Following Hermione and Luna's first successful shifts into their animagi, the coven had run hither and yonder over the Hogwarts grounds; sometimes as witches and other times as animals, helping the two younger witches to get used to the change between the two forms. The menagerie played throughout the night until the transformations became seamless, like slipping into a second skin.
The next morning, Hermione found herself happily eating breakfast in the kitchens along with the rest of the coven. Clustered around one end of the long wooden tables encompassed in silver trays of food, with the roaring fireplace to their backs, the girls easily laughed and devoured their food as they retired from the previous night's events.
The House-elves had happily greeted the tired witches when they had slipped down the hidden stairwell and into the Hogwarts' kitchens. What d'ya know? Fred was right, Hermione mused as they were quickly accosted by numerous House-elves offering their services to the gaggle of witches.
At first Hermione had been hesitant to ask for something from the elves, seeing the treatment of them akin to slavery or forced servitude. No pay, no clothes and constant work. Though the elves had denied the unfairness of this, some even going so far as to appear offended at the suggestion of liberation from their bonds.
It wasn't until Sophie had sat down and properly explained it to her in a way that she was able to understand. Sophie had likened the practise of raising and employing House-elves to that of the breeding and raising of wild animals in a zoo. How creatures that were born and bred in captivity were unlikely to survive in the wild because they just weren't raised in that environment and therefore, not used to the dangers of it. Which made sense in retrospect, and Sophie's explanation did better to assuage her feelings about the whole thing, more than Ron's explanation ever did.
"Hey, Lila?" Hermione asked around a mouthful of fruit salad as her eyes wandered from the large pile of copper and silver cooking pots to the iron-cast oven range.
"Hm?" Lila hummed around a mouthful of pastry.
"I've been meaning to ask, why the nicknames?"
"Oh! It was something that one of our ole founding witches did!"
"Huh?"
"Quit talking like she's some old lady, Ches!" Victoria laughed before turning to Hermione, "She was this 'Puff witch from the 70s that became interested in old magics. She found a book of Hecate's teachings one day and talked about it with her friends and the rest they say, is history"
"Yeah, anyway, the nicknames were just some fun little thing that she thought of. We reckon she might've been either a Muggleborn or a Halfblood considering some of the names" Lila continued.
"Hm?"
"Like, Georgia McDonald's? She was a doe called Bambi. And then there was Holly Cunnings, she was a Flemish bunny called Thumper or Amelia Howser, she was a sparrow called Flitter"
"Who?" Hermione tilted her head in question. Lila smiled at the animalistic trait the younger witch had unknowingly performed, as she replied.
"You probably wouldn't know them, they graduated a couple of years ago"
"Oh"
"C'me on! Eat up! We've got class soon!"
In the end, Hermione didn't get to see Harry and Ron until that evening because of the differences in their timetables. Following dinner, however she was intent in finding the two so she could show them what she had discovered.
"Harry!" Hermione panted rushing up the staircase to the front door of the Gryffindor tower. Skidding to a halt next to the two boys who turned at her call, the Fat Lady raising an eyebrow at her rather dramatic entrance, "Harry, you've gotta come—you've gotta come! The most amazing thing's happened—please!" She seized Harry by the arm and started to drag him back down the stairs and along the corridor.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked.
"I'll show you when we get there—oh come on, quick—"
"Okay" Harry agreed after sharing an intrigued glance with Ron.
"Oh don't mind me!" The Fat Lady called irritably after them, "Don't apologise for bothering me! I'll just hang here, wide open until you get back then, shall I?"
"Yeah, thanks!" Ron replied over his shoulder, completely oblivious to the sarcasm in the painting's tone.
"Hermione, where are we going?" Harry asked as the trio hurried down the corridor.
"You'll see in a minute!" Hermione replied excitedly. Turning left at the bottom of the staircase and hurrying towards the door situated there. They quickly descended the stone stairs and soon found themselves in a broad stone corridor that was brightly lit with torches and decorated with cheerful paintings; the majority of which were food.
"Oh hang on…" Harry trailed off suspiciously halfway down the corridor, "Wait a minute, Hermione…"
"What?" Hermione turned to look at him, anticipation written all over her face.
"I know what this is about" Harry nudged Ron and pointed to the painting just behind Hermione. It showed gigantic silver fruit in a decorative bowl.
"Oh?"
"Hermione!" Ron cottoned on, "You're trying to rope us into the House-elf stuff again!"
"No, no, I'm not!" Hermione replied hotly, crossing her arms in frustration at the accusation.
"Seen the light, have you?"
"Well, if you must know. A friend explained it all perfectly, so no, that's not why we're here"
"I told you they like it!"
"Yeah, well, Lavender likes BDSM, but you don't see her walking around with a whip and a coil of rope on her hip, do you?"
"Eurgh! 'Mione! I didn't need that image!"
