BACKSTAIRS AT HOGWARTS

Chapter Sixteen - Elf Stones Again

Binky practically skipped around his family's dining room, humming a little tune as he refilled the coffee cups on the table where his master and mistress were just finishing breakfast.

Mr. and Mrs. Hightower were amused at this uncharacteristic behavior of their usually-dignified house elf. "You seem to be very happy this morning Binky," Mrs. Hightower said.

Binky immediately remembered himself. "Binky is just received some good news, but is very sorry he disturbed Master and Mistress." He then bowed and started to leave the room.

"Don't go Binky," Frederick Hightower said, "tell us your good news."

"I has just received a letter from Dobby, sir. He is telling me that Winky is changed her mind and will marry him now. Professor Dumbledore is getting a special license from the Ministry of Magic for them, sir."

"That's wonderful news Binky," Mrs. Hightower said. "Did he say if they've set a date?"

"No, ma'am, he isn't saying anything about the date yet."

"Well, please let us know as soon as you do. You can't miss your son's wedding."

"Mistress is very kind, but who will look after her and Master while Binky is away?" the elf asked. Frederick Hightower answered, "I think we'll survive for a few days just fine, Binky, especially

since you've done such a good job of training Spanky."

Spanky was a young house elf that the House Elf Relocation Office in the Ministry of Magic had placed with the Hightowers. Amos Diggory had personally intervened to make sure that no house elves were available when the Malfoys and MacNairs applied for replacements (at one time Lucius Malfoy's request would have had top priority, but he was now finding an increasing number of doors closed to him).

"Thank you very much sir and ma'am," Binky said as he picked up a couple of empty plates and his coffee pot, then disappeared through the kitchen door.

Binky set the dirty plates next to the sink where Spanky was about to start washing up. "Binky is just received another letter" he squeaked, pointing to the kitchen table.

Binky grabbed the envelope thinking "I is hoping Winky isn't changed her mind AGAIN." He carefully read the letter and uttered a squeal of happiness loud enough to easily be heard in the dining room. It took him a few minutes to compose himself, but once he did he went to finish clearing the table.

"Are you alright, Binky?" Mrs. Hightower asked in some concern.

Binky quickly wiped away a tear of happiness and said "Binky is just received more good news, ma'am. He is sorry to disturb you again, ma'am."

"Twice in the same morning!" Mr. Hightower exclaimed. "What is it now?"

Binky pulled the envelope out of his pillowcase. "This is just arrived a few minutes ago, sir. Binky's daughter Nobby is saying she and Tippy is getting married too, and Professor Dumbledore is helping them also in getting a special license. As far as Binky is knowing, this is

the first time ever any house elfs is getting married with a proper license!" He then had to wipe away the tears of happiness that were again welling up in his big green eyes.

"We're very happy for you all, Binky," Mrs. Hightower said. "Please don't forget to inform us of the dates as soon as you know them."

"Mistress is very kind," Binky said as he gathered up the remaining empty dishes.

Back at Hogwarts the news was traveling quickly also. Naturally, some of the elves thought it

was highly improper, but many others were pleased to hear it. A number more realized it would be cause for a celebration, which was a rare event in the house elf world.

After morning sick call, several elves were gathered around Winky admiring her ring. They all knew of the great elf stone in Iceland, but most had never seen even the tiniest fragment of it.

"'Tis beautiful, it is," an elf named Libby said.

"You's very lucky," Blinky added.

"I has to find something to match it for Dobby now," Winky said.

"THAT is going to be very hard, it is," Tilly squeaked.

Winky sighed. "Winky knows this, but she still must try!"

A short time later, Winky re-stocked her medicine bag, then headed towards the house elf

retirement village. As she entered the clearing, Cubby spotted her. When they were close enough to speak, he asked "does Winky have any news for us?"

By way of reply Winky extended her hand to show him the ring. Cubby smiled and said "come inside. Winky must show the other elfs!"

In the day room, there were squeals of delight and happiness as everyone admired the ring. "I is very glad Winky is come to her senses," Dawny said with satisfaction.

"Where is Zinny?" Winky asked in some concern as she looked around the room.

"Zinny is here" came the old elf's voice. Leaning hard on a cane, Zinny limped slowly into the room.

"You is walking you is, Auntie!" Winky squealed in happy surprise.

"The medicine what you's given Zinny is helped lots," her great-aunt said as she carefully sat down.

Winky then busied herself passing out medicines and packets of pills. She asked carefully after the state of everyone's health, and made a few notes to remind herself of things she should bring on her next visit.

"Would Winky like some tea?" one of the old elves asked.

"Winky would, but 'tis time for her to go back to Hogwarts," Winky answered.

