Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Chapter 34: Slave Labour
"Posture dear, it is all in keeping a straight spine"
Isobel continued to lecture her granddaughter as she walked back and forth ignoring the small girl and reading from her pureblooded etiquette. Sweat poured down the girls head as she struggled to keep the thick textbook from sliding off of her head.
"Head, neck and shoulders back; tuck in that tummy" She tapped Hermione in the stomach with her book before continuing onwards.
Hermione managed to catch the book as it fell off her head.
"Make sure your hips remain pointing forward. No, no dear, walk forward on the white line"
The small girl sighed as she picked herself up off the ground and continued to walk on the taped 5m white line. They had been practicing for the last three afternoons and Isobel was desperate to get the limp out of the girl's step. Isobel loved it. In fact, she had quite enjoyed teaching Hermione Pureblood ettiquettes. Hermione would have much preferred to read a book on it instead of doing the practical work.
"Woah...oof"
"Hermione, please don't dirty your clothes on the ground"
The young girl grunted as she sat unhappily on the floor. This was the fifth time she had fallen over since she began and it was starting to definitely hurt now. They had been at it for what felt, to the girl, like hours.
"Can we please stop?"
"Five more minutes dear now pull back your shoulders, keep a straight line from your head to your feet, imagine a string pulling you up" Isobel waved her hand, pulling the girl up onto her feet and dusted the book off from the ground before placing it atop of the girl's head.
"No dents, yet. Now try again, how about with a wee bit of 'oomph' this time, yes?"
The brown haired witch sighed as she began to walk the line again.
"This is child abuse" Hermione groaned as she began to place one step in front of the other.
"Only in your dreams dear," Isobel smiled wickedly before flicking open the pages of the book. "You mean in my nightmares" Hermione whispered inwardly frustrated at being made to do this.
"Just wait until ye start wearing heels then you'll be complaining"
Hermione moaned earning a witch-like cackle from the woman.
"màthair, dè tha dol?" (Mother, what is going on?") Minerva peaked her head in to see the two of them supposedly having a bonding session.
"Nothing to worry ye mind dear, our girl's just learning how to walk"
"Momma, grandma's making me walk with a book on my head" Hermione groaned, hoping to get out of this exercise.
Minerva could only roll her eyes as she leaned against the door frame. "Your grandmother's favourite pass-time"
"Oh hush you, perfect posture is important. How else would ye be able to stand ye ground against wizards?" She patted the small girl's back earning a somewhat grimace from her daughter.
"Well, I reckon you two could you a break. You've had her all to yourself for the morning. How about I take her for the afternoon?"
"Ooch, ye're ruining seanmhair and ogha time" Isobel pulled the girl into her arms forcing her to drop the book from her head. Minerva glared at her mother before smirking wickedly. "You two can have the late afternoon, after her nap"
Isobel couldn't help but look down at the girl and wipe the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve.
"Fine, ye can 'ave her" Isobel bent down kissing the girl's forehead as she blushed from the attention of both her relatives.
Minerva smiled, cooing to her daughter as she sat at the table, the small girl leaning over her lap and drawing. She couldn't distinguish the characters in the girls drawings yet but Minerva was happy with the girls selection of the changing bright coloured crayons. She brushed a stray curl back behind her daughter's left ear before turning to her coffee and taking a small sip.
"Can I have some?" Hermione asked quickly dropping the four different pencils she held in her left hand and trying to turn on her mother's lap.
Minerva couldn't help but chuckle, imagining how ballistic Hermione would get if she ever let her even near coffee let alone caffeine in general.
"No dear, but-" she paused seeing her husband walk into the room from the corner of her eye.
"You may have some pumpkin juice once you've finished with your potions" Minerva nodded her head over to the older man walking in with a silver platter of over seven different types of potions alongside a pitcher of water, mug and bowl filled with random assortments of fruits.
"Enjoying yourself dear?" He placed the platter on the table before reaching over to grab the colouring in on the table.
"Wait-" Hermione instantly reached forward to grab it out of the man's hands. "It's not fin-i-sshed yet" She held it to her chest with begging eyes to leave it alone. Albus simply smiled at the girl, knowing better then to upset her on days like this.
