I own nothing. I am just a house-elf.

WARNING: Foul language, Silliness and Innuendo lie within . . . You have been warned


Summary: Hermione tries to understand the life of house-elves by stepping into their shoes . . . er . . . tea towels.

Sitting in Gryffindor common room, Harry politely listened on as Hermione ranted once again about the House-Elf Liberation Front, formerly known as S.P.E.W. "I still don't think it's fair," she said. "Even house-elves have rights – or should have. They need representation. They are entitled to compensation for their work and a life free of the fear of abuse."

"Aren't we all?" Harry murmured.

"What was that?" She snapped. "Harry, if you're not interested in what I have to say, just say so."

He flushed slightly and hoped she didn't notice. "I didn't say that at all Hermione." Unwilling to admit what he had said, he decided to redirect her attention. "I do wonder though, have you talked to any of the house-elves about this? You know, gotten their opinion on the matter?"

She smiled and her eyes lit up as she prepared to speak, but Harry injected, ". . . besides Dobby."

The spark in her eyes dimmed, and her smile diminished.

"Perhaps if you spoke to Winky about it . . . it might help both of you."

"You mean, Barty Crouch's former house-elf . . . ?"

"Yes Hermione, as you know she works in the kitchen here – with a little persuasion from Dobby, I'm sure she'll speak with you about how she feels about being freed. All the house-elves here are treated extremely well – things were very different for Dobby before I tricked Malfoy into freeing him, but Winky was happy and as far as I can tell was treated very well in the Crouch home."

"I think you're just trying to get rid of me . . ."

"No – I just think if you get another opinion – people have different opinions, it's the same with house-elves. It's not that anyone is wrong. It's just that every situation is different . . ."

"Perhaps you're right Harry. I'll talk to Dobby about getting some time alone to talk with Winky."

"Good – I think you'll find she's more agreeable when sober. Now about that Charms project . . ."

***

A few days later Hermione was meeting in private with Winky. Dobby had convinced the elf of her good intentions and set up a time to meet in a quiet room. She sat down in one of the comfortable chairs the Room of Requirement had provided and poured them both some tea. Winky seemed to be waiting for Hermione to speak. She looked quizzically at her with large round eyes that matched her filthy dress. She decided to start the ball rolling . . .

"I don't know what Dobby told you, so I'll start from the beginning." Winky smiled appreciatively, but she said nothing. "In the Muggle world we have come to see that slavery is wrong. We feel that owning or enslaving another, not providing fair wages and working conditions is inexcusable. 'All men are created equal' no matter their race, color, creed or religious beliefs. Those freedoms should also transcend species. I cannot understand the way the wizarding world treats house-elves, because I view it as fundamentally wrong." Winky looked even more nervous than when Hermione first walked in. "That led me to start The House-Elf Liberation Front. It was hard to settle on a name. I originally settled on the S.P.E.W.: Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare, but that wasn't well received. I spent a lot of time toying with the name Freedom and Unity for Creatures and all Kinds of Magical Entities. I liked the way it rolled off the tongue, but when I bounced it off Ron and Harry they just shook their heads. I suggested they say it once, you know, give it a try, but they refused said it wouldn't work. Maybe too subtle?"

Winky blinked owlishly.

"Anyway, when trying to promote Elvish rights I keep running into the same arguments, everyone tells me you like things the way they are, except Dobby of course. I've been told you like being owned and that you don't want clothes. I just don't understand at all. It makes no sense to me and I was hoping you could explain it."

Seeing that Hermione was indeed done and awaiting an answer, Winky tried to word her reply. "Some things I can't be telling. I'm not a naughty elf. I keep masters' secrets."

Hermione nodded, "I understand you are still loyal to Mr. Crouch and won't ask you for his secrets. I just need to know why being freed is a terrible thing." This said, the little elf still looked nervous, poised and ready to beat her head against the nearest hard object if she slipped and said something inappropriate.

"Mr. Crouch is a good wizard. Mr. Crouch is always being a good master to Winky." Her eyes welled up with tears as she tried to speak again. "I am not liking clothes. I am a bad elf. I am not deserving a good master like Mr. Crouch."

"Isn't it better for you working here at Hogwarts?"asked Hermione. "You get paid and get time off . . ."

