Here is already a new chapter. I hope you all like house-elves, there's going to be a lot of them in here.
Chapter 35 House-elves
After spending the next morning with Remus and Minerva, Harry asked if it was alright if he went to visit the kitchen.
"Of course Harry. I wanted to visit the library anyway. So you've already found out where the kitchen is?" Remus asked.
Harry nodded. "Minerva showed me. I haven't had time to visit them since the beginning of the Christmas Holidays and so I haven't been able give them their present yet."
"You're giving the house elves a Christmas present?" Remus asked half surprised half curious.
Harry nodded. "They're my friends, so yes I'm giving them a present. I hope they like it."
Ten minutes later Harry tickled the peer and entered the kitchen. The elves beamed at him and immediately asked him if he wanted something to eat.
"No, I just had lunch, which was excellent by the way. I …well I have a small Christmas present for you, I haven't been able to come down yet."
With this he took out his present and held it out, waiting for someone to take it.
The elves didn't. They were standing stock still, staring at Harry.
Finally one of them spoke. "Master Harry Potter sir does not have to give present to elves."
Harry nodded but said. "I wanted to. I gave all my friends a present and you are my friends. It's not much, and just one for all of you, but I hope you like it. Won't you open it?"
Finally one of the elves took the present and placed it reverently on a table. The elves took turns in neatly pealing the paper off the present and when it was finally open there were exclamations of joy and many mutters about the "great and most kind Harry Potter sir."
"It's not much. I mean it's just a muggle cookbook with recipes from different cultures, but I thought as you really liked to learn how to make pizza. I mean you really are great cooks and…"
He was interrupted by one of the elves hugging him around his legs, which started a huge round of hugs.
After he was hugged by probably every elf in the kitchen Harry settled down on a low chair as he usually did when he visited the kitchen. After he told them a bit about his own Christmas he asked them how they were doing.
"We's doing fine Harry sir." An older elf said. "Not much work there is. We's missing having all students here. Much more work then."
Harry nodded. "Don't you enjoy holidays? I mean can you go and visit your family or anything?"
At the mention of family one of the elves suppressed a sob. Harry immediately turned to her.
"Is something wrong with you Giddy?" He asked concerned.
"No sir, Giddy must not complain."
"You can tell me if there is something wrong. Is there anything I can do?"
"Oh yous so good to ask Giddy what yous cans do." Giddy said trying to smile.
"What is wrong Giddy?" Harry asked again.
"It is Dobby sir." Giddy said sadly. "He being hurt again."
"Dobby? Is he your friend? And what happened?"
"Dobby being Giddy's brother. His master is being very stern with Dobby and making him punish hisself if Dobby isn't working fast enough. Dobby is being fast elf, but his master not liking elfes." She trailed off sadly.
"Is there nothing you can do? I mean if he is being hurt, can't we tell someone or can't he just leave?"
After that one of the older elves explained to Harry how the house elves were bound to their masters. Harry got angry at the injustice but the elves quickly assured that they did want to be bound to wizards.
"It is in our nature to serve wizards and we is liking being bound to wizards if wizards are treating us well. This important for our magic to be near wizards."
Harry didn't understand that, but he thought that he needed more information before he could discuss it with them. So he turned back at the problem at hand.
"So, can't we do anything for Dobby? I mean can't one of you go and heal him or anything?"
Giddy shook her head sadly. "Elf magic is not working if elf had to punish himself. Tis why masters have elves punish themselves."
"And wizard magic?" Harry asked. "I mean can he come to Hogwarts so that Madame Pomfrey..." Harry trailed off as Giddy shook her head.
"Dobby not being allowed to leave house without masters explicit permission. He's would be having to punish himselfs if hes came here."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "But you can visit him? I promise I won't tell anyone if you can."
The elves nodded unsure. "We's can visit other elves. But yous must not tell anyone."
"I won't." Harry assured and then added "So you could take him a potion for example?"
"We's could do this. But elves can't brew potions. Elves's magic being different and so elves not being able to brew potions."
"Oh." Harry said, but then straightened up. "I can brew you a potion, it will take a bit of time. I can only do a basic healing potion, will this be enough?"
The elves around him had tears in their eyes and Giddy hugged Harry, sobbing.
"Yous being so nice to lowly elves." She sobbed.
