Mr. Malfoy,
Please confirm your appointment on April 25th with the Office of Elfish Welfare at the Malfoy Family Estate in Wiltshire.
As you know, the O. E. W. is a division of the Department for Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic.
As you have also been made aware, recent initiatives have been included in your contract as a facilitator for Elven employment; any questions you have about compliance may be discussed in full upon visit.
Please send the accompanying forms a week before the scheduled visit.
All forms must be signed by Wizard and Elf.
Please expect my Floo at 4pm on the 5th.
Regards,
Hermione Granger
Coordinator of Elfish Welfare
Draco Malfoy sat upon an ancient couch in the receiving room of Malfoy Manor, exactly one week away from the 8th anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts.
He had thought it a joke, not just that he was meant to meet with Hermione Granger for her to stick her nose into the treatment of his house-elves, but that it would occur one week before the anniversary.
He waited for an owl to reschedule, to cancel, to assign someone else to him, but none came. So here he sat, on April 25th, with his leg bouncing anxiously and fingers strumming rhythmically on the arm rest of the couch as he stared into the fireplace.
He'd arrived at 3:30 pm, and after a half an hour of pacing around and muttering to himself, he finally resolved to sit and wait.
At 3:59 a crack sounded to his right as his two elves appeared, Ceely and Risly.
Ceely, the older of the two, nodded to Draco reverently, while the younger and much smaller elf looked to the fireplace and trembled as if she had been left out naked in the snow.
As a matter of fact, the Malfoy elves were very adequately dressed, donned in modest green colored dresses that might ordinarily fit on a child's doll. The dresses clashed mercilessly, thought Draco, against the colorful socks pulled high upon their legs, a typical fashion for elves these days. This was, of course, because Draco could not bear to look at them in the rags the elves his family owned growing up had been subject to, so he had ordered them to make decent clothing for themselves. Though his elves weren't technically free, as they had a magically binding contract in place with the Malfoy family, the recent initiatives have allowed elves everywhere more time away from their duties to explore their interests and develop a culture outside of serving.
He sniffed at the sight of the socks, and gave Risly a displeased look for her antics. He then nodded back to Ceely and stood, taking time to carefully flatten out the wrinkles from his all black suit. Just in time, as it where, for the clock struck four, and the flames in the hearth began turning green.
And then out of the fire she came.
In his family home.
Hermione Granger.
Ever the professional, she nodded curtly to Draco before pointing her already drawn wand at her front, scorgifying the ashes marring her otherwise solid black pencil skirt. Additionally, she wore a charcoal gray blouse, with pressed chocolate colored robes, and a khaki-colored bag over her shoulder.
She lowered her wand then, but maintained a tight grip on it as she looked up at him.
He couldn't blame her for the defensive stance, though these days he himself didn't have much of a will to live, let alone to even remember he had a wand.
"Thank you for being so prompt in sending over your paperwork," she said with a tight, but kind, smile. She flicked her wand and a scroll flew out of the bag into her outstretched free hand.
Hermione then looked to the elves still standing to the side.
"Good evening," she said to them, and made to cross the room, "what lovely socks you have!" She outstretched her arm as she neared the creatures to shake their hands, but stopped when Risly's trembling evolved into what Draco could only describe as a fit.
Draco winced as Risly hid behind Ceely, dropping to the floor to hide from Hermione.
Hermione stopped in her tracks, and concern etched on her features as she turned to face Draco.
Explain , her eyes seemed to say, but her expression maintained its measured calmness for the sake of the present elves.
"She— she's not usually—" Draco tried, but Hermione put up a hand to stop him, turning once again to the elves.
He tightened his jaw, eyes seething through the back of her bossy curly head. He clenched his fist, already knowing well that half moon marks would live on his palm for the rest of the day.
Ever the know it all savior, he thought bitterly.
Ceely, who had attempted to ignore the younger elf up until now, quickly reached behind herself to grab one of Risly's shaking arms and pull her back upright and beside her.
"Risly must remember what Master told Risly." Ceely said to the smaller elf, "Hermione Granger is a very important witch. A good witch. Risly must be brave."
Risly knees continued to knock as she looked up to eye Draco, who was frozen in his spot across the room.
