The feast was about to begin, and the elves were piling on platters of food onto the four tables. Sprinkles sauntered back and forth watching all the busy elves around her. The walked out the tall kitchen door, and began to roam the halls of Hogwarts. The peeked past a corner, glancing at the Great Hall filled with students. In front she could see an aged woman, placing an ancient hat over the head of a little girl. There was a silence, and suddenly the hat yelled out, "Ravenclaw!" But Sprinkles was deaf to all noise, except her grief.
The woman read another name from a long parchment, and out came a young boy with blond hair and malicious green eyes. He walked with an air, and as Sprinkles looked on, she could almost remember him. He sat on the stool and the hat was placed over his head. In silence, they all watched until suddenly there was a loud, "SLYTHERIN!" from the hat. The sound jolted Sprinkles up as her memory finally placed the boy to who he was. Master's son, she thought. Master's son is at Hogwarts! Surely Master must need me now! Sprinkles hiccupped, a sob now rising up her body. She could not bear thinking of her Master.
"Sprinkles!" a high, squeaky voice said behind her. "Sprinkles is not supposed to leave the kitchen." Sprinkles turned around to see Winky in her navy blue dress behind her. It seemed as if Winky never changed from her suit, but nonetheless it had always managed to stay clean. "We is not to leave the kitchen unless we is doing a job somewhere else. 'Tis not good to be seen! We is wanting to be good house elfs," Winky continued.
"But I is not a good house elf!" Sprinkles cried loudly, causing a few heads at the back of the House Tables to turn around.
"Well, you has to try to be a good house elf for Hogwarts. Do not worry about your master. Master... Master is okay," Winky said, the last words drifting off into a whisper. "I is knowing how you feel, and I is saying that you has to try to be a good Hogwarts elf!"
Sprinkles looked down at her toes, thinking about Winky's words. But how could she be a good house elf for Hogwarts if Master needed her? Finally, filling for the awkward silence between them, Sprinkles spoke, "Master's son is at Hogwarts. He is in Slytherin, I thinks."
* * *
"Sprinkles!" the man yelled loudly at the small elf huddled in the corner. "You know I cannot keep a servant who has no loyalty!" The man tugged forward, pulling away from the Ministry officer holding him back. "You know what this means don't you?!"
Sprinkles shook her head unsure, her eyes filled with shame and disgrace.
"Clothes!" the man yelled loudly with a menacing grin. Behind him, a woman and boy looked at her, eyes filled with disgust.
"Clothes! Master, please... No, Master! You can't! Master needs Sprinkles!" the elf cried, starting to sob. The man pulled against the Ministry officer once again.
"Yes, clothes," he said, freeing his arm and throwing her a small white cotton t-shirt. "I have no more need for you! Go!"
Sprinkles looked down at the t-shirt she had caught. Her eyes looked back and forth from her master Her eyes filling with tears. She new she should run, but her legs would not move.
"Damn you elf!" the man yelled, reaching for a wand of the table. The Ministry officer was quick, taking out his wand and finally putting a full body bind on the man. Her master lay still on the floor, gazing at her with angry eyes. The elf ran.
In her bed, Sprinkles woke up with a sad pathetic cry, "Master!" She looked around, realizing that she was still at Hogwarts. She would see Master's son tomorrow. Surely he would tell her how much they needed her back home.
* * *
Sprinkles mournfully set the beds in the Slytherin dormitories. Usually Winky had this job, but the elder elf had insisted that she liked being in the kitchens better. Whatever reason, Sprinkles was glad: she could be closer to Master's son. The room was empty. That was a good thing, as Sprinkles could not bear to be seen by anyone yet.
Carefully she folded the sheets, each bed was perfectly set. She would listen to Winky's advice: she would be a good elf until her master came back for her. She sat lightly on a finished bed, not ruffling or wrinkling any of the sheets. She held a sob back. Sprinkles must not cry! Sprinkles must be a good elf for Hogwarts! she thought.
Suddenly footsteps came up towards the dorm. With a snap, Sprinkles disappeared.
The boy with blond hair and green eyes walked in.