"Well bully for you"
"Well, then why are we here? I'm not barging into that kitchen and trying to make them stop working. I'm not doing it—!"
"I'm not asking you too!" Hermione snapped impatiently, "I came down here just now, and I found—oh come on, Harry! I want to show you!"
Lunging forward to seize his arm again, Hermione pulled Harry over to stand in front of the painting and stretched out her forefinger. She then proceeded to tickle the large green pear until it squirmed & chuckled and then turned into a giant green door handle. Seizing it, Hermione yanked it open and shoved Harry inside.
Ron and Hermione followed after as the painting closed behind them. The two reached the bottom of the stairs just in time to see Harry get tackled by a very familiar House-elf. "Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!"
"D-Dobby?" Harry gasped looking down at the little elf in his lap.
"It is Dobby, sir, it is!" Squealed Dobby, who was buried in Harry's stomach much like a child. "Dobby has been hoping and hoping to see Harry potter, sir, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!"
When Dobby moved back from Harry stared up at him with his great big glittering tennis-ball eyes, Hermione was able to see that the House-elf had garbed himself in the strangest assortment of items. Gone was the ratty pillowcase that most other House-elves wore, instead replaced with a rooster-themed tea cozy for a hat, which had been decorated with numerous bright badges.
There was a tie patterned with horseshoes over his bare chest, a pair of what looked to be children's soccer shorts and odd socks. One of which being the black school sock that Harry had gifted to the elf upon his release from the Malfoy; the other being bright pink and striped with orange.
"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Harry asked amazed.
"Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!" Dobby excitably squealed, "Headmaster Dumbledore gave Dobby and Windy jobs, sir!"
"Winky? She's here too?"
"Yes, sir, yes!" Dobby seized Harry's hand and dragged him off into the kitchen between the four long tables set parallel to the ones in the Great Hall. Hermione and Ron quietly followed after with Ron munching on a Cauldron cake he had acquired along the way.
At least a hundred or so little elves scurried around the kitchen who beamed, bowed and curtseyed as Dobby led Harry passed them. They were all wearing the same uniform: a tea towel stamped with the Hogwarts crest and tied—as Winky's had been—like a toga. Dobby eventually stopped in front of the brick fireplace and pointed towards the little elf sitting dejectedly in front of the hearth.
"Winky, sir!" Dobby pointed. Winky was sitting on the stool by the fire, but unlike Dobby she had obviously not foraged for clothes. She wore a neatly pleated skirt paired with a blouse and matching blue hat, which had been modified to fit her bat-like ears. It was clear that Winky had not been taking care of her clothes at all; her shirt was decorated in soup stains and a burn in her skirt. It was all rather pathetic really.
"Hullo, Winky" Harry softly greeted. Winky's lip quivered before she burst in tears that spilled out of her great big brown eyes and splashed down her front, just as they had done the World Cup.
"Oh dear" Hermione murmured, "Winky, don't cry, please don't…" But this only served to make the little elf cry harder.
Dobby on the other hand beamed up at Harry like a child proudly showing off something to their parent. "Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?" He loudly squeaked over Winky's pathetic cries.
"Er—yeah, okay" Harry agreed. Instantly, about six House-elves came trotting up behind him bearing an ornate silver tray laden with teapot, cups, milk and a large plate of assorted biscuits.
"Good service!" Ron crowed, impressed. The elves appeared delighted at that and bowed low before retreating.
"How long have you been here, Dobby?" Harry asked as the elf handed around the tea.
"Only a week, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby happily replied. "Dobby came to see Headmaster Dumbledore, sir, You see, sir, it is very difficult for House-elf who has been dismissed to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed—"
At this Winky howled ever harder if it were possible. Her cries pulled at Hermione's heartstrings but she didn't know what she could do; her previous attempts to help only made things worse for the little elf. Snot dribbled from Winky's tomato-squashed nose, though the little elf made no move to wipe it away, and the stringy substance melted into the tears falling from her face. Back next to Harry, Dobby continued to ramble as if Winky's plight wasn't even happening.
"…But most wizards doesn't want a House-elf who wants paying. 'That's not the point of a House-elf' they says, and they slammed the door in Dobby's face! Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid, Harry Potter…Dobby likes being free!"
By now, the Hogwarts elves had started to edge away from the little group—but especially from Dobby—as though whatever he had was contagious. Winky however, remained where she was, though their was a definite increase in her wailing.
"And then, Harry Potter, Dobby goes to visit Winky, and finds out Winky has been freed too, sir!" Dobby giggled delightedly; Winky's wailing however, increased into toddler tantrum territory. "And then Dobby had the idea, Harry Potter, sir! 'Why doesn't Dobby and Winky find work together?' Dobby says. 'Where is there enough work for two House-elves? Says Winky. And Dobby thinks, and it comes to him, sir! Hogwarts! So Dobby and Winky come to see Headmaster Dumbledore, sir, and Headmaster Dumbledore took us on!"
