BACKSTAIRS AT HOGWARTS
Chapter Two - Soup and Scalds


The elves finished their tea and quick breakfast, then began work. Some moved to other parts of the castle to light fires and open curtains, while others began making breakfast to be served in the Great Hall directly above the kitchen. Winky remained at her post, carrying stacks of wood taller than she was, and tending the fire all day long. She didn't leave it until the last dish was washed and everything was put away that evening. Before she went to bed that night she carefully rinsed out her clothes and hung them up to dry so they would be ready in the morning.

Winky continued this routine for more than a week without hearing from Dumbledore, though she was happier than she had been in a long time with plenty of work to do. The other elves were also becoming more friendly to her, though they were still a little reserved.

Dobby could not contain his delight at seeing her busy, occasionally even smiling a little. "Winky is a Hogwarts elf now!" he squeaked happily.

One Thursday afternoon when dinner preparations were under way, Winky was carrying a load of wood from the wood cellar when she heard a chorus of terrified squeals and shrieks from the kitchen. She dropped her load and ran to see what was happening, thinking that perhaps Peeves the poltergeist was making trouble again. In reality, the situation was much worse than that, and she had to stifle a squeal of her own at the scene she confronted.

The chain holding a huge cauldron of soup in the fireplace had broken, splashing hot liquid in all directions. At least a dozen elves had been scalded, and it was their shrieks and moans she heard. Other, uninjured elves were terrified and starting to panic. Almost without thinking, she ran into the middle of everything.

Winky's voice, unbelievably loud and shrill enough to almost shatter glass, rose above the pandemonium. "EVERYONE MUST BE QUIET!!!!!!" Suddenly there was quiet except for the moans of the injured elves.

In a lower, but still very forceful voice Winky pointed to the elf Rikky, who was near the stairs. "Rikky must get Madame Pomfrey and Master Dumbldore NOW!!" He turned and streaked up the stairs. In the next few moments Winky ordered one group of elves to bring her butter, witchazel, and herbs. She ordered others to bring clean sheets from the linen room and tear them into bandages. Another group cleared off a table, and several more began to gently lift the injured elves onto it.

With the ingredients that had been brought to her, Winky quickly mixed an ointment to ease pain and prevent infection. As soon as she applied it to the red and blistering skin of the victims, they immediately felt better. She then expertly tied bandages, and Teeny and Tiny moved the patients onto the next table.

"Make sure they has lots to drink," she told them, "burns is causing dehydration and shock."

As she approached the last victim Winky squealed, completely horrified. She found herself looking at Dobby, who seemed the worst-injured of all. Hot soup had splashed directly into his face, and he lay moaning with his hands over his eyes. She began applying ointment and bandages to the burned areas of his body, calling for more ingredients at the same time. This time she mixed a soothing eye drop solution, which she carefully dripped into Dobby's eyes. He squealed as the drops hit his eyes, but relaxed a little as he felt the soothing effect. Winky then carefully bandaged his eyes, saying in a trembling voice "I is not knowing how else to do for eyes."

She looked around the kitchen asking the frightened elves "where is Mistress Pomfrey and Master Dumbledore? Is they not here yet?!"

"We're here Winky, Dumbledore said from a little distance back. "I'm sorry we didn't arrive sooner, but it looks as if you've done splendidly all by yourself!" Madame Pomfrey was standing next to him, nodding in approval.

"Dobby is needing your help, Mistress! Winky is not knowing how else to do for him!"

Madame Pomfrey quickly conjured several stretchers, and the most seriously hurt elves were carefully laid on them. She then gave instructions for the less-injured elves to be taken to their quarters, where she would check on them later.

Winky followed her to the hospital wing, where the patients were quickly moved into beds, and Madame Pomfrey gave them her special chocolate which eased their pain and made them sleep more easily. Dobby was in a bed at the very end, moaning in pain.

Madame Pomfrey turned down the lights, then carefully removed the bandages from his eyes. She examined them carefully muttering "bad... very bad." She pointed to a jar on a nearby counter and said "Winky, please bring that to me."

