Chapter Fourteen

Elves

Saturday September 2

Back at the wand shop.

"Ex-hill-ah-rah-TOOS - The wand movement is a short left-to-right slash followed by the bottom half of a semi-circle. Essentially you are making a smile face."

Emma asked, "Is this a common type of spell in Britain?"

Harry replied, "I'm not certain; what do you mean?"

"Does it make sense to teach mind-altering spells to a thirteen-year-old?"

Harry replied. "The cheering charm isn't so much a mind-altering charm as a mood-altering charm, The confundus charm that we learned last year was more of a mind altering charm."

Frustrated, Emma asked, "Harry, when you were watching TV, or the news, did you ever hear the term date-rape?"

Harry shook his head, no. He'd never heard the term and he'd really never been allowed to actually watch a television show at the Dursleys. He understood what she was talking about, or at least thought he did. He observed, "Most of the spells – charms and hexes at least, have legitimate uses. The slicing hex that Dobby wields with such finesse, can save us days of effort and results in almost no waste, could just as easily be used to slice a person into ice-cube size pieces. He doesn't do that because he's a law abiding magical being."

She nodded, following his illustration.

"The first piece of magic that Hermione saw you do – levitation – could be used to juggle people, or drop them off of a cliff. You would never do that, would you, Dr. Granger?"

"Of course not."

Harry continued, "Daryl told me that he normally spends his weekends target shooting at a rifle range. He enjoys it and doesn't bother anyone. He's not some nutter who would do horrible things, is he?"

"No."

"That big Land Rover that Dan has would put quite a mark on somebody if he drove into some people and smashed them into an oak tree, wouldn't it?"

Thinking of just such a tree in the office parking lot, she nodded.

"That vinewood wand that you purchased for Hermione when she was eleven could be used to kill me. Deep down, I expect that you and Dan knew that when you bought it for her – yet you bought it anyway." She nodded again.

He continued, "I've come across more than my share of men and women with no moral rudder. I know that there are more out there. If I hit you over the head with a rock, I hope that Dan wouldn't blame the rock. He should blame me. When Daryl told us that sooner or later somebody would hurt someone with one of my wands, I knew that he was right. When it happens, I'll never blame the wand, or blame myself – the wandmaker. I'll blame the person who cast the spell."

"Emma, I trust that when I teach you the cheering charm that you'll use it responsibly. Now try again."

"Ex hill ah Rah toss."

"Excellent. I'll be home for dinner in about 45 minutes."

… - ...

After tutoring Emma, Harry took his portkey to Hogwarts. He gave a wave to Hagrid and walked north into the pines. After the constant noise and chatter of his workday, Harry had come to appreciate the quiet of the forest. He cast his near-solid Patronus and basked in the glow of his own version of a cheering charm as it consumed some of his own pent-up magical energy.

After a minute, he noticed a mother hippogriff standing nearby with a yearling. They walked over to him and the yearling nuzzled his hand for a moment until he gave her face a pet. Soon it turned around and she and her mom walked deeper into the forest. As they walked away, Harry noticed that the yearling has dropped a feather from her still-developing wings. It was cardinal red and just under eleven inches in length. He picked it up and brought it back to the shop. It would make a great wand-core.

… - …

"Mistress Bones; there be delivery elves at the ward line."

"Thank you Smidgen. Please check them and if they are OK, let them in."

A few minutes later, six hard-luck looking elves arrived each carrying a 12-quart bottle case of FireWhisky.

"Who sent this to me," asked Amelia?

"Do not know, Mistress, we are Ogden elves and just deliver where we's is told," said the lead Elf who snapped his fingers and disappeared followed by his helpers.

"I wonder if this is from Ragnok;" wondered Amelia. She smiled and thought "Must be close to becoming scarce. Those elves seem very the worse for wear. I should do something about them now instead of later."

… - …

Monday September 4

At the Hogwarts Head Table, McGonagall looked at the latest edition of the Quibbler.

