BACKSTAIRS AT HOGWARTS
Chapter Ten - Tea at Winky's



Winky cast her critical house-elf's eye around her room to make certain everything was as it should be, and it would have been difficult for anyone to find even a speck of dust or an item a single millimeter out of place. The tea kettle stood ready to go in the fireplace, and Winky's tea things were carefully laid out along with plates of cakes, cookies, and sandwiches.

She also gave herself a final appraisal in the mirror. She was wearing the green dress that Dobby had given her, and the highlights of gold in the material nicely set off the golden brown of her big elf eyes. It wasn't Winky's newest dress, but it was her favorite, partially because it looked so nice on her, but mostly because it was a gift from Dobby. With a small, satisfied squeak, she looked expectantly at the door.

About a week previously, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Nobby, Pinky, Teeny, and Tiny had all received invitations carefully handwritten by Winky. They read:


Winky the house elf
rekwests the honer of your company
for afternoon tee
in her room at Hogwarts
on Saterday at 3:00
pleez respond by Thursday



Winky had thought carefully about the guest list, wondering how the combination of free and nonfree elves would work with two humans. She wanted to invite Hermione and Ginny because she liked them and was very grateful for their kindness. She invited Nobby because she liked her too, and wanted to get to know Dobby's sister better. She was grateful for Pinky's help, and finally she wanted to demonstrate to Teeny and Tiny that she bore them no ill-will for their strong-arm tactics in getting her ready to see Professor Dumbledore.

She heard a knock, and immediately went to answer it. Teeny, Tiny, and Pinky had all arrived together. They were wearing immaculate Hogwarts tea towels which had been starched and ironed with absolute precision.

"Come in!" Winky said to them.

"So this is Winky's room," Pinky said, noting that the bed was exactly the same as the ones that all Hogwarts elves had.

"Winky is keeping everything neat and tidy," Teeny said in approval.

Winky had borrowed a couple chairs, and she invited everyone to sit down. "How is everyone in the kitchens?" she asked.

"They is all fine," Tiny said. "But Twinky is always having to complain about something!"

"Is she using the new cookers?" Winky asked.

"Oh yes," Teeny answered, "Twinky is now saying she wishes we had them years ago! She is forgetting she complained they is too complicated!"

Pinky said "We is having far less burn holes and mending of the tea towels now. We is not having to worry about sparks from the cooking fire anymore."

"Cooking is just much easier now. Professor Dumbledore is a very kind master, he is, to get the new cookers for us" Teeny said.

Just then there was a knock at the door and Winky jumped up to answer it. Nobby stepped into the room wearing a dress with bright yellow daisies on it. Winky recognized it as the same curtain material Nobby was wearing when they met the first time, but it was unmistakably a dress now, and of a very fashionable cut.

Winky introduced Nobby to the other elves. "Nobby looks just like her brother!" Pinky exclaimed.

Shortly, Nobby was telling them the story of how she had come to be working for Madame Rosmerta. She even managed to say that her former masters were very evil dark wizards without even thinking about punishing herself.

Silently the other elves were thankful that they worked for a master as kind and great as Professor Dumbledore, and not for someone like Nobby's old masters. However, it would have been a breach of elf etiquette so say so out loud.

Someone knocked on the door again and Winky hopped up to answer it. This time Hermione and Ginny came into the room.

Automatically, the four other elves jumped to their feet, and Hermione had to remind them that they were guests also, and not there to serve her and Ginny. Hermione was very careful about what she said, but quickly she was able to engage the elves in conversation, asking about their families and other interests. The elves were amazed that a human could be interested in such things, but slowly their reserve was lowered.

Nobby helped Winky with the tea things, and in a few minutes Winky was handing around tea cups and plates of food. The food was of course delicious, and the tea well brewed. The atmosphere became relaxed enough that Pinky and Teeny both became bold enough to ask questions about the girls' homes and school work.

It was turning into an enjoyable afternoon for everyone when Hermione spotted a small framed picture on Winky's end table. It was of a brown-eyed elf with a big nose, smiling and waving as in all magical photographs.

"Is that your mother, Winky?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, that is Winky's mother," Winky answered. "Her name was 'Pinny.'" Winky picked up the picture and handed it to Hermione.

