Professor Ulster

Ron and Hermione took opposite sides of the hall and started knocking. Only five other professors were in their rooms. They were informed to stay put. Jenkins returned from St. Mungo's and started interviewing the other professors. Ron and Hermione went to find Harry to let him know they were done and Jenkins was back. They found him with Anesu and Professor Ulster in a conference room at the end of the hall.

"We're going back to the inn," Ron said.

Harry nodded. "I'll stop by before I head back."

"Do you need anything else?" Hermione asked.

"No, we're good," Harry said.

"Did you want to reschedule our meeting for this evening?" Professor Ulster asked.

"It can wait," Hermione said.

The professor ran his fingers back through his hair. "I know you've got a trial coming up. How about I meet you for dinner?"

"Eight o'clock?" Hermione suggested. "At Ó Cléirigh Ostán."

"Can we make it seven? It's been a long day."

"Of course," Hermione said. "I'll see you then."

xXx

Ron let out a sigh as they walked back to the inn.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"I'm so glad I don't have to stay and deal with interviewing all those people, but I kind of feel guilty about it."

"Don't. You're not an Auror anymore, although it has occurred to me, maybe we should head back after dinner."

Ron stopped and looked at her. "Back to London?"

She nodded.

"No. Absolutely not. We said we were going to take this opportunity for a quick holiday and we should do that. We've both being going non-stop. We've already taken the time off. Let's not waste it."

"There was dead man at my meeting." She continued walking. "Maybe that's a sign we should just go home."

Ron caught up to her. "Or maybe that's a sign, that no matter where we are, trouble finds us, so we should take a break while we can. Come on, Harry won't be done for another hour or so. Let's go back to the room and sit in that big bathtub and wash away this bloody day. We'll meet your professor for dinner. He'll tell you what you need to know about wild elves and then we can see some sights and relax."

She looked up at him as they reached the inn. "Yeah, all right then."

"That's my girl," he said happily and opened the door for her.

A few minutes later, Hermione was sinking into a hot tub full of bubbles while Ron got undressed. He looked at the tub, pulled his wand out of his trouser pocket and cast a spell to make them multicolored.

Hermione chuckled. "Missing school, Ron?"

"Not at all," he said as he sank into the hot water. "But I do sometimes miss the prefects' bath. Minus the mermaid, of course."

"Ugh, I never liked that painting. She was so full of herself."

"At least she was better than having Myrtle appear in the bath."

Hermione grimaced. "She did that?"

"Apparently only to the boys. A real perv, that ghost."

"That's horrible. Did you tell any of the professors?"

"Of course not."

"Why?"

Ron thought for a moment. "Dunno. I just can't imagine saying to McGonagall that Moaning Myrtle kept coming around to look at my bits."

"But that's appalling! She shouldn't be allowed to do that."

"How do you stop a ghost?"

"Well…" Hermione sputtered. "I don't know, but something should be done."

Ron shrugged. "The magical world, it's not for the faint of heart."

"Isn't that the truth?"

"Ready to go be a Muggle then?" Ron said, teasing.

"Hardly. It's not as though that's for the faint of heart either."

"Yeah, I reckon it's just living that's hard." He winked at her. "And speaking of hard."

She laughed and leaned forward to kiss him.

xXx

A little while later, Hermione was doing the spells to tame her hair when there was a knock on the door.

"That's probably Harry," Ron said. As Hermione cast the last spell, Ron opened the door. "Hiya Harry."

"You two want to grab a cuppa before I go back?"

"Sure," Ron said. He and Hermione followed Harry back downstairs and out into the street. There was a small café not too far from the inn, so they threaded their way through the busy street. They didn't catch anyone's attention, which was a nice change from Diagon Alley. "How did the interviews go?"

"No one seems to know much about Burke beyond his school work. He came highly recommended, but he showed up two weeks early for his assignment. Ulster and his assistant were about to leave for field work, so Ulster set Burke up with some reading assignments to do while he was gone, and off they went. Ulster and Shoko have only been back but for a couple of days."

"I guess no one around here really got to know him then?" Hermione said.

"None of the professors anyway," Harry said. "There weren't any students around today, so Tyler will come out to interview them on Monday, but I'm not expecting much to come from that."

"Burke?" Ron said, scratching at his late day stubble. "Do you think he could be related to the London Burkes? As in Borgin and Burkes?"

Harry nodded grimly. "I had the same thought. Jenkins went back to start looking into Burke and his family."