"Come with Zinny for a few minutes before you goes," Zinny said. Carefully Zinny got to her feet

and slowly led the way to a door that opened into a passageway. They passed several doors before stopping at one with "Zinny" printed neatly on it.

"This is where Zinny lives," the old elf said as she stepped inside and sat down. The room was smaller than Winky's room at Hogwarts, though it was comfortably if plainly furnished. Winky spotted Zinny's wheelchair in a corner, where she silently hoped it would stay.

"Please open that drawer and bring Zinny the small box you finds there."

Winky did as she was asked, and when Zinny opened the box Winky gasped in surprise. The box contained a fragment of another very powerful elf stone, this time from Denmark. It was iridescent green in color, and Winky couldn't help but stare at its beauty.

"For Dobby," Zinny said as she put the stone in Winky's hand.

"Auntie, is you sure you is wanting to give this away?"

"Yes, Zinny is very sure. Nothing will make Zinny happier than knowing 'tis is going to someone Winky loves."

Trying hard to blink back her tears, Winky hugged her aunt. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You's very welcome," Zinny squeaked. "Now Winky must return to her work at Hogwarts."

"Thank you again Auntie! Winky will come again very soon."

Outside, Winky was intercepted by Cubby as she crossed the clearing. "is Zinny given you the stone?" he asked.

"Yes. Winky has it here in her pocket."

"Does you know what you's going to do with it?"

"Winky is not sure yet. She probably is ought to have it mounted in a ring."

"Come with Cubby," he said as he led her towards one of the tiny cottages.

Cubby's knock was answered by a very wrinkled old elf in glasses that made his already-large eyes look enormous. He was wearing what appeared to be part of a very small pup tent fashioned into a sort of long protective apron over his tea towel. Though a doorway leading into another room could be seen a workshop full of tiny tools and a small forge. A single glance told Winky where damaged gold and silver utensils from Hogwarts went to be mended.

"This is Wobbly," Cubby said. "He is a very skilled craftsman. Wobbly, Winky is wanting an elf stone set in a ring."

Winky set the box on a small table and opened the lid. "A very fine fragment of the Danish Elf Stone," Wobbly said as he examined it with his jeweler's glass, "very fine indeed, it is." He then picked up a book that contained designs for all types of jewelry. He opened it at the section for rings, handed it to Winky, and said "see if there is anything here you likes."

She carefully looked through the entire section, but kept coming back to one of the first designs she had seen. "Winky is liking this one," she said.

"A very good choice," Wobbly said. "is you wanting it done in gold or silver?"

Winky hesitated a moment, concerned about the expense. Fortunately she remembered she had a gold galleon in her pocket. She produced it, asking "is there enough gold here?"

"Oh yes, more than enough," Wobbly said happily.

The design Winky had chosen featured a pattern of ivy leaves engraved in the wide bezel below the stone. "Can you make a design with Winky's and Dobby's initials there instead?" she asked.

Wobbly grabbed parchment and a quill. He quickly sketched a letter "D" with a "W' superimposed on it. "Like this?" he asked.

"Yes, that is exactly what Winky is wanting."

"Then Wobbly will start on it right away. Check back in about a week."

As Winky prepared to leave, Wobbly pointed his finger at the box containing the elf stone. With

a loud crack, it completely disappeared.

"What is you done, Wobbly?" Winky squealed in alarm.

"Do not worry," he reassured her. "Wobbly is only sent it to his safe."

Breathing a sigh of relief she said "Thank you Wobbly. Winky will be checking back in one week."

Wobbly, already intent on planning the job, only squeaked a very faint "goodbye" as Winky and Cubby left the cottage.

Winky hurried up the path towards Hogwarts, and as she approached the castle, heard someone say "hello, Winky."

She turned to see Hermione returning from a Care of Magical Creatures class. Winky smiled and squeaked "good morning, Miss Hermione!"

"You seem very cheerful this morning Winky."

"Yes, miss, Winky is very happy."

"May I ask if there's any special reason?"

In answer, Winky extended her little hand to show Hermione the ring.

Rather uncertainly Hermione said "that's very nice, Winky." She didn't want to hurt Winky's feelings, but all she could see was a tiny gold ring set with what looked like a chip of ordinary granite, and it frankly looked a little odd.

Winky uttered a squeak of annoyance with herself for forgetting that most humans could not see an elf stone properly. "Miss Hermione, Winky is going to do some elf magic, but it will be lasting only a very short time. Please watch carefully, miss."

Winky pointed the index finger of her other hand at the ring. There was a "pop," then Hermione's gasp of amazement as she saw the brilliant blue stone. After about ten seconds, Winky's spell faded and the stone reverted to its normal appearance to a non-elf.

"That's beautiful Winky," Hermione said. "What is it?"

