– Chapter Twenty One –

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Romi walked into an explosion of cakes and pumpkin juice, and cheering and yelling, fireworks going off randomly, banners around the room depicting Harry flying around the Hungarian Horntail dragon, and a very large canary in the middle of the room.

"What's with the bird?" Romi asked, standing beside Ginny and looking at the bird with a cocked head as everyone was howling with laughter.

Before she could respond all the feathers had moulted of the bird revealing a perfectly normal, though silly looking, Neville.

"Oh," said Romi, as though large birds often appeared into her best friend. "Hi, Neville!" she said happily. Everyone started laughing uncontrollably, and even Neville joined in.

"Canary Creams!" Fred shouted to the excitable crowd. "George and I invented them – seven Sickles each, bargain!"

The party lasted very long into the night, and Romi allowed herself to enjoy it immensely with her friends.

The start of December brought wind and sleet to Hogwarts. The castle was draughty if you were hurrying through the corridors, but the fires in the rooms must have made the place warmer than in Durmstrang's ship, or even the Beauxbatons carriage. Hagrid was clearly keeping Madame Maxime's horses well provided with their preferred drink of single-malt whiskey; the fumes were enough to make the entire Care of Magical Creatures class light-headed. This was extremely unhelpful, as they were still tending the horrible Skrewts and needed their wits about them.

"I'm not sure whether they hibernate or not," Hagrid told the shivering class. "Thought we'd jus' try an' see if they fancied a kip… we'll jus' settle 'em down in these boxes…"

"Must we?" Romi said with a sigh and blew her bangs out of her face. There were only ten Skrewts left; apparently their desire to kill each other had not been exercised out of them. Each of them was now approaching six feet in length. Their thick grey armour, their powerful, scuttling legs, their fire blasting ends, stings and suckers combined to make them the most repulsive things that Romi had ever seen. And she was in no mood to deal with them today, a stinging headache was forming behind her eyes.

She had a lesson with Dumbledore the next day and she had not been practising as he told her too. She wasn't exactly sure what that was going to be like. When Romi wasn't working in the Hospital Wing, or in the library or study hall with Neville, Ginny and Luna; then Hermione was always pestering Romi to join in her House Elf campaign. On top of all that Romi had been having nightmares about wasps and she was exhausted. And now slightly light headed from the fumes of the single malt whiskey.

The boxes were lined with pillows and fluffy blankets and Romi had a sneaking suspicion that all of them where going to be torn to shreds in the next few minutes.

"We'll jus' lead 'em in here," Hagrid said. "An' put the lids on, and we'll see and we'll see what happens."

But the Skrewts it turned out, did not hibernate and did not appreciate being forced into pillow-lined boxes and nailed in. Hagrid was soon yelling "Don' panic, now, don' panic!" while the Skrewts rampaged around the pumpkin patch, now strewn with smouldering wreckage of the boxes. Most of the class, Draco in the lead, had fled into Hagrid's cabin through the back door and barricaded themselves in. Romi briefly wished that she wasn't in Gryffindor and friends with Harry, otherwise she would have run in with them. But noble as always, Harry, Ron and Hermione were among those who remained outside trying to help Hagrid, and Romi thought she'd better stay too. Together they managed to restrain and tie up nine of the Skrewts, though at the cost of numerous burns and cuts; finally there was only one Skrewt left.

"Remind me never to do this again," Romi hissed at Neville, putting her hands on her hips. There was great smears of dirt up her arms and all over her robes.

"You've dirt on your nose," Neville replied grinning at her. She just glared at him as Harry and Ron went after the last Skrewt.

"Don't frighten him, now!" Hagrid shouted, as Ron and Harry used their wands to shoot jets of fiery sparks at the Skrewt, which was advancing menacingly on them, its sting arched quivering over its back. "Jus' try an' slip the rope round his sting, so he won' hurt any o' the others!"

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that!" Ron shouted angrily, as he and Harry backed into the wall of Hagrid's cabin, still holding the Skrewts off with their sparks.

"Well, well, well… this does look like fun."

