Chapter Twenty Five
They reached the kitchens and Harry reached out to tickled the pear. The door to the kitchens swung open, blasting them all with a rush of steam. Hermione looked in at wonder tot he dozens of House elves that where dashing around the kitchens.
"I didn't realise there were so many of them." She said quietly.
"Can we helps you?" a young, female House elf asked. She was wearing a crisp white pillow case with the Hogwarts crest embroidered on the front.
"We're looking for Dobby?" Draco said, stepping into the warm, steamy kitchen and holding up the parcel, "His Mother sent this."
The House elf nodded and darted up to a corner of the kitchen. She returned a moment later with a very happy, slightly tomato splattered, Dobby.
"Harry Potter!" Dobby beamed, "And Master Draco! How nice it is to see you!"
He gave them a low bow.
"Thank you Dobby." Draco smiled.
"Who's is your friend?" Dobby asked, his large eyes looking up at Hermione.
"Umm, my name is Hermione." she said, shyly.
Dobby beamed, "It is nice to be meeting up. Please, come sit!"
He grabbed Harry and Draco's hands and pulled them into the kitchen. He sat them down on a bench along one edge and pushed glasses of pumpkins juice into their hands, along with a large plate of scones.
Draco thanked him and handed over the parcel from Petal, "Your Mother asked me to give you this."
Dobby flapped his ears and ripped open the paper. Inside was several sets of hats and gloves, all made by Petal and a lot of sweets, "Mama is so kind to me." he smiled happily.
"How are these made?" Hermione said a little confused while looking over a stripped pair of socks.
"Naalbinding Miss." Dobby said.
Hermione had never heard of that before, it looked like a mix between knitting and very tight crochet, "I've never heard of it. They look nice and warm."
Dobby nodded, "Oh yes Miss. Naalbinding is very old, kepts on mostly only by House elves. They make such lovelest things. Very warm."
Hermione handed him back the socks and took a scone, Harry could tell she was thinking something through, "Dobby, can I ask you something?"
Dobby nodded, "Anythings Miss."
Hermione chewed on her bottom lip for a moment while trying to work out how to phrase her question, "Are you happy working here?"
Dobby nodded, "Oh yes Miss! I is very happy!"
"But you hated working for the Malfoys." Hermione looked over to Draco, "Sorry."
Draco shrugged and tucked into a scone.
"You just seemed very unhappy." Hermione said, "But you seem a lot happier here."
Dobby nodded, "Things was difficult at home. Voices in my head. But here there is no voices and I can still work!"
Hermione nodded, "You like working then?"
Dobby nodded, "I love it Miss. Dumbledore did offer to pay me but I likes working so I don't needs paying."
Hermione nodded and smiled, "Thank you Dobby."
"Why does you ask?" Dobby asked.
Hermione sighed, "I met Winky at the Quidditch World Cup and she seemed to be very badly treated."
Dobby nodded, his ears dropping a little, "I sees. Some families are mean but most are nice."
"Kreacher always seems happy as well. I guess I just don't know much about House elves." Hermione said.
"Winky is here Miss if you would like to be seeings her." Dobby offered.
Hermione nodded happily, "Oh yes please."
Dobby's face fell slightly, "She isn't very well Miss, I should tell you. Maybe yous could cheer her up?"
The three of them followed Dobby over to the other wall and into an empty fire place. There was Winky, sitting wearing a very dirty, little blue skirt and top. She was slumped against the cold bricks with a bottle of butter beer half empty in her hand.
"Winky?" Dobby said, shaking her shoulder gently, "There is peoples here to see you."
Winky opened her eyes slowly and rubbed the end of her tomato like nose, "Master? Oh, it's yous, hellos." she sniffed.
Hermione felt her heart break a little for the poor House elf, she clearly wasn't dealing very well.
"Winky wondered for a while and cames to see me after…" Dobby paused, "Well… shes was very upset and I says Dumbledore will gives you a job."
"I wants to go back to Mr Crouch!" Winky insisted, ending with a hiccup.
"She's is drunk." Dobby whispered to them, blushing.
"Butter beer isn't that strong." Hermione said.
"It is to us House elves, Miss." Dobby told her, with very wide eyes.
Winky let out a large sob, "Oh Mr Crouch! How will he be managing without his Winky? I is their only House elf! How is makings his dinner? Is he evens eatings?"
Dobby managed to get the bottle off her and lead them away, "She's will sleep soon and we cans clear her up a bit."
"Mr Crouch was horrible to just get rid of her!" Hermione spat, "Doesn't he care how upset she is?"
"No." Harry and Draco said together.
