Finally, Sybill managed to make a trip to the kitchen without any disturbances on the way. Taking her time to not only stock up on sherry, she also gathered a selection of biscuits, dried fruit and other treats that would not take any preparations. It was just too cold up in her rooms to do any kind of cooking.
For the first time, she actually considered moving down to Hogsmeade while Minerva dealt with the current crisis. A room at The Three Broomsticks, or even The Hog's Head, would mean warmth. And hot meals served right at the table. But it would also mean being surrounded by people, many of whom just did not respect her gifts or heritage.
And worst of all, if she left now, she'd be admitting defeat. She could not give Minerva the pleasure of being right. Again.
So she kept the fire going and wrapped herself up in more and more layers of clothing. But the amounts of sherry that were now needed to keep her going were beginning to take their toll. And her hands were so numb that she had almost cut off two fingers trying to make herself a bacon sandwich.
Her bag packed with bottles and food, she was about to leave the kitchen when she heard a sound. A strange buzzing, coming from under a corner table. She got out her wand and approached slowly, fearing that some kind of pest had gotten into the all but abandoned castle.
She crouched down and, seeing the pile of dirty rags, frowned. It seemed to be somehow breathing and reeked of rancid Butterbeer, a smell Sybill remembered only too well from the year she had spent away from Hogwarts after getting her NEWTs.
Tentatively she poked the pile with her wand and then jumped back with a small scream when it turned over and revealed two large, misty, runny eyes and a large red nose. It was a house-elf. A very miserable looking house-elf.
"Go away," it squeaked. "Let Winky be. Let Winky sleep."
"Winky…?" For a second, Sybill considered just leaving the poor thing be. What was it doing here anyway? Minerva had sent them all away. "You are not supposed to be here," she said, trying to sound stern. Like Minerva. "It's dangerous. You could have died."
Winky nodded. "I know," she said, sounding rather disappointed.
The house-elf curled up again and began snoring unconvincingly. Sybill sat back, wondering at the strange ache she was suddenly feeling in her chest. Was she getting sick? Was the cold finally getting to her?
She got to her feet and with a shrug turned her back on the creature. She supposed she'd better inform Minerva that one of the house-elves had been left behind. Minerva would take care of it. Send it somewhere.
She hesitated. Though… the house-elf clearly did not want to go. And it really wasn't fair how Minerva was just moving everyone around to suit her own agenda. Hogwarts was Winky's home as much as it was Sybill's.
Before she could change her mind, she bent down and dragged her out from under the table. The snoring stopped, but Winky might as well already be dead for all the response she was getting.
It wasn't easy carrying her heavy bag and the limp elf, but she somehow made it back to her tower. After putting away the bottles and food, she conjured up a cauldron of warm water and then, holding her breath at first, began cleaning the house-elf.
Her ragged clothes seemed beyond saving, so Sybill threw them on the fire and instead wrapped the little creature up in a couple of her old shawls. Then she laid her in the chair by the fire, covering her up with a thick blanket. Feeling she could do no more at the moment, Sybill took a bottle and a book and snuggled down in her bed, trying to get warm.
...
She woke up a few hours later to the most delicious smell she had smelled in years. Confused, she sat up and fumbled for her glasses. Once she had confirmed that she was still in her own room, she got out of the bed and stumbled into her classroom. By the fire, a small figure, clothed in colourful, sparkling robes, was stirring a large pot from which fragrant steam was rising, filling the room.
It took her a moment to remember the house-elf she had found in the kitchens and even longer to remember her name. "Wi… Winky?" Sybill said, taking a step closer. "What are you doing?"
The house-elf turned around, beaming up at her. "Winky is happy to see Miss awake," it squeaked. "Did Miss have a nice nap?"
Sybill frowned. How long had she slept? Surely this could not be the same elf. But then again… She doubted there were many of her kind with a nose like that.
"Uhm… Yes…" she said, moving over to sit on the nearest chair, not entirely sure she was awake. "How about you, Winky? How are you feeling?"
"Winky is well, Miss. Winky is happy to be serving Miss." The house-elf turned back to the pot to tip in a bowlful of chopped carrots.
Sybill looked around and only now realised that the room was sparkling clean. Cleaner than it had been in all the time she had been teaching here. And everything was neatly put in exactly the right spot.
She had always restricted the house-elves' access to these rooms because she could never find anything when they had been there. She had her own system for organising her things which mundane minds could never grasp. But this elf. This elf was clearly something very, very special.
Sybill smiled and put her feet up on the nearest pouf. "Miss is very happy too, Winky," she said, and closed her eyes.