Skyward School of Practical Sorcery did not hold classes between Monday, November 23rd, and Sunday, November 29th, 1992.
This time period was designed for Thanksgiving break and students were allowed to go home if they opted to do so.
Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus. Ameila, and Heather would all be spending the week at Abbott Manor.
Heather had left Professor Sprout in charge of the school in her absence, and she knew she could trust Professor Sprout to keep things running smoothly.
When Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus. Ameila, and Heather all took an old, flattened pillow portkey to Abbott Manor at 7 A.M. on the morning of Monday, November 23rd, 1992, Heather turned to the Yellow Quartet and piped up, "There's someone the four of you need to meet."
'Runner," remembered Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah in unison.
"Runner is here," piped a voice that clearly belonged to a male house elf and the newest addition to Abbott Manor came running up to where the eight human inhabitants had entered.
Runner's size and physical appearance were that of a typical house elf and his voice wasn't too distinguishable from other male house elves. What did set him apart from other house elves was his hyperness and his eagerness. Most house elves moved, worked, and took life at a leisurely pace. Runner, however, was always in zoom mode, as though he was a cheetah in the short run and a pronghorn in the long run.
"Introduce yourselves to Runner by name," instructed Heather.
"I'm Harry Potter," piped up Harry.
"I'm Amy Alworth," added Amy.
"I'm Susan Bones," said Susan.
"I'm Hannah Abbott," finished Hannah.
"It is Runner's great pleasure to meet you, Master Harry, Mistress Amy, Mistress Susan, and Mistress Hannah, " said Runner rapidly.
"I've never seen a house elf run so fast or talk so quickly," observed Susan.
"Runner lives life in the fast lane," acknowledged Runner instantly.
"Runner," said Amy compassionately, "I'm sorry for your loss of Master Ethan. I know this must be a very difficult time for you. "
"Mistress Amy is kind and caring," noted Runner instantly, "But Runner has grieved for Master Ethan, and he is ready to move on. Runner is very happy to be serving Mistress Heather in a part time role now."
"Have you met Topsy?" inquired Hannah.
"Yes," confirmed Runner a nanosecond later, "Topsy is very happy that Runner is joining Abbott Manor. She is quite thankful that Runner is taking some responsibility off her shoulders while still being able to work part time."
"We've been told that you prefer the work of shopping and such," remembered Harry.
"Yes," confirmed Runner at once, "Runner loves shopping. Runner also enjoys traveling very much. Runner is very pleased to have found a mistress for whom he can focus on shopping and tasks that require traveling while she has another house elf who can handle the other house elf work. Runner is thankful for an arrangement that assigns him the work he enjoys while also allowing him more free time."
"Were you specifically looking for a master or mistress who would allow you a reduced workload that focused on shopping and tasks that require traveling?" Harry asked Runner."
"Runner did not insist on the reduced workload, but it was his preference and Mistress Heather was in the perfect position to offer Runner such a position with Topsy growing older and desiring an at home only workload," replied Runner rapidly.
"It's too bad about poor Ethan though," said Amy sadly, "It's always a tragedy when a person dies. Well, as long as they are not a murderer or something like that."
"Mistress Amy's heart is in the right place," piped up Runner, "But she is wrong here. It's only a tragedy if the person dies tragically young or in a particularly tragic way. In fact, in the case of Master Ethan, death was a gift to him."
"I'M SORRY, WHAT?"! yelled Amy louder than she had intended.
"Mistress Amy," explained Runner patiently in a rare moment of slowing down a bit, "Master Ethan was very old and he was suffering."
"Suffering?" mused Amy, "Did he have cancer or ALS?"
"Nothing like that," said Runner matter of factly, "Master Ethan was suffering from old age. At the time of his death, Master Ethan could barely hear, he could only see a few feet in front of him, it was a struggle for him to breathe, and walking had become a very sore and agonizing task for him even with the aid of helpers like walking sticks and walkers. It was necessary for Runner to grieve for Master Ethan given the strong bond he shared with Master Ethan and Runner doesn't deny that. But, at that point, death was the best gift that Master Ethan could be given."
