Oakey stepped out of his common room ready for his first walk around Hogwarts (a very much needed one too after yesterdays train ride, and depressing Start of Term Feast.). He was wearing a simple long sleeve orange shirt with a brown Chudley Cannons T-shirt over it. He neared the Fire place on his way out but smelled something nice being cooked. Just wanting to take a quick sniff of what it was he neared the brass cauldron on the fire and wafted the vapors to his nose.
Mmmmmmmm. smells like something Granny Gunter back at home would make, but what is it? maybe if he could grab a ladle and take a quick sip he'd get a better idea.
Oakey eyed the wall to see if he could spot a ladle to use, he also did a quick double take. The house Elves wouldn't want a student sneaking their hard work.

Kurumi had taken to exploring a little bit more of the castle than she had really allowed herself the past seven terms. Sure, there were new areas to explore every term thanks to the new Groundskeepers, but there were other areas that had always been there that had simply gone unnoticed. Sort of like this part of the castle. Yes, she had always seen the fireplace...sort of. The house elves had mostly occupied this area and she had been more towards the counters baking...but perhaps this could be a new little nook to have some tea and read or study?

Sort of like Cinderella, now that she thought about it. In her own little corner and all.

Only it seemed she wasn't the only one with this sort of idea. "Hey Oakey!" Kurumi called as she set her bag down on the ground...or wait, Oakey hadn't come here to read. "I...um...I don't think the house elves would appreciate you trying to taste whatever it is they are making..."

Before he could even go ahead and reach for the nearest ladle he spotted, he was startled by the not-so-sudden appearance of Gryffindor Prefect, and big sister figure Kurumi.

turning around quickly he tried to put on a face of pure innocence. "H-hey Kurumi." Oakey stuttered trying to think of something to talk to Kurumi about that wasn't him trying to sneak a taste of the delicious smelling food the House Elves were cooking. "I wasn't...I mean I didn't...Aren't you the least bit curious as to what it is? It could be tasty."

Come one Kurumi just let him have one sip. The Elves were clearly busy, off doing something else.

Okay. Kurumi recognized that sort of face. She had seen it on Selina countless times when she had come into their dorm room and seen her with her nose stuck in her sock drawer looking for cookies. Yep, Kurumi had found you, Oakey, with your nose stuck in the sock drawer. Or...erm...hand almost on the ladle and in the pot.

Right.

"Well, sure I'm curious," Kurumi nodded as she walked a little closer and peered into the pot. "But I don't like it when people stick their fingers in my cookie batter before it's done." Just to compare the two. Still...wasn't it a bit odd for the house elves to leave their concoction unattended? "We could try to guess...based on smell or something," she suggested. "I think I spell...potato."

Grabbing a stool, Kurumi sat down beside the fireplace and began to fumble through her bag.

"So...just the smell of whatever is in there that brought you here?"

Ugh...Kurumi was no fun, but he still leaned over as well and sniffed it some more until he did get the faint scent of potato. "cookie batter?" was that supposed to have some deep meaning? Like don't go sticking your nose in someone's business that isn't yours.

Oh uhhh no. I was gonna go for a walk, but then...yeah I guess the smell did bring me over. Oakey grabbed a stool as well as he propped himself up against it.

That's when he remembered something from last night, about Kurumi. Before the feast she was petting the Thestral like she could see it. If that's true then..."Kurumi, on the carriage ride up. I saw you petting thin air. Now I know what's really there, but does that mean...you can see Thestrals?"

"Yes," Kurumi nodded. "Lewis is always trying to sneak tastes of my cookie batter while I am still in the process of baking cookies." As was Selina, but Selina would just sneak a taste. She would take the entire mixing bowl and eat it.

So, they both had sort of just happened to be here, which was a happy little coincidence considering that Kurumi hadn't really spent too much time with Oakey recently - which was odd now that she got t othink about it. Oh well, they were both here now.

............oh.

Kurumi bit down on her lower lip shyly for a moment and looked towards the fire for a moment and sort of got lost there for a moment before returning her gaze to Oakey. "It...does," she nodded sadly, her chest constricting just a little. "Ever since...last term..."

Argyle was so very tired what with the cooking and cleaning and helping the studentsies with whatever they needed. She loved it of course, her job. And Argyle needed to be well rested if she was going to do the best job she could. It was her duty. Yes it was.

The older house elf made her way to the fire place, hand still wrapped tightly around her feather duster. A dusty kitchen just wouldn't do. It just wouldn't. Oh! And studentsies!
The elf's tennis ball eyes widened and she lowered her head quickly, curtsying before addressing them. "Argyle is sorry to interrupt! Argyle didn't mean to, no no no! Argyle is most apologetic!" And the house elves giant ears twitched nervously, eyes now on the two studentsies who were soaking in the warmth from the fire.

Oakey let off a big frown. Maybe that question was bit to personal as Kurumi answered his question. "I'm sorry Kurumi. I-I shouldn't have asked."
If...who ever it was that passed way, passed away last term, then it would be hard for her to talk about.

"They must be really cool creatures." Oakey said hoping to end his foolish question there. "I hope I never have to see one."

