The House Elf and the Letter
Penny had lived in an orphanage since she was an infant….so long that no one knew her real name, not even herself. The head-mistress had called her penny for the sixpence her parents left with her…or whomever had left her upon the doorstep of the orphanage those many years ago.
Headmistress Miquela Oryan was a tall woman, though somewhat slouched by time. She was no longer young, though she held much of the younger energy her wards had simply by their presence. She was a kind woman, and cared deeply for each child in her care.
Penny had been given eight years of general teachings thus far...in language arts, history, geography, and mathematics. Excelling in each, the head-mistress had been eager to pass her on to a school that would eagerly pay for her tutoring, and perhaps send her back to teach and take over here.
The day the letter came was the day that Penny decided to absent herself from the hall during mail call. She'd gone on a walk, for the first time in her life doing something on her own without the other orphans, and without the permission of the headmistress. Wandering down the road to the river near the orphanage she hiked the river bank, seeking a place to sit and think in silence without the screaming and whining of the other children.
It was then, as back at the orphanage her name was called to retrieve her mail, that the house elf appeared to her.
"Hello miss Penny..whatses Miss Penny doing here..by the river-edges where miss Penny is not safe, Miss Penny?"
She could not help but laugh. Light brown eyes nearly the color of hazelnut cappuccino sparkled with an interest she'd never felt before. "I'm sitting, creature...what are you, and what do you here?" she asked, with a very formal air about her. This was the beginning of an adventure, and she could feel it deep inside.
"I'm a House Elf, Miss Penny. Annnndd….I'm visiting you Miss Penny...'cause My Master sented me to visit you Miss Penny."
She tipped her head to the side "Does your master know that slavery is not allowed any more?" She paused, and thought for a moment, her face reflecting wonder as her mind raced to make this confrontation logical. It didn't seem to be possible. "A House elf?….like….one of the fairy folk?"
"Yes Miss Penny..likes one of the fairy folkses…I come to deliver you this letter from my master..Miss Penny." The house elf held it out to her in a curious manner, standing so that his feet were firmly planted against a rock, and he was forced to lean his short body over it, reaching his arm across the distance with the letter firmly grasped in his hand.
"Just call me Penny. No "Miss" please?." she took the letter the elf proffered, still looking curiously upon the creature's face. Sitting back softly against one of the rocks she was touching, she unfolded the enveloped that contained the letter. Looking at the letter inside, the envelope having been un-addressed and unsigned, she frowned, before unfolding the parchment.
Dear Penny;
We have reviewed your school records and find you an exceptional student. We ask that you respond directly to this letter, and send your official transcript, along with an essay on your favorite past-time before the end of this month so that you may quickly be accepted into the school's roster for the coming semester. Send it via the house elf who delivered it to you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His name is Dobby, and he will be available to you until you send your reply.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours Truly Albus Dumbledore Professor and Head Master Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry
She stared agape at the letter, then slowly started moving her gaze from the letter to the elf, who looked from her to the river...Watching the water's flowing rapids as if they were a dragon eagerly awaiting a chance to swallow the child whole. "lets please move away from the water miss Penny...pleases?"
She followed him incoherently away from the river bank, and settled back down on a stump less than ten feet away from where she'd first encountered the creature. "An Essay?…Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry?…what's that?"
The House elf looked at her wide eyed "It is the school of magicks..surely you've heard of it?"
Penny shook her head as she thought, there was a faint shadow of recognition of the name of the school, but so faint was it that she could not tell if it was something she had actually heard of before, or something she may have dreamt in one of her many fictitious dreams., 'No Dobby, I haven't heard of it. Or...if I have, I don't recall." She stood and started pacing slowly back and forth across the pathway. "An essay?…how do I write a magick essay? Do I use some sort of wand, a special stone tablet or something?"
Dobby laughed, looking up at her curiously. His freedom had ceased to have such a powerful effect on him and he had nearly returned to his normal Dobby self. "No silly, just write an essay like you does for your school."
Dobby disappeared, and she wondered then that if she called to him, he'd reappear…but she had an essay to write, and a need to return to the house, for if the Headmistress had noticed she was missing, she'd be in a ton of trouble.
