After Halloween, the weather started to get worse and worse.

A tyrannical wind swept through Hogwarts Castle...... Every time the students went from the castle to the greenhouse for a herb class, they shivered in the cold north wind and almost froze.

So much so that Matthew and them had to add a thick woolen sweater under their robes to keep out the cold.

One morning in mid-November, when Matthew came to the auditorium as usual, he found that it had become chaotic -

The auditorium was packed, the four long tables were almost full, and the surrounding students were chattering and arguing.

"What's going on?" Matthew looked confused.

He walked to the long Slytherin table in some surprise.

Only then did he realize that the golden plates on the table were all empty...... I didn't have a variety of food as before.

Obviously, everyone should be talking about this as well.

And the reason why the auditorium is crowded with so many students is also because of this.

"What the hell is going on...... Draco Malfoy grumbled loudly over there, "it's almost half past seven, breakfast hasn't started yet, we can't go to class on an empty stomach, can we?"

"Why hasn't a teacher come here to help us conjure food on the plate?" said Theodore Noether, who was also extremely dissatisfied.

"Food can't be conjured up in a vacuum...... This violates the law of Gamp's transformation......" Prefect Gamma Farley corrected him, "Our usual food is made for us by house-elves......"

“...... There are nearly a hundred house-elves in the kitchens of Hogwarts, and there are not as many house-elves in any house in the whole of Britain...... In addition to three meals a day, they also come out in the evening to clean up, or take care of the stove or something......"

"Then why is this happening today?" asked Nott, puzzled, "where have the house-elves gone?"

"I don't know......" Garma shook her head, "it could be Pippi's doing...... Maybe it's wreaking havoc in the kitchen, causing the house-elves to not be able to work in time......"

Peeves is a Hogwarts ghost who specializes in playing pranks, but unlike other ghosts, it has entities and can touch objects......

It is rumored to have caused a lot of trouble at Hogwarts Castle many years ago, but since Grindelwald became Headmaster, it has reined in a lot and its mischief has not been as frequent and bad as before......

The number of people in the auditorium was accumulating, and the number of people in the usual meeting was almost equal.

Many students got a little impatient and left the auditorium on an empty stomach.

Just when Ma was considering whether to do the same......

A black owl suddenly flew over and threw a note in front of Matthew.

It says a very short paragraph -

"Matthew:

You can take into account my office and I can help you with breakfast.

You are faithful

Professor H.E.F. Slughorn"

......

Clearly, Matthew was not alone in receiving this letter.

Almost every member of the Slug Club received a letter with almost identical content.

Including Draco Malfoy and Elaine Shafiq, not far from Matthew.

This is good news, of course, because it means no need to go hungry anymore.

The members of the Slug Club got up and left the long tables in the four houses, but none of them made a statement at this time, lest they cause "public wrath."

After leaving the auditorium, they made their way to the Potions professor's office.

Neville and Hermione stopped at the staircase on the first floor, technically waiting for Matthew to come-

"That's great, Professor Slughorn's letter is just in time...... "Neville said excitedly as Matthew walked up to him, "It's said that Hogwarts has encountered such an accident for the first time in decades......

"What's going on?" asked Hermione, puzzled, "why did you have such a problem with breakfast today?" ”

Matthew shook his head, "Our prefect said it might be because the ghost went to the kitchen to make trouble, but I don't think it's very likely...... So let's go to Professor Slughorn's office first, he might know something......"

Neville and Hermione agreed.

The three of them arrived at the door of Horace Slughorn's office, and when they pushed the door in, there were already quite a few members of the Slug Club.

"Welcome, children......" Slughorn welcomed the three of them in, "This is the first time in my memory that this has happened at Hogwarts...... Thankfully, my office is usually stocked with a lot of fresh food...... Look, the taste shouldn't be bad. ”

As he spoke, he handed a basket of bread rolls to Matthew and them.

"Thank you!" the three of them quickly apologized.

Neville Longbottom quickly picked up a piece of bread and feasted on it, telling that he was already a little hungry.

Matthew wasn't in a hurry to eat, but he asked with concern, "Professor Slughorn, what the hell happened?" I heard that Peeves may have broken into the kitchen and caused the ...... on the other side of the kitchen."

"Peeves, no, how could it be ......," Slughorn quickly denied, "it doesn't have that guts...... There is probably only one real reason, and that is the house-elves in the kitchen, who are trying to strike......"

"Strike?" Neville said in a slurred voice with bread still in his mouth.

Somewhat reluctantly swallowing all the food in his mouth, Neville exclaimed in surprise, "I don't think that's possible...... House-elves are the most loyal creatures of all, proud of their labor and ashamed of their freedom...... How could there be such a thing as a strike?"

"I don't know," Slughorn said with a wry smile, "but Mr. Longbottom, that's what happened. ”

"How long will it take to be over then?" asked Hermione, looking worried.

"Of course I hope it's over now, Professor Rozier is said to be thinking of a solution......" Professor Slughorn shook his head, "Of course, if the house-elves don't want to return to work, Hogwarts will definitely change to another plan, don't worry too much." ”

As he spoke, Slughorn brought them a plate of sausages, a plate of bacon, and a large glass of milk.

Such a breakfast is quite generous.

"It tastes pretty good!" Neville muttered, "eat more!"