Chapter 16

Hermione woke up the next morning with a half formed thought in her head.

"Boys, wake up!"

Draco startled behind her, it appeared they hadn't shifted position at all in the night. Teddy groaned. "What the hell Calla! It's not even six o'clock!"

"I need to talk to somebody, it's important. Help me up, please." She tapped Draco's hand and he immediately obeyed. "Dobby!" She called.

He popped into the room wearing an assortment of what she recognized as her own knitted items and looking absolutely delighted. "Miss Calla is calling for Dobby!"

"Again Calla, what the hell?!" Teddy demanded. Why is there an elf...wait a minute, I know that elf."

Hermione ignored him. "Dobby! It's wonderful to see you, why haven't I seen you yet?" It seemed a little odd considering that he was the only Hogwarts elf who hadn't hated her before she got her memories back, as the others seemed to be fighting to serve her now. But then again, she remembered Dobby wasn't particularly popular amongst the Hogwarts elves.

"Dobby is not knowing if Miss Calla would want to see him," he looked nervously over her shoulder. She followed his line of sight to Draco who was gaping at him.

"Why are you looking at him like that? And why does he seem scared of you?"

"I don't know why he's scared of me," Draco protested, "I thought he was dead!"

"What, why?!"

"He just disappeared- years ago, what else was I to think?"

And that's when Hermione realized how much she'd failed to think this through.

"Wait," interrupted Teddy. "Dobby, your Grandfather Malfoy's elf?"

"Yeah," Draco swallowed, "well, actually he was the Lord's elf, so he was with Father for a little while, but when I came home from school after Second Year he wasn't there and I just imagined…" his eyes turned haunted and Hermione didn't think she wanted to know what Draco had imagined had happened to the elf who had occupied the most exalted and honorable position in House Malfoy.

Hermione was confused too, she knew Dobby had been freed, but she didn't know how he possibly could have gotten to the point where he would have wanted it. Her memories told her that the Malfoy elves were treated with respect, and were proud and happy in their positions. In addition, Dobby would have spent decades, if not upwards of a century working his way up to being the Lord's elf. She couldn't imagine him wanting to give that up.

Then again, Abraxas Malfoy had been a terror. And she could no longer begin to untangle her thoughts about her Uncle Lucius.

"When did your grandfather die?" She whispered to Draco.

"First Year."

She nodded, she had a million other questions but she realized this probably wasn't a discussion that should be had around Dobby, he'd suffered enough. But there was something she had to know.

"Dobby, please know that you can speak freely here."

He once again peered nervously at Draco.

"Dobby, Draco would never hurt a house elf, would you Draco?" She elbowed him in the ribs.

"What, of course not! I'm sorry, I'm just so surprised to see you. I'm happy that you're alright and of course you may speak freely."

Dobby's eyes softened and he nodded. "Master Draco is a good boy. Dobby was worried, but everything will be okay now, Miss Calla will make sure."

Draco let out a little huff of breath against her neck and Teddy snickered.

"When you left service," Hermione said carefully, "were the other Malfoy elves happy? Were they safe and respected and doing appropriate work?"

Dobby nodded so vigorously his ears flapped. "Oh yes! The mistresses are being in charge of the other elves. The elves are happy and proud to serve House Malfoy, they have good mistresses.

"You mean Mistress Narcissa and, well, I guess it's Dowager Lady Malfoy now?"

He nodded. "Though Old Mistress left the Manor after Bad Master died," his eyes went wide as he realized what he'd said.

"That sounds just right to me," said Draco sofly.

Dobby smiled gently. "Dobby is not blaming the Old Mistress, the Manor not a good place for her. She is leaving Lady Malfoy in charge. She is a good Mistress, even though she be young, she knows what she be doing."

"Okay that's good, that's really good," Hermione said, mostly to herself. "Dobby, I just had some questions for you about elf magic, would that be okay?"

"Dobby will answer what he can."

"That's all I ask. I was just wondering, you know that I'm Miss Calla, but do you know who I've been this whole time here at Hogwarts?"

"Of course! You are the Great Harry Potter's, Miss Hermione."

Teddy let out a cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh, but she felt Draco bristle against her. "That's right, but you know that Harry and I aren't… I mean we've never been together like that, like romantically."

Dobby actually giggled. "Dobby knows. Miss Calla belongs with Master Draco. Miss Calla's bond with Harry Potter look more like her bond with Mr. Teddy, except not blood family."

"Wow, you can see that?"

"Sense, sometimes see."

"That's so cool!"

Dobby bounced a little on his feet. "Wizards and witches not usually think elf magic 'cool.'"

"Well that's because they take you for granted. I intend to change that."

