Chapter 11 :
Determined, Theodore walked to the Kitchens with strong steps and long strides. It was obviously the middle of the night, but he didn't fear the teachers nor the prefects. As the Shadow King, his influence stretched far and wide. Aside from perhaps Dumbledore and his grandfather, none could truly punish him. Dumbledore being the foolish lenient goat that he was, and his grandfather not being in the castle, Theodore was therefore effectively invincible. Empowered by his self-confidence -conceit-, he tickled the pear of the painting and entered.
As always the elves were busying themselves around the pots and the ladles, cooking up mountains of food for the inhabitants of the castle. Smells of roasted meats, cakes, mints and many more filled the Kitchens with a homely feel. Theodore breathed in the scent and sighed in comfort. A small elf ran toward him, asking in a shrill voice :
"Does Young Master be wanting snacks ? What can Dipsy get for Young Master tonight ?"
"Can you gather everyone for a bit, please ?" Gently queried the slytherin boy. "I need to ask something of you lot."
Dipsy snapped his fingers and all the elves stopped what they were doing to pop in front of Theodore. Wringing his knurled fingers, an old elf with a bigger chef's hat than the others stood in the middle of everyone to represent them.
"I be's the Head Chef of Hogwart's Elves." He gurgled. "What can the Hogwart's Elves do's for Young Master ? "
Barely managing not to flinch in front of all these bulging eyes looking at him, Theodore gather all his negociation skills and all his tact :
"I had a spy network made of some of the worst gossips the student body had to offer." He bluntly said. "But lately it has become useless. I want you to replace it."
"Spying on the students ?!" Gasped the Head Chef in exagerated horror. "Oh no, no, no ! We can't be's doing that ! We be's good elves and good elves don't spy !"
"What about watching over them." Correctedthe brunet. "And reporting to me so I can monitor them- their health better ?"
"You be's changing the words to say the same things, ain't you ?" Frowned a cook in suspicion.
"As I want to etablish a relationship based on trust with you all, I can neither confirm nor deny this statement."
A long silent suspense settled in the kitchen. The mood was tense and the elves full of nervous energies as the Head Chef and the Slytherin rudely stared in each other eyes.
"Fine !" Finally grumbled a young elf from the back, cutting the tension. "We, Hogwart's Elves, will agree to your scheme !"
All the other House Elves turned toward the youngster in abject betrayal. He regally raised a shrivelled hand, silencing them before they could even express their outrage.
"But only on one condition !" He added gravely, piercing Theodore with his sharpest glare.
The House Elves gulped. The youngster may be young but he was at the top of the food chain in Elf Society. More cunning and ruthless than anyone, he had climbed the hierarchy with only wit, youth and sponges as his weapons. If the Head Chef was the one who answered when they were asked for a leader, the youngster was in truth the one leading them. And now...
"I, Dishwasher, will make a deal with you in the name of the Hogwart's Elves." He said with a dreadful smile. "We will spy on the students for you but only if you accept our condition."
Theodore didn't have to think for long : for all that Dishwasher was trying to be threatening, he was still an elf. House Elves didn't have a bad bone in them, they were good fellows to a fault.
"What is your condition ?" He quickly agreed.
Dishwasher sneered, pointing toward two elves in the back of the Kitchens:
"Find masters for these two elves." He ordered. "Lest they continue shaming us."
AN : finally a new chapter ! And we even get to see Theodore acting like a proper Shadow King ! Somewhat. I seriously think he needs better negotiation skills...
Plew A.E