"She—," Draco tried again, "Risly is a relative of Ceely."
"You stated that," Hermione replied snippily, pointing the roll of parchment that was still in her hand towards him. She then shook it open, snd Draco watched as her eyes darted between it and the distressed elf.
Draco pursed his lips at the tone. Tread very carefully here, he told himself.
Ceely pulled Risly from behind her again, the latter having inched her way behind her once more.
"Miss Granger," Ceely said, giving up and letting Risly cower behind her.
Hermione looked up from her paperwork.
"Risly came to live with Ceely after… being relocated from a bad wizard home a long time ago," Ceely said. The small sob behind Ceely confirmed this information.
"She was removed… by the Office for House-Elf relocation," Hermione said, looking back to the parchment in her hand as if confirming the information, "in one of the first raids…"
"Yes," Ceely answered. "Came to me, and Mr. Malfoy gave her a new job."
Granger's eyes darted from Ceely to Draco, then back to Ceely.
Yes, very funny and ironic, Granger.
"Ceely and Mr. Malfoy told Risly she must talks with Hermione Granger today, but Risly fears Miss Granger will takes Risly from Mr. Malfoy," Ceely continued.
"Well," Hermione said, her tone a little softer than before, as she lowered the parchment, "That shouldn't be necessary if… if we're able to continue and everything is.. in order…"
Risly continued to shake, and Malfoy continued to dig his nails into his palm.
After several beats, Hermione bit at her lip then said, "Perhaps… if you were to show me around, just a bit. Show me some of what you're responsible for doing around the house.
Perhaps that would make Risly more comfortable?"
Ceely nodded once in response.
Hermione turned to Draco. "Should we expect your mother as well, then?"
"No, she's… in her quarters… but she won't be out, she's still…" he trailed off but Hermione nodded, making a note on her parchment.
Unwell, Draco thought. His mother… she could be better described as a ghoul that haunts the home, a ghost of a woman ever since his father's death.
"I am in charge of the estate," he stated. "I should be able to answer any questions you have."
Hermione finished whatever she was writing, and lowered the parchment before smiling thinly and saying, "Alright, shall we?"
Draco cleared his throat and, being closest to the door, turned to open it without a word.
Ceely marched forward through the door, practically dragging Risly at her side, followed by Hermione.
Draco dared to look up at her as she passed, but her lips were set in a determined and thin line as she kept her gaze forward.
Shit.
Hermione Granger had changed everything related to Elven Welfare in less than a decade. Not only had she created an entirely new office in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, but she also came up with extensive and tedious rules and regulations in the case that a wizard should like to keep his elves, which was created after the various raids by the Office for House Elf Relocation to liberate the abused and mistreated. Hermione's new office, The Office for Elfish Welfare, was meant to work in tandem with the relocation office, to ensure elves everywhere had proper protection.
With Draco's father gone, Narcissa and Draco complied. The Malfoy family was deemed fit to keep Ceely due to her stated desire to continue to work for them, and later, Risly was relocated to them when it became needed due to the failures of her previous placement.
As they toured Ceely's most used areas of the manor, Hermione asked Ceely a string of questions on the way, purposely avoiding prompting Risly, who had broken away from Ceely to instead walk closely behind Draco. At times, much to Draco's chagrin, the elf would hold on to his pants leg as they moved from one room to the other.
Additionally, it should go without saying, they steered clear from that dreaded drawing room. Draco himself avoided it, along with much of the house.
Draco followed the females, saying nothing. He could feel a headache coming on, and pinched the brim of his nose when the witch wasn't looking. Ceely explained what a typical day in her life was like, and bragged about how she is particularly talented at charming dust in such a way that it will not return for at least six weeks.
"Fascinating!" Hermione responded excitedly.
When they reached Ceely's quarters, a modest, but entire room just for her, Hermione marveled at Ceely's collections of bits and bobs.
Hermione stole a glance to Draco, who remained in the hallway, leaning on the wall in front of the open doorway with arms crossed. The other elf peered at her fearfully from behind his leg.
He watched Hermione make scratches with a quill on a check sheet for a long period before she returned to the door to address Draco, prompting Risly to once again hide herself behind him.
