent for a normal cat, came barreling toward Arthur at full speed. The little beast launched himself upward in a perfect arc, landing squarely in Arthur's arms and immediately burrowing into his chest. He was trembling, tiny claws clutching Arthur's robes.

Arthur looked down to find Cosmo glaring up at him with a mix of betrayal and complaint, his ears pinned back and tail flicking with frustration.

The creature let out a long, indignant meow that could only be interpreted as: 'Don't you ever make me do something like that again!'

Arthur chuckled, completely unfazed. "Good work, buddy," he said warmly, pressing a kiss to the top of Cosmo's head. "Now let's get you that reward I promised."

Cosmo gave one last huff before climbing onto Arthur's shoulder, settling into his usual perch with quiet dignity—as though he hadn't just sprinted across the castle in a panic.

With Cosmo secured, Arthur turned and resumed leading the way. The trio descended several winding staircases that curled deeper into the castle's belly. The stairs twisted so many times that Lance lost count. Eventually, they reached a nondescript stone hallway that ended in front of a massive painting.

The painting depicted an overflowing basket of fruit resting on a polished wooden table. Apples, grapes, bananas—and, most notably, a rather plump pear—were painted with stunning realism.

Arthur grinned. "Perfect. We've arrived."

Lance looked around, clearly baffled. "Arrived where, exactly? All I see is a still-life painting."

Arthur raised a brow. "Where the real magic happens."

With a flourish, he extended a finger and began tickling the painted pear. To Lance's astonishment, the pear began to giggle. The entire painting shook faintly, as though it were laughing, and then with a pop, the pear transformed into a gleaming brass doorknob.

Lance's jaw dropped. "Wait, how did you—"

Arthur pressed a finger to his lips and winked. "A wizard never reveals his secrets," he said with a smirk, then turned the knob and pushed open the door.

The moment the door creaked open, a wave of warm air and savory aromas washed over them.

Inside was a kitchen—but no ordinary one. It was massive, with ceilings so high they could barely be seen in the low, golden light. Five long tables, identical to those in the Great Hall above, stretched across the room in perfect symmetry. Enormous cauldrons bubbled near stone walls. Piles of gleaming pots and pans were stacked high beside counters, and a giant brick fireplace roared at the far end.

But what truly captured their attention were the house-elves.

Dozens—perhaps even hundreds—of small, pointy-eared creatures scurried about, dressed in mismatched garments, aprons, or old pillowcases. They moved with practiced speed, sweeping floors, stirring pots, and stacking plates in careful towers.

The moment the door opened, all activity came to a dead stop.

Every head turned toward the three students—and their tiny, perched companion.

Gasps rippled through the room.

"Oh my!" cried one elf in a voice so high-pitched it was almost a squeak.

"Visitors!"

"Students visitors!"

"Are they hungry?"

"They must be here for a midnight snack!"

Like a tide of excitement, the elves swarmed them. Hands tugged gently on sleeves, guiding them toward a set of chairs that appeared as if summoned. Within seconds, Arthur, Merlin, and Lance were seated at a smaller table. Cosmo remained perched on Arthur's shoulder, looking mildly amused.

The elves gathered around with sparkling eyes and eager smiles. One elf stepped forward, a small creature with short-cropped hair and comically long eyelashes.

"How may we be of assistance, sir?" she asked politely, bowing slightly.

"Would sir like something to eat?" offered another, his voice deep and gravelly for such a small body.

"Or something to drink?" piped a third, barely visible between two larger pots.

Arthur smiled brightly, his charm in full effect. "First, I want to give my sincerest thanks to all of you. The meal you prepared for the feast earlier this evening was nothing short of exquisite."

A stunned silence fell over the elves.

Then—gasps. So many gasps that it sounded like the entire room had inhaled at once.

"You… you thank us?" the female elf asked, her voice trembling. Her eyes shimmered with tears.

"Oh, we are undeserving of such kindness!" she exclaimed, hands clasped over her chest as other elves began murmuring with joy.

"You are too kind!"

"Such manners!"

"It is etiquette, really," Arthur said humbly, smiling at them. "I'm simply giving gratitude where gratitude is due."

Lance leaned over to Merlin, whispering out of the side of his mouth, "What is going on?"

"I'll explain later," Merlin whispered back, eyes scanning the many house elves.

Arthur gently scratched Cosmo under the chin, who purred in response.

"Also, I was wondering," Arthur continued, "do you happen to have any leftovers for my pet here? This little critter may not look like it, but he eats more than his size might suggest."

"Oh, of course, sir!" the female elf beamed. "We keep a special room just for leftovers and untouched food from the feasts."

With a snap of her fingers, several house-elves scampered off, disappearing behind a tall pantry door.