Hermione sighed. They were right; Mr Crouch seemed to have very little sympathy for Winky. It was clear that the House elves were very busy so they said goodbye, walking back to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hermione didn't have dinner though, instead rushing over to the library and saying she would see them later.
"I don't understand why Winky still wants to go back to Mr Crouch." Harry said shaking his head, "She's in such a bad state."
Draco nodded, "Maybe I could get Petal to make her some new clothes. The ones she's wearing are terribly ragged. Girls like new clothes, right?"
Harry found Hermione in the library, hunched over her desk, writing furiously fast on a bit of parchment.
"What are you up to?" Harry said, dragging his Divination homework out of his school bag.
"Well, I don't know a lot about House elves, but neither does anyone else." Hermione said, "In most books they are only ever footnotes; Hogwarts- A History doesn't mention them at all. I mean, you saw how many there are, they must have had a huge impact on Hogwarts. I have managed to find a couple of books that go over them in a little more detail. So, I thought I would set up an education program to teach people about House elves."
Harry looked at her and blinked, "Really? It's just I'm not sure there are many people who want to know about House elves."
Hermione looked at him through narrowed eyes, "You're right. And that's the issue, people just pretend that they don't exist! But they do, and they have feelings and they have such a rich history when you get into it."
Harry knew when not to push it, Hermione had a very determined look on her face which made Harry simply nod and agree. He looked over his Divination homework but his mind was really on the egg that currently was under his bed.
He'd tried opening it a few times but had gotten nothing more than the loud screaming that had come out the first time. He couldn't make anything out in the scream, just noise. At least he had a while before he really needed to worry. Harry shook his head and focused on making up something about how many accidents he was going to have for Divination.
A few days later, Harry was pleased with his potion sample as he placed it, carefully labelled, on Professor Snape's desk at the end of the lesson. It was a pale blue colour, only slightly darker than Draco's and Daphne's which he took as a good sign, he was pleased to see both Crabbe and Goyle's were an angry red colour and more slime than liquid.
He started to pack up his bag, as did the rest of the class as it was nearly time for the bell to go. Harry was looking forward to getting his homework done, only two essays to do and he would have caught up with everything.
"I have not yet said you can pack your bags, sit now." Professor Snape ordered them.
There were a few grumbles from around the class that were quickly silenced by a glare from Snape. Once he was sure the classes attention was all on him, he moved round to the front of the desk and crossed his arms.
"The Yule Ball is approaching." He said, "It is an important and traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialise with our guests. The Ball is, strangely, a Ball, and therefore formal wear, dress robes, must be worn. The Ball is open to all those in fourth year and above, although you may bring younger guests if you wish."
Tracy and Millicent started whispering to each other and giggling.
"Quiet." Snape ordered, "As I was saying, the Ball will begin at eight o'clock on Christmas Day and finish at midnight. This may be a chance for us to relax and have some fun but if I have one whisper that ANY Slytherin has been behaving in an inappropriate way that person will be severally dealt with." He let this sink in for a moment, "Now off you go, Harry I need a word."
Harry nodded.
"We'll wait with you." Daphne said.
Pansy and Draco nodded as well, Harry noticed that both girls looked very excited about the idea of a Ball.
Harry walked over to Severus, who was looking over the potions as the class left, Draco, Pansy and Daphne hanging around at the back of the class.
"Your potion looks very good today Harry, well done." Severus smiled.
Harry grinned, "Thanks."
"Now, I wanted to tell you that the champions and their partners-"
"Partners?" Harry asked, he could feel himself blush as Cho Chang jumped into his head, although he'd never really looked at her as anything other than an excellent Quidditch player, he suddenly liked the idea of them as 'partners'.
"For the Ball, you will have to take a date." Severus said, trying not to grin at Harry, "You and your partners will lead the first dance and be seated in pride of place."
Harry felt his heart drop, "Dad, you know I can't dance!"
"You're not that bad, Harry." Severus said kindly.
"Yes I am!" Harry insisted, "I have two left feet! Hell, I have three left feet!"
His head was now filled with the image of him trampling all over Cho's feet and her running away from him.
"I'm sorry Harry, but it is tradition and there is nothing you or I can do to change that." Severus said frankly, "I suggest you practice. Lots."
"I could go home for the holidays." Harry grumbled, "I'm going to miss the Malfoy Party."
Severus let out a snort, "You're not going home Harry and Narcissa has moved her party to the Easter week off, which Professor Dumbledore has arranged for the students to go home, should they wish."
Harry sighed, he wasn't going to win this one but the thought of having to find a date, and learning how to dance enough not to horribly embarrass himself, left him more afraid than when he'd faced the dragon.