Rita Skeeter was leaning on Hagrid's garden fence, looking in at the mayhem. She was wearing a thick magenta cloak with a furry purple collar today, and her crocodile-skin handbag was over her arm. Phoebe Capello was standing beside her, wearing a tie-die t-shirt and a pair of old jeans. She smiled happily at them.

"Oh, brother," Romi said, not keeping her voice down.

"Care to give an interview, Miss Black?" Rita Skeeter asked. "I think you father's in Russia trying to uncover certain dark wizards that are in hiding right now, isn't he?"

"No," Romi said and stalked off to stand at the farthest point away from Rita Skeeter and Phoebe Cappelo. Hagrid launched himself forward on top of the Skrewt that was cornering Harry and Ron and flattened it; a blast of fire shot out of its end, withering the pumpkin plants nearby.

"Who're you?" Hagrid asked Rita Skeeter, as he slipped a loop of rope around the Skrewt's sting and tightened it.

"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter," Rita replied, beaming at him. Her gold teeth glinted. "This is Phoebe Capello."

"Thought Dumbledore said you weren' allowed inside the school anymore," said Hagrid, frowning slightly as he got off the slightly squashed Skrewt and started tugging it over to its fellows. "Not you, o' course, Miss Capello," he added nodding to Phoebe.

Rita acted as though she hadn't heard what Hagrid had said. "What are these fascinating creatures called?" she asked, beaming still more widely.

"Blast Ended Skrewts," grunted Hagrid.

"Really?" said Rita, apparently full of lively interest. "I've never heard of them before… where do they come from?"

Romi noticed a dull red flash rising up out of Hagrid's wild black beard, and her heart skipped a beat, where had Hagrid got the Skrewts from.

"China," Romi said quickly and both Rita and Hagrid looked to her. "High in the mountains, keep to themselves mostly. Fascinating when they come together, right?" Romi said, stamping on Harry's foot, who was beside her.

"Uh- right," Harry said. "Brilliant."

"Ah, you're here, Harry!" said Rita Skeeter, as she looked around. "So you like Care of Magical Creatures, do you? One of your favourite lessons?"

"Yes," said Harry stoutly. Hagrid beamed at him.

"Lovely," said Rita. "Really lovely. Been teaching long?" she added to Hagrid.

Romi watched her eyes travel over Dean, who had a nasty cut on his cheek, Lavender, whose robes were still smoking, Seamus, nursing several burnt fingers, Romi who was smeared in mud, and then to the cabin windows, where most of the class stood, their noses pressed against the glass, waiting see if the coast was clear.

"This is on'y me second year," said Hagrid.

"Lovely… I don't suppose you'd like to give an interview, would you? Share some of your experience of magical creatures? The Prophet does a zoological column every Wednesday, as I'm sure you know. We could feature these – er – Bang Ended Scoots."

"Blast Ended Skrewts," Hagrid said eagerly. "Er – yeah, why not?"

"Hagrid, I wouldn't," warned Romi.

"Nonsense, Miss Black," Rita said, grinning to her. "It's just a zoology column."

Romi remained silent as Hagrid and Rita Skeeter made arrangements to meet in the Three Broomsticks for a good long interview later that week. Then the bell rang up at the castle, signalling the end of the lesson.

"Well, good bye, Harry!" Rita Skeeter called merrily to him, as they set off towards the castle. "Until Friday night, then, Hagrid!"

"She'll twist everything he says," Harry said under his breath,

"Just as long as he didn't import those Skrewts illegally, or anything," said Hermione desperately.

"Are you sure that he imported them?" Romi asked darkly.

"You were the one who said that they came from China," said Ron.

"You know perfectly well that I made that up on the spot," Romi replied.

There was an awkward silence.

"Hagrid's been in loads of trouble before, and Dumbledore's never sacked him," said Ron consolingly. "Worst that can happen is Hagrid'll have to get rid of the Skrewts. Sorry… did I say worst? I meant best!"

The others laughed and feeling slightly more cheerful went off to lunch.

Romi and Neville found Ginny sitting with Luna at the Ravenclaw table during lunch time. Both Ginny and Luna looked very surprised when they came up.

"Did you find a horseman?" Ginny asked, looking them up and down.

"No," Neville replied, flopping into his seat. "Just a handful of possibly illegal, but definitely dangerous monsters."

