Harry Potter and the Jacobite Elves

Rating: M

Summary: Harry takes possession of the Black family's castle in the Highlands of Scotland. Up to and amidst the celebration of Hogmanay (New Year's), he discovers that there is some very old business to attend to.

Disclaimer:

I have not claim to characters or scenes from the Harry Potter series, which belongs to JK Rowling and associates. I get nothing from this except the enjoyment of imagining and writing the story. I am making no money from this (rats).

Becoming Acquainted with the Ways

(A/N: I am told that my writing of dialogue in Scots dialect is abysmal. Therefore, please note that Hamish has a thick Highland brogue, Lady Morag has a light Edinburgh lilt, and Jock McGregor has more of an Ayrshire dialect similar to that in the poetry of Robert Burns.)

Harry and the others loved the Black Castle and manor house in the Scottish Highlands. Harry found it reminded him of the castle at Hogwarts, which was the first real home he had had since infancy. Going out to fly around the Scottish mountains with Ron and Ginny was a treat, and Harry felt he was one with the eagles.

Another feature of the castle was finding that the Blacks were descended from the Black Douglas (Dougal Dubh, or Dhu), and distantly related to Edward, the Black Prince. As head of The Ancient and Noble House (Harry started thinking of the designation as "AANH") of Black, he was the honorary colonel-in-chief of the Black Watch and entitled to wear the Black Watch kilt.

Harry started wearing the kilt around the castle, both in the Black family tartan, and also the Black Watch pattern, prompting Ginny and Hermione to demand kilts of their own (Ron swore he wouldn't be caught dead in a 'dress'). The house elves arranged for garments for 'the lassies', with Hermione choosing the Douglas tartan (old colours) as she like the soft blues and greens of the pattern, while Ginny preferred the Dress MacDonald and the MacDonald Hunting patterns. Not knowing the Scottish customs, the girls were brought up sharply by Winnie, the ancient house elf who was dressing them. To Hermione's discomfort, the castle's elves still appeared to be bonded to the property, although she was reassured that it was by their own free choice; Winnie informed Hermione that her name was Winifred, but that she was commonly called Winnie and Lady Hermione could address her as such (Hermione responded "In that case, I ask that you just call me 'Hermione'. With a twinkle in her eye, the elf asked "Are you saying that you're no lady?" Both laughed). The elderly female elf pointed out in no uncertain terms that "the ladies dinna wear a sporran, except if they play the pipes in a band. Ye wear a kilt pin to maintain your decorum – it gets somewhat breezy in the Highlands".

On the other hand, Harry was told bluntly (by Rudolf – "Ye can call me Rudi") that "A laddie does nae wear a kilt pin, ever! That's for the lassies, so that the gentlemen are not affrighted, should the wind come up." Then with a twinkle in his eye, the elf said "Noo, ye can wear a sporran with a fair number o' tassels, if ye no think that's bragging too much, or just a day-to-day sporran to hold your necessaries."

Harry was also taught the standard jokes about wearing the kilt. When he came down the stairs wearing it for the first time, Hermione and Ginny (who had heard of the practice of going 'regimental'), conferred quietly between themselves, and then Ginny asked "Harry, what's worn under the kilt?" to which Harry replied with a smirk on his face, "Nothing is worn, it's all in perfect working order!" After both girls blushed rather thoroughly, and Ron fell over laughing, Ginny looked Harry in the eye and said "We were set up for that, weren't we?"

During the days the foursome explored the castle (when they were not out flying) or hiked around the grounds. In the evenings, they would sit with Hamish, Lady Morag and Jock, and discuss the running of the estate. Many topics were covered, from the running of the estate, how you made whiskey (attached to the estate was a family-owned distillery producing Scotch which was held in very high esteem by connoisseurs of the 'Water of Life'), the local wildlife, the relationships between in-house and estate staff, and everything else under the sun and the stars.

They were also informed in no uncertain terms that the people were 'Scots', while 'Scotch' came in a bottle or flask, or if you were particularly fortunate or wealthy, an oaken cask.

One fact that amused the staff was that the young witches and wizards were fairly typical of their generation, and had done very little travelling except by magical means. For this reason, their sense of geography was 'nae sae good'. Where the castle was located, with respect to other areas of Scotland (or even England), was a complete mystery to them.

One evening while chatting with Lady Morag, Harry enquired about the very tall and husky woman he had seen when they arrive, and who he had seen speaking with Lady Morag a number of times. Morag told Harry firmly that, if she was asked by her Laird to call him by his Christian name only, he should call her by her given name as well, if only to save time (claiming, if nothing else, to be a frugal Scot, and time was too precious to waste on such formalities, except on formal occasions). Harry said that he had seen the tall woman working around the estate (seemingly always outdoors), and noticed that when she did not have her hair tied back or under a scarf, it was very bushy and black, and it reminded him of an old friend. Morag laughed, "Her name is Mrs. Mhairi Campbell; her maiden name was Mariah Hagrid, but here she uses the Scottish form of her Christian name. I think you are reminded of her little brother Rubeus, who is the gillie over at Hogwarts! Mhairi handles the larger of the creatures on the estate."

Harry was astonished, as 'Hagrid' had mentioned his brother Gawp, but never had mentioned a sister. Morag smiled and asked "How many years had you known 'Hagrid', as you call him, before he spoke of his brother? About 4 or 5 years, and at that, you were good friends with him. During the bad years, before you rid us of Lord Voldemort, a family of half-giants were in danger for much of the time. Rubeus was protected at Hogwarts, working for Dumbledore, but Mhairi was working for the Blacks, who were not exactly the most open-minded of people. A half-blood lassie, particularly one as slight as Mhairi, had to be very careful." Morag and Harry smiled at her description of the 9 foot tall Mhairi being thought of as 'slight', and Hagrid being called anyone's 'little' brother.