"Say, may I ask for your name?" Arthur inquired, his voice warm as he looked directly at the house-elf who had been speaking to him with such sincerity.

"I go by the name Frida, sir!" the female elf replied eagerly, bowing so deeply her forehead nearly brushed the floor.

Arthur smiled and reached out his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Frida. Please, just call me Arthur."

There was a collective gasp among the surrounding house-elves as Arthur gently shook Frida's hand. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she looked at their clasped hands with both awe and panic.

"A lovely name, Sir Arthur, sir," Frida stammered, her voice trembling. "But Frida shouldn't—shouldn't be shaking hands with the young sir! Frida is unworthy of such an honor!"

"You're not unworthy, Frida," Arthur replied with quiet conviction. "Respect goes both ways."

Before more could be said, a small group of house-elves returned with a large bowl brimming with leftovers from the feast. The smells wafting from the bowl were enough to make Cosmo lift his head from Arthur's shoulder and meow excitedly.

Arthur took the bowl with a grateful nod and set it down in front of Cosmo. The little creature wasted no time digging in, purring loudly as he devoured the food with reckless enthusiasm.

Seeing this, Lance shifted slightly in his seat and cleared his throat. "Uh, I'm Lance, by the way," he said awkwardly, offering a small wave to the elves around him.

"And I'm Mer-lynn" added Merlin with a slight bow of her head.

To their surprise, this prompted another flurry of excited whispers and light-footed movement from the elves, who now surrounded them with even more curiosity. Conversations bloomed. One elf began explaining how the kitchens operated day and night without pause, while another eagerly shared the history of the ovens. A third proudly boasted about a new polishing charm she'd invented to make the silverware gleam for hours.

Lance listened intently, his eyes growing wide as he learned about all the things the house-elves did for the castle. From preparing meals for hundreds of students to cleaning the towers, washing laundry, and even carrying luggage to the dorms—it was the elves who made the magic behind the scenes run smoothly.

"You guys do… everything," Lance muttered, visibly stunned. "I had no idea."

The elves beamed at his acknowledgment, clearly pleased to be noticed and appreciated.

The group spent a good while longer in the kitchen, talking and laughing. The elves were overjoyed to have such company, offering snacks, tea, and even showing off a few tricks they used to whip up meals in mere seconds.

But eventually, the hour grew late. The torches in the corridors dimmed, and the air took on that familiar nighttime chill.

Arthur rose from his seat and stretched. "As much as I'd love to stay, we've got classes first thing in the morning. We should get some rest."

The elves, though disappointed, bowed respectfully as the students gathered their things.

"Please visit again!" Frida called after them, waving both hands. "It has been a joy to have such kind guests!"

"We will!" Arthur promised, waving back with a smile. "Thank you for everything!"

Once the door closed behind them and the warmth of the kitchen faded into the quiet hallway, Arthur turned to Lance with a curious look. "Have you really never met any house-elves before?"

Lance shook his head slowly. "No, never. I lived in the city all my life. Never traveled outside of it until now. We didn't have house-elves there… so yeah, this was a first."

Arthur and Merlin exchanged glances, then Arthur began to explain as they walked. Merlin and Arthur took turns explaining the complexity of the house-elves and how they are normally treated outside of Hogwarts and why their attitudes are the way they are. 

Lance nodded thoughtfully, taking it all in as they strolled through the empty corridors. The silence of the castle wrapped around them like a blanket, comforting and serene.

Eventually, they arrived at the hall leading to Lance's dormitory.

"This was a fun trip," Lance said, grinning. "We should do it again sometime. This place is huge. No way we're seeing all of it in one night."

"Agreed," Arthur replied. The two bumped fists in farewell.

"Night, Mel," Arthur said as he and Merlin reached the point where they had to split.

"Night, Art. Sweet dreams," Merlin teased, smirking just a little.

Arthur glanced back over his shoulder and shot her a playful grin. "Only because you cause them."

Merlin's smirk faltered as her ears tinged red. "Where is he getting this from…" she muttered to herself, shaking her head but smiling faintly.

Arthur chuckled as he walked away, hands tucked into his pockets, the sounds of his boots soft against the stone floor. He soon reached the portrait of the Fat Lady guarding the entrance to his dormitory.

"Pumpkin Tart," he said clearly.

The Fat Lady gave him a look over her spectacles and smiled. "Sweet dreams, dear."

The portrait swung open, and Arthur stepped through.

Inside, the dorm was dim and quiet. He crossed to his bed, shedding his outer robe and flopping onto the mattress with a tired sigh. Cosmo, now full and content, leapt up beside him and plopped down right on his chest. The little creature's belly bulged slightly from the feast, and his tongue hung lazily out the side of his mouth as he purred in his sleep.

Arthur laughed softly, gently rubbing Cosmo's side before closing his eyes.

In moments, sleep took him.

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