Ginny and Luna gave them sympathetic looks. Lunch went by too quickly and soon Neville and Romi were making their way up to the North Tower for double Divinations.

Harry and Ron being friends again definitely made sure that all Romi could hear from the table next to hers and Neville's was a constant stream of snickering.

Professor Trelawney who had been so pleased with them when they had been predicting their own horrific deaths, quickly became irritated as they sniggered through her explanation of the various ways in which Pluto could disrupt everyday life.

"I would think," she said, in a mystical whisper that did not conceal her obvious annoyance, "that some of us" – she stared very meaningfully at Harry – "might be a little less frivolous had they seen what I have seen, during my crystal gazing last night. As I sat here, absorbed in my needlework, the urge to consult the orb overpowered me. I arose, I settled myself before it, and I gazed into its crystalline depths… and what do you think I saw gazing back at me?"

"An ugly old bat in outsize specs?" Ron muttered under his breath. Romi resisted the urge to giggle.

"Death, my dears."

Parvati and Lavender both put their hands over their mouths, looking horrified.

"Yes," said Professor Trelawney, nodding impressively, "it comes, ever closer it circles overhead like a vulture, ever lower… ever lower over the castle…"

She stared pointedly at Harry, who gave a yawn, widely and obviously. Ron started to laugh. Romi was grinning too, until she saw a very familiar person standing at the entrance of the trap door which she very much didn't want to see there.

Professor Trelawney, clearly annoyed was rearranging her shawls, turned her back on Harry and Ron and saw the new comer.

"Ah," Professor Trelawney said, her face changing into a smile. "Miss Capello, please do come in."

"Thank you, Professor," Phoebe said, and she walked up to Professor Trelawney's chair near the fire. The entire class was definitely awake now, they were all staring at Phoebe.

"Class, I'm sure you know Miss Phoebe Capello, she is with the Daily Prophet and very talented Seer," Professor Trelawney said, smiling at Phoebe.

"Please," Phoebe said, blushing slightly, "I'm sure I'm not nearly as good as you."

Professor Trelawney seemed to puff up a little like a peacock. Phoebe's humbleness bothered Romi, everyone seemed to like her.

Professor Trelawney cleared her throat and looked back to the class. "I asked Miss Capello if she would like to join some of my classes and speak to the students about this noble craft, I'm pleased to say she agreed, as you can see."

Pavarti and Lavender looked like they were going to pass out with pleasure, their eyes were so wide staring up at Phoebe.

"I did agree, though I'm not too sure how much I'll be able to help," Phoebe said, blushing again. "All this famousness is a little hard to wrap your head around."

Romi huffed, crossing her arms. Neville just gave her a very confused look.

"Well," Phoebe said, clasping her hands together in front of her, and smiling broadly at the class, "What have you covered so far?"

Lavender Brown's hand shot into the air, and she rattled off, "We've done tea leaves, crystal balls, astrology and a little bit of Palmistry."

"Excellent," Phoebe replied smiling. "All very worthy. How much experience do you have reading palms?"

"Most of that's for next year," Professor Trelawney said quickly. "They've just had an introduction last year."

"Right, of course," answered Phoebe. "Though one thing I've noticed, is that the true Seer can pick up palmistry almost immediately. It's not so much reading the lines, but reading the auras. Am I right, Professor?" Phoebe said, looking at Professor Trelawney. Professor Trelawney actually looked a little confused, but she stuttered out;

"Perfectly right, my dear."

"Great, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to try and experiment," Phoebe said. "I'd like to see if the greatest Seer in the class could read my palm."

There were a handful whispers among the class and Lavender and Parvati sat straighter, anticipation. Romi glanced at Neville and rolled her eyes. He smiled.

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Professor Trelawney said. "The best Seer, so far, is Miss Romi Black."

Every head suddenly turned to Romi, and her smiled dropped from her face. Neville was looking at her very worried, and Parvati and Lavender looked like they might murder her in her sleep.

"I-I think you have the wrong person, Professor," Romi stuttered, "Surely… Parvati and Lavender are better…"

"Don't be so modest, Miss Black, you are top of the class," Professor Trelawney said, with a wave of her hand. Romi gulped.