Harry commented that it must be hard being so far away from her brother. Morag laughed out loud at this. "I suspect you've spent all your time inside, apparating, on a broom or using the floos, yes? You should get out and walk through the land, as I and Mhairi do. For one thing, there is nothing quite like the smell of the heather in bloom on the sides of the hills – you miss that from a broom. Also you get more of a feel for where you are in the world. Hogwarts is only about a half day's walk over the hills to the west (Mhairi does it in two hours, having longer legs than myself). By broom, it's only about five minutes. The so-called 'Forbidden Forest' is partially on this estate as well."

Harry thought about one implication of this news. He asked "With Hagrid's sister here, does that mean you have dragons on the estate?" Morag laughed, "Nae, Mhairi doesn't have her brother's obsession with those glorious beasts. However, if you truly want to try out-flying one again, we can check with some of our Welsh cousins to see if we can borrow one for a wee while." They both laughed as they sipped their drinks.

Harry thought for a moment, and then said, "I do not wish to offend, but you spoke of the Black family with less than complete respect. I have had to deal with Lady Black's portrait, and I understand that completely, but I don't understand how you stayed working for them. Either the family would dismiss you, or you would quit rather than work for such people. May I ask you to explain that point, as I think that would help me understand you and the working of the castle better?"

Morag smiled and nodded. "I see that we are of one mind concerning the family as it was of late, and you worded it well, and much more kindly than many others would. You see, the Blacks were a well respected and tolerant family for many generations. About the last three or four generations, they began to believe the nonsense about the superiority of the pure-blood humans (and humans only). There were some who did not accept this. Your godfather, Master Sirius was one such; his cousin, Andromeda was another, and when she married a muggleborn, she was disinherited. When he was at Hogwarts, just over the hill, he heard from Hagrid that his sister was looking for a job working with creatures; she and her brother have a love for the big nasties, though Mhairi was not so fond of the fire-breathers." Morag smiled to herself thinking of the kindly care with which Mhairi handled some of the wildlife. "Young Sirius spoke to Mr. Douglas, who was my predecessor as head gillie. A job was found on the outdoor staff, which allowed her to care for her animals, and also to keep out of sight if she needed to do so."

Harry frowned, "How did Lady Black allow that?"

Morag laughed "We never bothered to tell her. You see, she and the late Lord Black almost never came to the castle. With their prejudices, they did not like being around free people, particularly house elves who were within their legal rights to declare that the Clan had abandoned them and was trampling on their rights, and therefore, could leave as they pleased. They expected elves to be beholden to them and willing to be abused. They came here very seldom, and left the running of the place to the staff – hiring and firing was 'servant's work'. Master Sirius loved the wildness of the hills, and the freedom of the land and the folk. He came here often, usually with his friends including your father. Now there was a handsome lad; had I not been just married myself, and his heart not already given to your mother, I would have taken a run at him myself."

Harry looked at her and asked "You speak of Sirius as 'Master Sirius', and his father as 'Lord Black'. Sirius had succeeded his father as Lord Black. May I asked why the difference?"

Morag smiled softly and sadly. "I never knew him after his father died. When his little brother was murdered and after they put him into Azkaban blaming him for your parents' deaths, his father just faded away, dying within the year. I remember him only as 'Master Sirius'."

A bit misty-eyed, Harry asked, "Were there any places around the castle that Sirius and my dad were particularly fond of?"

Morag looked at the young wizard. She said softly "They loved to fly around the mountain peaks, just as I have seen you and your two red-headed friends doing. I remember that they were also rather fond of the wine cellar and the whiskey supply. There is a hot spring around the far side of the mountain to the south where your father and mother would sneak off to in private, and come back with their cheeks very rosy. Some of the waters of that spring are piped into the swimming pool in the manor's basement, which I don't believe you have found yet, should you prefer a closer location." She looked over at Hermione and Ginny chatting by the fireplace. "I can assure you that the swimming pool has privacy charms which can be activated if you wish."

Harry blushed slightly. "Good to know, I guess. Does the castle have any ghosts in residence?"

Morag laughed heartily, "If not, we'd be struck of the National Trust list, if we were on it! The secrecy statute, you know. Imagine, an unhaunted Scottish castle, the thought. Fortunately the late Lady Fiona Black was kindly, and stays mostly in the west wing. Jock or Hamish or I can introduce you to her if you wish. She is pleasant company for all that she died tragically – unrequited love you understand."

Morag looked over at Hermione. "I gather your brown-haired friend does not enjoy the flying. She likes the books, though. I notice that she had found the library, and seems to be falling in love with it."

Harry answered, "No, Hermione really does not like being up in the air on a broom. She didn't seem so frightened riding the hippogriff, but she was terrified when we rode the thestrals, because she couldn't see them. I am sorry to say that she can see them now."

Morag looked at him and scolded him "Don't you ever feel guilty for that! In a war, you will see death. By your efforts, she saw far less than she might have, including yours and Ron's, and very likely her family's."

Morag looked at the clock on the wall, and gasped, "Lord, it's almost midnight, and I have some tasks to complete. It has been a pleasure talking with you, Harry, and I hope we have any opportunities to do so again. Good night."

Harry thanked her and bid her a good night and to sleep well.

The next day, Harry spent time with Jock McGregor looking over the operations of the estate, meeting some of the tenants and the administration staff. He learned that the people who lived on the land were a mixture of magical and non-magical persons, and there seemed to be no animosity or tensions between them, although there was a certain reservation on their faces when he was introduced as the new Laird. He thought to himself "There was definitely some old business to deal with here".