They had reached the café. They each ordered a cappuccino with biscotti and then they took a booth in the back. Out of habit they took a back booth but the other patrons took little notice of them.

Ron looked around at the busy café. Most of the patrons got their drinks to go, but some people were scattered about in booths and tables drinking their coffee and reading or chatting with a companion. It was cozy and pleasant and she liked the atmosphere. It lacked the hustle and bustle of London. He dipped his biscotti and took a big bite.

"Do you need help with research?" Hermione asked.

Harry smiled at her. "No. We're fine. No Wizengamot situation here. It's all just regular run of the mill research. Enjoy your holiday." He took a sip of his drink and made an appreciative sound.

"That's what I've been telling her," Ron said, squeezing Hermione's hand.

"Right," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "Because Ron doesn't feel at all guilty about you working while we laze about on holiday."

Harry shook his head, smiling at both of them. "Well, he shouldn't. Have fun. You deserve it." He looked at his watch. "I need to get back. He quickly drank the last of his cappuccino and stood, drawing his wand. "Catch you later." He Disapparated with a quiet pop.

Ron reached across the table and to the biscotti Harry left behind. He held it out to Hermione. "Want half." She shook her head. They sat finishing their drinks, each lost in their own thoughts. Ron broke the silence. "Come on then," he said, standing and holding his hand out for Hermione. "Let's go see what Draíocht Sráide has to offer."

She took his hand. "Lead the way."

Dublin's magical street did not disappoint. While it had similar shops and businesses to those in Diagon Alley, each place had its own Irish flair. While Hermione roamed the book stacks of Hodges Figgis (the original one, not the Muggle version that was owned by Waterstones) Ron found the travel section and looked for something to tell him what the most interesting things to see were. He settled on a slim volume called Magical Dublin and went to find Hermione. She was at the till having a considerably larger volume wrapped.

The clerk handed her the book. She gave Ron a big smile when she saw him.

"Found something, did you? What a surprise." He handed his small book to the clerk who rang it up. Ron handed him a galleon.

The clerk gave him his change. "Did you want it wrapped?"

"No, thanks." Ron tucked the slim volume in his jacket pocket and they returned to the street. "Let me guess."

Hermione cut her eyes at him.

"A history of magic in Ireland?"

She let out a soft chuckle. "That's not the exact title, but yes."

"Do I know what you like or what?"

"Are you saying I'm predictable?"

Ron laughed out loud. "Hardly. Except you do love a big boring book of history."

"It's not boring!"

"If you say so." He pulled the book he'd purchased out of his pocket and handed it to her. "But I think this might prove a little more useful for the next couple of days."

"Oh, well that was a good idea."

"Always the tone of surprise," Ron said wistfully. She swatted his arm.

Just before eight, Ron and Hermione went downstairs to the restaurant in the inn. It wasn't too crowded and they were able to find a booth in a back corner away from the other tables where they could talk.

They hadn't been seated long with Professor Ulster arrived alone. Hermione had half expected his assistant to join them. They said their hellos and took their seats with Ron and Hermione on one side of the table and Ulster on the other. Ron waived at the bartender. Three glasses and a pitcher of stout sailed over to the table. When the beer was poured the pitcher returned to the bar.

"Normally, Anesu would join us, but the poor girl has had a harrowing day, so I sent her home after the Aurors left." He looked at Hermione. "I'm sorry. I suppose your day was fairly harrowing too."

"I'm fine. It's not as though I knew Burke, and well, you know."

"Not your first dead body," Ulster said.

"No," Hermione said. "But that's not what we're here to talk about." She didn't want to spend the next hour fielding war questions.

"Right. Of course, you had a question about elves."

"Wild elves to be specific. We've had an issue with families that have ancient permissions to capture wild house elves using them to capture elves like red caps to try and cross breed them with house elves."

Ulster snorted. "That won't work."

"I know, but they don't seem to understand that elves don't reproduce unless they want to."

"Too right," Ulster said. "What do you need from me then?"

"I need you to testify in front of the Wizengamot about the nature of elves. If they understand that none of these "breeding" schemes will work, then they might agree to void all the old permissions."

"Ah." Ulster twisted his lips.

"Is there a problem?" Hermione asked.

"No. Not as such. It's just. The Wizengamot. Wow."

"They don't bite, mate," Ron said.

"Of course, I just…I mean…you're not exactly here to talk about elves. You want me to testify about elves. That's rather different."

