Chapter Five - A Surprising Visit to Hogsmeade
The following Saturday afternoon Winky took one last look at herself in the mirror on her wardrobe door. She was wearing her blue outfit, and especially liked how her new Hogwarts cape complimented it. A moment later she disappeared into the elf passageway, coming out near the Hogwarts kitchen door.
She waited only a moment before Dobby emerged. His outlandish clothes were as immaculate as always, and he squealed with delight when he saw Winky.
"Winky is looking very nice," he said.
She blushed beet red, but said nothing.
Dobby led the way out the door. The day was sunny but a little cool, and Winky was glad to have her cape.
"Is you SURE 'tis alright for us to be going to Hogsmeade?" she asked.
"How many times must Dobby tell you, we is free elves, and this is our day off!"
Still, they walked some distance away from the main path that students took to get to Hogsmeade. Winky nervously checked her skirt pocket, making sure her gold galleons were still there.
When they reached the village of Hogsmeade, Winky stared at the scene before her. She had of course been to Diagon Alley in London, but always on errands for her master, and this was one of the few times she had been in public without a specific task to carry out. All up and down the colorful street she saw witches, wizards, students, hags, and even a goblin or two going about their daily business. A few people stared at the two house elves wearing clothes, but Dobby had already been in Hogsmeade enough times that he was recognized by many of the residents and shopkeepers.
Because they were so short, the elves had to be careful they weren't stepped on by the humans crowding the sidewalk. However Dobby expertly guided Winky towards a shop that Winky could see was called Gladrags Wizardwear. They waited until the clerk had finished helping two Hogwarts students.
When she saw Dobby and Winky she smiled. "I was hoping I'd see you today, Dobby." Then she asked kindly, "is this Winky?"
"Yes, Madame Zorina, this is Winky."
Winky was embarrassed, and just dropped a neat little curtsey.
"Please come this way," Madame Zorina said as she walked towards the fitting area.
Winky looked wonderingly at Dobby, but followed Madame Zorina.
"I'll be back in just a moment," Madame Zorina called over her shoulder as she disappeared behind a curtain.
She returned carrying a small emerald-green dress and an even smaller hatbox. "I hope you like the way it turned out, Dobby," Madame Zorina said.
Dobby looked carefully at it, then said "oh yes, Madame Zorina is the best dressmaker Dobby has ever known!" (Though it is NOT probable that Dobby had known many dressmakers in the past.)
Winky's huge eyes were wide open as Madame Zorina held the dress next to her. It was immediately apparent that the emerald green of the dress set off the golden-brown of her eyes very nicely. Winky was speechless for a moment.
Finally she squeaked in a very small voice "for... for Winky??!"
"Yes," Madame Zorina replied, "Dobby ordered it for you some time ago. Would you like to step back into the fitting room to try it on?"
Winky eagerly went after her. A short while later, she came out of the fitting room wearing the green dress and matching hat, looking almost elegant, or at least as elegant as a house elf could be.
"Oh Winky....." Dobby said softly, "you is looking wonderful!"
As she turned looking at herself in the mirrors, Winky smiled in spite of herself. For an elf who only a few months ago had hated the idea of clothes, she was certainly becoming very fond of them now.
"Thank you, Dobby, thank you, Mistress," she finally said.
"Would you like to wear it now, or change back into your other clothes?" Madame Zorina asked.
"Winky must change back into her other clothes," she answered. "Is not wanting to get the pretty new dress dirty or splashed!"
Winky disappeared back into the dressing room, and emerged a few minutes later with her original outfit on, and her new dress neatly folded in her hands.
"I'll wrap it up for you," Madame Zorina said as she crossed to the sales counter.
Winky handed her the dress, but said. "Winky must buy something for Dobby now."
"Winky is not having to do that!" he said.
"Yes Winky is," she retorted as she dragged Dobby into the children's section of the shop.
"Dobby cannot keep wearing a tea cozy on his head," she said as she approached a rack of small hats.
"Dobby likes his tea cozy," he replied defensively.
But Winky wasn't listening. She grabbed first one hat, then another, trying them on Dobby's head in succession.
During a pause in the process he said "Dobby likes that one," pointing at a lime green Greek fisherman's hat.
"Oh Dobby...." Winky moaned, tiny fists on her hips.
However, it was too late. Dobby already had it on his head, his ears pointing downward as he pulled it into place.
"Dobby will take this one," he said.
Madame Zorina carefully marked two spots on the hat with chalk, then took it back to the counter to cut ear holes.
As she worked, the elves looked at jackets. Winky finally got Dobby to settle on a brown one, but it still had flashing silver piping on the seams.