"I bought you a present" He returned to the platter and removed a few of the potions before filling up her mug with water.
Hermione looked taken aback by the amount that there was and glared up at her father, "potions aren't presents" she muttered under her breathe crossing her arms and leaning back onto her mother.
"They taste gross. I hate them"
Albus couldn't help but chuckle at the girl. She was beginning to become a rival to Minerva in terms of stubbornness.
"None sense my dear, you haven't even tried these ones yet and you know better then to judge a book by it's cover"
Hermione looked up at him in curiosity as he removed a book from behind his back and passed it onto her.
The brown eyed girl's eyes were immediately glued to it at once. She quickly removed the red ribbon and stared at the title 'Alice in Wonderland'.
She opened the book and started flicking through the pages.
"I know how much you love this book and I thought perhaps you would consider us reading it together. Would you like that?"
Hermione immediately nodded distracted by the bribe as her father began to arrange the potions in a goblet to swallow.
"Now you'll need to take several of these potions three times a day, two of these two times per day and the other two only once per day"
He placed the first one in the goblet in her hands upon which she nervously took.
"W-What is it?" She hesitated her hands beginning to shake but only for a moment. Her mother began to brush her cheek, silencing the bad thoughts going through her head.
"Hermione, do you remember us talking about the night terrors and how you get a little upset being alone"
"Uncle-" She scrunched her face. "-Jack, might come grab me. I've seen him he-"
"I know dear. We believe this may help you in stopping the bad thoughts of that monster coming after you. You won't be so afraid, you will be able to concentrate on your homework and sleep a lot better with this"
Hermione placed the goblet on the table before looking back at her mother, "whose 'we'?"
"Well, myself, your papa of course" She smiled at Albus who winked back, "seanmhair, Severus and Poppy"
Hermione felt betrayed. She thought she had been doing well. She had been forcing herself to stay calm as much as possible in the night, even if she saw a few shadows move from the corner of her eyes and she had even been wearing the snuggles, as much as she hated them. She told her parents exactly that and Minerva only had the one reaction. She hugged her. It hurt Hermione deep inside that her parents thought of her as baggage, as incapable of doing anything herself.
She gritted her teeth in anger and pushed herself away. Of course she wasn't incapable, she had lived on the streets for a long enough period to be considered a bit more capable then most six year olds. Not to mention seven.
"I don't want to take it. You said I was getting better" She grabbed her drawing and pushed herself off her mother's lap before marching to the stairs.
"Hermione this is not up for debate, we have already discussed this" Minerva attempted to grab the girl's upper arm but Hermione managed to snatch her arm back before running up the stairs.
"Hermione Eileen Dumbledore-McGonagall you return here at once!" Minerva shouted in her professor tone but received no reply. No pit patter of stomping foot steps returning to her. No sound at all.
"I thought that perhaps it would have gone better"
"I should go and find her. She cannot avoid her medications for the rest of her life" Minerva returned to her seat and rubbed her tired eyes.
"She needs time"
"She doesn't have time Albus, the sooner Hermione accepts that she has to take her potions daily; the better"
She sighed, "even Severus agreed for Hermione to take a trial of Anti-Psychotic potions to alleviate her psychosis. She has been experiencing more episodes since seeing those muggles and not taking her medication. For Merlin sake, she can't walk around the rest of her life paranoid to wits end and scared of her own shadow because she refuses to take her potions"
Albus pulled his beard as he sat down opposite his wife, in thought.
"We need to be stern on her medication. No more relapses, Albus. I cannot stand to go through another and she will not grow otherwise"
He looked over to his wife who was now cradling her coffee between her hands. He could see the worry and fear in her eyes of what they had been through previously with their daughter not taking her medication.
The older man sighed and nodded in agreement, "I should go find her".
"She should be in our room. She left teddy in ther-"
Screams pierced the quite evening and shocked the two parents.
"Hermione!" Minerva immediately stood, chair scraping against the wooden floor as it was kicked back.