"Perfect," Phoebe said, grinning. She walked to Romi's seat, pulled up a chair and held out her palms.

"A natural Seer will just be able to tell me what they see," Phoebe said. "Don't try too hard."

Romi watched her for a long moment, then took her hands and looked down. The entire class was silent watching her. She could see that Neville was looking anxiously beside her.

Romi took a deep breath and concentrated on the lines in front of her.

"You're going to live to eighty, have three children and eight grandchildren. You'll have a very satisfactory career, and enjoy every minute of it," Romi said finally, looking back up at Phoebe. Phoebe was watching her with a kind smile, and mysterious eyes.

"Don't lie, Romi," Phoebe said, softly. Romi sighed, and dropped Phoebe's hands.

"Fine," Romi replied. "You should have died four months ago."

There was shocked whisper that shot through the classroom. Phoebe sat back in her chair and examined her own hands.

"Hmm," she said, "I keep getting that too, I was hoping someone else would have been able to see something different."

Romi just stared at her.

Phoebe then smiled broadly and stood up. "Thank you, Romi," she said. She then turned to the rest of the class and Professor Trelawney and started to talk about the importance of the stars in everyday life as though nothing strange had happened.

They left the North Tower twenty minutes later, the entire class was discussing Professor Trelawney's death predictions and Romi's death prediction.

"What was that about?" Neville asked, as they walked away. "Did it really say four months ago?"

"Yeah," Romi replied, shaking her head, "I don't get it. And so much for keeping Seer power secret. If only she'd picked Lavender or Parvati."

Romi and Neville made it down to the Great Hall for dinner. News had apparently travelled very fast, because everyone glanced at Romi when she walked into the Great Hall. She could feel her cheeks filling, and glanced at Neville.

"Let's just eat and get out of here," Romi said, quickly, finding a spot at the Gryffindor Table. It didn't take Romi long to realise that she couldn't even eat, finally she decided to leave Neville at the Gryffindor Table and head back to the common room. There were way too many people watching her.

She was making her way up the stairs when she was joined by Harry and Ron.

"What a lovely display you gave for us today," Ron said lightly.

"Not you too," Romi muttered.

"Hey, I thought it was great to hear a death prediction for someone that wasn't me," Harry said, smiling. "Though, don't go taking to many pointers from Professor Trelawney."

They made their way to the Fat Lady when there was the sound of racing feet behind them.

"Harry!" Hermione said, quickly running up to them. "Harry, you've got to come – you've got to come, the most amazing thing's happened – please -"

She seized Harry's arm and started to try and drag him back along the corridor.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked.

"I'll show you when we get there – oh, come on, quick!"

Harry looked to Romi for some clarification, but she shrugged and said, "Don't look at me, I have no idea what she's up to."

"Okay," said Harry, after receiving an intrigued glace from Ron and they started off down the corridor.

"Hermione, where are we going?" asked Harry, after she had led them down through six floors, and started down the marble staircase into the Entrance hall.

"You'll see, you'll see in a minute!" said Hermione excitedly.

She turned left at the bottom of the staircase and hurried towards the door there. They hurried down a flight of stone steps, but instead of ending up in a gloomy underground passage like the one which led to Severus' dungeon, they found themselves in a broad, stone corridor, brightly lit with torches, and decorated with cheerful painting that were mainly of food.

"Oh, hang on…" said Harry slowly, halfway down the corridor. "Wait a minute, Hermione…"

"What?" she turned around to look at him, anticipation all over her face.

"I know what this is about," said Harry.

He nudged Ron and pointed to the painting just behind Hermione. Romi looked at it closely, it was a gigantic silver fruit-bowl, but she saw nothing bizarre about that.

"Hermione!" said Ron, catching onto something that Romi was missing. "You're trying to rope us into that spew stuff again!"

"No, no, I'm not!" she said hastily. "And it's not spew, Ron–"

"Changed the name, have you?" said Ron frowning at her. "What are we now, the House-Elf Liberation Front? I'm not barging into that kitchen and trying to make them stop work, I'm not doing it–"

"I'm not asking you to!" Hermione said impatiently. I came down here just now, to talk to them all, and I found – oh come on, Harry, I want to show you!"

