Interlude July 1998

Hermione slipped into her room, exhaustion permeating even the marrow in her bones. It had been a difficult couple of months since the Final Battle, but the Hogwarts rebuilding team's hard work had much to show for it.

The Castle's basic structure was completed, as were the Great Hall and many of the classrooms. Only the kitchens, the library—just some shelving repair and thorough organization needed there; protective spells had prevented damage to the tomes themselves—and the Headma-mistress's office needed to be done before the school could open again in September.

She crossed the room and collapsed onto her bed. Between long hours improving her construction and basic labour charms and Ron's insistent snogging, she hadn't had much time to herself since the Battle. Since Bill and Fleur's wedding at the Burrow last year, actually.

Thank Merlin George needs Ron to help at the shop now that he's decided to re-open in Diagon Alley.

Her eyes slid to look at the small carved chest resting on her desk and she flinched guiltily. She shouldn't be glad that her boyfriend was leaving. And she shouldn't have been rifling through the house-elves' chest without permission, no matter how exciting the discovery had been.

It was odd that reading about Mistress Hooch's request for Chicken Tikka Masala—one of her favourite meals—or the house-elves' opinion of her hats had just made her smile or wince, but that her conscience had only kicked in as she read Professor Snape's scroll. It was as if she were in the Potions classroom again, with him looming over her, sneering at the invasion of his privacy. Bloody interfering Know-It-All, he said scathingly in her head. I thought you had some regard for house-elf rights.

She had cringed and dropped the scroll back into the box, not even glancing at it since. Even though her fingers and mind buzzed with an itch at the thought of exploring its secrets.

It was odder still that she had seen very few elves about while she was working... She frowned in thought. If only Dobby were here, alive. She swallowed a half-sob. As soon as the Battle was over, Kreacher had gone back to Grimmauld Place. Harry and Ron would both live there come September, when they started Auror training at the London-based Academy. By then, Lee Jordan would be fully recuperated and ready to partner George at the joke shop. Hermione was ashamed to admit, even to herself, that she didn't know any of the other elves well enough to feel comfortable asking them permission. Except.

She bit her lip and sat up. “Winky?” she murmured tentatively.

There was a small pop. “Yes, Miss?” Winky asked, standing before her in a neat, crisp tea towel featuring the Hogwarts crest.

“Hello. How are you?” Hermione replied uncertainly. She wondered what she should say—how she could ask—

Winky's head tilted and her eyes narrowed a bit. “Winky is being fine, Miss. We elves is knowing the files are here.”

“Oh!” Her cheeks heated as they flushed. “Um, do you think it would be all right if I read them?” Gah! She was beginning to sound like Ron.

“Elves is having voted. We is thinking Miss will be knowing elves and our ways better if Miss is reading files. You is being allowed. We is taking box if we's need it and popping it back.”

Hermione smiled wryly. “I've already learned I need to improve my knitting skills.”

Winky's ears wiggled. “Only hats for wizards. Not elves. Promise?”

“I promise.” She sighed.

She would find another way to help the elves. The next time, with their cooperation. Hopefully the files would—as the elves determined—aid her in understanding them first.

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author: pokeystar

beta-ed by Bluestocking (((hugs)))