Immediately a pop of apparition revealed a scrawny looking house elf backing away from the small girl rocking backwards and forwards trying to comfort herself.
"I's sorry Master and Mistress. Rocky saw Little Miss come into the room when I's was cleaning. She started crying and…and I's only tried to calm her. She seemed petrified"
The elf backed away from the girl with raised hands as Minerva immediately wrapped the girl in a hug. "Hermione, deary what happened?"
"S-saw un….Jack. H-he tried to hit me a-and then that thing gw-grabbed me and-"
"Ooch, it's alright. Rocky thank ye for trying to comfort her and bringing her to us. Albus can you go and get her teddy and blanket. She will be more comfortable with them" Minerva picked the girl up and wrapped her in her arms before sitting back down at the table.
"Hush dear," She cooed into the girl's ear trying to ease her sobbing. Hermione sniffed, rubbing her eyes as she turned into her mother.
"Remember how the therapist said to talk about our feelings. You can't bottle them up or try to hide from them"
"I don't want to talk about it. You and papa think I'm crazy"
Minerva tried to make eye contact with the girl but she avoided it. "We don't think that"
Hermione crossed her arms and glared at her mother, similar to how Minerva always glared at trouble making students.
"Why would you think we do?"
"You lied to me" She pointed an accusing finger at her mother. "Y-you said the noises at night were in my head. When I heard things and then-" She pointed her finger at the quivering house elf standing petrified at the small girl, "this, this thing, come out of nowhere and-and grabs me"
Minerva rubbed her forehead realising that trying to delay the truth; that they did in fact own house elves was, in the end, not the best idea.
"Hermione," She looked over at the house-elf before sighing. "Hermione, this is one of our House-Elves; Rocky. He has lived here for, well I suppose at least six years"
"E-eight, Mistress" The house-elf corrected. Hermione couldn't help but look him up and down, inspecting every single micro movement, every piece of stain on his dress. "Why is he dressed in a bed sheet? People shouldn't be dressed in those"
"Hermione, don't be rude"
Hermione's face reddened before she looked back down at the house-elf in question. It slowly moved forward and bowed. "Pleased to meet Little Miss" He bowed low, his long nose almost touching the floor. "Pleased to serve the most noble house of the Lion" he said before looking up at the small girl who hesitated to extend her hand.
The elf was taken aback by the girl's kindness, despite seeing the shaking, pale and clammy hand he took it in his and shook it gently.
"Serve?" Hermione looked in worry but her mother silenced her curiosity. "Much to be explained later, however right now you need to take your potions. No buts, all of them"
She looked down at her shaking hands to see the sweat starting to drip off the back. Her vision blurred. She immediately reached out and grabbed the green vile before uncorking it and gulping it down.
That was one. Ten more to go.
Hermione could only stare at the book in front of her as she sat on the sofa across from her grandmother who was sitting across from her. Flipping through the pages of a book as the two sat in the study surrounded by shelves of books and a large fireplace. "You shouldn't sit with that look on your face dear, the wind might change"
Hermione looked up at her grandmother swirling her wine glass as she licked her lips and turned one of the pages.
"What's the wind have to do with my face?"
"It may get stuck that way"
Hermione stared at her in fear for a second before glaring at her. "T-That's not true"
Isobel smirked. "Aren't you astute"
The young girl closed the book before placing it onto the side of the settee next to her. "How come mommy and papa have slaves"
"Slaves?"
"T-the elves"
"Elves? Oh, house-elves! Well they aren't really house elves, they're more like...unpaid workers." She swirled the glass of wine in thought.
"Isn't that a slave, the book says they're bound to the house"
"Well, yes" Isobel finally took a glance at what the girl was reading. 'Magical creatures and where to find them'.
"They are loyal to houses. They don't particularly like being paid, dear"
"So, so you have slaves in the house?"
"Servants dear" Isobel corrected as she sipped her tea earning a glare from the small girl as she held her blanket. The two had spent the afternoon together in the study. Hermione pouring herself over books on magical creatures which included house elves. Needless to say, she wasn't happy with one being here as her grandmother had found out. Isobel, not seeing the problem had absentmindedness sipped on her tea as she flicked another page of her book on Magical Tomes through the Ages'.