She seized his arm again, pulled him in front of the picture of the giant fruit bowl, stretched out her forefinger and tickled the huge green pear. It began to squirm, chuckling, and then suddenly turned into a large green door handle. Hermione seized it, pulled the door open and pushed Harry hard in the back forcing him in. Romi and Ron followed curiously.

Inside was an enormous, high-ceilinged room, large as the Great Hall above it, with mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, and a great brick fireplace at the other end.

Suddenly a loud squealing filled the room "Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!"

A squeaking, very familiar, house-elf launched himself at Harry, hugging him around the middle.

"D-Dobby?" Harry gasped.

"It is Dobby, sir, it is!" squealed Dobby. "Dobby has been hoping and hoping to see Harry Potter, sir, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!"

Dobby let go and stepped back a few paces, beaming up at Harry. Romi looked away from him to inspect the kitchen. Dobby had worked for the Malfoys and Romi hadn't exactly been the friendliest person to him while he was there. When Romi had known him growing up, Dobby had worn the same old filthy pillow case. Now however, he had taken to dressing in the weirdest fashion. He was wearing a tea-cosy for a hat, on which he had pinned a number of bright badges; a tie patterned with horseshoes over a bare chest, a pair of what looked like children's soccer shorts, and odd socks. One was black, the other pink and orange stripes. Romi felt like she really shouldn't be down there.

"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Harry asked in amazement.

"Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!" Dobby squeaked excitedly. His eyes drifted from Harry and landed on Romi.

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked up at her too.

"I think I should go," Romi said, feeling very awkward.

"It is okay, Miss Black," Dobby said. "You may stay."

"Thanks," Romi whispered, still feeling bad. Dobby was free now, he shouldn't have to be suddenly confronted with his not so pleasant past. Dobby looked back to Harry, and beamed again.

"Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir."

"Winky?" asked Harry. "She's here, too?"

"Yes, sir, yes," said Dobby and he seized Harry's hand and pulled him off into the kitchen between the four long wooden tables that stood there. Curious, Romi followed them, as did Ron and Hermione.

At least a hundred little elves were standing around the kitchen, beaming, bowing and curtseying as they passed them. They were all wearing the same uniform; a tea-towel with the Hogwarts crest, and tied like a toga.

Dobby stopped in front of the brick fireplace and pointed.

"Winky, sir!" he said.

Winky was sitting on a stool by the fire. Unlike Dobby, she had obviously not foraged for clothes. She was wearing a neat little skirt and blouse with a matching blue hat, which had holes for her large ears. However, she had not taken care of her clothes like Dobby, there was soup stains in her blouse and burns in her skirt.

"Hello, Winky," said Harry.

Winky's lip quivered. Then she burst into tears, which spilled out of her great brown eyes and splashed down her front, just as they had done at the Quidditch World Cup.

"Oh dear," said Hermione. "Winky, don't cry, please don't…"

But Winky cried harder than ever. Dobby, on the other hand beamed up at Harry.

"Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?" he squeaked loudly over Winky's sobs.

"Er-yeah, okay," said Harry.

Instantly about six house-elves came trotting up behind them, bearing a large silver tray laden with a teapot, cups for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Romi, a milk jug and a large plate of biscuits.

"Good service," Ron said impressed. Hermione frowned at him, but the elves all looked delighted; they bowed very low and retreated. Romi watched them go, and frowned slightly. There seemed to be something off. Harry and the others continued to talk to Dobby. Over the screaming wails of Winky, Romi moved away from them for a minute.

She walked towards the large cupboards on the sides of the rooms. The counter tops were spread out with large bowls and containers, but they were all standing with barely anything in them, some had nothing at all.

"Why do you keep so many containers if you're not going to put anything in them?" Romi asked, bending over and looking inside some. "Or are you just waiting for shipments?"

The house elves around her, gave each other worried glances.

"You shouldn't worry about it, Miss," said one of them, beside her. He bowed as he spoke.

"Will you please tell me?"

The house elves shifted nervously again.

"Maybe I can help?" Romi offered.

"You cannot help with a shortage, miss," said another elf. "Sometimes it is just a bit difficult to get all the food we need for the school. But it is no hassle, we enjoy the work."