House Elves Freed

By Cheryl Whitehart

Ministry spokesperson Randi Eastling-Bell reported yesterday that via Executive Action, all House Elves have been freed immediately. Now referred to as Elves, they are free to come and go as they please. They have all rights and responsibilities associated with human witches or wizards. Eastling gave no reason for the change.

Wizengamot Seats Vacated, Reappointed

By Cheryl Whitehart

Minister Bones declared sixteen of the fifty Wizengamot seats to be vacant yesterday via Executive Action. Additionally she filled fourteen of the seats with prominent Account Managers from Gringotts. The names were not available at the time of publication. Furthermore the other seats were filled by prominent members of the Elvin community. Those names are Dobby (Potter) and Nobby (Hogwarts)

"Why in the world would the goblins want fourteen seats on the Wizengamot? They have the goblin liaison office."

Flitwick asked "How many witches and wizards live in Britain?"

McGonagall replied, "Thirty thousand. I just read that in relation to those blasted wandcrafters."

"How many goblins do you think live in Britain?"

"Four or five hundred, I'd suppose. I never really thought about it."

"There are just over thirty thousand. All armed, all expecting the same respect that any intelligent magic wielding being deserves. How much did Hogwarts pay the elves working here last year?"

"Nothing. We let them live here."

He asked, "How much was contributed to the Sick Elves Relief Fund?"

"One hundred galleons."

"One hundred galleons for the year, divided by 200 elves... What would happen if they all decided to work at the Potter Wand Shop tomorrow?"

"Ridiculous. That would never happen." Her thinking was, They've always worked here.

"They're free to leave in the next ten minutes if they choose. Don't be so certain."

… - …

Tuesday September 5

Barchoke and Ragnok were discussing the changes to the Wizengamot.

Barchoke observed, "Fourteen members out of fifty hardly seems like parity."

Ragnok agreed, "Perhaps not at first. Our members will likely serve for a hundred years each. We can always add a few over the years. What number would please you?"

"Twenty would feel better."

Ragnok replied, "The humans have their own affairs and need their own government. We were offered this opportunity, which is good but we have our own government and aren't inviting them into it. Our grandchildren have no need to attend their stick waving classes, nor do the elves. What would be nice would be some common classes. We will get there.

"The agenda that we do want is to change property purchase laws. I would like my grandson to spend some time out in the sunshine. We will get there." He was confident of that .

… - …

Hopkirk Found Dead

By Cheryl Whitehart

Ministry Manager of Underage Magic (furloughed) Malfalda Hopkirk was found dead on the streets of Tottenham, where she had apparently been living on the streets. .

Ministry Investigator Connie Hammer reported that Hopkirk, who had been living in the prestigous area of Notting Hill, moved out of her flat at the end of August. Hammer was quoted saying, "If someone finds themselves in a similar situation, they would be safest staying with friends or relatives. Hopkirk was 54 years old.

Amelia read the paper with regret. She asked Kingsley to assign Bob Sunset and Alyx to do a wellness check on all of the furloughed ministry employees.

… - ...

Wednesday September 6

"I'd like to talk to Ragnok and if he's not available, then my account manager Barchoke, thank you."

"Right this way, Wandcrafter Potter."

Just then Dobby arrived with Nobby, the Hogwarts head elf.

A minute later they were shown into Ragnok's office.

"Director, thank you for seeing us with no notice."

"What can I do for you, Harry? Who might your friends be?"

"Hello Director, I be's Nobby, head elf at Hogwarts. These others be Greengrass elves. Hippy speaks for them. We's be talking about the ministry releasing us and what's elves to do. Nobby has big idea.

"Nobby will talk." Lightly bouncing and speaking very quickly he said: "We haven't quit Hogwarts yet because the little miss and misters won't have a school. But we think we should get paid and have time off just like Dobby. We want to joins all the elves into business to help witches and wizards. We be talking to missy Luna Lovegood and she says we should open a co-op. She says we should have an office next to Harry and Hermione's wand shop. Luna says she can run it from school and make appointments for Saturdays here in the ally. She says Goblin Bankers are good and won't cheat elves and charge high rent!"