"What's the difference?"
Isobel didn't bother to glance at the girl. "Better treatment I'd suppose. House-elves usually serve pureblood houses, take care of many of the duties of the home. Some families even use house-elves for child rearing" she sipped her tea.
Hermione's face had lit up in disgust. "The book says they don't get paid; they have no rights"
"House elves find it offensive to be paid by their mast..." Isobel looked up from her book and noticed the utmost annoyed and horrified look on her favourite grandchild's face. "Don't pull your face like that dear. The wind may change and you may be stuck permanently holding it" She returned back to her back as Hermione immediately rubbed her face.
"Do maither and pappa pay the house-elves? Are they slaves here too?"
"Your parents do grant much greater entitlements than usual house elves get. They do get one day off per week. A few bucks here and there to pay for their uniforms-"
"Dirty sheets"
"It's rude to interrupt dear"
Hermione bit her lip.
"Why did they not tell me? They had me believe I was crazy this whole time!" Hermione held her head almost in pain. Isobel couldn't help but let her eyes drift up again from the pages of her book. She could hear the soft sobs from the girl as she huddled herself on the couch, into a small ball. Isobel stood, gently marking the page in her book before sitting down next to her grandchild and pulling her into her arms. "Hush there dear, your parents never wanted you to believe you were crazy"
"T-They lied to me" The small girl bit back trying to wriggle away.
"I never thought ye should be lied to about the house-elves present in the house. Your parents thought that it may upset ye to know"
Hermione sniffed looking away from her. "It's disgusting" Isobel heard her mumble.
"The house-elves don't see it that way. They don't believe they are slaves at all. They believe they are taking care of witches and wizards"
"Well, it's hard to think of yourself as something other then what everyone calls you"
monster...freak...traitor...
"Ooch, if you ask the elves what they wanted to do, they would tell ye that they want to work here"
"Maybe I will" She bit back at her, her stubborn roots coming through. Isobel couldn't help but notice the sudden change in the girl's demeanor.
"Did they do what I had to do…for my uncle….are they beaten too!"
"Some families don't treat them right; some families would consider them lesser beings"
Much to Isobel's obliviousness, Hermione's face began to slowly turn redder and redder.
"Do you?" She accused earning a scoffed laugh from the witch.
"House elves do serve witches and wizards. They've been in my family since I was a wee lass. Helped raise me so no, I would suppose not"
Hermione hugged her knees to her chest and sighed. "W-would momma and papa pay them, would they make them not slaves,"
"I don't think the elves want to be free, they'd consider it disrespectful"
"Dis-res-spectful? That's insane!"
"No dear, it's just the way house elves are now, if you're done with your book you can place it back on the shelf and get ready for dinner"
Hermione sighed in anger before grabbing her book in a huff.
"Hermione!"
Isobel called to the small girl as she placed her book back on the bottom shelf before walking over to her grandmother. Isobel pulled the girl's chin up to see her flustered red cheeks. The old witch smirked before patting her cheek. "You need to talk about your feelings instead of bottling them up. Now go clean up, I was you to wear that nice purple dress tonight. It brings out your eyes"
Hermione bit the inside of her lip before nodding and making a run for the stairs.
already have to write them in a journal
Hermione crossed her arms in anger and disappointment as she stared at her mother and father sitting across the dinner table at them. Isobel had tried to settle her down for over an hour but she was still riled up and angry, very angry. Something of which Isobel seemed not to understand why. She couldn't seem to grasp the similarities between Hermione's experience of being oppressed...and house-elves lives.
"Please Hermione, you need to eat something"
"I'm not eating anything made by slaves" Minerva's eyes widened in shock before she placed her fork down. She knew the conversation was going to come up some time. She was just hoping that the girl would be a little more in control of her emotions this time around.
"Hermione they are not slaves"
"They are working every day 24/7, wit-hout pay"
Isobel rubbed her forehead as Severus nudged the girl almost glaring at her not to take such a bitter tone with her parents.
"Hermione, dear they do not want to be paid"
She glared at her father.