Dobby beamed brightly, happy tears welling up in his eyes as he continued his little tale. "And he says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!"
"Is that all?" Hermione tilted her head in question (She seemed to be doing a lot of that lately).
"Headmaster Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week and weekends off" Dobby suddenly became quiet and shivered as though the thought of so much leisure and riches were frightening, "But Dobby beat him down, miss…Dobby likes freedom miss, but he isn't wanting too much, miss, he likes work better"
"What about Winky?"
"Winky is having trouble adjusting, miss. Winky forgets she is not bound to Mr Crouch anymore; she is allowed to speak her mind now, but she won't do it"
"Can't House-elves speak their minds about their masters, then?" Harry interjected.
"Oh no, sir, no" Dobby turned rather serious, " 'Tis part of the House-elf's enslavement, sir. We upholds the family's honour, and we never speaks ill of them—though Headmaster Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this. Headmaster Dumbledore said we is free to—" Dobby beckoned Harry closer with a look of nervousness painted across his features. Harry bent forward so that the elf could whisper in his ear, "He said we is free to call him a—a barmy old codger! But Dobby is not wanting to, Harry Potter. Dobby likes Headmaster Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets and our silence for him"
"But you can say whatever you like about the Malfoy, right?" Harry grinned.
"Dobby—Dobby could…" Dobby appeared fearful at the thought. "Dobby could tell Harry Potter that his old master were—were—bad Dark Wizards!"
Dobby stood frozen for a moment, quivering all over and horror-struck at what had just escaped him own lips—as if he couldn't believe his own daring. Then he rushed over to the nearest table and began banging his head against it. "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!" Harry seized the back of Dobby's tie and hauled him away from the table, Dobby thanked him profusely.
"You just need a bit of practise" Harry brushed off the thanks.
"Practise!" Winky squealed furiously "You is ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dobby, talking that way about your masters!"
"They isn't my masters anymore, Winky!" Dobby defied "Dobby doesn't care what they think anymore!"
"Oh you is a bad elf, Dobby!" Winky moaned, "My poor Mr Crouch! What is he doing without Winky? He is needing me, he is needing my help! I is looking after the Crouches all mylife, and my mother is doing it before me, and my grandmother is doing it before her…oh what is the saying if they knew WInky was freed? Oh the shame! The shame!"
"Well, considering how he was the other day, I'm pretty sure Mr Crouch is doing just fine" Hermione tried to reassure the wailing elf. "We've seen him, Winky, you know—"
"You is seeing my master?" Winky shot up breathless as she goggled at the witch, "You is seeing him here at Hogwarts?"
"Yes, he and Mr Bagman are judges in the Triwizard Tournament"
"Mr Bagman comes too? Mr Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My master isn't liking him! Oh no! Not at all!"
"Bagman—bad?" Harry questioned.
"Oh yes," winky nodded furiously, "My master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying…Winky—Winky keeps her master's secrets…"
Winky dissolved into unconsolable tears once more and was unable to get another word out. The trio left her to her tears and finished off their tea, chatting happily with Dobby about his life thus far. Dobby stated that he wanted to purchase a sweater next, and so Ron offered one of his many maroon-coloured hand-knitted sweaters to the elf. Dobby was enthralled.
As they prepared to take their leave from the kitchens, many of the surrounding elves pressing in upon them offering snacks to take back upstairs. Hermione acquiesced to taking several chocolate-covered pastries as well as several cans of fish which she deftly stuffed to the bottom of her pockets, where they lay amongst several empty packets of Cockroach Clusters.
"Y'know what?" Ron started once he and the others had left the Kitchens behind them and were climbing the steps into the Entrance Hall again "All these years I've been really impressed with Fred and George nicking food from the Kitchens—well, it's not exactly difficult, is it? They can't wait to give it away!"
"It's probably the best thing that could have happened to those elves, you know" Hermione replied, leading the way back up the marble staircase, "Dobby and Winky coming to work here, I mean"
"Yeah, well, Winky didn't seem all that impressed" Harry muttered.
"Oh she'll cheer up! Once the shock's worn off, and she's gotten used to Hogwarts, she'll see how much better off she is without that Crouch man"
"She seems to love him" Ron thickly pointed out (he had just started on one of his cream cakes).
"Doesn't think much of Bagman, though, does she?" Harry replied,"Wonder what Crouch says at home about him?"
"Probably says he's not a very good Head of Department" Said Hermione, "And let's face it…he's got point, hasn't he?"
"I'd still rather work for him than old Crouch" Said Ron, "At least Bagman's got a sense of humour"
"Don't let Percy hear you say that!" Hermione joked teasingly.
"Yeah, well, Percy wouldn't want to work for anyone with a sense of humour, would he?" Ron retorted, now starting on a chocolate eclair. "Percy wouldn't recognise a joe it it danced naked in front of hime wearing Dobby's tea cozy!"
Hermione snorted at the image painted in her head.