Penny had lived in an orphanage since she was an infant….so long that no one knew her real name, not even herself. The head-mistress had called her penny for the sixpence her parents left with her…or whomever had left her upon the doorstep of the orphanage those many years ago.
Headmistress Miquela Oryan was a tall woman, though somewhat slouched by time. She was no longer young, though she held much of the younger energy her wards had simply by their presence. She was a kind woman, and cared deeply for each child in her care.
Penny had been given eight years of general teachings thus far...in language arts, history, geography, and mathematics. Excelling in each, the head-mistress had been eager to pass her on to a school that would eagerly pay for her tutoring, and perhaps send her back to teach and take over here.
The day the letter came was the day that Penny decided to absent herself from the hall during mail call. She'd gone on a walk, for the first time in her life doing something on her own without the other orphans, and without the permission of the headmistress. Wandering down the road to the river near the orphanage she hiked the river bank, seeking a place to sit and think in silence without the screaming and whining of the other children.
It was then, as back at the orphanage her name was called to retrieve her mail, that the house elf appeared to her.
"Hello miss Penny..whatses Miss Penny doing here..by the river-edges where miss Penny is not safe, Miss Penny?"
She could not help but laugh. Light brown eyes nearly the color of hazelnut cappuccino sparkled with an interest she'd never felt before. "I'm sitting, creature...what are you, and what do you here?" she asked, with a very formal air about her. This was the beginning of an adventure, and she could feel it deep inside.
"I'm a House Elf, Miss Penny. Annnndd….I'm visiting you Miss Penny...'cause My Master sented me to visit you Miss Penny."
She tipped her head to the side "Does your master know that slavery is not allowed any more?" She paused, and thought for a moment, her face reflecting wonder as her mind raced to make this confrontation logical. It didn't seem to be possible. "A House elf?….like….one of the fairy folk?"
"Yes Miss Penny..likes one of the fairy folkses…I come to deliver you this letter from my master..Miss Penny." The house elf held it out to her in a curious manner, standing so that his feet were firmly planted against a rock, and he was forced to lean his short body over it, reaching his arm across the distance with the letter firmly grasped in his hand.
"Just call me Penny. No "Miss" please?." she took the letter the elf proffered, still looking curiously upon the creature's face. Sitting back softly against one of the rocks she was touching, she unfolded the enveloped that contained the letter. Looking at the letter inside, the envelope having been un-addressed and unsigned, she frowned, before unfolding the parchment.
Dear Penny;
We have reviewed your school records and find you an exceptional student. We ask that you respond directly to this letter, and send your official transcript, along with an essay on your favorite past-time before the end of this month so that you may quickly be accepted into the school's roster for the coming semester. Send it via the house elf who delivered it to you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His name is Dobby, and he will be available to you until you send your reply.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours Truly Albus Dumbledore Professor and Head Master Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry
She stared agape at the letter, then slowly started moving her gaze from the letter to the elf, who looked from her to the river...Watching the water's flowing rapids as if they were a dragon eagerly awaiting a chance to swallow the child whole. "lets please move away from the water miss Penny...pleases?"
She followed him incoherently away from the river bank, and settled back down on a stump less than ten feet away from where she'd first encountered the creature. "An Essay?…Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry?…what's that?"
The House elf looked at her wide eyed "It is the school of magicks..surely you've heard of it?"
Penny shook her head as she thought, there was a faint shadow of recognition of the name of the school, but so faint was it that she could not tell if it was something she had actually heard of before, or something she may have dreamt in one of her many fictitious dreams., 'No Dobby, I haven't heard of it. Or...if I have, I don't recall." She stood and started pacing slowly back and forth across the pathway. "An essay?…how do I write a magick essay? Do I use some sort of wand, a special stone tablet or something?"
Dobby laughed, looking up at her curiously. His freedom had ceased to have such a powerful effect on him and he had nearly returned to his normal Dobby self. "No silly, just write an essay like you does for your school."
Dobby disappeared, and she wondered then that if she called to him, he'd reappear…but she had an essay to write, and a need to return to the house, for if the Headmistress had noticed she was missing, she'd be in a ton of trouble.