She looked at it carefully and was about to give it back to Winky when she noticed that something had slipped out from behind the cardboard backing of the frame. It looked like the corner of a piece of folded paper or parchment.

Winky looked at it with surprise. She had never seen it before and said "it is looking like a note."

She carefully pulled out, and it was indeed a piece of folded yellowing parchment. "Winky" was scrawled across one side of it.

Carefully, Winky unfolded it to read the message, completely silent as she concentrated. Then, she seemed to be re-reading it a second, then a third time. Finally she went very pale.

"NOOOOO!!!!!!! NOOOOO!!!!!!" she shrieked, and an instant later she was beating her tiny fists on the wall, sobbing loudly in a frenzy of grief and rage.

"Winky! What is wrong?" Hermione asked as she rushed to pull the elf away from the wall before she hurt herself. Hermione could see that this was not the same sort of tantrum Winky had thrown when she first came to Hogwarts; it seemed to come from Winky's very heart and soul. With difficulty she picked Winky up and held her like a small child. Winky wrapped her arms around Hermione and continued to sob and moan against her shoulder.

It took Ginny and the other elves a few seconds to recover from the shock of the outburst, but Ginny picked up the yellowed parchment and looked at it carefully. The writing was very shaky and uneven, but she was finally able to make it out. It read:

My deer dotter,
Mama does not have much time to finish this letter, and she will be dead by the time Winky, Master, and Mistress Crouch is returned from Lundun. Too years ago Pinny began to think that Master Barty was being a bad boy. Pinny sees him reading books on dark magik and making strange poshuns, but he is always hiding this from Master and Mistress. Pinny also sees him talking to strange wizards wearing masks in the garden at nite. Too days ago he sees Pinny listening to him and confronts her. She tells him she will tell Master when he gets home, and uses elf magic to protekt herself. One hour ago the door bell rings and Pinny goes to anser it. There is no one there and she goes back to the kitchen to finish the tee what she made herself. After that Master Barty comes to the kitchen and tells Pinny he is poisoned her tee with a poshun to make it look like she is had a heart attack. He is taken her keys, and Pinny is locked in the kitchen so she cannot go for help now. She can already feel the poshun working.

My deer sweet Winky, goodby. Please show Master this letter when you finds it, and beware of Master Barty... he is becum a very bad dark wizard! Be a good elf, but run away if you has to save your own life.

Love,
Mama

Ginny read the letter once to herself, then out loud to everyone else. As she did so, Winky began to shriek, and squirmed so hard that Hermione had difficulty holding her. The other elves sat stunned for a moment as they took in the horrible fact that Winky's young master had murdered her mother.

"Someone get Dobby!" Hermione said. Instantly the three Hogwarts elves ran for the door.

"Ginny, Nobby, please turn down the bed. I'm going to try to get Winky to lie down," Hermione said. She set the elf on the edge of the bed and began to unbutton the back of her pretty green dress, which was now tearstained.

Ginny found a nightgown in the wardrobe, and somehow the three of them managed to get Winky into it while her little body continued to be wracked with great sobs. With difficulty they got her under the covers. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed holding Winky's hand while Nobby tried to dry some of her tears.

The door burst open and a squeaking voice asked "what is happened to Winky!!?" Dobby was wearing his yellow shirt and shorts with one maroon sock and one green sock, his tennis-ball sized green eyes open wide with fear and worry.

Winky jumped out of bed and threw her arms around Dobby, sobbing almost as hard as ever. He held her, making little chirping noises that seemed to help calm her. He carefully led her back to the bed.

"Winky must lie down again," he said softly. This time she willingly allowed herself to be put to bed. Dobby stood beside it, holding her hand.

"Miss... miss, please tell Dobby what is happened," he said to Hermione.

Nobby took Dobby's place next to Winky's bed while Hermione quietly talked to Dobby in a corner, the sheet of old parchment in her hand. Dobby could not stifle a squeal of rage and indignation.

In the meantime Ginny had done what someone should have done in the first place. She brought Madame Pomfrey to Winky's room.

Madame Pomfrey gently raised Winky into a sitting position and said "Winky, please drink this."

Winky obediently sipped the potion, and within a few minutes was fast asleep. Madame Pomfrey now heard a more detailed account of what caused Winky to react the way she had.

