Chapter 21:The Kitchens

Draco and the rest of his Slytherin gang were sitting on the leather sofas, the boys were playing wizard poker while the girls were gossiping. Draco looked up from their game to her, "Peri, you are back! How did it go?"

She approached them, "Oh it went fine. Mr. Bagman showed us it was a maze, but um…your families work in the Ministry right?"

The Slytherins exchanged looks with one another, "Yes." Draco answered for their group, "Why?"

Draco watched her closely she seemed distant, he stood up from the table he was at with the boys having her sit in the dark wooden chair with emerald green seating, "What do you know about Mr. Crouch?" she asked once seated in the chair.

He looked at their Slytherin group unsure where to start, but Pansy started. "Um…he's a great wizard, Barty Crouch, he is quite — power-hungry."

"Yes! Thank you Pans," Draco said before continuing. "My father tells me he is always very against the Dark Side."

The Slytherins rolled their eyes at this.

"Imagine this Voldermort is powerful now. You do not know who you can or cannot trust. Who is on your side and who is not? You are unable to be yourself. Families are torn apart." He looked out at the dark sea behind her. "Fathers. Mothers. Brothers. Sisters. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. All of them end up in Azkaban for threats made upon them. Most were true they were loyal to the Dark Lord. My father tells me though that the Ministry was a wreck. More deaths than you could count from either side, every day someone was going to Azkaban. It wasn't just witches and wizards being killed, muggles too. There was panic and confusion."

Peri nodded, "But Voldemort had supporters though…"

Draco nodded, "Yes. He did."

"Your mum is one," Pansy pointed out.

Peri glared at her, "That was not by her choice."

"You do not agree?" Blaise asked her.

She shook her head, "No. I don't."

"You are a Slytherin though."

"My house does not determine my opinions and values. I'm a halfblood and Death Eaters and Voldemort rather have me dead than alive because my blood is not pure. I am a threat to them, because why? My blood is not pure? My blood is dirty in that sense and I have no value. Yet they are more than happy to rape and murder those of lesser value to them for their enjoyment."

The group exchanged looks, "You are different. You have your stepfather," Pansy mentioned which did not help.

"Richard…that is all that will protect me? My stepfather's blood and status?"

The area turned dense, one could feel the tension in the air. It could be cut with a knife, "Peri?" Draco started.

She looked in his direction.

"Come."

She looked at the hand he offered her, she reluctantly took it. He led her out of the common room and down the corridors. They approached a wooden door, that Draco opened and pulled her down a staircase into the basement corridor, which was brightly lit and decorated with food-themed paintings. Draco tickled a pear on a painting of a bowl of fruit. The pear transfigured into a handle which he pulled open revealing the Hogwarts' kitchens that were bustling with house elves.

The kitchen was a gigantic, high-ceilinged room with five identical tables to the one in the Great Hall above them. There were large quantities of pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, presumably on the countertops or stoves, and a large brick near them.

"You need something…relaxing…happy even," he informed her as he guided her more into the kitchen.

Suddenly a house elf appeared before them, he had bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls, "Draco!" the elf spoke pleased to see the wizard. "Has Draco come for a treat? Dobby saves mint chocolate chip ice cream for you.

Draco released his hand from Peri, "Yes, Dobby. I would love some, may I have some for my friend here?"

The house elf, Peri now knew to be called Dobby looked up at Peri, "A friend of Draco's is a friend of Dobby's! Dobby took care of Draco when Draco was a baby. Such a good baby! Dobby adored baby Draco!"

Dobby bounced off to the freezers for the ice cream, Peri gave a light laugh, "You have an elf?"

Draco shook his head watching the house-elf, "No…well we did. Potter freed him two years ago. At home, Dobby was my companion. I am pleased he is free but he raised me. My mother adores me I know she does but she is not a hands-on mother. If I were in danger sure she would do whatever she could to protect me, but Dobby took care of me. Putting me to bed each night, made me my favorite meal. Father treated him awfully but I knew one day I would inherit Dobby and I could free him. It was the intention all along, but he's…"

He stopped when Dobby bounced back to them with two bowls of ice cream. "For Draco. Draco's friend."

"Peri. Please."

Dobby nodded looking up at Peri with big green eyes. "Does Draco like Peri?"

Draco shook his head with a light laugh, "Not in that way."

The three sat in silence till there was a clinking of glasses close to another door within the room. They turned to see another house-elf emerge from it carrying bottles of Butterbeer.

"Mr. Crouch's elf?" Draco asked looking at Dobby.

The female elf looked up at those words, "Mr. Crouch? He needs my help!" she rushed towards them, but struggled to walk. She finally reached them climbing onto the table with Dobby's help. "Winky is free — what would Winky's family think to not continue serving the Crouches."

Peri took the small elf's hand, "Hi Winky. I'm Peri King."

"Your mum and stepfather work with Mr. Crouch," she hiccuped.

She rubbed her hand, "They do yes. Do you not like working for Hogwarts?"

"Dumbledore is a good man — but Winky loved serving the Crouches — it is a shame that Winky can no longer serve them."