Romi squatted so she was almost eye level to them. The noises from Winky started getting louder.

"Tell me honestly," Romi said, looking the house elves in the eyes, "how bad is it?"

The first house elf that spoke to her, glanced around then leaned and whispered to her.

"It seems magical," he whispered. Then suddenly he leaned back and the attitudes of the house elves changed. "Would you like anything, tea, cakes, biscuits, sweets?"

A small tray of each zoomed up to her, carried by cheerful looking house elves.

"But–"

"Or perhaps a sandwich?" the house elf continued, looking at her with large eyes. Romi sighed, she was not getting anything else out of these house elves.

"Thank you," she said, taking a biscuit. "Let me know if you need anything."

"We are very happy here, Miss," said the house elf firmly.

"Right," Romi said with another sigh. She got up and looked back over to the fireplace. Harry, Ron and Hermione were still there, Hermione was trying to console a now hysterically crying Winky.

Romi walked up to them, and just caught the end of Dobby's sentence.

"And Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!"

"That's not very much!" Hermione shouted indignantly from the floor over Winky's continued screaming and fist-beating.

"Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week and weekends off," said Dobby, suddenly giving a little shiver as though the prospect of so much leisure and riches was frightening. "But Dobby beat him down, miss… Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn't wanting too much, miss, he likes work better."

"And how much is Professor Dumbledore paying you, Winky?" Hermione asked kindly.

Romi was certain that Hermione thought that it might cheer Winky up, however it had the opposite effect. Winky did stop crying, but when she sat up she was glaring at Hermione through her massive brown eyes, her whole face sopping wet and suddenly furious.

"Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not yet getting paid!" she squeaked. "Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!"

"Ashamed?" said Hermione blankly. "But – Winky, come on! It's Mr Crouch who should be ashamed, not you! You didn't do anything wrong, he was really horrible to you–"

"Hermione drop it," Romi started but Winky interrupted.

"You is not insulting my master, miss!" Winky said, clapping her hands over her ears. "You is not insulting Mr Crouch! Mr Crouch is a good wizard, miss! Mr Crouch is right to sack bad Winky!"

"Winky is having trouble adjusting, Harry Potter," squeaked Dobby. "Winky forgets she is not bound to Mr Crouch anymore; she is allowed to speak her mind now, but she won't do it."

"Can't house-elves speak their minds about their masters, then?" Harry asked.

"Oh no, sir, no," said Dobby, looking suddenly serious. "'Tis part of the house elf's enslavement, sir. We keeps their secrets and our silence, sir, we upholds the family's honour, and we never speaks ill of them – though Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this. Professor Dumbledore said we is free to – to," Dobby looked suddenly nervous. "He said we is free to call him a – a barmy old codger if we likes, sir!" Dobby gave a frightened sort of giggle.

"That sounds like Dumbledore," Romi said mostly to herself.

"But Dobby is not wanting to, Harry Potter," he said, talking normally again, and shaking his head. "Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets for him."

"But you can say what you like about the Malfoys now?" Harry asked him grinning.

A slightly fearful look came into Dobby's eyes. "Dobby – Dobby could," he said doubtfully. He squared his small shoulders. "Dobby could tell Harry Potter that his old masters were – were – bad Dark wizards!"

Dobby stood for a moment, quivering all over, horror-struck by his own daring – then rushed over to the nearest table, and began banging his head against it, squealing. "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

Harry went to seize Dobby and pull him away from the table, and without Harry in the way, Romi could see Hermione glaring at her quite meaningfully. Romi looked away unable to keep eye contact with her, a flower of guilt blooming in her stomach.

"Thank you, Harry Potter," said Dobby breathlessly, rubbing his head.

"You just need a bit of practice," Harry said.

"Practice!" squealed Winky furiously. "You is ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dobby, talking that way about your masters!"

"They isn't my masters any more, Winky!" said Dobby defiantly. "Dobby doesn't care what they think any more!"

Romi had the strong feeling that she should leave right about now.

"Oh, you is a bad elf, Dobby!" moaned Winky, tears leaking down her face once more. "My poor Mr Crouch, what is he doing without Winky? He is needing me, he is needing my help! I is looking after the Crouches all my life, and my mother is doing it before me, and my grandmother is doing it before her… oh, what is they saying if they knew Winky was freed? Oh the shame, the shame!" she buried her face in her skirt again and howled.