Ragnok burst into laughter! "This is perfect. I must meet this girl. I'll get you an office, how about I do your paper work to set up your co-op for 3 sickles? I'll give you three months free rent and to get started and then 5G a month. Does Harry or Luna get a piece of the business for bringing you here?"

Harry stepped forward, "No, nothing to me. I'm just happy to help."

"Nobby talked to missy Luna; she just wants job."

"Ok, then lets go about our business then. Nobby, come back tomorrow and I'll have everything ready for you."

As they left, Ragnok thought, This is delicious.

… - ...

Thursday September 7

Demi Greengrass paced up and down her dining room in front of the French Doors leading out to her gardens holding a twisted-up copy of the morning Quibbler. She sighed, "I'm going to kill him."

"Hello dear, what did Hippy make for breakfast?"

She turned to look at her husband with a cold fury on her face that sent a bone stabbing fear into Cyrus's core. "You fool, I've told you dozens of times to change how you treated the elves."

Throwing the Quibbler in his face, she said with much venom in her voice: "Look at the front-page article and read it."

Disturbance at the Wand Shop. Freed former House Elves overrun business!

By Cheryl Whitehart

Yesterday, two days after the Bones Emancipation of Elves was declared, six bedraggled and very abused looking elves popped into The Wand Shop looking for sanctuary and asking to work for the boy and girl who makes wands. Photo of elves mobbing of the Great Harry Potter Sir on back page.

This reporter was on site after getting her wand, one of the lucky wand card holders in the shop finishing up the wand fittings for the day when the onslaught occurred.

"Suddenly the Elves started popping into the shop. The poor dears looked awful, all dressed in dirty tea towels, clearly looking abused." The six immediately mobbed Harry crying out "GREAT HARRY POTTER SIR, please let us work for you! "One elf named Dobby confirmed to me that Harry Potter Sir is indeed the greatest Wizard Alive!"

I asked the six elves why they left their former home. One elf, Hippy stepped forward: "We's worked for bad master. Yes, he always beat us, he did."

"Who was your master?"

I be Hippy and we's worked for the Greengrass's. I worked inside the manor and the rest worked at the potions ingredients importer business. They're bad masters."

A chill ran down Cyrus' spine. He knew that when the girls read this that he was a dead man walking.

… - …

"Welcome my first customer of the night and what can I get you, Filius? It seems it's been ages since you visited."

"Thank you, Rosemerta. It's delightful to see you also. A double FireWhisky please."

"Flitwick tossed it back. "Hmmm this really hit the spot, you don't charge nearly enough for what it's worth," said Flitwick pounding the glass into the bar as he stared into her eyes. "I hear that with all that's happening, it's become quite scarce. Perhaps you should stock up now before it's all gone?"

Filius got up tossed a few sickle's on the bar and started for the door. "Good afternoon Rosmerta."

She watched him leave. Suddenly a thought overtook her. She grabbed parchment and placed an order for 300 cases of fire whiskey, enough to last several years. If only I had more cash.

… - …

Friday September 8

When the first wands went for sale, Fletch initially thought that his investment in floo powder would become worthless. Then the numbers began to circulate that it would be a year or more until most people had received their wands.

Prior to the Great Wandout, a floo ride normally cost about a sickle (17 sickles to a galleon) On Friday mornings in late September when Fletch first started making his rounds up and down the alley selling floo powder, he was selling shot-glass size quantities for five galleons. That was about enough for twenty-five rides.

Next week, it would be six galleons a bag.

… - ...

Wednesday September 13

Bright Moon Domestic Co-Op is open!

Tomorrow marks the day Bright Moon Domestic Co-Op opens. They will arrange for Elven cleaning, cooking, laundry and gardening services. Domestic help by the day, week or month. Rates beginning at 2.5G a day per worker.

Owl Ms. Luna Lovegood c/o Hogwarts for full list of rates and services. All meetings presently by appointment only.

Barchoke read the newspaper with an amused look on his face. This will get interesting very quickly.

