"Home?" Said a little elf after a loud crack was heard, followed shortly by another one. "Winky is here," She looked around and found Hermione. "Where does Misses Hermione's parents live. Misses told Winky that Winky could go clean Misses parent's home."
Hermione's hand shot to her mouth as she realized she never told them. "Uh, I forgot to tell them. I'm sorry Winky," She apologized. "We are supposed to go see them in a few nights and I can tell them then."
"You can go tell them now," Insisted the little elf.
"I can't." Hermione replied. "I have no way to get there."
"You could take the Knight Bus," Harry suggested.
"Winky will take you," The elf said.
"It's only going to be...wait a moment. Did you say you'd take me there?" Hermione asked. "How?"
"Miss Hermione take Winky's hand and Winky takes Miss to her parents' house," Winky explained as if to a child.
"You...you can take someone with you when you go places?" Hermione asked.
"Yes Winky can take you to your parents," The little elf repeated as she took Hermione's hand in hers. "If you tell Winky where they live."
Hermione eyes developed a dazed look as she told Winky the address. A couple seconds later she found herself standing in the middle of the living room of her parents' home. Because of the expected dangers, Richard and Jean Granger were already reaching for their necklaces before they realized it was their daughter.
"Hermione?" Her mother asked hesitantly still with her necklace in her hand. "Is that really you?"
Hermione snapped out of her stupor and looked around. "Yes mum," She replied. "I think I just found out something new about house-elves. It seems they can apparate us places."
"This isn't the same House elf we met before," Richard said.
"No, mum dad, this is Winky. She's one of...of our elves," Hermione said. "We bonded with her and she wants work to do, so I told her she could clean your house."
"Bonded?" Jean asked as she glanced at the elf. "What does that mean?"
"It's...it's hard to explain."
"I'm Miss Hermione's house-elf," Winky exclaimed happily. "I belong to her and Miss Fleur and Miss Gabrielle and Master Harry."
"She belongs to you?" Jean gave a questioningly look at her daughter.
"As I said it's a long story...but yes she and Dobby, he's the elf you met, are our elves."
"So she's your...housekeeper?"
"Miss Hermione doesn't have a house yet," Winky explained. "But she promised that someday they would have one and there would be lots of children."
"Children?" This was Richard.
"Eh...not anytime soon dad," Hermione blushed. "But..." She shrugged.
"You'll be finished with school before these children appear?" Jean asked.
"Of course mum," Hermione said.
"Now about...Winky..."
"Just let her clean your house and take care of you."
"I guess...we can afford to pay her..."
"Payin? Winky will not be paid!" The little elf was looking stubbornly at the elder Grangers. "Winky is a respectable house-elf."
Again Jean Granger looked questioningly at her daughter.
"It's alright mother, but it's something we'll have to discuss another time because I'm still learning what it all means myself."
"Are you sure?"
Hermione nodded.
"Has Miss Hermione's parents had dinner?" Winky asked.
"Uh...no we were just going..."
"Winky will do it," Winky said and immediately looked around. "Where is your kitchen?"
"Winky, I need to go back to Harry," Hermione reminded the elf.
"Winky will be right back to make yours dinner," Winky told the still confused adults. She grabbed Hermione's hand and an instant later Hermione found herself back in the tent.
"I think my parents are going to be in for an interesting time," Hermione said as she watched the elf who appeared happier than she had ever seen her, disappear.
They heard the backdoor open on the house and quickly looked out the window on the tent. They could see Petunia Dursley walking out the door and toward the tent. As she neared it, she suddenly turned back toward the house only to get a confused look on her face when she started to reopen the back door. This happened two more times before Harry decided to go see what she wanted.
"Can I help you Aunt Petunia?" He asked.
"Oh Harry," She said. "I came out to ask if you would be eating dinner with us but I kept remembering something in the house."
"Muggle repelling wards," Harry replied. "You can't get near the tent without help."
"Oh," Petunia replied as she looked past Harry at the tent.
"To answer your question though, no, we will be eating in the tent," Harry explained.
"We'll leave the back door unlocked tonight so you and your...friends can use the bathroom when you need to."
"You don't need to do that, we have a bathroom as well," Harry replied. It was very obvious that Petunia had never seen the inside of a magical tent.
"Surely you don't go in front of those girls?" Petunia retorted. "I know your kind are different but you must have some decency."
"We aren't roughing it out here Aunt Petunia," Harry explained. "Should I show her the tent?"
"Yes or she'll think we are all sleeping on top of one another."
"And what would be wrong with zat?" Fleur asked. "I like my 'ead on 'Arry when I sleep."
"But the tent is..." Petunia started.
"Here, take my hand," Harry said.
Petunia looked at first like she'd been asked to hold a bag of excrement but curiosity finally won. She gingerly took her nephew's hand.
To say Petunia Dursley was surprised would be an understatement. She gasped as they entered the tent and a small house was revealed. She then noticed the three young women all glaring at her. She could feel their dislike of her as she watched the oldest of them finger her wand. Petunia felt very nervous as she stood there remembering that the one with the wand out could legally do magic. "Maybe I should go back out now," She said. Then she let out a large shriek when Dobby came out of the kitchen.
Harry nodded. "You can leave on your own," He almost laughed as his aunt retreated very quickly out the entrance of the tent. He then remembered what his mother said about his aunt had wanted to be a witch and was jealous of her sister. Though it still did not excuse the past fourteen years, it did help Harry to understand the underlying feelings.
....
Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.