Her mother sighed, sitting down and rubbing her temples, "alright kitten. What will make you eat something?"
"T-They shouldn't be here"
"How about if we pay the elves? Then will you eat?"
She scratched her chin, "And, and they have a comfortable bed and woom and they get the weekend off"
Minerva leaned back against the chair not believing that she was actually bartering with her daughter over house-elf rights.
"They should be free as well"
Albus' eyes twinkled as he smiled at the small girl, "Alright dear, if that will make you happy"
She smiled, nodding happily to him.
Minerva sighed, knowing the elves were going to be very angry.
"I'll speak to Fritz, Cookie and Mazie"
"Three elves! You have three elves as slaves? That's barbaric"
"Hermione Elieen Dumbledore-McGonagall!" Minerva snapped at her. Hermione pushed herself away from the table and got up. "I'm not eating until your barbaric enslavement stops!"
"Hermione!" Minerva immediately got up and followed her daughter.
"I thought you had five?" Severus queried flicking his eyes over to Albus and Isobel.
"Three elves! You have three elves as slaves? That's barbaric"
"Hermione Elieen Dumbledore-McGonagall!" Minerva snapped at her. Hermione pushed herself away from the table and got up. "I'm not eating until your barbaric enslavement stops!"
"Hermione!" Minerva immediately got up and followed her daughter.
"I thought you had five?" Severus queried flicking his eyes over to Albus and Minerva.
"Hermione, Hermione get back here right now!" Minerva had followed her daughter into her room only to find the girl sitting on her own bed with a few books next to her one of which she currently had open and writing in.
About to shout at the girl, the woman bit her tongue when she noticed the girls feelings journal was the book she had open. She was doing her homework. She was upset and had finally bothered to use the journal to express her feelings rather than bottling them up like she had usually done.
Minerva sighed, running her hands through her hair and scrunching her face before approaching her daughter.
"May I sit?"
Hermione glared at her book as she continued writing and nodded.
"I know you are upset about the house elves"
"And lying to me" Hermione whispered, interrupting her mother's train of thought. She green eyed woman sighed, "and lying to you but your father and I did not believe it would have been good for you to find out until you were a little older. More settled, I suppose the word would be" She let the words slip from her tongue as she watched her dear child, seeing the distain written on her face.
"I know if you had the opportunity to meet them and converse with them then you may feel indifferently"
Hermione fisted her pencil as she continued to write.
"Fritz, is quite the charmer. Cookie is an absolute fiend when it comes to anything to do with chocolate, Mazie loves fashion and dresses. She's been begging me to have her put you through one thousands dresses" Minerva smiled at the girl as she finally stopped writing. "Polo tends the gardens and helps Severus fetch different plant species from time to time. Rocky enjoys cooking. He's the usual chef of the home. He's been dying to speak to you since you came here" She finally looked up at her mother.
"They all have. They have all wanted to meet you; properly meet you. However, I thought the existence of house-elves would upset you. I thought you would think us similar to that monster who had hurt you. Hermione," She grabbed her daughter's chin. "You know us, we would never treat anyone like you had been treated. The house-elves take care of our home but I can assure you they are happy here; their home"
"...But not free"
"No, they do not wish to be free. They would find it an insult"
Hermione shook her head and pulled her mother's hand away from her chin. "What if they don't know any different? Jack constantly called me a monster and I believed it. I believed it even when Jack wasn't there. He said I was less then dirt and I believed him. I still hear his voice, sometimes, telling me that I'm worthless. I-" She turned away as her mother brought her into her arms.
"You are so much more then you think"
Hermione could only fall into her mother's embrace. They had stayed like that for the better part of a quarter hour. Minerva brushing her fingers through her daughter's hair. However, this time no tears escaped down the small child's face. She simply breathed as her god-father had taught her.
"You sound like you love them"
Her mother looked down at her. "The house-elves?"
"We don't think of them as slaves, dear. They are family"
Hey guys, i know this is the shortest chapter I have written. There will be maybe one or two more before Hermione starts school. This chapter just focussed on Hermione's transition.