Oh good, a house elf. They always lighten the mood. They were always so cute apologizing all the time. "It's no trouble at all." What did she say her name was? "Argyle". He gave the house elf a nice smile. Maybe it was best to go back to the topic of Potatoes and cookie batter. "Argyle, can you tell me what's cooking up in that coudran there?" Oakey turned his head and looked down at the pot, that was giving off the sweet aroma of potatoes.

Kurumi shook her head, her gaze somewhat transfixed by the dancing flames in the fireplace. "It's alright, Oakey. I'm...better now...with it...the loss..." she said as a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Kurumi had tried to keep things a secret. Try not to show how vulnerable she was watching her mother slowly fade away right before her eyes. But it had been pointless. Selina had seen right through that. So had Treyen. And Jonathan. And Lewis. So many people had supported her and helped her try to cope with it and, in the end, her mother had said she was proud of her.

Something that she had forgotten until now. Would she still think so of her daughter knowing how she had let down her house? Kurumi shuttered at the thought.

"They aren't as frightening as people make them out to be. At least I don thi ----"
But her sentence was cut off by the appearance of Argyle - one of Hogwarts' older house elves. "Lovely to see you again, Argyle," Kurumi greeted the elf, bowing her head slightly in her direction. "You aren't interrupting," she said, echoing what Oakey had just said and turning her attention towards the pot of...whatever. She had to admit that she was a little curious too...

Maybe they could even help cook whatever it was?

Argyle's ears twitched as the male studentsie addressed her with a smile. What a nice studentsie he appeared to be. Oh! And Mistress Hollingberry was here too! Argyle's eyes lit up and she bounced a bit. Lovely studentsies were lovely.

"Argyle is glad Argyle didn't interrupt. Argyle has been working hard. Argyle is a bit tired." And the elf's wide tennis ball eyes then followed the studentsie's towards the giant pot that Argyle had been watching over earlier. "Argyle is cooking Potato and Wild Leek soup. Very old recipe. Argyle knows studentsies love it." And many of the Professors too, of course.

Oakey was truly thankful to the little old house elf for popping up when she did. He hadn't meant to make the mood so dreary with Kurumi.

He would need to return the favor "You know us students well then." he looked back to the soup that she had been working on and had come up with a great way to pay Argyle back for her mood changing appearance.
"Argyle, If you want, I could help." He looked back over to Kurumi, she looked like she wanted to do something in the kitchen. "Kurumi could help to if she wants." This way Argyle could take her rest and finish the soup at the same time, yep.

Kurumi wouldn't have a problem with him volunteering her for work, would she? Oakey would need the help with cooking anyways if Argyle let them. He wasn't the best cook, and his chocolates from a few years back were proof of that.

A bit tired? See, Kurumi was always telling the house elves that they were working too hard and really needed to take some time for themselves. "Argyle, when was the last time you did something for fun?" Kurumi asked nonchalantly as she peered into the pot a bit more to get some more of the potato and leek smell.

She glanced over her shoulder at Oakey when he offered to help with the soup and found herself nodding in agreement. "You did just say that you were tired," Kurumi reminded the house elf. "I don't mind helping." And Argyle knew that Kurumi knew her way around the kitchen.

"For fun? Argyle cleans. Argyle likes to clean and cook. Argyle is good at it. Argyle has lots of practice." And Argyle's cleaning and cooking was always done with the utmost care to ensure satisfied studentsies and staffs.

The studentsies wanted to help the elvsies cook? Argyle's wide eyes grew teary and she bounced up and down, clapping her hands together. "Argyle is so happy. Argyle would love to cook with the studentsies. Argyle knows Mistress Hollingberry is a good cook. Argyle has seen her baking." And Argyle was most impressed.

Ears twitching, Argyle waved the students to come closer to the pot of soup, beaming with pride. "Argyle needs to add spice. Argyle wants studenties to help. Argyle wonders if you'll taste Argyle's soup." And the elf bounced over to the draw on her left, taking out two large wooden spoons. "Argyle hopes you'll try." Go on, studentsies!

Oh boy! He finally got to taste the soup. Guess the saying is true, Good things come to those who wait. "Thank you Argyle" Oakey took the wooden spoon from the Elf and dipped it into the the Potato and Leak soup. He lifted it up and drew the spoon to his mouth putting the tip to his lips and letting the liquid slide into his mouth. He licked his lips and put on a big smile "This is Delicious!" He took the rest of the soup from his spoon and finished it off before taking the spoon away from his mouth.
"Would you like me to help with the spices?" That task seemed simple enough and wouldn't mess the soup up to much would it. He's leave the difficult cooking to Kurumi and Master Chef Argyle.

Argyle watched with wide eyes as the boy studentsie tried Argyle's soup. Argyle's eyes lit up when the studentsie liked the soup. The studentsie seemed very happy which made Argyle happy. "Argyle is most happy. Argyle worked very hard. Argyle used very old recipe. Very old."

"Spices...yes. Argyle will get spices for you. Argyle will be right back." And the house elf hurried over to the spice rack, gathering an armful of spices for the studentsie to choose from. When she returned, Argyle placed them neatly on the counter in front of the boy studentsie, making sure all the labels were facing him. "Argyle will let you pick. Argyle says not to put too much in. Argyle does not want it too strong."