He spent the next few days wondering why he'd never noticed that girls always seem to move around in groups. He'd seen Cho a few times now but she was always with her friends and Marietta always glared him away when he came close.
Pansy was pleasantly surprised when William Reade asked her for a word one breakfast time. She nodded and left her porridge to talk to him.
He looked awkwardly and ran a hand through his adorable shoulder length hair, "I… umm… I was so much better at this in my head."
Pansy smiled, "It's OK."
"I was… my little sister started Hogwarts this year." He explained, "And I don't think she'd ever forgive me if I didn't take her to the Yule Ball."
Pansy was confused, "Ok… I think I'm missing something."
William smiled, "I was going to ask you."
Pansy blushed, "Oh."
"But I need to take my little sister, because she wont get to go otherwise." William said quickly.
"You were going to ask me?" Pansy asked.
William nodded, "Yeah, I was. I… I haven't upset you have I?"
Pansy laughed kindly, "No, not at all. I think it's really sweet that you're taking your little sister. And I'll still see you there, maybe you could ask me for a dance?"
William grinned, "For sure."
Pansy did her best to stop smiling before going to sit back down and finish her breakfast.
"Did you see the next Hogsmead trip date?" Draco said, "Only in a week."
"Ooo you know what this means." Daphne grinned, "DRESS SHOPPING!"
Pansy laughed.
"What did William want?" Harry asked.
Pansy waved her hand, "He was just going to ask me to the Ball but he needs to take his little sister, she's only just come to school."
"That's sweet of him." Harry smiled, wondering if he could get away with taking Danica, people would think that was sweet right? He could also use her as the excuse for his terrible dancing…
He saw Cho leave the dinner hall, a letter in her hand. She was alone! Harry left his friends and chased after her.
"Cho! Cho!" he called.
She was just about to climb the stairs but turned and smiled, "What is it, Harry?"
She had the softest Scottish accent that made him melt inside a little, her smile lighting up her face.
"Umm..." Harry walked closer.
Cho smiled encouragingly.
"Wha… where were you going?" Harry choked out, why was this so hard?
Cho waved the letter up, "I was just going to send this to my Ma."
Harry nodded, "Doyouwanttogotothedancewithme?" He said a lot quicker than he'd meant to, he coughed to clear his throat and took a deep breath, "Do you want to go to the dance with me?"
Cho looked at him with wide eyes, "Oh Harry..."
"Don't worry." Harry said, forcing a smile, "It was just an idea."
"I do," Cho said, "I mean I would, it's just I've already said I'd go with someone you see."
Harry felt a strange mixture of relief, jealousy and sadness, "Oh. Well I'll see you there then." he smiled, "Who are you going with?"
Cho looked at her feet awkwardly, "Cedric."
Cho rushed off up the stairs leaving Harry feeling very awkward standing at the foot of the stairs. He went back to his friends and sat down with a thump.
"You OK?" Daphne asked.
"I just asked Cho to the Ball." Harry mumbled.
"And she said no?" Pansy said, putting an arm around him comfortingly.
"No, well yes." Harry sighed, "She's already going with Cedric."
Draco, Daphne and Pansy didn't know what to say.
"Well, at least she didn't say no." Harry said, shaking his head to try and stop himself from dwelling on it.
"Exactly." Draco said, "So looks like all of us need to find dates still."
"I could always ask Hermione..." Harry mused.
"Hermione already has a date." Daphne and Pansy said together, grinning.
"Really?" Draco, "Who?"
Daphne shook her head, her honey blonde hair rippling down her back, "That's not our place to tell you. Hermione will tell you when she's ready."
"I just hope it's not Ronald." Harry muttered, not thinking for a second that Hermione ever would.
"Still leaves us without anyone." Draco sighed.
Pansy smirked, "Well where would two girls and two boys find dates?" she said sarcastically.
Draco and Harry looked at her.
"You want us to ask you two?" Harry said slowly.
Daphne rolled her eyes, "We're not that bad."
"Not romantically I mean, just as friends. It would at least give us someone to go with and we can still see other people there." Pansy pointed out, now that she knew William had wanted to take her the last thing she wanted was having to flirt with some other guy for the evening.
Harry nodded, "I'm all for it."
Draco looked slightly surprised, he expected Harry to be more against the idea, "Really? Just like that?"
"Yeah." Harry said, "Look I have to go and be all shown off to everyone. And DANCE! I really could do with someone who would stop me looking like a complete idiot."
"You can have Daphne." Pansy volunteered, "She's the better dancer."
Daphne sighed and grinned, "My poor toes."
"Ok. Sounds like a plan." Draco smirked, "Just doesn't wear anything pink or frilly."
"Whatever you say." Pansy said innocently.