"Would you be alright with serving another family? Not a school but an actual family?"

Her large brown eyes became interested, "How? Winky is a free elf."

"Well, my family has free elves who work for us. My stepfather bought them from my grandfather and then freed them. Some left to find other jobs, some chose to stay and work with us. Juniper is our head elf, she took care of my mother as a child."

"Juniper…Winky knows Juniper…Has seen her in the castle with your mother — she is happy."

Peri smiled at the elf, "She is. She assists my mom while she works here."

Winky looked at the bottle before handing it to Peri, "Winky accepts."

"Wonderful Winky! I think you might be happy to serve a family. I got four sisters who will keep you busy, especially Hallie."

"I've never cared for young ladies before unless they were guests of the Crouches."

"Now you will. That is all we have is girls."

Winky looked at her dress, "My apologies for my appearance, Ms."

"Hallie will make you a brand new wardrobe. Hope you don't mind glitter and sparkle."

Winky gave a small hiccup mixed with a laugh.

"No, more drinking though. You understand Winky?"

She nodded, "Winky understands." The elf then disappeared with a pop.

Peri looked at Draco, "She rather serve a family than a place of business. She still will be paid but her comfort in working is serving a family. Sure she rather has the Crouch family but at least she still can serve a family. Mine still has youngish children, we will be able to offer her work for a long time."

"You are too kind for being a Slytherin," Draco told her taking a bite of his ice cream.

She shrugged, "Perhaps, but you don't have to be evil to be in Slytherin. You can actually be good." He gave a nod. "Finish telling me about Crouch."

"Oh, that. Yes…Mr. Crouch is a great wizard but is — power-hungry."

"That is a common trait for Slytherins, being power-hungry and holding traditions."

Draco nodded agreeing, "Yes…well he is truly power-hungry, especially with climbing in the Ministry. At least that is what my father tells me. Crouch was never a supporter of Voldemort."

Dobby shivered slightly in fear.

"A lot of people are not for him though."

"True…you are right, Peri. There are not a lot of people who are truly for him. There are probably maybe fifty to a hundred people that I can think of that still support him."

"Your parents."

He didn't answer.

"My father has never agreed with Crouch's principles, but many have especially in the beginning when Crouch was working his way up in the Ministry. He rose quickly in the Ministry and was taking harsh measures with those who supported…" Draco looked at Dobby. "Dobby would you leave us, please?"

"Sure." Dobby was confused but disappeared with a pop.

Draco turned back at her before continuing, "The Dark Lord. Aurors were given new powers to kill these supporters instead of capturing them. My family lost many friends because of this and I am sure your mum lost many too. She might not agree with the values we have but she grew up with them she had friends with them. You are not close with Pansy but imagine someone killed her for supporting something."

"But Death Eaters were killing innocent no-majs and those of blood less than pure. No, the Aurors should not have killed the Death Eaters but the Death Eaters do not get a pass to murder either."

"Well, Crouch got on their level in that sense. He pushed to kill those who supported whether or not they were a Death Eater. They supported him they were killed no matter their age or sex. Many wanted him as Minister of Magic especially after The Dark Lord disappeared."

"Why didn't he?"

Draco took another bite of ice cream before continuing, "His son."

"His son? I was not aware he had a child."

He looked down at his ice cream, "His son was caught in a group of Death Eaters who'd managed to talk their way out of Azkaban. Headmaster Karkaroff was one of those who talked his way out of it I know that."

Peri's dark brown eyes went wide at this, "Excuse me."

"Your father is one, too."

"What…"

She shook her head, "No…Snape would never he is creepy and mean at times but he would never. My mom was forced, but my…Snape? No."

"He was a spy for the Death Eaters and was supposed to report back."

She sunk down in her seat. She couldn't believe what she was being told.

"Tell me is he coming back?"

Draco looked straight ahead at the wall and then made eye contact with her, "My father says he can sense his mark tingling. Like it did thirteen years ago…he believes The Dark Lord is returning."

She took a shuddering breath, "And Mr. Crouch has a son?"

"He is disowned from the Crouch family, but yes. He has a son. Bartemous or Barty Crouch Jr."

She closed her eyes, "He's coming back…I've been warned he wants me and consequences will occur if I don't. I believe you and George both being up in the lake was not a mistake."

Draco's eyes went enormous, "Are you serious?"

Peri nodded. "Yes. I was introduced to Barty Crouch Jr. and a man named Peter, although Barty did the talking at the New Year's party."

The kitchen was silent and you could hear the dripping noise from the sink.

"Peri…" Draco broke the silence. "Things are about to change and not in a good way. I can try to protect you, my family was very close with The Dark Lord, especially my Aunt Bella."

She bit her lip, "I chose you to protect Holly from watching another be with you. I never imagined that I would have to be with you to protect her from danger."

He took her hand, "We will protect her and everyone we love."

She looked at their intertwined hands, "I think I've seen this story before

And I didn't like the ending."

Draco pulled her into a hug, "I promise I will never let anyone hurt you."

Peri rested her head on his shoulder, "And I will always protect you."