Written for Assignment #9 on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry forum: Mythology, Task 4 – Write about someone who doesn't handle alcohol well. Word count: 397.

A very happy elf

Wizards drank to feel better, Winky saw that more than once. Master Barty often reached for a glass of Firewhisky after a particularly hard day at the Ministry. And Mistress Cynthia... Mistress Cynthia took a liking to elf-made wine ever since young master had been taken away. As a good elf, Winky always made sure that there were enough bottles in the drawing room cabinet.

The first time she tasted alcohol was after young master returned home. Master Barty assigned her with a full-time care of his son, and Winky happily obliged. There was this evening when young master was more lucid and asked her for butterbeer. Later he offered her some, Merlin knew why, and she decided to try. Butterbeer tasted really nice and made Winky feel more relaxed... And dizzy. She giggled uncontrollably and hiccoughed a lot. After that she didn't even think about drinking it for a long, long time.

The second time was at Hogwarts. Never before had Winky felt as useless and miserable as when Master Barty gave her clothes. It was (almost) every elf's worst nightmare: to lose their family. Hogwarts couldn't replace what she had had at the Crouches. This time she didn't drink out of curiosity – she wanted that funny feeling that butterbeer gave her before. But it didn't: she felt even more miserable than before. Winky found out that alcohol didn't make her feel better. It enhanced whatever emotions she felt. She kept drinking, though… Until other elves made her stop.

When she thought she would never be happy again, after the Battle of Hogwarts and losing Dobby (who had been crazy, but a friend, nevertheless), the Potters offered her to bond with them. She was ecstatic to have a family again, to feel this special kind of magic again. And the sizeable house was enough work for her and two other elves: self-important Hermes and sweet she-elf Clumsy. There came the final time when Winky got drunk. Master Harry and Mistress Ginny gathered them all and announced that they were expecting a son. Later that day, she reached for butterbeer once more. After a few sips she felt a sensation familiar from her first encounter with this drink.

"Winky will – HIC! – have a baby to – HIC! – take care of!" she exclaimed, oblivious to the disapproving looks of Hermes and Clumsy. She was a very happy elf, indeed.