A few minutes later they left the shop, Dobby in his new hat and jacket. Winky's little money pouch was two galleons and twelve sickles lighter than when she first received it.
They carefully crossed the street to a shop called Helouise's Housewares. Winky spent another two galleons and eight sickles for a tea kettle, teapot and a small set of dishes. Dobby carried her packages as they continued down the street until they were in front of The Three Broomsticks.
"Would Winky like something to drink?" Dobby asked.
"Yes..." Winky answered a little uncertainly.
"NO butterbeer," Dobby said. "We is having cocoa." He then led Winky through the door.
The pub was crowded, but they managed to find a very small table towards the back.
Madame Rosmerta spotted them as she crossed the room. She already knew Dobby, and again Winky blushed as she was introduced. Dobby gave her the order for two cups of cocoa and a small plate of cakes.
As they talked quietly together, the two elves didn't know that three pairs of eyes were watching them from a corner of the room.
"Aren't they sweet together?" Hermione asked.
"Hard to believe that's really Winky," Ron said.
"Looks like Dobby has a new hat," Harry added, "and that's definitely Winky. Have you ever seen anyone else with a nose like that?"
Hermione shot Harry an acid look but said "let's go say hello to them."
Dobby jumped to his feet as they approached. "Harry Potter, Mr. Wheezy, Miss Grainer! Good afternoon!" he squeaked cheerfully. "We has been shopping," he continued, "Dobby got a new hat and a jacket. Winky got a new dress and things for her room at Hogwarts!"
Winky looked up shyly and quietly asked "may Winky show Miss Hermione her new dress what Dobby had made for her?"
"Of course, Winky, I'd love to see it," Hermione answered.
Winky carefully opened the package and Hermione's voice was heard to say "it's lovely, Winky. And you say Dobby ordered it for you?"
Dobby was at the same time showing Harry and Ron his new hat and jacket. "Dobby will save his new hat for outside. He will still wear his tea cozy inside," he told them.
"That's a very pretty little dress you got for Winky," Hermione said to Dobby. "How did you decide on the color?"
"Dobby is thinking very hard of a color what is looking good on Winky," he answered. "Then Dobby remembers Winky's eyes, and thinks of something to make them look nice."
Silently, Hermione wondered how Dobby could have such good taste in picking out a dress for Winky, yet such bad taste in choosing his own clothes.
All of them were startled by the appearance of a tray carrying the elves' cocoa and cakes, which seemed to be hovering a few feet off the floor. However, it was in fact being carried by a very short someone or something.
The tray slid into place on the table, and a house elf was just visible beyond the table edge. She was wearing a kitchen curtain with a pattern of yellow daises on it, and her big green eyes and long nose seemed eerily familiar.
Dobby uttered a sharp squeak, then put his hand over his mouth. His own green eyes grew to the size of saucers as he stared at the other elf. She in turn stared back, her eyes just as large.
After several seconds Dobby squealed "Nobby!!!"
The other elf, whose name was apparently Nobby, squealed back "Dobby!!!"
Dobby jumped up and threw his arms around her, hugging her close. The three humans watched slightly amused, and Winky seemed to be shooting daggers out of her eyes, which had suddenly gone cold and hard.
With his arm still around Nobby's shoulders, Dobby turned to everyone, tears of happiness spilling down his face. "This is Dobby's twin sister, Nobby. Dobby thought he would never see her again!"
Winky's expression instantly relaxed, and she actually smiled.
"Nobby," Dobby said, "this is Harry Potter," the greatest, kindest wizard Dobby is ever knowing!
Nobby stared, her eyes fixed on the scar on Harry's forehead. "Nobby is so very honored and happy to meet you, Harry Potter sir!" she squeaked, dropping a curtsey. "All house elves is knowing of the great Harry Potter!"
Dobby continued "and here is Harry Potter's two greatest friends, Miss Hermione Grainer, and Mr. Ron Wheezy. They is also very great and kind, coming to see Dobby when he is hurt not long ago."
Nobby curtsied to them.
Finally, Dobby said "and this is Winky, Dobby's very special friend!"
Neither female elf curtsied, but they shook hands in a very friendly way.
"Dobby is never telling me he has a sister," Winky said.
"Dobby is not knowing until this minute that Nobby is even still alive!" he exclaimed.
Madame Rosmerta had observed what was happening, and approached the table.
Nobby gave her a frightened look and squealed "Nobby is sorry, Mistress Rosmerta! Nobby is getting back to the kitchen right away!"
"Nobby," Madame Rosmerta said, "I don't think I'm doing a very good job of making you understand that you don't need to fear me. Now did I hear correctly -- Dobby is your brother?"
