Hermione found herself thankful for the silencing charms on her room the next morning as she belted out an old David Bowie song while she rinsed out her tresses in the shower. All of Tinkle's hero talk the previous night must have stuck with her, and she screeched out the line about being heroes just for one day. She continued humming as she turned off the shower, patted herself dry with a large fluffy yellow towel, wrapped the towel around her body, and padded barefoot out to the kitchen. On her way, she picked up her wand from the nightstand and began drying her hair.
As she walked into the outer rooms of her suite, her ears picked up on a strange, high-pitched humming. She turned to the source of the noise, and Hermione's wand dropped from her hand, gold sparks leaving scorch marks in the cream carpet.
"Oh shoot," she muttered, bending over to pick up her wand, while grasping her towel even tighter around her. "Reparo. Tinkle, what are you doing here so early?"
Tinkle stood at the kitchen counter, humming what sounded strangely like the same David Bowie tune that Hermione had been singing in the shower moments before, and arranging fruit and croissants on a plate.
"Master says Missus Hero Granger has to eats a good breakfast," Tinkle answered with a big toothy grin. "Master says Missus Hero Granger has long day aheads of her, and Tinkle's to takes care of Missus Hero Granger till Master calls her backs."
"Well, again, that's surprisingly thoughtful of him," Hermione said. "Though I really don't need any help today. Surely, you can just pop right-"
"Oh, no, Missus Hero Granger!" Tinkle rushed over and dragged Hermione to a chair at the dining table. "You's nots getting rid of Tinkle so easilys, no you's not. Now sits, and haves your breakfasts."
With a snap of her little pointy fingers, Tinkle levitated the plate of food to sit on the table in front of Hermione.
"Well, it does all look rather good," she told Tinkle, tentatively picking up one of the warm croissants. Tinkle rolled her bulbous eyes in such a way that Hermione wondered if the word "duh" was in the house elf's vocabulary.
"Master knews what he was doing when he assigns Tinkle to Missus Hero Granger, yes he dids," Tinkle nodded. "Missus Hero Granger's needs Tinkle. I is the best elf for the jobs. No elf takes care of Missus Hero Granger likes Tinkle."
"He assigned you to me?" Hermione asked aghast at the the nerve of Malfoy. "Wait, did he bring other elves to take care of him?"
Another eye roll. "No, only Tinkle is to be caring for Missus Hero Granger. Now, tell Tinkle your schedules while I finishes drying your hairs."
So, he could take care of himself for a couple of days. He just didn't think she could. Or maybe he's just trying to be nice, she scolded herself. Hmm, maybe. It felt pretty nice having someone else take rare of her unruly mane of hair. Tinkle seemed quite skilled at it as well. Maybe she was Astoria's house elf, Hermione wondered.
"So who are you assigned to normally?" Hermione asked. She didn't relish the thought of having Draco's ex-wife's house elf running her fingers through her hair.
"I is a laundry elf at Malfoy Manor, Missus Hero Granger," she answered. "Tinkle is assigned no one till you."
"So why did Malfoy choose you to help me?" Hermione asked.
"Master says only a hero's daughter could serves a hero," Tinkle answered proudly. "There. Hairs dried. What is next?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "I didn't have anything planned actually till this evening. My makeup and hair spells don't take very long, so I should only need an hour or so to get dressed."
Tinkle began urgently wringing her hands. "This will nots do, no, this will nots! Missus Hero Granger is to be pampereds on Master's orders! What will Master say? Tinkle must think. I knows!"
With a snap of her fingers, a long cushioned table appeared in the living area near the windowed wall and soft music began playing out of nowhere.
"Go lie downs, Missus Hero Granger," Tinkle ordered. "Tinkle will gives you massages."
Massages, indeed. Hermione had never felt so relaxed. Tinkle spent the next several hours, minus a break for lunch, rubbing various lotions and potions into Hermione's skin until she appeared to be glowing. Her tanned skin gave off a light golden shimmer that had Hermione in awe. One Tinkle was better than any day spa packed with employees.
"Tinkle, you are phenomenal!" Hermione gushed.
"Yes," Tinkle answered with a curt nod. Hermione giggled. So much for a humble servant. "Now, Tinkle needs to sees the dress."
Hermione gently pulled the garment bag out of the closet and hung it off the door. She carefully lowered the zipper on the bag to reveal the glorious red fabric underneath. Tinkle looked the dress over for a brief moment, then with another short nod, she led Hermione to the en suite bathroom.
"You is backless," Tinkle stated. "Hair up."
"Oh, I was going to wear it-"
"Hair. Up." Tinkle was all business. She waved her hands over Hermione's head, and tendrils of hair began weaving themselves into an intricate updo, complete with golden tinsel the same width as her strands of hair scattered throughout. Within mere seconds, her hair was artfully arranged in an elegant Regency-style updo. A few short, soft curls fell around her face, and a thin gold headband held back any flyaways. When she turned her head, the ribbons caught the light with a pretty little wink of gold. She felt regal.
"Oh, Tinkle," Hermione breathed. "It's beautiful! And to think, I was just going to wear it in curls down my back."
"See? Missus Hero Granger needs Tinkle!" she squeaked.
They took another brief break for a light tea before tackling Hermione's makeup. Hermione insisted that she could do her own charms, but Tinkle argued that she could do it better. She finally agreed to let Hermione do her own makeup, but if it didn't fit Tinkle's vision, she would remove it and do it for her. In the end, Tinkle only added a faint dusting of gold around Hermione's eyes to add to the shimmering smokey eye makeup that Hermione had put in place.
Finally, it was time for the dress. Tinkle helped Hermione step carefully into the gown, securing the shoulder straps, and zipping up the side. She placed sticking charms to make sure the dress didn't have any wardrobe malfunctions. Tinkle surveyed Hermione, then with another wave of her hand, a thin long gold chain necklace draped down the front of Hermione's dress, and a golden snake wove itself three times around Hermione's left bicep.
"There," Tinkle said with a bow. "You is ready for the ball."