At the breakfast mail drop, Staros, sipping a lovely cup of coffee from southern Italy, received his usual newspapers from California and New York, a letter from his brother on Japan, and a small mail order catalog for the local shops in Hogsmeade as he intended to do some shopping for Christmas but didn't want to deal with import customs or possible mail delays from overseas. As he was mulling over the complex financial pages of the New York Times, Draco stood and barred Harry's way out of the Hall. He grabbed the long package that Harry had been carrying.
"That's a broomstick," Draco said, throwing it back at Harry, a mix of jealously and glee on his face. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter. First years aren't allowed them."
Ron, standing next to Harry, stepped forward slightly and started in.
"It's not just any broomstick; it's a Nimbus Two-Thousand. What did you say you had at home? A Comet Two-Sixty? Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."
"What would you know about it, Weasley? You couldn't afford half the handle," snapped Draco. "I suppose, you and your brothers could save up twig by twig and have one by the time you're eighty."
Before Ron could come back with what promised to be a 'snappy' retort, Professor Flitwick had walked in the doors.
"Not arguing I hope, boys?"
"Potter's been sent a broomstick, professor," Draco volunteered rather quickly.
"Yes, yes, that's right," said Professor Flitwick, smiling at Harry. "Professor McGonagall told me about the special dispensation made for you. What model did you get?"
"A Nimbus Two-Thousand," replied Harry, smiling back. Staros and Blaise had a quiet snicker at the look on Draco's face. "It's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it."
Professor Flitwick bid the boys good morning before shuffling off to the head table. Harry and Ron left at the same time, obviously trying not to laugh at the look of confused anger on Draco's face. Staros and Blaise weren't so nice and kept chuckling every time they looked over at Draco which made Draco all the more ticked. Daphne and Tracey watched the whole scene without making a sound, although Tracey couldn't seem to stop smirking.
That weekend brought about another change in Staros' school routine. As everyone had gotten dressed and was preparing to leave for breakfast, Carcerous broke his trend of hiding from all present. Fading into view and blocking the door, he stood in front of Staros with a look that said he definitely wasn't going to just move.
"Young master be fergettin' hees lessons. I be given him dis time to get used to da school, but now it be time ye be gettin' back to de plan yer fadder laid out fer ye."
Draco looked at Staros in shock. "Why do you have a house elf? And why are you letting it talk to you that way? Make it move so I can get to breakfast!"
Staros looked at Carcerous and knew that the elf wasn't going to budge, at least not until he went back to his training regimen.
Cocking his head to one side, Carcerous asked, "What it goin' to be, young master? You be agreein' to finish yer training or I be talkin' to Master Astrix?"
"I asked you a question!" shouted Draco. "And you, elf, shut up. Your betters are talking here. Go iron your ears or something!"
Carcerous looked at Draco like something you scraped off your boot. Staros sighed, then nodded to Carcerous and sitting down on his bed, waved his hand in Draco and Theo's direction. Blaise, stopped in the middle of putting on his socks, sat on his chair and waited to see what happened.
Carcerous stared at Draco a moment more, then said, "I not be one o'deez miserable house elves you bein' talkin' about. I be a retainer to da House of Marcus. Young master be my charge and my master, but young master also haz de obligations to de head of family, Master Astrix. I be leavin' da family any time I be wantin' but I stay cuz young master be my charge and my master. You be good to remember dat, little Malfoy, and to stay out'o beezness dat not be belongin' t'you."
Draco looked absolutely livid that an elf would speak to him, let alone threaten him. Before he could launch into one of his tirades about his father, Staros said, "Leave off, Draco. I'll explain it another time."
Carcerous pulled a long satchel out of the air next to him then gestured for Staros to follow him. The two made an interesting sight as Staros followed his elf out of the dorms, through the common room, out of the house, down the corridors and out into the castle courtyard. There they stopped out in the middle of the yard, several curious students looking to see what was up, some having followed the odd pair through the castle.
Staros began taking off his school robes and folding them up before laying them to the side. His shirt, shoes and socks soon followed, leaving him half naked and barefoot in the chilly morning air. The elf in the meantime had pulled a different kind of loose shirt from the bag, handed it to Staros who put it on and cinched the ties, and then pulled out what looked like a bundle of bamboo sticks. Handing that to Staros as well, the elf pulled a second stick bundle from the bag before both faced each other, holding the bundled sticks like a sword before them. Staros took a couple side swings before setting himself into a guard position. The elf stood relaxed with the sword-stick-bundle lazily off to one side.
Suddenly, without warning, Staros swung his bundle up into an arc right at the elf's head. Just before it hit, the elf pulled his bundle into a quick block, then riposted with a cut to Staros' legs. Staros swung his bundle down to push the cut aside and moved back a step before coming in with a cut to the left. The two then began to dance around each other, cutting and swinging, blocking and countering. A small crowd was drawn, several students also running off to tell others of the 'fight' happening in the yard.
For a full two hours, elf and boy cut at each other, Staros getting slower and weaker the whole time. Carcerous never took full advantage of his master's weakness, but still tagged him painfully a few times to remind him of the consequences of a drawn out fight. By this time, virtually the entire student body not in classes was present in the yard, hanging out of windows to watch, or standing on the walls with the free professors who had also come to see what the commotion was about.
Finally, Staros signaled an end to the exercise and handed Carcerous back the bundle. The elf bowed, accepted the sticks, and put the two odd weapons back into the bag. Staros sat heavily onto the ground, panting, sweat pouring off his body in rivers.
Professor Dumbledore chose that moment to walk out the front doors and towards the two. The students watching from the steps parted to let the headmaster through then closed back up behind him to watch and see what happened now.
"Mr. Marcus, may I know what the meaning of this demonstration is all about," asked the old man as he stepped up to the two. "Also, was not the agreement about your retainer to keep him hidden so as to not start a general rush for other students to obtain their own?"
"I'm sorry, Professor Dumbledore. We both know that there are only about a dozen students that qualify to hold a retainer while on Hogwarts grounds. I also remember we had agreed to keep Carcerous quiet, but that was before I had neglected my duties to Queen and family."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at this before helping Staros to his feet.
"Part of my duties to the Queen may or may not include martial or other demonstrations, so grandfather had me start training on the sword and staff. I've been lax in my studies for the last month, so Carcerous took it upon himself to remind me most painfully of it."
"Indeed. I was under the impression a house elf could not harm a wizard in such a fashion."
Staros chuckled and waved to Carcerous to explain.
Carcerous looked up at Dumbledore and seemed to be thinking about his answer.
"I not be like deez house elfs you be havin' here. I be a retainer to da House of Marcus, free to be leavin' whenever I be wantin' to. I stay with young master as he be my charge and my master. Young master be neglectin' his studies so I be remindin' him of da work he has to catch up."
Dumbledore looked a little shocked to be spoken to in such a manner by an elf, but then settled and took it in stride.
"So it seems, so it seems. Very well, do try to keep your exercises to less public displays, Mr. Marcus. Good day." With that, Dumbledore strode back into the castle leaving Staros and Carcerous in the yard. The students began to break up into milling groups, returning to their other activities now that the show was over. The two packed up their things and agreed to start training again come Monday morning, this time out near the lake so as to not be a completely public spectacle.