"Yes, Mistress Rosmerta," Nobby said, "Nobby is not seeing him in many years."
Hermione was watching and listening with great interest. "I didn't know you had a house elf, Madame Rosmerta," she said.
Madame Rosmerta answered "I didn't-- until about three weeks ago when I got a visit from a Wizard in the Probate Department of the Ministry of Magic. It seems I'm distantly connected with a dark wizarding family by the name of Malheur. They were very wealthy, and big supporters of the Dark Lord. Several of them were killed before he lost his power, and after he was defeated, those that were left had to pay heavy fines to the Ministry. Apparently, the last one just died, and about all that was left of the family estate was Nobby. They're probably turning over in their graves at the idea that I'm their only living heir. Not that I'm really thrilled to be connected to a family of dark wizards myself!"
"Dobby's old masters is knowing the Malheurs," Dobby squeaked.
"I don't doubt it Dobby," Madame Rosmerta answered. "The Malheurs definitely would have known the Malfoys. Old, pureblood, wealthy, and dark."
"I also think they must have treated Nobby very badly. She was wearing a filthy flour sack and was completely terrified when she first got here. I still have to stop her from pounding her head on the wall when she thinks she's done something that might displease me. Yesterday she accidentally broke a glass, and I was only just in time to stop her from beating herself over the head with a piece of firewood."
Nobby had been listening quietly. She squeaked "the Malheurs is bad, dark wizards!"
Then, with a horrified expression her face, she started banging her head on the edge of the table, yelping "bad Nobby! Bad, bad Nobby!"
"Stop that! Madame Rosmerta said sharply as both Harry and Dobby moved to pull Nobby away from the table.
"Nobby, they isn't your masters anymore," Dobby said. "Madame Rosmerta is your mistress now."
"Yes," Madame Rosmerta said. "And for the hundredth time, you don't have to punish yourself for stating the truth, Nobby! Now, what I'd like to know is how you two lost track of each other."
"Dobby only remembers that one day when he and Nobby is still very young, Nobby is gone, and Dobby is punished if he is asking where she is."
"And Nobby only knows that one day Mistress Malfoy is telling her she is to go with Mistress Malheur, and Nobby is also punished if she is asking questions. House elves must do as they is told."
"Well," Hermione said, "it looks like the Malfoys gave Nobby to the Malheurs, and it doesn't look like they were any kinder than the Malfoys!"
"But Madame Rosmerta is very good to Nobby now," Nobby squeaked.
"Thank you Nobby," Madame Rosmerta said. "You may stay with your brother and his friends for as long as they're here this afternoon. I'm sure you have a lot to get caught up on, and if Professor Dumbledore allows it, perhaps you can visit Dobby and Winky at the school sometime."
"Oh thank you, Mistress," Nobby squealed as Madame Rosmerta walked away from the table.
Hermione asked "what about your parents, Dobby and Nobby? Where are they now?"
"We is not knowing who our father is at all," Dobby answered.
"Our mother is dying when giving us birth," Nobby added. "Twins is very rare for house elfs, and very dangerous for the mother when giving birth because she is so small."
"Am I right in thinking that the Malfoys would never have dreamed of paying for a doctor to attend a house elf?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry Potter is right, Dobby is thinking."
There was a pause in the conversation. Nobby looked at the other two elves and asked "how is it you is wearing clothes and sitting in the pub with people?"
"We is free elves, we is," Dobby responded proudly.
"How is it you is free?" Nobby asked in amazement.
Briefly, Dobby recounted the story of how Harry Potter had tricked Malfoy into giving him a sock, his big green eyes full of adoration and a few tears as he looked at Harry.
Dobby further explained how Winky was freed against her will, though he left out many of the details. He finished his narrative saying "and so Dobby and Winky is free, and is getting paying for our work!"
"Nobby has dreamed of being free many times," Nobby said. Though now that Nobby has a kind mistress, she is thinking she is not so sure about wanting to be free."
The afternoon was fading fast, and the pub was gradually emptying. Harry looked at his watch and said "it's probably time we started back to Hogwarts."
The three students finished their drinks and stood up.
"We'll see you back at Hogwarts, Dobby and Winky," Hermione said. "It was very nice to meet, you, Nobby."
"Miss is too kind!" Nobby said, dropping a deep curtsey.
Once they were outside, Ron asked "why didn't you invite them to walk with us?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sometimes you are SO thick, Ron Weasley!"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean don't you think Dobby might like to spend a little time with the sister he hasn't seen in years, and that he might also like to have Winky to himself on the trip back? They don't get many chances to spend time together."
"Oh, I see, I guess... " Ron said slowly.
