On the afternoon of Saturday, October 3rd, 1992, Heather called Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus, and Amelia into her office at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery after they'd all finished a delicious lunch of ham and turkey sandwiches with lettuce, pickles, and mustard on white bread and Jack Daniels to wash it down with.

When Heather spoke, she delivered some very surprising news about Abbott Manor.

"I have had a second house elf bond to Abbott Manor to serve it," said Heather matter of factly, greatly surprising Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus, and Amelia.

"Was Topsy overworked then?" asked Amelia in a concerned voice.

"She wasn't overworked per se, but she is not as young as she once was," replied Heather, "Topsy still wishes to work and to serve Abbott Manor, but she has requested to be confined to Abbott Manor."

"So," said Remus in understanding, "Topsy will still cook, do the laundry, wash dishes, wash windows etc. but will not do any more shopping or fetching things?"

""Exactly," confirmed Heather, "Topsy is feeling pretty good for an older house elf but she no longer wants to travel."

"House elves travel mostly by Apparating or Disapparating," piped up Sirius, "That takes a lot greater toll on older bodies than on spring chickens."

"Furthermore," added Heather, "She is more worried about accidents related to travel as well as possibly being captured by enemies than she was in her younger days, weeks, years, and nanoseconds."

"It's the best of both worlds," observed Harry, "House elves would hate sitting on their asses doing nothing. This plan allows Topsy to continue to work and serve Abbott Manor while spending 100% of her time at Abbott Manor."

"Is it common for house elves to scale back their workload as they get older?" inquired Amy.

"It's very common," answered Heather, "Some house elves keep their full workload for life but a circumstance like Topsy's is very common."

"So?" grilled Susan, "Who's the new house elf? What is his or her name?"

"It's a male and his name is Runner," responded Heather.

"So," understood Hannah, "Runner will do the shopping and anything that requires traveling?"

"Yes," confirmed Heather, "His last master died on August 31st. His last master was a single elderly wizard named Ethan End, who was the very last member of his family. After grieving Ethan for a month and a nanosecond, Runner has spent the last few days searching for a new master, mistress, or building to bond with. He found me and I offered him the job of shopping and doing any work that requires traveling for Abbott Manor. He's always preferred that kind of work anyway."

"So?" guessed Harry, "We'll meet Runner over Thanksgiving Break?"

"That is indeed my plan," confirmed Heather, "I plan to take Sirius, Remus, and Amelia to meet him before then though. I think it will be easier for him to meet a few of his new masters and mistresses and then meet the rest later as opposed to meeting eight people at once. I haven't yet worked out the specific dates for Sirius, Remus, and Amelia to meet him, but those decisions are coming soon."

Everyone nodded.

"In the meantime," requested Heather, "Let's have a round of applause for Topsy for her many wonderful years of service to Abbott Manor."

Next nanosecond, all eight of them clapped and slowly chanted Topsy's name in a quiet and dignified manner.

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