The flames from the fireplace licked the stone walls and cast shadows on the two humans reclined against the headboard. Eakey softly approached them, waving his hand towards his humans, casting a deep sleep spell over them, so they would not be disturbed. A soft meow from beside them drew Eakey's glance, but Sebastian just stretched his paws and snuggled back into his Master's side.
He remembered clearly the day they had found out that the Master was born. The manor had been empty for centuries, but Eakey was a good and loyal elf. He knew that the Snapes would return, and he kept the home clean and prepared. The other elves followed his guidance, and the Snape Manor never fell into the disrepair that other abandoned homes did.
Eakey had always kept his channels of communication with other houses elves open – so he knew when the evil wizards rose and fell, and he knew when the Snape-Squibs married and bore more squibs.
He had gathered the elves together that January day, he could remember the violent snowstorm that would have killed anyone who stepped outside – wizard or beast. He could remember the other elves: Monly, Snerker (the nanny elf), and Wizeby, standing around the lone kitchen fire, scared for the first time in many decades. The snowstorm seemed to be the embodiment of evil – cold, harsh, blinding, suffocating. They drew close to each other, their raggedy-tea towels barely covering them.
Then it stopped suddenly. The world became pristine, perfect and white. The trees bent under the weight of the heavy, yet beautiful, icicles that were almost artistic. The four devoted creatures stared out the windows in silence.
Then Eakey spoke in a whisper: "It is done."
It was as if time had stood still and had started again. The Snape family magic surged back through the house, engulfing the elves and the very stones and mortar that held the manor together. They knew that the newest Snape would not be raised here, but that only gave them a few decades to get ready for his fully magical family.
Eakey sent Snerker away. He returned 11 years later, having served almost invisibly as the Master's nanny alongside the Witch who bore him, Mistress Prince, until the day the Master left for Hogwarts.
Then Eakey made what some would call the wisest decision ever made by a house elf, he saved Master from himself. No witch or wizard could understand the true dealings of a house elf's power. Eakey could see the darkness, the evil within his Master, but his Master couldn't see him – so he waited. Just like the snowstorm, he knew his Master would find peace and goodness, all Eakey had to do was wait out the evil.
The Master never knew that the house elf that mysteriously appeared in the Malfoy Manor to nurse him after the Dark Lord's curses didn't belong to Lord Malfoy. He never knew Spinner's End was cleaned and cared for by his own elves, not the pitiful excuses for household charms he had set. He never knew that his life was being watched carefully by small ugly creature who cared for him more than any other creature on the face of the earth. And he never knew that he was a promised child. Born to evil – but made right into goodness.
Eakey knew the day his Master went to the Headmaster Dumbledore. That was the day all was revealed, by the great good Wizard – and his Master was told of the Manor and his title and his land. Master and the Headmaster decided to keep the Manor a secret, but agreed that Wizeby could continue to clean Spinner's End.
Eakey remembered the first time Master set foot into the Manor. How Snerker bowed low and Master seemed to recognize the nanny. How Monly had baked fresh raspberry scones, and the Master's mouth watered. How Master crept through the rooms, with the eyes of a child on Christmas morning, when he thought the elves were out of sight.
He knew the day Master ran, and he knew not to worry.
Wizeby was sent to wait at Spinner's End, and Eakey's patience was rewarded the day Mistress appeared.
He materialized before his Mistress in a clean tea-towel, chin held high. This was the good that was to come, and he told her everything.
Mistress was amazed – she asked questions that no other Snape had ever asked. Questions that wizards and witches assumed the answers to, instead of asking.
Eakey only grew concerned for a moment, when Mistress insisted on freeing them all and paying them if they stayed. But she sat on the threadbare sofa in the dank, depressing Spinner's End and listened to Eakey weave his history.
Before the dawn of time, the Creator of all gathered the Adams and Eves of all creatures. They stood on the very foundation of the earth, and the Creator offered them gifts of magic. Gifts that came with choices.
The Muggle Adam and Eve chose to take no magic for their line, but instead were blessed with the knowledge that they would be the most prolific and would have the ability to gain knowledge beyond magic. The Creator promised them the ability to conquer the heavens.
The Wizard Adam and Eve chose to take a helping of magic for their line, but refrained from much of the natural magic. The Creator gave them their wish, but also allowed them beauty, and the ability to intermarry with the Muggles.
The Elf Adam and Eve were greedy and chose to take all the magical knowledge they could, both natural and unnatural. The Creator hesitated only a moment, before granting them the powers they sought – and tying them to the Wizard race as servants not by blood, but by desire.
Eakey couldn't leave the Snapes, he was bound by the Creator since the First Daybreak. His powers kept only in check by his yearning to serve his Master and his Mistress. He spilled his little elf heart out, telling his new Mistress of the past and what he could tell her of the future. Just as he had known, the good Mistress understood and cared for the elves, as they cared for her.
And now Mistress was here, with Master, safe in their Manor. Eakey wanted nothing more than to hear his Master and Mistress laugh, and for Snerker to have tiny Snapes to care for without having to hide himself. He gazed at their bodies, arms intertwined, soaking in the affection they had for each other – their growing sentiment that fed the energy in the Manor.
He gestured with his hands, watching Mistress' robe disappear and reappear hanging on the bathroom door. He magically dressed her in her favorite pair of satin pajama bottoms, black with a cream Asian flower pattern and a cream tie, and a cream satin strappy tank top.
He made the same gesture towards Master, sending his clothes (and the robes on the chaise lounge) to Wizeby in the laundry area. Thinking hard with his little elf brain, he decided on dressing Master in pajamas Mistress would like (never let it be said Eakey didn't know which Snape buttered his bread). Yes, a black short-sleeve undershirt and black silk pajama bottoms for Master.
He levitated his two sleeping humans (and one sleeping familiar) and beckoned the covers to turn themselves down. He gently lowered them onto the bed, and covered them up, tucking in the bedspread himself, his tiny hands patting his Master and Mistress tenderly. He then carefully lowered the Kneazle into the crook of Master's legs.
Stepping back, Eakey gazed adoringly at his Mistress, curled on her side. Master, even in his elf-enhanced deep sleep, had drawn close to Mistress, their bodies mimicking each other, fitting together the way the Creator meant for them to since the first Daybreak.
This was the future of the Snape line, the future of the Wizarding race. As he lifted the deep sleep spell and exited, he only hoped they would recognize that before it was too late.
A/N: Yes, in Chapter 9 - she has sconces not scones, but the imagery from the scones was just to funny - so, because I write for myself first and foremost, I am leaving them as scones, for when I have a bad day and need a laugh. Thanks MadameHotaru and Droxy!
And MANY, MANY, MANY, Tanks (military tanks) to my own Houseelf, I mean Beta, Drakien!
Next chapter - The Morning Cometh.