"Winky," said Hermione, firmly. "I'm quite sure Mr Crouch is getting along perfectly well without you. We've seen him, you know–"

"You is seeing my master?" said Winky breathlessly, raising her tear-stained face out of her skirt once more, and goggling at Hermione. "You is seeing him here at Hogwarts?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "He and Mr Bagman are judges in the Triwizard Tournament."

"Mr Bagman comes too?" squeaked Winky and to Romi's surprise she looked angry again. "Mr Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My master isn't liking him, oh no, not at all!"

"Ludo Bagman?" Romi asked incredulously. "Bad?"

"Oh yes," Winky said nodding furiously. "My master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying… Winky-Winky keeps her master's secrets…"

She dissolved into tears again and they could hear sobbing into her skirt. "Poor master, poor master, no Winky to help him not more!"

They couldn't get another sensible word out of Winky. They left her to her crying and finished their tea, while Dobby chatted happily about his life as a free elf, and his plans for his wages.

"Dobby is going to buy a jumper next, Harry Potter!" he said happily pointed at his bare chest.

"Tell you what, Dobby," said Ron, who seemed to have taken a great liking to the elf, "I'll give you the one my mum knits me this Christmas, I always get one from her. You don't mind maroon, do you?"

Dobby was delighted. Romi sat, with her tea, out of the conversation, she wasn't exactly going infringe on Dobby's happy new life by reminding him of his old one.

"We might have to shrink it a bit to fit you," Ron told him. "But it'll go well with your tea-cosy."

As they prepared to take their leave, many of the surrounding elves pressed in upon them, offering snacks to take back upstairs. Hermione refused, with a pained look at the way the elves kept bowing and curtseying, but Harry and Ron loaded their pockets with cream cakes and pies. Romi accepted a few, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to eat them all, and Ron and Harry certainly didn't need any more.

"Thanks a lot!" Harry said to the elves, who had all clustered around the door to say goodnight. "See you, Dobby!"

"Harry Potter… can Dobby come and see you sometimes, sir?" Dobby asked tentatively.

"Course you can," Harry replied and Dobby beamed.

"You know what?" said Ron, once he, Romi, Hermione and Harry had left the kitchens behind and were climbing up the steps into the Entrance Hall again. "All these years I've been really impressed with Fred and George, nicking food from the kitchens – well it's not exactly difficult, is it? They can't wait to give it away."

"I think this is the best thing that could have happened to those elves, you know," said Hermione, leading the way back up the marble staircase. "Dobby coming to work here, I mean. The other elves will see how happy he is, being free, and slowly it'll dawn on them that they want that too!"

"Let's hope they don't look too closely at Winky," said Harry.

"Oh, she'll cheer up," said Hermione, though she sounded a bit doubtful. "Once the shock's worn off, and she's got used to Hogwarts, she'll see how much better off she is without that Crouch man."

"She seems to love him," said Ron thickly, he had just started on a cream cake.

"Doesn't think much of Bagman, though, does she?" said Harry. "Wonder what Crouch says at home about him."

"Probably says he's not a very good Head of Department," said Hermione, "and let's face it… he's got a point, hasn't he?"

"I'd still rather work for him than old Crouch," said Ron. "At least Bagman's got a sense of humour."

"Don't let Percy hear you saying that," Hermione said smiling slightly.

"Yeah, well, Percy wouldn't want to work for anyone with a sense of humour, would he?" said Ron, now starting on a chocolate éclair. "Percy wouldn't recognize a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby's tea-cosy."

"You all right, Romi?" Harry interrupted the conversation. "You've been quiet all night."

"I'm just exhausted," Romi answered, feeling as though she could fall asleep walking back to the common room.

"You've been having nightmares again, haven't you?" Hermione asked worried.

"I'm fine," Romi replied, "really."

"I've heard you," Hermione stated.

Both Harry and Ron watched Romi apprehensively.

"I'm fine, really," Romi said, forcing a smile. "Nothing to worry about."

They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and Romi entered it first going straight to her dorm and collapsing on her bed.