chamberofsnogs | A visit to the kitchen (Reply)

The trip into the kitchen to talk to the house-elves was nothing like what I had expected—though truth to tell, I had no idea what to expect. I had never seen house-elves before coming to Hogwarts, and never really talked to one. Still, I'm sure we'll need all the help we can get this year, so I was determined to give it my best shot.

The door to the kitchen is, rather strangely, a picture of a gigantic fruit bowl which opens for you if you tickle the pear (I asked Neville, who had heard it from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. There are so many things I still don't know about Hogwarts even after six years here!) The house-elves were busy clearing away the remnants of the leftovers, but they all paused to stare at me when I stepped inside.

"Um, he-hello. My name is Lysienne Aldrern. And this is Rolan."

The elves closest to me drew back—I didn't know whether from me or from Rolan. I placed a hand on Rolan's head, and he sat down quietly at my side. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a bother. I was just wondering if I could speak with Dobby, i-if I may."

The house-elves were silent, but after a moment one stepped forward. "Dobby, ma'am." And he bowed.

Not knowing what to do, I bowed back. "Um, it's nice to meet you."

"Such an honor it is, ma'am, to have one of the students come visit us in our humble kitchen."

"Oh, please, you don't need to be so formal. Actually—well, actually, I'm here to ask for your help."

"Dobby's help, ma'am?" he jumped up, his ears flapping. "Dobby, help a witch? A witch asking for Dobby's help?"

"Well—yes." I felt rather awkward standing over him, so I gestured at the table nearest me. "Would you mind if we sat down?" He seemed about to jump up and down again, so I sat quickly and asked, "Please?" He gingerly climbed onto the chair opposite me.

"I'm asking for your help because my friends and I want to know more about what the Headmaster is planning. We want to help Harry, too, you see, and I know that you're his friend."

"Help Harry Potter?" Dobby jumped up on the chair in excitement. "What is it that ma'am and friends want Dobby to do?"

"Well, for now, we were hoping we could ask you to keep an eye on the Headmaster and let us know when he's out of the office..."

"Spy on the Headmaster?!" Dobby squeaked, abruptly collapsing onto the chair. "But Dobby will be kicked out! Dobby will lose his only home! Dobby will have to serve bad masters again and get no pay!"

"We're not asking you to risk yourself, Dobby. Please—"

But he wasn't listening. "Ma'am is friends with old Young Master's friends," he groaned, holding his head. "They'll tell on Dobby. Dobby will be kicked out! Treated like vermin, Dobby was!"

Old young master? I didn't understand, but I tried again, "Dobby..."

"Dobby used to belong to the Malfoy family," a voice behind me quietly explained, and I turned.

"Oh, Luna!"

Luna smiled at me in her usual dreamy way. "Hello, Lysienne. It sounds like you came down here for the same thing I did."

I blinked. "Really?"

Luna smiled again and said to Dobby, "You can trust her and her friends, Dobby. You know that she treated Firenze after the battle last year? And her guardian is one of the Elemental Masters, too."

Elemental Masters? I had no idea what that meant, but Dobby leaped down from the chair and bowed several times. "Please forgive Dobby! Dobby didn't know! Please forgive Dobby," he kept repeating.

"Please, Dobby, I don't know anything about that means! I mean, yes, I did treat Professor Firenze, and I have a guardian, but..." I looked over at Luna beseechingly.

"So, Dobby, if you and the other house-elves are willing to help us, Lysienne and her friends and Harry and I and everyone will be very grateful to all of you."

Dobby bowed again. "Dobby will be happy to help! Dobby will ask the other house-elves! Leave it to Dobby!"

"Thank you, Dobby." Luna smiled again and turned to leave.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" I exclaimed, and turned to follow Luna.

"Luna!" I caught up with her in the hall. "Thank you!"

"You're very welcome."

"Can I ask—how do you know about Sy—my guardian? And what is an Elemental Master?"

"Oh, I've only heard my father talking about it. They're quite rare, you know. So the Ministry keeps records on where they are. My father's very interested in them. He says that they can tell you how to find Atlantis. You do know about the lost city of Atlantis, don't you?"

"Er, yes, I've heard of it." Atlantis? I felt like the conversation had gotten very strange indeed. Maybe there are no such things as Elemental Masters after all. "Well, so you said that you were there to talk to the house-elves for the same reason I was. Do you think that we can help each other out?"

"Oh, not now, but maybe in the future," Luna replied serenely, and waved. "Good night, Lysienne. And be careful about talking in the halls. You never know if Cornish pixies might be listening."

So that was my rather odd evening. Though a successful one, I hope, if Dobby and the other house-elves are willing to help us...