"The potion should keep her sleeping soundly until morning," Madame Pomfrey said. "She's had a terrible shock, but she should be calmer by then."

Dobby outran the other elves on the way to the hospital wing, but they now quietly began to gather up tea cups and plates which they took to a nearby sink to wash. They carefully put all of Winky's things away, and Pinky sadly picked up the tearstained green dress as they left.

Nobby remained a little longer but finally had go get back to The Three Broomsticks. She kissed her brother on the cheek and told him to let keep her posted on Winky's condition.

Ginny found a stool in the hospital wing and brought it into Winky's room for Dobby to sit on.

"Thank you, miss," he said as he sat down.

Hermione and Ginny looked at each other, frustrated that they couldn't do anything more. Finally Hermione said "Dobby, we'll be back to check on you both later this evening. Is there anything you need? Can we get anything for you?"

A single tear rolled down Dobby's cheek. "Misses is very kind, but Dobby is not needing anything right now, thank you."

"Alright then" Hermione said as she leaned down to give the elf a quick hug, "send us word if there's any change."

As they walked back towards the Gryffindor tower, the two girls discussed what had just happened. Ginny said "I wonder if it's a crime to murder a house elf -- though in this case there's no murderer left to prosecute."

"I really don't know," Hermione answered. "I think it's something I'd like to research, though."

Harry and Ron were equally outraged when they heard the story, and everyone remained subdued through the rest of the afternoon and dinner.

After dinner Hermione went to the hospital wing where she asked Madame Pomfrey about Winky.

Madame Pomfrey told her "she's still sleeping, and I don't think Dobby's budged an inch from that stool since he sat down."

Hermione knocked softly on Winky's door and Dobby jumped up to let her in. "Dobby," she said, "you look very tired. I'll sit with Winky, and you can get some rest now if you like."

"Dobby is very grateful miss," he responded, "but is not tired now."

"Have you at least had something to eat?"

"Dobby is not hungry, miss."

"Alright then. I'll check back before bedtime."

"Thank you, miss."

Hermione went back to the Gryffindor common room. "Harry," she said, "Dobby hasn't eaten anything all day. He tells me he's not hungry, but I think he'd be more likely to eat something if you took it to him."

The elves in the kitchen were eager to put together a dinner tray for Dobby when Harry asked for it, and they also eagerly gave him enough additional food to fill nearly all of his pockets. When Harry arrived at Winky's room, Hermione's prediction was correct. Dobby gladly ate, but never really let Winky out of his sight, though Harry urged him to rest.

Harry finally gave up trying to reason with Dobby and said they'd check back just before bedtime.

Ron and Ginny made the final check, and when they returned Ron said "It's just the same as before. Dobby's still sitting there watching over her. I think he'd make a better guard than Fluffy!"

Early Sunday morning Winky began to stir. Her eyelids seemed extremely heavy as she struggled to raise them, and it took several seconds for her to remember the previous day. As she stifled a sob, she saw that Dobby had folded his arms on the edge of the bed to rest his head on and he was fast asleep, still sitting on the stool.

She reached over to gently shake his arm. "Dobby" she said. "Dobby, wake up!"

Dobby's huge green eyes shot open and he squeaked "Winky is awake! How is you feeling?"

"Winky is tired and sad" she said, "but she will be alright."

Dobby stood up, flexing his stiff joints and muscles. "Winky must eat," he said. "Dobby will go to the kitchens right now."

"Winky can get her own breakfast," she replied.

Dobby glared at her with his little fists on his hips. "Winky MUST stay in bed! Dobby will tell Madame Pomfrey if she does not!"

Winky, who in fact didn't feel as strong as she had thought, gave in. "Winky will stay in bed for a little while, at least" she said.

Dobby rushed down the elf passage, and in almost no time he was back with scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, and juice, all neatly laid out on a small tray.

As Winky finished her breakfast, Madame Pomfrey came to check on her. "I think you're going to be alright Winky, but you should spend today resting" she said.

A little while later Winky said "Winky wishes she could speak to Harry Potter and his friends."

"Leave it to Dobby," he answered. Dobby then collected the dishes and sped back to the kitchens.

Winky got out of bed and stood on her feet a little unsteadily. She walked to the wardrobe and picked out the most comfortable clothes she could find, which were a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and her sweater.

