Sprinkles trudged through the dense green grass to Hogwarts Castle. Her tall, bat-like ears were hidden beneath a woolen hat and she heaved with sobs. A small pack rested on her back with the only other thing she owned in the world besides the tea towel she wore and woolen hat upon her head; a small cotton t-shirt which had once belonged to her master's son. Master, she cried, her entire body convulsing into sobs. Sprinkles did not mean to Master, Sprinkles did not. Nonetheless, the damage was done, and her master lay in a cell in Azkaban. If she had not followed him- betrayed him that day.

            She remembered him yelling at her angrily as the Ministry officers restrained him, finally throwing at her the hat and t-shirt. She turned around to find Master's wife and son staring at her angrily too, looking at her in disgust. She ran. She ran far, far away until now, walking on the lawn of Hogwarts Castle. She had failed her duty as a house elf. She was sure that Hogwarts would allow her to work. After all, they had allowed that disgrace Dobby to work there for pay. Why should they not let her work either? Perhaps maybe then Master would take her back. Yes, Sprinkles must prove herself a good elf and Master will take Sprinkles back, she thought desperately.

            A huge rumbling erupted from Sprinkles' stomach. Only then she realized that she had not eaten for nearly a week; she had not eaten since she had left Master. She began to run, a sudden fright rising throughout her body. She could feel her body getting weaker and weaker as it began to slip away from her. The world bounced up and down through her large, saucery eyes almost seeming to fall away from her. She continued to run. She was almost there... Almost there....

* * *

            "Who... who..."

            Sprinkles woke up, realizing that she lay on a small, soft bed, and that two eyes were looking down upon her.

            "Who is you?" the other elf said in her high squeaky voice.

            "I is Sprinkles," she replied. "Where is I?" Sprinkles asked finally.

            "Sprinkles is in Hogwarts Castle," the other elf explained, "and I is Winky."       

            Sprinkles looked at the other elf, and noticed that she wore a dark, navy blue dress, much like the one Mistress wore. She did not wear a tea towel, the mark of a house elf, and instantly she was repulsed by this Winky.

            "Why is Winky wearing a dress?" Sprinkles asked, almost scornfully.

            "Winky has no master," the other elf said finally after a long pause, in which Winky's eyes almost seemed to fill with tears. "But Winky does not get paid," the elf said finally, seeing Sprinkles' scornful look. "Winky does not get paid, and Winky never will. No, paying is not the mark of a good house elf."

            Sprinkles cast down her eyes, almost afraid of this strange elf. "Sprinkles is hungry," she said finally.

            "Eat some of this soup from the elves in the kitchen. Does Sprinkles know that Hogwarts has some of the best house elves in the world?" Winky said. "Sprinkles will be very welcome at Hogwarts."

            "I is not a good elf," Sprinkles replied, a huge tear falling into her soup. "No, I is a bad elf. Master... Master..." she cried. Her body began to rack with sobs. Soup spilled all over the bed.

            Winky looked with pitying eyes on the younger elf. "I knows how Sprinkles feels," she whispered, almost to herself. "I knows how Sprinkles feels."

* * *

            The last day of August past and Sprinkles still lay in the small bed, sobbing, occasionally calling out for her master. The elves were soon on their way to preparing the back to school feast for the Hogwarts students. Sprinkles sat in front of the oven, mournfully watching potatoes bake. All around her the rest of the elves were busy. As they past her, their heads unconsciously turned, and she could almost hear them whispering amongst themselves. Yes, I knows, Sprinkles though sadly. I is a bad elf. Master does not care for Sprinkles anymore. Master has given Sprinkles clothes. She hiccupped pathetically.

            Sprinkles pulled her tea towel toga up; it had begun to fall down her shoulder. She was not even worthy to wear this tea towel with the Hogwarts crest printed upon it. Sprinkles is a bad elf, she thought once more. She blew her nose into the toga, sniffling once more. Master needs Sprinkles. Tears began to well up in her eyes. Surely, Master could not survive without her. Master needs Sprinkles!

            She sat there sobbing in front of the baking potatoes. One of the elves passing by saw her, and along with another, they brought her back to the small bed. Sprinkles had not even bothered to learn any of their names. Surely, Master would want her back soon. Master needs Sprinkles! she thought finally before collapsing into a small white pillow.