Harry looked very seriously at Amy.
"Amy," said Harry in a very serious voice, "This is EXACTLY what I tried to tell you, Susan, and Hannah not too long after I'd first met you three about why immortality is not desirable. The struggles of old age would reach a point where life would become a burden. I know Susan and Hannah came around to my side on this issue at the time while you seemed far more noncommittal. I know none of us have broached the subject much since that one discussion, but I sense you retained your pro immortality position even if you didn't think about it much. But, the truth is that nature has it right. Length of fragility is only length of misery. Once you've reached a certain point of aging, death becomes the ultimate gift."
"Master Harry is very wise," nodded Runner, "Master Harry is right to explain to Mistress Amy why immortality is not ultimately desirable. Master Ethan died peacefully in his sleep and is no longer suffering or struggling."
Amy sat in quiet thought for five minutes and five nanoseconds and then looked up ar Runner.
"Runner?" grilled Amy, "Did Master Ethan actually want to die?"
"Master Ethan confided in Runner the day before his death that he hoped the end would come soon because the increasing struggles of day to day life as an aging person were making him more and more miserable. He would not have committed suicide though. Master Ethan viewed suicide as just as much of a violation against nature as murder."
Amy seemed satisfied with that answer and said, "I think this is a topic I'll have to give more thought to. I've never been able to see the other side of the coin before but after listening to Runner's and Harry's explanations and seriously thinking it over I can understand now why Ethan felt ready to expire. What life he had at this point was a burden and it was a gift to him to be released from that life."
"So," Harry asked Runner, "What kinds of shopping do you like most?"
"All kinds of shopping," replied Runner rapidly, "Clothes shopping, furniture shopping, magical supply shopping, you name a kind of shopping, Runner enjoys doing it."
"Runner," said Heather warmly, "I have an important job for you."
"Name it, Mistress Heather," said Runner eagerly.
"I need you to do some food shopping for Thanksgiving. I want you to buy us enough turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, green beans, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, gray, pumpkin pie, and apple pie for a Thanksgiving dinner for eight people plus yourself and Topsy. You know where to go to find these things."
"Runner is happy to serve Mistress Heather by fetching the food for Thanksgiving," piped up Runner, disapparating from Abbott Manor at the speed of a golden eagle.
Heather now turned to Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus. and Amelia.
"What's is everyone's favorite Thanksgiving food?" asked Remus, "Mine is the turkey itself."
"Me too," grinned Harry, "A juicy turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving."
"Mashed potatoes," answered Amy cheerfully.
"With or without gravy?" Heather asked Amy.
"Both, but I prefer them with gravy," answered Amy cheerfully, "With the gravy is where it's at."
"You can never get enough mashed potatoes and gravy," agreed Sirius, "Mashed potatoes and gravy are the GOAT side dish. Mashed potatoes and gravy are my favorite Thanksgiving food as well."
"Stuffing," said Susan happily, "Stuffing is such a great compliment to the rest of the Thanksgiving meal."
"I'm another vote for stuffing," smiled Amelia, "Stuffing is a great Thanksgiving food that kind of brings the meal all together."
"Dinner rolls," cooed Hannah brightly, "There's nothing quite like a good soft dinner roll. I don't like cornbread though."
"I vote for dinner rolls myself," finished Heather, "As far as bread products go, cornbread is hot garbage and dinner rolls are totally awesome baby!"
Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus. Ameila, and Heather all just grinned at each other, their mouths watering as they looked forward to Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday."
A/N: I will not actually be writing the Thanksgiving dinner scene because it would end up just being a complete rehash of things from previous chapters. They'd be discussing what they were thankful for, and this would lead to discussions that largely just rehash what has already happened in previous chapters. chapter 109 will be set sometime in December of 1992.
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This Thursday is Thanksgiving so, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all-Michael :)