She was sitting in one of the armchairs when Dobby returned. "Winky isn't ought to be out of bed!" he squealed.

"Winky will be alright" she retorted, "Madame Pomfrey is said she must rest today, but she is not saying Winky must stay in bed all day!"

Dobby made a little disapproving squeak, but began making the bed and putting the room in order.

About an hour later they heard a knock on the door. Dobby opened it and said "Harry Potter and his friends! Thank you for coming!"

The four friends walked into the room and found places to sit. "I hope you're feeling a little better now, Winky" Hermione said.

"Winky is feeling much better, thank you miss," Winky answered. "Winky does not want to ask too much, but she would like to tell how it was growing up and working for the Crouches."

This came as a surprise to everyone, as Winky had always before refused to say anything about her old master or his family.

"Yes Winky, please tell us," Hermione said.

Winky began. "Winky and young Master Barty is born at almost the same time. Winky's mama had to raise her own baby and young master together, and Winky and Master Barty is playmates when they is very young. Winky adores and loves her young master, and is sad when he is leaving to go to school. By then Winky is old enough to start working with her mama in the Crouch's house. Winky is a good elf and works hard. She is very happy when Master Barty is home from school, and for a few years everything is fine.

"Winky's mistress is in bad health and Winky takes care of her more and more. Winky starts traveling with her old master and mistress, and one day she goes with them to London for a week. When they come home Winky finds her mama in the kitchen, dead. Winky is very sad, but young Master Barty seems almost as sad, and tries to comfort Winky. They buries Winky's mama in the garden next to Winky's grandmother."

"A few years later Winky is horrified to hear her young master is been arrested and sent to the wizard prison. She thinks he is innocent and is very sad again. Finally Winky's old master tells her of a plan to bring her young master home. Winky is given permission to use her magic and to always watch Master Barty so he does not get away. Winky thinks her old master is too hard on Master Barty, and tries to do things for him."

"One day a witch from the Ministry of Magic comes to Master's house and she hears Winky talking to Master Barty. There is a big fight, and old master has to put a very strong memory charm on her so she does not tell. Winky is a good elf and cannot tell any of her master's secrets."

"Later, Winky persuades her old master to let Master Barty watch the World Cup match if she is there to mind him. That night, the death eaters cause trouble and Master Barty tries to go to them. Winky is barely able to control him, but is dragging him away into the forest while he is wearing his invisibility cloak. Winky suddenly realizes Master Barty has a wand, and before she can stop him, he conjures the Dark Mark. Only then does Winky begin to realize what a bad, bad boy her young master really is. With all her strength and magic, she manages to get the wand away from him."

"Next thing Winky knows she is on the ground, surrounded by witches and wizards. They is accusing her of doing magic with the wand, and making the dark mark. Winky sees her master and is thinking he will protect her. Instead, he dismisses her after years of faithful service and after stopping her young master from joining the Death Eaters. Winky is horrified and ashamed."

"Months later, after Winky is come to Hogwarts, she learns Master Barty is killed his own father. Only then does she understand that Master Barty is a bad, dark wizard. But never, never did Winky ever think he is poisoned her mama! Her mama what raised him!"

Winky stopped talking at this point, a tear from each of her eyes rolling down her cheeks. Everyone was silent, almost afraid to speak, but Hermione was the first to move. Swiftly, she pulled Winky into her arms and held her close. Winky didn't sob or cry, but hugged Hermione back. Virtually everyone else in the room felt the need to dry a few tears themselves.

Hermione realized the little elf in her arms was utterly exhausted. She gently set Winky back down in her chair "thank you for telling us everything" she said. "Just remember that we are all your friends, and you can come to us any time you need us."

"Thank you, miss" Winky responded. Exhausted or not, she would always mind her manners like a good house elf.

Hermione looked at the other students and said "I think we should go now. Winky needs to rest."

They all stood up and Winky said "thank you for coming, misses and sirs. Winky hopes she will be in better condition next time you sees her."

Everyone said goodbye, and just before the door closed Harry heard Winky say "Dobby, when you goes back to the kitchen, tell Toby that Winky wishes to talk to Master Dumbledore. She has much to tell him about where things is hidden at the Crouch house."