"I actually do have a lot of questions about elves," Hermione said. "But that's mostly for my own edification. Testifying before the Wizengamot is what I really need from you."

Ulster scratched his head. "Let's start with your questions then and we'll work up to what the Wizengamot will likely ask."

Hermione smiled. That sounded like a maybe leaning toward a yes to her. "First off, the term elves—"

"Is a misnomer," Ulster said. "They're fairies. They're all fairies."

"Seriously?" Ron said. "But fairies are so small."

"Garden fairies and woodland fairies are, but fairies come in a variety of sizes. Humans just decided to call the big ones elves."

"Huh," Ron said. "I've never heard that."

"It won't surprise you that most wizards and witches care only about what elves and fairies can do for the them and very little else. The house elf situation is appalling, although I understand you're working to improve that."

"I'm doing the best I can," Hermione said. "I work with a wonderful elf named Purdy. She's amazing."

"Work with? Meaning?"

"She's a free elf," Ron said. "Not bound to us. She just lives with us and works with Hermione, but she can leave any time she likes."

Ulster seemed stunned and leaned back in his booth. "A free elf works for you? I would have thought—well, I don't know, I wouldn't expect…" He scratched his head.

"What?"

"Well, it's just leprechauns and Red Caps are free elves, but I can't imagine them working for a human."

"Perhaps house elves are just more accustomed to our company," Hermione said. "So far, all the free elves have chosen to work with humans in one capacity or another."

"Good lord! There's more than one?"

"Do you not read the paper, mate?" Ron asked. "Hermione's work with house elves has made quite a stir."

"Actually, I'm rather remiss on reading the paper. I'm quite involved in my own work." He shifted in his seat and leaned forward. "You're saying there are multiple free house elves but they haven't left service to form their own colony."

"No, which isn't to say they won't in the future, but as of right now, they still work with humans."

Ulster sat back again. "Fascinating."

"Because?" Hermione asked.

"Because, they're the only elves that do that. Leprechauns are probably the closest in their willingness to occasionally trade goods or labor with humans, but they by no means prefer our company to the company of other leprechauns. And as far as Red Caps and Erklings go, human interaction has been minimal and always dangerous. Perhaps because of what happened to the house elves."

"Yes, about that, the history of how house elves came into service is a bit muddy. My understanding is that they were Brownies and everyone followed the Brownie stone rules until wands were developed."

Ulster nodded. "Yes. Brownies, much like swallows, seem to like human buildings. They could be lured in with beer and honeycomb and if you set aside a place for them to nest and perhaps a seat by the fire, they would stay. But after wands came into play, unscrupulous wizards forced them into bondage and over time that became the norm and the old rules faded into history."

"Right, so about the ancient permits to capture wild elves—"

"Oh, those aren't about house elves. Those were for hunting other elves to see if they could be forced into service, but it never worked. Only house elves would serve and many of them refused to procreate after they went into bondage, so over the centuries fewer and fewer house elves existed, so fewer and fewer families had them."

Ron shook his head. "That's bloody awful."

Ulster agreed. "Repugnant and so damaging to our relationships with the other elves and fairies. The smallest ones can sometimes be coaxed with sugar water into functioning as party lights, but only for a night."

"I have a question," Ron said, setting down his glass of stout. "I've always wondered where the lady leprechauns were."

Ulster smiled. "All around. Fairies and elves are the same."

Ron pulled a face. "Leprechauns mate with wee little fairies? How does that work?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Ulster chuckled. "You know they don't mate the way humans do, right?"

"Well, then how—" Ron started to ask, but Harry walked up to the table.

"We need to talk," Harry said to Ulster.

"Have a seat," Ron said.

"No, we need to talk somewhere private."

Hermione stood. "Give me a few minutes, and you can use our room."

"Great, thanks."

Hermione Disapparated and Harry sat down in the chair she vacated. He scowled at Ulster, but didn't say anything else.

"I'll square the tab," Ron said, getting up. He headed to the bar to pay for their drinks, lamenting that they still hadn't eaten dinner.

"You want to order?" the barkeep asked.

"Yes, but not now. I'll just settle up. We'll be back later."

"Alright then."

Ron handed him a galleon and waited for his change. He looked back at the table. Harry was still scowling and Ulster was staring at the ceiling. The barkeep handed him his change. Sighing, Ron walked back to the table. "I reckon that's enough time, he said to the other two men. Let's head up."