"Dobby believes Miss Calla," he grinned.

"Thanks," she grinned in return. "When I was Miss Hermione could you see that I was also Miss Calla?"

"Oh no! Dobby wishes he had, Master Draco was so sad, Dobby could have fixed it!"

Draco let out a little sniffle and she squeezed his arms. "Did you see anything between us, any sort of bond?"

Dobby frowned. "There was something, but it confused Dobby. It was a bond but...corrupt. Dobby isn't sure, he wasn't seeing Miss Calla and Master Draco together often. But now bond is fixed and it is so much prettier, make Dobby happy." He reached out in their direction.

Hermione took his hand and squeezed and he beamed at her before she released him.

"Just a couple more questions I think, if you have time," she wondered.

"Dobby is not busy," he shrugged. "Dorms are clean, breakfast is ready. And Dobby likes talking with Miss Calla and her little masters," he smirked at her, eyes dancing with mischief.

"Hey!" Teddy protested and Hermione wondered which part of that statement annoyed him most.

Dobby turned to him and wagged a finger. "Dobby remembers how it is between you!" Then he turned back to Hermione while Teddy slumped against the wall, pouting spectacularly. Dobby looked at her expectantly.

"I was just wondering if somebody had ordered the Malfoy elves or the Nott elves to find me, would you have been able to?"

"Oh! We were not needing an order Miss Calla. We tried and tried for months, we made a rotation, but we could never feel you. It was terrible. House was in mourning! Worse for Nott elves."

Hermione's eyes welled with tears, "oh wow, that's really something. Thank you for looking for me."

"Dobby not needing thanks, but Miss Calla is welcome."

"Do you think that if I had known to call for any of you that you could have found me then?"

Dobby stood there lost in thought for at least a full minute. "Dobby is sorry but he does not know."

"That's okay, it was a long shot. I was just thinking about other kinds of magic that I might be able to use to figure out who kidnapped me and I know you elves see things differently."

"Miss Calla is a smart witch," he nodded sagely.

"Now if you don't mind, I'd like to talk about you."

He narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing.

"First of all, I'm very proud of you for taking care of yourself since you were freed. I know that couldn't have been easy."

"Thank you," he said, ducking his head and scuffing his toe against the floor.

"And now that you're at Hogwarts you're getting paid."

"Miss Calla disapproves?"

"Not at all, I just want to make sure that you're safe and happy, and you have options. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're being paid, that means you haven't bonded to the castle?"

He nodded.

"Why?"

He said nothing.

Hermione frowned. As she understood it, if Dobby had made a contract with the Headmaster he was getting wages for his work as well as being allowed to harvest some magic to sustain him, but it wouldn't be enough to let him live out his regular life expectancy. But perhaps after living under Abraxas Malfoy's thumb, he considered that a reasonable trade off.

"If you just prefer your freedom I respect that, it's your decision and I will never bring it up again."

Again the elf said nothing and she watched him draw further into himself. Dobby's will to survive thus far had proven remarkable. Which brought Hermione's thoughts to another free elf, drunk and wallowing, and to the way Dobby had explained that she longed for another family. At the time Hermione had thought she was simply brainwashed. Now she had another perspective.

Being a Hogwarts elf was all well and good, and those bonded to the castle could expect to live good, fulfilling lives. But they were expected to be nearly invisible, they did not have personal relationships with students, and even if they did, those students came and went within what must have felt like the blink of an eye in the lifetime of an elf.

For elves like Dobby and Winky who had been members of a family, who regularly interacted with witches and wizards, and often cared for them from the day they were born until the day they died, that might not be a satisfying existence. Especially because if they were dismissed from the service of a human family they almost certainly left an elfin family behind as well.

It made her feel sick.

Merlin help her, if Hermione had to raze this society to educate these people about...so many things, she would do it.

"Dobby, are you waiting for a family?"

Again he said nothing, but he let out a suspicious sniff. She turned and looked at Draco, meeting his eyes and quirking an eyebrow at him. He just gave her a slight nod.

"Dobby, as you know, Draco is now Head of House Black. He's not of age to claim the title but he has access to the magic. If you like, we will gladly bond you to us. Despite Draco being a Malfoy, since we would be using Black magic it should accept you. However, I'm concerned that because of Draco's connection to Lord Malfoy that your magic may never fully trust him, and I don't want that for you."

The elf's eyes were full of tears.

"But I wanted you to know it's an option. However, I think you already had a family in mind?"

Dobby looked away again.

"Harry isn't ignoring you intentionally, he just doesn't know any better."

"Harry Potter doesn't need an elf."

"You've seen what his life is like with his relatives, right?"

Dobby nodded.

