Chapter-1: Letters

During the two days, neither Usubi nor professor Mcgonagall were seen around. But their absence was completely unrelated to each other and the reasons different. Usubi, it seemed, had simply disappeared or as more appropriately it should be said, fell off the face of earth while the headmistress buried herself deep in the documents, determined to complete them and get on with the order in the next two days. On the third day, when professor Mcgonagall had written out all the letters and Usubi reappeared, both of them met. Usubi had as usual, apparated into the office from her previous location, unsurprising the professor. She was a complete wreck when she appeared.

"I am sorry, professor." she said with downcast eyes "I, just, sort of hurried over when I heard you were finished with the letters." A huge beetle worried her momentarily, as she tore it out of her hair and carefully pocketed it in her slung bag that had only quite a few seams intact and was heavily over indulged by her 'trinkets.'

The headmistress pushed her glasses further up her nose, as she eyed the three foot something house elf. Her dark hair could be easily be passed off for hay and her white frock for a dish cloth that had been mercilessly used for the purpose of cleaning dishes, shoes, goblets and to an extent floors. Her leather bag was a spectacle, even for the rough use it had been through, it still stayed on the elf's person, but was dangerously edging on the brim of snapping and dropping off any moment. And the elf's face! Brown hued, not due to her natural skin colour but it seemed more like she had been rolling in every ditch she passed.

"And why were you in such a hurry?" she asked, keeping an eye on the beetle as it tried to crawl out of the bag, not finding enough room in it. But had it gone deeper it would have found other insects in whose company it could delight itself.

"I, well, wanted to- " Usubi started but cut off to stupefy the beetle and finding no place to keep decided to hold it in her hands. "Where was I? " she asked after the little excitement.

"You wanted to?" the woman in the seat supplied, firmly but not unpleasantly. She would have been lying through her teeth, if she said she didn't like Usubi, who even in her far from perfect manners and demeanor was rather submissive and inclined to help everyone.

"Yes. I am sorry. I wanted to – oh dear how shall I put it – deliver the, umm, letters." Usubi completed finally with all of her thoughts and interruptions aloud in her small statements.

"But we have owls for that."

"Nay. I don't mean all the letters. " she began hastily "Just the Weasleys." She finished quietly and looked up for the first time since she had entered the office. The office, as Usubi now noticed, was well lighted thanks to the morning light and with its queer little possessions and pictures it looked more entertaining to her than the previous twilight meeting. But she focused on the job at hand and willed herself to look at the tired old lady who sat behind the incredible wooden table rather stiffly. The lady's features relaxed as she unlocked her fingers and took her elbows off the table. She leaned back and closed her eyes for what seemed exactly like 21 seconds to Usubi (She was counting.)

"I can't see why not." Professor Mcgonagall smiled at her and in return Usubi gleefully gleamed at the headmistress through her tears. She thanked the woman profusely as she took the letters of three people from her and wrapped them neatly in a handkerchief (borrowed from Mcgonagall).

Usubi spread on the table three stupefied insects, a few cakes and sweets, the beetle she held and other variety of items. After putting the letters, she vainly tried to stuff them all in. Professor Mcgonagall helped her as she cast an expansion charm and filled the bag, Usubi made a mental note to learn that spell and bid the lady goodbye. As she prepared to apparate, the headmistress called her.

"Do take the liberty to be clean before you deliver those letters."

The elf blushed and she promised she'll be clean and shiny when she reached the burrow. Then she apparated away, leaving the transfiguration professor mildly amused and rather refreshed.

After a few more breaths, professor Mcgonagall lifted her wand and pointed at the window that opened immediately and soon enough a parliament of owls entered the room and a letter was handed to each of them. This process took a few minutes to complete and the Hogwarts headmistress watched the last owl fly away. She sighed tiredly and looked at the last letter that lay on her magnificent table. She had purposefully left it owl-less. She stood up and summoned her cocked hat and emerald green tartan robe. The letter lay alone, bereft of its accompanying letters, plain in sight. It lay there, for everybody to see the name of its recipient – Draco Lucius Malfoy.

Author's note:

There! That's the first mention of Draco. But don't worry, the next chapter will include more Harry Potter characters. And if you are curious to know what Usubi looks like here's the link - art/ Usubi-550853754 (remember to remove the spaces.)

Special thanks to Shadythedragon, who by a kind gesture, won my heart and motivated me to post this chapter so soon. Love you shady.

You either loved it or hated it, just let me know which it was for you. Yes?