… - …

"I was able to hire Hippy back. "

Demi replied, "Oh good!"

"Not so fast my dear, it's just Monday, Wednesday and Friday's. 3G a day and she will only take orders from you."

"What about the business elves?"

Cyrus walked over to the sideboard and poured a stiff scotch and tossed it back.

"No! They refused to come back for any price. The agency told me they had been hired by another company and I insisted that I be allowed to counter offer."

He tossed back another double. "The damn elves had left a howler for me! And the little chit who is the manager, she said some nonsense thing about my "Head being infested by Wrackspurts and until I got rid of them it would be hard to find any elves."

He admitted, "With France and Italy being out of wands, there's little of value to import."

He tossed back another scotch.

She replied, "You fool! What are we going to do now? The business isn't operating! Get out now. Don't come back until you find us some help!"

He staggered out the door then strode off through the woods and hit the lane to town. About ten minutes later was passing a pub. The delightful smell of fried fish and chips permeated the air.

Cyrus stood and stared at the pub. Shrugging his shoulders, he walked in and up to the end of the bar. He gestured to the server. In a low voice he said, "I've got no pounds, but would you take a gold or silver coin in trade?" as he showed a handful of sickles and one gold galleon.

The old man picked up the coins and looked at them. "I'll give you what ever you want for dinner and a hundred pounds for the lot."

With the first smile Greengrass had placed on his face in over a week, he said: "Two fish and chips to go, and I'll have a pint of stout while I wait." The wait was a bit longer than he was expecting. He ordered another, and another.

With the money in pocket and the food in his hands, he started to walk toward the town at the edge of the road. Not used to having three pints of beer after a tossing back three double scotch's at home, Greengrass drifted into the middle of the country lane. He was dressed entirely in dark green trousers and cloak. So wrapped up in his own thoughts he never saw or heard the lorry that slammed into his side and sent him head over heels into a ditch, landing on his head. Cyrus Greengrass, pureblood wizard was dead before his head hit the ground.

… - ...

Friday September 15

Emma marveled at the practiced ease that Winky displayed as she set the parchments out, effortlessly poured just the right amount of glue based on the size and porosity of the material and used a squeegee to get it spread an ever-so-thin, even coat. Then she sprinkled just the right amount of sand on the parchment to cover the sheet but not make a huge mess.

Instinctively, Emma knew that she could spend a lifetime practicing the same and never achieve better results. As she watched, Emma asked, "Do you have any babies of your own?"

"Not yet... Winky hopes that Dobby..."

"I understand. What's holding Dobby back?"

"He's waiting for Harry Potter to tell him..."

"Would you like that to happen?"

"Yes, very much."

"How many babies would you like?"

"Winky would like to be having four."

"At once?"

"No. Elves have two at a time. Two, two times."

… - …

After dinner Emma pulled Harry aside and said, "Let's go for a walk."

Naturally Harry's internal alarm bells were going off full blast at those words. Emma never suggested going for a walk. Fortunately, the weather was fine, so off they went. Emma being the smart mum that she is, noticed Harry and Hermione spending more time in the store room and Hermione frequently coming out with her shirt rumpled. She didn't want to torture the young man that her family had come to love, albeit in different ways any longer than necessary.

She said, "I was talking with Little W today..."

Harry's alarm system toned down a few notches remarked, "It looked like she made a hundred sheets today."

"She wants to have babies."

Harry asked, "Shouldn't she be arranging that with Little D?"

"That's what you need to talk with him about." She decided to let him off the hook, lest he get the idea that she wanted him to fumble through the talk with Dobby. She said, "I think it's a cultural carry-over of some sort. You need to let him know that you think it would be a good idea and that elves, unlike house elves, don't need a human's permission to have a family."

What Emma hadn't realized was that Winky had announced that this conversation would happen to every elf in Britain and they were all tuning into her every word. Harry Potter's Emma said it was OK for elves everywhere to have families. There would be magic in the air that night.