"And if you were bonded to him you could protect him, keep him company?"

Dobby nodded again.

"You could make sure he was fed and go shopping for him if he gave you access to his vaults? Deliver messages for him, make sure he gets his mail and that it's safe?"

"Of course Miss Calla," now he sounded insulted, his hands on his hips.

"Harry very much needs an elf, Dobby. And he has plenty of magic, you won't be a burden to him. If you go and explain things to him I'm sure he'd be more than happy to bond with you. He already respects you, he always calls you first."

"Elves do not ask for such things, Miss Calla."

Hermione contemplated this. "What if I asked him? What if I wrote him a note, one Hogwarts student to another, and then you delivered it. You'd only be doing your job."

Dobby started to grin. "Miss Calla is a smart witch."

"I need some writing materials." She had been talking to the boys but they appeared instantly in Dobby's hands. She laughed. "That wasn't an order, you know."

"This is quicker than the little masters can move," he shrugged.

She took them and immediately began composing a note, something that Harry hopefully wouldn't discard immediately because it came from her. If she had to, she'd hunt him down and make him understand. But it would be better if Dobby didn't feel rejected.

"How's Winky?" She wondered quietly.

"She is worse every day, Miss Calla."

"Tell her to start taking care of herself and I'll find a family for her. She's welcome with me and Draco, but I know her history with me isn't great, so I'll look for other alternatives and I promise I'll take her...former circumstances into consideration."

Dobby breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

Hermione finally finished her note, blew on it, and folded it. "Thank you for your assistance in answering my questions. I hope we get to talk again sometime, but if Harry is uncomfortable with that I understand. Just be happy, okay?"

Dobby just stared at her before scrambling up onto the bed and gently embracing her. "Miss Calla is a good witch."

"Dobby," Draco interrupted. "You have my permission to visit any Malfoy or Black elf that you like, and they have my permission to come to you. I know you must miss your family."

"Oh thank you Master Draco. You take care of your witch," he gave an awkward bow, given how he was balanced on the mattress, and then he popped away.

Hermione turned to Draco and beamed at him. "You wonderful wizard."

He placed his forehead against hers. "It was the least I could do."

Teddy cleared his throat. "Well that was the weirdest conversation I've ever witnessed."

Hermione ignored him in favor of Draco, she could practically feel the rage and despair rolling off of him.

"Father freed him? What was he thinking?!"

"Harry tricked him into it, and Dobby was happy to take the bait given the way he was regularly beaten, verbally abused, and made to punish himself."

"I didn't know, I swear I didn't. I hardly saw him because first he was Grandfather's elf and once he entered Father's specific service I was at Hogwarts. He was so miserable that he let himself be freed?"

"Apparently he has a lot of admiration for Harry and for how his circumstances actually improved after Voldemort was banished."

"Fuck," Draco muttered into her neck.

"How are our elves, Teddy?" Hermione asked, and when he stared blankly at her she clarified. "Our elves, the Nott elves, how are they?"

"They're fine," Teddy answered, like she was insane.

"Are you sure? Safe, happy, do they have sufficient work? Do they have too much work?"

"Um, sure?"

"Have you asked them?"

"What?"

"Have you asked them?" She enunciated carefully.

"Of course not, they're fine. Probably bored at the moment with nobody in the estate. But you remember, they were always happy, they're the same as always."

"I remember that's what I thought at the time, but I also had no idea that my father was a Death Eater, so it's awfully hard to trust my memories." She looked at Draco, then Teddy. "The moment we're outside of Hogwarts wards and have a moment of privacy I want to call every single Nott, Malfoy, and Black elf and check on them."

"I- yeah," Draco answered immediately, he was still clearly startled by Dobby's appearance.

"That's fine Calla," answered Theo quietly, "but I think you're overreacting."

"I had a dream the night before last, but I actually think it was a memory. I was in the study with Father and I fell asleep there, in his lap. Uncle Lucius came through the floo and it woke me up, but I pretended to be asleep because I wanted to stay with them. Because they were the two men I trusted most in the world and I just felt so absolutely safe and happy with them. I felt the warmth and happiness of it even when I woke up. Until, of course, I remembered that they tried to kill me a couple of days ago."

"Calla-"

"No Teddy, we keep going round and round about this. I understand that this is difficult for you. But at this point I just can't be sure that I ever knew our fathers at all, and I can't trust that you weren't as blinded as I was. So excuse me, but I'm going to check on the damn elves."

Author's Note: Beta love to Weestarmeggie who is the voice in my head which encourages me and keeps me from chucking my laptop at the wall even when I really want to. And continued love to you all this holiday season, thanks for reading and for all your support which keeps me going!