Winky interrupted sharply. "Winky is not taking days off! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed. Mr. Crouch needed Winky. I is taking care of them all my life, and my mother before me, and my grandmother before her . . ." She sniffed plaintively.

Hermione thought perhaps she was beginning to understand. "Mr. Crouch treated you well, but Dobby was treated badly and punished often by the Malfoys; is that the difference? He was like your family?"

"Oh no miss! Mr. Crouch is being better than family. Family has to love you because that is how family works, but Mr. Crouch loved better than like family, because I am not." The tears she was holding back spilled forth with the memory.

Hermione nodded understanding one thing, there was no way she was getting any more information from the distraught house-elf that day. "Thank you for your help Winky. Just don't forget we need you here too."

The little elf smiled sadly and thanked Hermione.

When Hermione left, her mind was filled with more questions than answers. Perhaps she'd speak with Dobby again later.

***

Dobby was of little help to Hermione. He was so proud of his clothes and freedom. He admitted that on some level he did understand Winky's views on her former master and previous ownership, but that he really couldn't put it into words either. He said that perhaps it was something that couldn't be truly understood unless you were a house-elf.

***

Harry was getting concerned. Hermione wasn't acting like herself at all. She was distant and distracted. It just wasn't like her. She was sitting in the common room with a book open in her lap just staring off into space. He was sure she hadn't turned a page in twenty minutes. Finally he just couldn't take it anymore. He stood and strode across the room. "Hey 'Mione, you awake?"

She blinked and was back to Earth.

"Have a nice trip?"

"Huh?"she responded.

"You've been staring at that same page forever. What's wrong?"

"Nothings wrong, just thinking, that's all."

"No 'Mione, I've known you long enough to know that was more than just thinking. You're planning something aren't you?"

"No, not a plan really. I'm just thinking about the talk I had with Winky. I'm still trying to understand it, that's all."

"Are you sure there isn't more to it?"

"Yes Harry, I'm fine, but I think I need to talk to Dobby again."

"Okay, if you're sure . . . just remember if this affects your studies you'll never forgive yourself."

She smiled, closing the book then exited through the portrait hole.

***

On her way to look for Dobby, Hermione kept thinking of Winky. She couldn't help wondering about what other rights house-elves were denied. She knew they weren't allowed to speak ill of their master or use magic without permission, but what about other things, more common things. What about family, she wondered idly. Are house-elves allowed to marry and have babies? Was Winky sad because when she was freed she had to leave Mr. Winky behind? Hermione hoped she could remember to ask when she saw her next.

***

She found Dobby in the kitchens. As always, he was very happy to see one of Harry Potter's friends. After he had poured her tea and assembled a plate piled dangerously high with chocolate confections she confessed the reason she had come to visit. "Dobby, I was wondering if I could ask you a bit about the Malfoys?"

"The Malfoys, Miss?" Dobby looked a little less pleased to see her than he was moments before. "What is you needing to ask Dobby about the Malfoys?"

"I'm sorry if it's a difficult subject, but I wanted to know if all the Malfoys treated you badly or if it was just Lucius."

Shaking slightly Dobby soon replied, "Draco was treating Dobby good. Draco was not like his mother and father . . ." With that much said, his eyes went wide and jumped from his seat preparing to close his fingers in the oven door, but when he suddenly pushed back from the table he sent a wall of chocolate treats spilling down upon them. When Hermione realized what was happening she grabbed him away from the dangerous flood of food. "Thank you Miss. Sometimes I am forgetting I am not bound by enslavement anymore."

Hermione was surprised by how difficult it still was for Dobby to speak of his former master, as well as the fact that Draco of all people could be kind to a house-elf. It gave her an idea. Perhaps it is time I go speak with the Headmaster.

***

"Professor Dumbledore?" She spoke timidly as she stepped in the Headmaster's office.

"Ah Hermione, come in. What can I do for you child?"

She took a deep breath and steeled herself for what she knew would be a difficult conversation. "It's about house-elves sir, specifically Winky. You see, since I started the House-Elf Liberation Front, I've been trying my best to understand how she feels about being freed. We've talked about it a few times, but I'm having difficulty understanding her feelings toward her old master."