Winky picked up the jar which had a label with a huge eye on it and the words "Eye Ease." She quickly carried it to Madame Pomfrey.

"Dobby? Dobby, can you hear me?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am," he squeaked feebly.

"Dobby, I have to warn you that this is going to hurt, but we must do it if we are going to save your eyes." She then carefully raised his eyelids and put several large drops of Eye Ease into his huge green eyes. He tried hard not to squeal, but it was impossible. He felt Winky holding his hand, and gripped her fingers so hard she nearly squealed herself.

After putting the drops in Dobby's eyes, Madame Pomfrey re-bandaged them. She then gave him some of the chocolate that she had given the others, but in a much larger dose. "Dobby, we're going to have to put those drops in your eyes twice a day for at least a week. I know it hurts, but it will hurt less and less as time goes on. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," Dobby answered. "Madame is very good to Dobby."

Madame Pomfrey then examined the other elves, in some cases changing bandages and adding more ointment. "The mixture you used is almost as good as the one I usually use," she told Winky, who would have beamed with pleasure if she weren't so worried about Dobby.

"I'm going to check on the elves in their quarters now," she continued, "will you please watch over everyone here in the hospital wing, Winky?"

"Yes, Mistress Pomfrey," she answered, "Winky is staying here all night if you is needing her."

"Thank you. Make sure everyone has plenty of liquids. If the pain starts to return, you may give them more chocolate, but remember it has to be in small doses for elves."

"Oh yes, I knows, Mistress Pomfrey," Winky quickly responded.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Madame Pomfrey continued. She then picked up her bag of medical supplies and left the hospital wing.

About an hour later she returned to find most of the elves resting quietly, but Dobby had become feverish and Winky was carefully sponging his forehead with a cool cloth. Madame Pomfrey said "I think he needs something a little stronger," and she grabbed a container of the orange medicine she had used for Cedric Diggory's dragon burns. Dobby winced as she carefully put the bright orange ointment on his injuries, but she worked as quickly as possible.

At this point, all anyone could do was wait for nature to take its course. Madame Pomfrey returned to her office, leaving Winky on duty in the ward. Every twenty minutes she checked all the patients, then returned to her stool near Dobby's bed, where she sat bolt upright, eyes and ears wide open.

After another hour or so, Toby appeared at the hospital wing with a tray of food for Winky. He sat with her while she ate from the tiny elf-sized dishes.

"How is they doing in the kitchens?" she asked.

"We has the mess cleaned up now. Dinner was not good for the students, but Master Dumbledore is telling everyone that there was a problem in the kitchens. Madame Pomfrey came to see the hurt elves in their quarters, and she is saying Winky did well with them. They is going to be alright."

On his way out with the empty tray, Toby stopped to speak to Madame Pomfrey.

She walked across the ward to where Winky was sitting and said "Winky, you've been working nonstop since early this morning. You may go to your quarters and get some rest now."

"Winky is not tired, ma'am," she responded.

"I know you're worried about Dobby, Winky, but I really must insist that you rest for a little while at least. If you like, you may return at about bedtime. I think the patients are not in serious danger now, but I would be very glad of your help tonight."

The was a small moan from Dobby's bed. Madame Pomfrey immediately went to investigate, but found that his condition was still stable.

Winky watched carefully, then said "Winky will go rest now but will be back by bedtime."

"Just a moment, Winky" Madame Pomfrey said, "there is one more thing you can do for me."

"Oh yes, ma'am!" answered Winky.

Madame Pomfrey walked to her office and returned with an envelope in her hand. "Please take this letter to the owlery and send it by the fastest owl you can find."

Winky couldn't read very well, but she was able to make out the addressee's name: "Dr. Horace Augen, London."

"It's going to a very famous eye specialist in London Winky, so it's very important."

"Winky will take it to the owlery right away!"

"Thank you, Winky," you've been a great help today."

Winky dropped a small curtsey, then sped out of the hospital wing.