Chapter 10
Early in the morning I made my way down to the kitchens to visit the house elves. I had raced down the stairs, breathing out steam in the frosty air. The entrance to the kitchen was a painting of a fruit bowl. I reached up, standing on my tiptoes, and tickled the rosy part of the pear. It giggled and then started to twist in the painting. After a few seconds a green doorknob was in place of the pear. I stretched up again to twist the knob and the painting swung away from the wall.
I stepped through the archway hidden behind the painting and walked down the short hallway that opened up into the huge bright kitchen. House elves were bustling around, preparing for breakfast in the great hall. I made my way through the horde trying to find oneself in particular. Winky was standing on a chair, stirring a pot of porridge with a huge wooden spoon.
“Miss Hermione,” Winky smiles up at me through the steam of the pot. Her brown eyes were bright and cheerful, clearer than they have been in a long time.
“Morning Miss Winky,” I say cheerfully. “How have you been?”
“Much better lately,” She says sheepishly. “Winky put those bottles of butterbeer away about two months ago and Winky feel alot better than Winky ever did before Winky picked them up the first time.”
“Oh, Winky,” I cried. “I’m so glad!”
“Oh, no tears Miss ‘Mione,” she pats my hand then goes back to stirring. “Now what can Winky help you with today child?”
“Winky could you help me put together a small basket of breakfast food? For about two people,” I clarified.
“Of course,” she cheerfully replied. “Leaney, Harprey, could you help Winky put together a basket for Miss Hermione?” Two House elves trotted over with big smiles and stood before us.
“Of course,” the one with bulbous blue eyes responded. The other one just nodded, sending his big ears flopping back and forth. I smiled kindly at the two, glad to see elves that looked so much healthier than they had ever appeared before.
“Harpery will find some fruit,” the male elf speaks up. As he scurried off, I felt a glimmer of sadness because he reminded me of Dobby.
“Leaney will go find some meat,” she also scurried off.
“Winky will get you a basket, plates, and some porridge.”
“Winky you're a darling, I holler after her as she scurries off into the business of the kitchen. I wait for her to complete the basket and thank her and the other two elves with a galleon a piece. I hurry back through the corridors back to Draco and I’s room. The sun was just starting to rise as I shut the door to our room quietly. I quickly went about setting the table, knowing that Draco would be done with his bath soon, never even realizing I was gone.