"I see," replied the Headmaster, eyes twinkling. "It can be a difficult thing to explain."

"Yes sir, Dobby said it was something that perhaps couldn't be understood unless you were a house-elf."

"That is in all likeliness, true. Whereas I've never been one, I can't be sure." He teased.

"Well, I was wondering, sir, if there is a way that I could become a house-elf . . . just for a little while . . . till I understood a little better?" She gave him a coy look, knowing it was likely the oddest request the Headmaster had ever received.

He smiled at her sweetly. "That is a most unusual request. You do realize of course what it would mean? A house-elf is not a true house-elf without a master."

"I know Headmaster," she said trying to conceal a blush.

"I don't believe a physical transfiguration would be necessary." He pondered. "Perhaps just taking the role of a house-elf would be enough?"

She agreed quickly after picturing herself with bulging eyes, long nose and floppy ears.

"And that would also mean following orders without question, as well as showing your master loyalty even a Huffelpuff would be envious of."

Hermione nodded silently.

"There would also be the matter of finding you a master . . . it would have to be someone with previous experience owning house-elves . . . that may not be easy to find in Gryffindor."

"Oh . . ." was all she could say before she was interrupted.

"That would be perfect . . . unify the houses by creating understanding between two members . . . that would be splendid."

"but . . ."

"We can do it over the Christmas holidays. I'll start working on the arrangements immediately. I'll contact you when everything is settled."

Hermione smiled and thanked the Headmaster. As she left his office, she started wondering what she got herself into. Well there was two weeks till she would find out.

***

In the weeks following the meeting, before the Christmas holidays, Hermione grew both nervous and impatient. She knew the answer to her question was just beyond her grasp, growing nearer every day and it was getting distracting. It became harder to focus on her studies, but remained at the top of the class somehow. When finally Christmas holidays arrived she watched her friends and house mates pack their things and board the train for their homes as she anxiously waited for word from the Headmaster. It looked as though there wasn't going to be many students remaining for Christmas this year.

When the note from the Headmaster arrived, she held it in nervous hands and read it twice.

Ms. Granger:

Please meet with me in my office one hour before lunch.

The password is Canary Creams.

Albus Dumbledore


Nothing, there was no hint of what he was planning. All she could do, was wait and see.

***

Exactly one hour before lunch Hermione stood nervously in front of the Headmaster. She was blinking slowly, eyes wide with disbelief.

"It's a simple Charm," the Headmaster assured. "It will simulate the bond that exists between house-elf and master and will allow your owner to call you when you're needed. It creates an additional measure of trust between you and ensures him that you will keep his secrets even after the experience is over. It will also prevent any unjust punishment to you, even though that is normally considered up to the owners discretion."

Hermione only had one thought, 'Who?'

The Headmaster continued, "I have convinced the castle to shift a few rooms around. You will have a room adjoining his for the extent of the holiday. It will save you trips across the castle in the middle of the night."

'Who?' She thought silently.

"I have also taken the liberty of acquiring you a uniform of sorts." He handed her the symbol of her enslavement. In her hands were a bed sheet and a large king-sized pillowcase, with holes cut for her arms and head.

"The sheet is to be wrapped toga style, for the sake of modesty. Couldn't have you run around in a tea towel after all now, could we?" He said with a chuckle.

She blinked owlishly.

"If you were allowed to keep your clothes, you'd be a free house-elf." The Headmaster explained. "And that was not the point of this experiment, if I do recall."

"Who?" She finally managed to squeak.

"Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said with a twinkle. "He will be joining us shortly for his part of the spell."

Hermione was stunned. She had thought of Draco briefly when considering who the Headmaster might choose, but considering his dislike for Muggleborns as well as the rivalry between them, she was sure he would be out of the question. Now that she thought about it again, it could be no one else. The Headmaster hoped to put an end to the rivalry that has been tradition between the Golden trio and the Slytherins, since their first year. This could be really bad, she thought.

"Does he know about this, sir?" She asked.

"He is fully aware. As a matter of fact, he agreed to it without any hesitation."

Knots started forming in her stomach. If Malfoy was that willing to be involved he was sure to be up to something, and it wouldn't be good.

***

tbc

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