Hi! Sorry I haven't updated lately, but school is finally out now so I'll have more time to write fanfiction instead of research papers! Grades should be in tomorrow and I'm feeling pretty confident right now but that's usually how I feel before I fully understand something.

The next day, Pearl sat on Rose's shoulder as they made their way down Diagon alley. She looked around at all the ancient buildings with strange and magical merchandise with wide-eyed excitement and wonder. She'd never been so happy in her life.

"First stop, Madam Malkin's!" Rose sang cheerily.

"What's Madam Malkin's?" Pearl asked.

"It's where we'll be buying your school robes" Rose replied and Pearl's heart gave a leap. Rose was going to give her clothes! She was going to be free! She loved Rose of course, she had saved her after all, but she was technically still enslaved to her. That's not what she wanted to be to Rose. She wanted to be something far more to her than her servant, and now she was going to be given that chance. When they arrived at the shop, Rose asked for a fitting room and had Pearl hop down onto a little platform. "Stay here, please." Rose said and went off to talk to a woman Pearl assumed was Madam Malkin and was staring at her with confused curiosity. Pearl began to feel a bit self-conscious under the witch's gaze as she and Rose exchanged a whispered conversation. After a few minutes and quite a few uncomfortable glances from Madam Malkin, the woman bustled off to get something, and Rose strode back over to where Pearl was standing. Rose suddenly squatted down to look Pearl in the eyes, and Pearl squirmed awkwardly. "Pearl, I want you to listen to me carefully. I'm going to give you robes today but that will not make you free."

"Wha...what?" Pearl asked, tears welling in her eyes. Had Rose really just wanted her as a servant after all?

"The moment you used your magic against White Diamond, you became free. The spell that enslaves house-elves works by turning the elf's mental chains into a physical force that holds her back or constrains her to obey. You forgot the spell existed in your desperation and did what you had to do to protect yourself. You resisted that spell. Freedom isn't a circumstance; it's staying true to oneself. But sometimes circumstances in life make freedom nearly impossible. Pearl, you set yourself free."

"Rose, no… I just can't believe that. I'll never be free unless you give me clothes! I can't do it myself Rose" Pearl cried.

"Pearl." Rose said with deadly seriousness. "I command you to use your magic to kill me." Pearl gasped as she felt the familiar sensation force her arm up and a magical field of energy form around her hand. She held her breath and tried to pull her arm down.

"Rose, WHY?!" she wept, and with everything she had in her, blasted a hole in the floor near Rose's feet.

"You missed." Rose beamed with pride as she embraced the still crying but relieved elf.