… - …

Saturday September 16

The next morning, Harry intended to say something to Dobby when he noticed the look on the little guy's face. It was similar to the look that Harry sported after a particularly pleasant snog session with Hermione. They nodded at each other.

After a morning of gluing and selling, Harry was practicing summoning and banishing charms with Emma. Harry said, "You need to have an object specifically in mind before casting the charm." He set out the half dozen ping pong balls that they'd previously practiced with. He added, "What you're pointing at and what you're imagining should match. Try it."

"Accio ping pong ball." It flew towards her and nearly smacked her in the face.

"OK. Try it again and use your wand to lead it to a desired stopping location if you don't intend to catch it."

"Accio ping pong ball." It flew towards her then she pointed her wand at the floor by her feet, when the ball landed and stopped.

"Again." It flew toward her and she caught it.

"Good." He set them in a row at the other end of the workshop. "This time call all of them at once and have them fly into the box in the floor. Think about what you want and make it happen."

"Accio ping pong balls." She used her wand to lead their flight then pointed at the open box.

"Excellent. Now try the banishing charm that we worked on last time. Put them in the box in the corner."

"All of them at once?"

"Your choice."

"Depulso." She waved at the balls then pointed her wand at the open box in the corner.

"Excellent. Clear intent will make up for a lot of theory."

"Thanks, Harry."

"My pleasure."

… - ...

Tuesday September 19

It was a first in anyone's memory – Aurors and bank guards enjoying a free meal together. Harry opened early and was halfway through the fittings for the day before the Grangers had arrived. Dobby and Winky had set up two enormous gas grills and started cooking at 10:30. Winky had set out a banner that read Happy Birthday Hermione – free lunch.

Iced tubs of Orange Crush, iced tea, butterbeer, keg beer, a mild grog, brats and burgers (two varieties – Tom from the Leaky Cauldron prepared one spiced for humans, the other somewhat spicier that those from the Nation would enjoy) Winky had made something that the elves would enjoy. They also had, ice cream and cake from Fortescue's and the bakery. There literally was something for everyone.

Account managers and shopkeepers stopped by to greet the young woman, wish her well and have a bite to eat. There was a steady stream of elves from Hogwarts and all around who came up to greet her (and give Emma a hug)

At three, Xeno and Whitehart came to say hello and were greeted by Minister Bones and Ragnok who observed, "This is a wonderful day that everyone can enjoy together."

When they shut down at five, Winky told them that they had served 1,100 that day. He thanked everyone for helping. It was a birthday that a young woman would never forget.

… - …

Saturday September 30

Grishelda Marchbanks arrived at the Wand Shop at nine. Hermione and Harry were testing for defense, transfiguration and charms. Emma was testing for charms only.

The written exams took an hour each with a thirty minute break in between. The practical exams were quicker. Hermione went first, then Harry while Emma went last.

At noon, while on one of the breaks, Marchbanks watched with interest as Harry glued a set of blocks and set them in the clamps; commenting that they will have glued ninety wands that day.

When she had finished at four, they thanked her for making the trip. She thanked them for the hospitality and the tour.

After dinner, while Hermione verbally went over each question. Harry noted that they each had been asked to perform different charms and transfigurations.

… - ...

Sunday October 1

Winky delivered the crystal memory vials, Emma's completed wand and small jars of shellac and casein glue to Daryl in Salem. A moment later, Dobby arrived carrying the viewing bowl. The powerful elf showed him how to place the memories into the bowl, tap the appropriate runes at double speed and start the memory. Her indentation was a bit excessive for the size of the hippogriff feather that he'd assigned her to use but it was evenly applied and she more than made up with it in her gluing of the two halves. Her shellac application was flawless. She certainly could have picked up quite a bit of technique watching Harry and Hermione.

Daryl thought back to his own experience as a journeyman. It had taken him three years to glue and shape as many wands as Harry had completed in two months.

He left the memory, then examined the shellac. It had a golden color as he had hoped. The glue was very acceptable as well. Dobby left to bring the pensive back to the Potter family vault. Daryl filled out the paperwork, signed at the bottom and handed the sample wand and Journeyman License back to Winky. "Please tell Emma that she did a fine job. I hope to see all three of them next July. Also, please tell Dobby that his log splits are perfect."