"Not lowly Giddy. You are intelligent magical beings, just like us. You are different, but that does not mean that you are below us or anything." Then he paused a moment and asked.
"Are there other elves that are being hurt?"
The elves nodded sadly.
"I'll brew some more potion then. I can put it into small vials so that you can take it to others too."
There was a lot of thankful murmur. Finally an older elf said. "We are thanking you very much. You are being a very kind wizard. We can magic vials ourselves and fill the potion in them. Is there anything else we can do to help? As I understand you need ingredients to brew the potion, we do not know how to get them, but if there is anything we can do to help you, tell us. The elves owe you a debt." This elf spoke much more distinguished and Harry noticed that the other elves looked at him with respect.
"You don't owe me anything. I … I know how it is to be hurt. I got help when I was hurt and if I can help someone else, I will do so. I will see if I can learn other healing potions so I can help you."
With this Harry left the elves and went to get his potion supplies and then went down to the dungeons. He had only started taking out everything necessary for brewing the potion when Severus entered the student brewing lab.
"So Harry, what are you brewing?" He asked with a small smile. He felt very proud that Harry was liking potions so much.
"I just thought I'd brew a healing potion again, you know."
"A more advanced one? Or do you want to try two of them at a time."
"Can we try two at a time?"
"Of course. Come over to my lab, I have to supervise my own potions." When Harry began to take out his own ingredients Snape stopped him and told him to take them out of the storeroom.
Severus made Harry read the recipe and then helped him plan when to start the second potion. Brewing two potions at the same time was quite a bit more demanding then brewing one, but Harry had brewed this particular potion four times already, first in the summer holidays, then in class and another two times on evenings with Severus. It was a potion often used in the hospital wing.
So after an hour and half of hard work, Harry proudly looked at the potions before him. After the talk with the elves about the magic of a wizard being added to the potion he concentrated on the thought of helping the elves, willing his own magic to go into the potion and strengthening it. He did not know if it helped anything, but one could try.
"Very well done Harry. Poppy will be glad for some more of this potion and I'm glad that I don't have to brew it. I have enough others to do."
Harry looked at him unsure. "Could I…may I perhaps keep some? I have taken the ingredients for one of the potions from my own things."
Snape looked up at him sharply. "Are you hurt Harry?"
"No." Harry quickly assured. "I just thought… It's not for me."
Snape looked at him intensely. "Harry if you know of someone else that is being hurt, you must tell someone. Otherwise we can't help this student."
"It isn't for a student. I can't tell you who needs it, I promised not to tell."
Harry thought for a moment. "I can ask if I can tell you, but I can't promise anything."
Snape nodded thoughtful. He knew that he wouldn't be able to get anything more out of Harry for now. So he allowed Harry to take half of the potion with him. Harry thanked him and quickly left. He paused a moment once he reached the end of the corridor and then ducked into a corner and pulled the invisibility cloak out of his pocket. He didn't think that Snape would be following him, but he wanted to make sure. He then left towards the kitchen.
The elves were bowing very low when Harry entered into the kitchen and gave them the big bottle of potion. Harry looked around and noticed that he had never seen this many house elves at once. There were many who were dabbing a tear away or looked at Harry with awe that made Harry uncomfortable. He spotted the older elf who was standing near Giddy.
"I hope it will help." He said and handed over the potion. He then turned to Giddy. "Please wish Dobby my best Giddy. I hope he will get better with this."
Giddy only nodded with tears in her eyes.
Harry observed for a while, noting that the elves were very carefully pouring the potion into many small vials. The way they were handling the potion, not a drop was lost.
Harry finally turned to the older elf.
"Are you… the boss here?" Harry asked unsure.
"I'm the elder of the elves here. My name is Tlicky." He added.
"Pleased to meet you. Can I speak with you for a moment?"
"Of course."
"You see, it's like this…" Harry told him about Severus's questions. "Is there a way that I can tell him about giving you the potion. I mean, if he knew, I might be able to learn more potions, for example burns and stuff…"
Tlicky thought for a moment and then nodded.
So only about twenty minutes after Harry had left Severus, he was knocking onto his office again.
"Harry? Back already?" Snape asked surprised.
Harry nodded. "I need you to promise, by your magic not to tell anyone about what I tell you." Harry said seriously.
Snape nodded. "I promise by my magic. Do you know who is the potion for? Remus?"
Harry shook his head. "It's for the house elves."