"'Tis part of the greatest elf stone in the world, from a place called Iceland, miss. Only elfs is able to see elf stones clearly all the time, miss. The little spell what Winky just did allowed miss to see it for a short time."

"I see. That's very interesting, Winky. Where did you get it?"

"From Dobby, miss. 'Tis an engagement ring."

"An engagement ring! You and Dobby are getting married?"

Winky's cheeks went slightly pink as she said "yes, miss. Professor Dumbledore is given his permission and is getting a special license from the Ministry of Magic, miss."

"That's wonderful!" Hermione said. "Have you set a date yet?"

"No miss," Winky squeaked, "but we is ought to decide soon."

"Well, I'm very, very happy for you, Winky."

"Thank you miss," Winky squeaked as she dropped a little curtsey.

As they approached the main doors of the castle Winky spoke again. "Miss... miss, Winky is wondering if Miss Hermione could tell her something."

"I'll try do my best, Winky. What would you like me to tell you?"

"Winky is wanting to know if Miss Hermione can tell her about how weddings is done."

"I'd be very happy to talk to you about it, Winky, but if I don't hurry I'll be late for my next class, and I have a lot of studying to do tonight. Would it be alright if we talked tomorrow evening?"

"Oh yes, thank you miss!" Winky squealed.

"Alright, I'll see you then," Hermione replied.

As she headed towards the elf passage Winky squeaked "Thank you again, miss. Goodbye!" Hermione glanced over he shoulder, and not for the first time wondered how Hogwarts house elves managed to appear and disappear so quickly and quietly. Over the course of her very busy day she did however manage to find time to write a short letter, which she dispatched with the fastest owl she could find.

When dinner magically appeared on his plate that evening, Harry Potter noticed something odd. There was a piece of paper on his plate, carefully folded into a small square. Curious, he unfolded it and read:

Sir--

Dobby most respektfully asks if he may come visit Harry Potter tonite after dinner. Pleez rite 'yes' or 'no' on this paper. Thank you.

--Dobby

Harry didn't have any writing implements with him, so he dipped his fork in pumpkin juice and used one tine to scratch "yes" at the bottom of the message. The paper instantly vanished.

At breakfast the next morning an owl swooped into the Great Hall and dropped a flat brown-paper package in Hermione's lap. As she undid the wrapping paper several muggle wedding magazines slipped out.

"What are THOSE for?" Ron asked with just a hint of alarm in his voice.

Before Hermione could answer, Harry cut in. "I think I know. Dobby came to see me last night."

"He did?" Hermione asked. "So you know the news, then?"

"Yes."

"WHAT news?" Ron demanded.

"Dobby and Winky are getting married."

"Married! You can't be serious!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yes, we are," Harry said. "Dumbledore's arranged for a special license from the Ministry of Magic. And Nobby and Tippy are getting married too."

"Unbelievable!" Ron muttered.

Ignoring him, Hermione spoke to Harry. "What all did Dobby say to you?"

"He was so excited he had a hard time making any sense at first, but I finally got him calmed down and he told me about the ring and the license. Then, after trying to ask about fifteen times, he managed to say that he wanted me to be his best man."

"That's very sweet," Hermione said. "Did you say yes?"

"Of course, but honestly I don't really know what that means I'm supposed to do. I've only been to one wedding in my entire life, and that was only because Mrs. Figg was sick, and the Dursleys couldn't leave me with her."

"Well," Hermione answered, "it means you're responsible for getting the groom to the wedding on time, and sober. You're in charge of keeping the wedding ring safe until it's needed, and you should be the first to offer a toast to the new couple at the reception. You're probably also going to have to help Dobby find proper clothes for the wedding."

"What for?" Ron asked. "Dobby has lots of clothes now."

Hermione gave Ron the 'glare of death,' then mounted a full assault. "Dobby can't get married in shorts and a tie that doesn't match anything!!!"

"He can't?"

"Of course not! And Winky needs a proper wedding dress also. Honestly! I sometimes wonder what you use for brains, Ron Weasley!"

Hoping to avert another blazing row, Harry asked "may I have that page out of your magazine, Hermione?"

She looked down at the magazine and realized he was looking at picture of a little boy in a morning suit, identical to the ones worn by adults, even down to the gray top hat and gloves.

A/N: Sorry to those of you who don't like author's notes, but this is the point where I have to explain to American readers that in Britain, tuxes are for evening wear only. Bridegrooms usually wear what is called a "morning suit," which consists of a tail coat, wide cravat, gray top hat, and matching gray gloves.

FURTHER NOTE: I had intended to make this chapter longer, but finally decided to post it as it is and write another chapter. Many of you have waited patiently for this much, so I hope this will fill the void for at least a short time.