"I'll need to speak with Ceely for a bit," she said, tilting her head to his ankle. "There are a few questions I must ask her privately."
He nodded in response, and instinctively began rolling his head in an attempt to ease the growing tension in his neck muscles.
She closed the door without another word and left him staring at it, counting the lines of the wood for some time.
Draco eventually noticed movement by his foot as the elf removed herself from her hiding spot, and tip toed to the door. Even from his gaze on the door, he could see her large ears shift as if she was trying to hear what was occurring inside.
"You're being quite embarrassing, Risly," he said, face pursing as his focus remained on the door.
"Master is scared of Hermione Granger, so Risly is too," Risly said, and Draco almost detected sass in the elf's tone.
He tried to hide the astonished look on his face, morphing it to a seething snare he gave the creature just before the door reopened. He and Risly both jumped at the movement. Risly ran back behind him with a squeak while Draco quickly put on a mask of indifference.
Hermione exited first, and Ceely followed her with an accomplished look.
Risly peeked from behind Draco, pulling at his pants leg so that it practically covered her small body.
Ceely addressed Hermione, "If that's all Hermione Granger needs, Ceely would like to get mistress her dinner."
"Of course, yes," Hermione said. She then stooped down to one knee and held out her parchment and quill to the elf, "I just need your signature here."
As Ceely did so Hermione also said, "and you have my card, should you need anything?"
Ceely nodded at the witch, then up at Draco before disappearing with a crack.
Hermione turned, still on one knee to peer at the other elf.
Draco swallowed and looked straight ahead, as if he were only a statue in the hall. He had no business here in this scenario with a damn house-elf on his leg, and Hermione fucking Granger on her knee in front of him. He caught a glimpse of her skin, revealed between her clavicle the top button of her shirt before he tore his eyes away.
He mentally fumed at himself for such an observation. Has it really been that long since you had a shag, you pathetic fuck?
"Risly," Hermione said softly, "I spoke with Ceely, and I have pretty much everything I need, so if you're more comfortable, I can ask the last few questions just like this if that's better, then I can get your signature and be on my way.
Draco felt Risly's head bob, her large ears brushing his trousers.
"Okay," Hermione said with a smile, positioning her quill on another set of check sheets.
"Are you comfortable here, at Malfoy Manor?" Hermione asked.
Risly shook her head and said, "Oh no, Risly hates Malfoy Manor. Hates it. Scares Risly."
Hermione tilted her head at the elf and said, "I can understand that."
Draco stiffened, Of course you can, considering you'd been kidnapped and tortured here.
"But hopefully," Hermione continued, "you've been able to make yourself at home? With your own space to sleep… Have you been able to make it less scary?"
"N-no Miss Granger, Risly does not have a place to sleep here," the elf shuddered, and Draco could feel the movement it caused on his pants leg all the way to his thigh.
Hermione frowned and stated sharply, "You are meant to be provided an adequate place to rest, Risly."
The elf cowered at the witch's harsh tone and blurted out, "Risly lives at Mr. Malfoy's home with him. Sometimes comes here to help Ceely if she needs Risly."
Hermione looked up and Draco met her eyes, confusion was plastered there.
Draco didn't immediately respond, his brain close to short circuiting as he felt the elf continuing to shaking on his leg, and Hermione Granger on her knees before him, looking up at him now in the god awful place.
His vision must have went black for a moment, because suddenly she was standing in front of him, rifling through her forms.
She then said, "Do you…"
She rifled through the papers, making a quick flip, flip sound.
"Do you have a second property they are responsible for?"
Flip, flip.
"Oh- um," he chewed on his lip. "Risly is referring to my flat in London. I do not live here… anymore."
Flip flip.
"I—" He continued, "I didn't realize it was necessary to note in the paperwork, I apologize."
Hermione paused mid-flip and sighed, "Thats's ok, it's just… I'll have to survey there as well…"
Draco suddenly felt his throat go dry, but only said, "Of course."
She glanced at the time piece on her wrist, "Perhaps we can schedule something for next week?" Hermione said, rolling up her parchments and stuffing them in her bag, "I'll send you an owl."