"Hous…" For the first time that Harry had known Snape he saw him speechless.
"House elves?" Snape repeated in disbelief.
Harry nodded. "Some of them are bound to mean wizards who are hurting them. They said that I couldn't do anything to get them away from those homes, but if they get some potions they can at least be healed." He bit his lips. "I mean you helped me when I was being hurt, I also want to help them."
Snape nodded in understanding. Harry was very concerned about anyone who wasn't well and always wanted to help.
"So you plan on brewing more potions for the elves?"
Harry nodded. "I thought that I could also try to learn some other healing potions. I mean as I am learning healing with Poppy and later with Healer Milroy and all."
Snape nodded thoughtfully. He didn't mind Harry learning some more potions. He always had to brew many potions for the hospital wing. And he enjoyed the company of the boy very much. So after a moment of thought he proposed.
"You can learn the more complicated potions. You will first help me with one, before you try it though."
Harry nodded eagerly.
"If you want we can start this week."
"Great!" Harry gave him a hug. "Thank you so much. But I have to order the ingredients first, I don't have all that much anymore."
"I don't think that the house elves will allow you to buy the ingredients. Let's make a deal Harry. You can use the school ingredients if half of every successful potion goes to the hospital wing. What do you say?"
Harry looked at him concerned. "Isn't this favourtism? I mean… I can't just use the school ingredients for myself."
Snape smiled slightly. The boy was really afraid that he might take advantage of their relationship. "It isn't. We've had students helping with the brewing for the hospital wing before. In return, they got to use the school ingredients for their own potions and experiments. While these students were usually older, I am sure that you will be able to learn the potions. And don't worry, the ingredients necessary for these potions aren't expensive."
Harry nodded. "Can I go and tell them?" He asked enthusiastically.
Snape ruffled his hair and sent him along. He really was a strange boy sometimes. Most of the time he was very serious and seemed much older than the eleven years he was but in other instances he was like a five year old.
Harry immediately ran to the kitchen to tell them the good news.
After he had told them he saw that Giddy had already returned and went over to her.
"Is Dobby alright?"
Giddy nodded. "Dobby thanking great and most kind Harry Potter sir very, very much. He is being better already. I is thanking you so much. Dobby being only family of Giddy."
"I'm glad I could help you Giddy. You don't have any other family?"
Giddy shook her head and her ears flopped around. Then she lowered her voice. "But Giddy is having elf-friend. And Giddy is hoping to have elflings one day."
Harry smiled at her. "Are there elflings here at Hogwarts too?" He asked interested.
"Oh yes Harry Potter sir. There being many elflings here. They is not working yet. They is playing and learning elf-magic."
"And where are they living? I mean do they live with their parents or do the elflings live together?"
Tlicky came up from behind and added. "The young ones are living with their parent, the others are being together. If yous wishing you may visit the elf quarters." He offered.
"Really? I mean I'd love to see where you are living."
For once Harry was very glad that he was small. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to enter the elf quarters. He was looking around in wonder as he saw many rooms with simple furniture in elf size. The rooms were small and simple, but there was a homey feeling about it all.
"We elfs at Hogwarts are having it very good." Tlicky explained. "Many elfs only having very little space. So there are other elflings that come here to play and learn. There parents are having very much work, so they are learning here at Hogwarts too. Or in other places that have more elves."
Harry was fascinated by the games the little elves were playing. After they explained the game he was even invited to play a round. He lost, but was enjoying himself none the less.
He was actually sad when time came for dinner and he had to leave them. But he promised to come back. He wanted to learn more about his little friends and hoped that one day, when he was older he would be able to help the ones that were being hurt.
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Severus Snape was in a good mood this evening. He had enjoyed brewing potions with Harry and was looking forward to helping him learn more. He hoped that he could continue to give his knowledge to Harry. Entering his rooms he noticed that they seemed to be sparkling with cleanness. Of course the elves were always cleaning his rooms, but .. He shook his head, it didn't matter after all. Entering his bedroom, his eyebrows rose. His pyjamas was laid out neatly, the room was warmed by a bigger fire than usual and on the pillow there was a his favourite sweet, chocolate cookies (not that he would admit it). Noticing that the sheets of the bed had been warmed he had to smile. It seemed that thanks to Harry he was now held in special favour of the house elves. Well he wouldn't complain.