A/N:
This one shot has been written as part of a challenge set by the lovely people over at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments). The task was to write about one of the following lesser known Black family members during their time at Grimmauld Place.
Character: Elladora Black
Extra Prompt: 12. Mounted House-elf heads
Gringotts Prompt Bank: Descriptors: Instead of walked 12 - strolled
Tradition
Elladora Black led an eager five year old Walburga up the first floor staircase, talking to her about the tradition that she had started of beheading House Elves, when they could no longer perform the most basic tasks, and mounting them on the best polished oak plaques.
"It is a kindness really Walburga," Elladora informed her, pausing for a few moments to catch her breath. "Why should we let them suffer any more then we have to? And if we can get some enjoyment out of it them it is a win-win all around. Wouldn't you agree?"
Walburga looked up at her great aunt and nodded fiercely with glee and excitement written all over her face, "When can I have a go?" she asked, keen to get her chance to be a part of the tradition that had existed for the last sixty years.
Elladora gazed down at her favourite niece and smiled as she led her from the landing and into the drawing room where the ageing House Elf Koskey was waiting with her head placed on a small ornately carved wooden block. "Only the best for the House Elves that have served the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," Elladora told Walburga as she led her towards the waiting House Elf.
"Koskey," Elladora spoke in a commanding voice. "The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black thank you for your loyal and diligent service."
"Thank you Mistress," the frail and vulnerable House Elf muttered, shaking slightly as she realised that her death was soon to come. Her head would soon have a place of pride upon the wall next to her ancestors, or so her Mistress had told her.
Elladora walked towards the ancient, oak trunk in the corner of the room and retrieved the ceremonial axe, and then beckoned the watching Walburga to come to her.
She showed Walburga the correct way to hold the axe, and the swinging action that she wished her to use. Elladora then used an enchantment to lighten the axe so that her niece would be able to hold and swing the axe with ease.
As she instructed her niece, the House Elf lifted her head off the block in curiosity. Her kind five year old Mistress appeared to be quite adept at using the axe, almost as though she had been born to use it. She took several practice shots on the wall, and hit every mark that Elladora made the first time.
"Walburga," Elladora whispered, "You are a natural, and you are ready."
They strolled back to the block where Koskey had repositioned her head in a waiting position.
Walburga grasped the axe tightly and lifted it above her head and swung hard and true.
THWACK!
She hit her spot the first time and severed the House Elf's head from its body in one fell swoop
Elladora beamed with pride; Walburga was the only one of her nieces and nephews who had managed to follow through with severing a House Elf's head. For example her father Pollux had started to violently throw up the moment she had handed him the axe, whilst her aunt Dorea had stopped mid swing and dropped the axe on her foot.
Walburga jumped around gleefully, and then stopped to pick up Koskey's head. "What do we do next Aunt Elladora?" she asked keen to get on with next part.
As Elladora walked Walburga through the process of mounting a House Elf's head onto a plaque, she knew with every fibre of her being that she had found the one to carry on the tradition she had started, and it pleased her to no end that it would not die with her.
A/N:
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