She beamed at him, stood a little taller and replied, "I will, Daryl sir. I will tell Dobby exactly what you said. Thank you."

… - …

As Amelia was reading the September 30 monthly status report, her mind was spinning in ten different directions. The Unemployment figure was shattering. There was eighty percent unemployment among the pureblood sector.

The conclusion that the half-bloods were virtually unaffected was one of the only good pieces of news and helped her recognize the difference in lifestyle. She thought of Andromeda Tonks. With her position with at Mungo's, she had been among the first to repurchase a wand. The beauty shop employees on the top floor of the hospital building were all out of work and might be for another year. There was no equity in the level of distress.

She noted that wand sales grew from 600 in August to 1,100 in September. It initially sounded spectacular until she recalled that August was a partial month and they were still selling 50 a day.

Potter had just raised the daily sales number from fifty to sixty. That was good news but it wasn't nearly enough. On the other hand, she kept hearing rumors that France and Germany had far darker prospects with respect to wands.

She decided to invite him along with the Grangers to an informal dinner away from influence of the goblins and ask what it would take to double output.. She knew that she couldn't simply throw a handful of galleons his way. The proceeds from that monster snake must have been enormous.

She turned her focus to ministry finance. The emergency line of credit was keeping the Aurors employed.

Unemployment? The furloughed ministry employees were receiving a third of their regular pay and would for another month. The hundreds of businesses owned by the traditionalists were still largely shut down and got nothing.

Sales tax revenue? The shopkeepers paid a three percent sales tax on sales. There was no VAT tax in the magical world. Oddly enough, Potter's Wand Shop was one of a small handful of excluded businesses. She was fairly certain that the shopkeepers were filing as normal, though without Finance working to report, she hadn't seen any printed reports.

Estate tax revenue? This was the big variable in ministry funding sources. All she knew for certain was that since June, the funding from this source had been zero.

She needed Administrative Services up and running, The challenge was that as a group, they were the department of the ministry that she trusted the least – especially Financial Services. She wanted to ask them for a list of every hire in the last twenty years. More concerning to her was the question of how many more Wilkie Twycrosses were still hidden in the woodwork?

She decided to start with a simpler approach – Ask Connie and Anna to check where the people who died June 24 were working.

Her mind turned back to Potter and his wands – specifically the wand cores. In the little that she understood about wands, there was a piece of specially selected wood and a wand core which she understood to a body part or essence of a magical animal. She remembered hearing that Ollivander was using unicorn tail hair, dragon parts and phoenix feathers. Part of her didn't want to dig too deep and learn that every dragon and unicorn in Europe had all recently been slaughtered.

What was it that she signed? – a permit to cut tail hair from thesterals and hippogriffs. The numbers didn't add up to her. She knew that he was friends with Hagrid but couldn't envision a secret herd of wild unicorn large enough to kit out every wand in Britain.

Her thoughts drifted again. How many more Macnairs were lurking in the magical creature department? What percent of the positions had been high paying make-work situations for Fudge's cronies? Cauldron bottom thickness statistics – good grief.

She was walking through the lobby when she ran across two of the more promising second-year cadets – Bob Sunset and his partner, Alyx. She declared, "I have a mission exercise for the two of you." She handed each of them 125 galleons and said, "I want you each to separately go to the two off-sale bottle shops in Knockturn alley and buy a case of firewhiskey from each shop. Take note of who was in the shop while you were there and bring the unopened cases and a written report to my office tomorrow."

After they nodded, she added, "This is a covert exercise. I don't want to read about it in the paper or hear about it in the lobby. Understood? Two trips each. Don't walk together. Don't be in uniform. Take notes. Clear?"

"Yes Minister."

… - ...

A/Ns

Tom insisted on killing off Cyrus. What does he have in mind for the widow Greengrass?

He wrote the Nobby/Ragnok scene

Thank you for reading.