Chapter 24
“So that’s how it happened.” Harry fell into the chair out of breath.
“You’re saying it was Tillie?” Hermione raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“But you said she was holding a wand…”
“Well maybe I dropped mine. Or maybe she had one of the ones I took from Draco and Narcissa.” Harry shrugged.
“You took away their wands? You’re sure of it?” Hermione pressed.
“Yes, I’m sure. The room can’t be opened without the key but Draco is clever and I thought he might find a way out if I left him to his own devices for too long.”
“It was Tillie.” Hermione said it now like she finally believed Harry.
“Yes!”
“We’ve got to talk to her.” Hermione stood. “Come on Harry.”
“Where are we going?”
“Prison.”
“Who’s in prison?”
“Mrs. Malfoy.” Hermione grabbed Harry’s hand and pulled him into the flugh. Harry tried to assemble the new information in his brain. He had assumed Narcissa was staying wherever Draco had been these past few weeks.
Then everything that hadn’t made sense started falling into place. Whenever they talked of helping someone, or saying nothing could be done they were talking about Narcissa. Even Arthur had tried in his own way to remind Harry about Narcissa but he had not noticed.
They stepped into an entry hall at a building Harry had never been in. Two Ministry officials led them to a small room where they waited. Narcissa entered at last and Harry suddenly felt an overwhelming guilt.
“Hello Dear.” She spoke, eyeing the guards as they shut the door.
“I didn’t know you were in here… If I had known I would’ve-” Harry started but Narcissa held up a hand to silence him.
“That’s exactly why they didn’t tell you.”
“You haven’t done anything.”
“There is the issue of ownership for the wand in question.” The wand Harry finally fit the last piece of information together.Tillie had used a wand to cast the fatal curse and whoever the wand belonged to would be assumed the guilty party. Draco couldn’t come around because his mother was a suspect in a murder and Harry’s memories couldn’t be influenced unduly.
“But, I took your wands away from you… before I led you to the office.”
“I told them this.”
“And they didn’t believe you…” Harry was outraged as Narcissa shook her head no. He began pacing the room, unsure what to do with all the trapped anger.
“Mrs. Malfoy,” Hermione’s voice was kind. “Where is your house elf, Tillie?”
“I suppose she’s at Grimmauld, isn’t she?”
“She’s not.”
“Perhaps at the manor then?” Narcissa suggested.
“I didn’t see her there.” Harry shook his head. “Is there anywhere else she might have gone?”
“There’s a greenhouse at the back of the property. We used to go there to get away from the house.”
“She might be there, we should go.” Harry said to Hermione. She nodded in response. Harry turned his attention back to Narcissa. “I’m getting you out of here. Just hold on a little longer, I promise.”
“Hermione?” Narcissa called as they were leaving. “I don’t know what she’ll tell you… but please if there is anything you can do… she’s a very sweet elf.”
“I’ll do whatever I can.” Hermione promised as a guard shut the door. The pair swept through the building in a half run, eager to find the answers they needed. They leapt into the flugh and disappeared in a cloud of dust.
“Careful,” Harry warned as they stepped out of the flugh onto the glass. Without another word they exited the house and went around back. There was nothing but manicured lawns in every direction. Harry pointed Hermione one way and then went the other. The farther he went the more nothing he found. He pressed on and the lawn started sloping under his feet, suddenly it dropped to a steep valley with a small glass greenhouse nestled in the bottom. It could not be seen from the house or grounds and while it was poorly positioned for growing things, it was perfectly positioned for hiding.
Harry approached it quietly and knocked softly on the door. The sun was setting and he couldn’t see clearly through the textured glass.
“Tillie?” He called as he opened the door a fraction. “It’s me, Harry.”
“I know your voice.” A small whisper broke through the air.
“Can I please come in?” Harry asked as he sent up a light from his wand to show Hermione their location.
“You ought not ask little house elves such questions.”
Harry opened the door wider. In the setting sun he could see Tillie sat up on a potting table swinging her legs. She did not look up, but stared contritely into her hands which were neatly folded in her lap. Harry moved into the tiny space. There were a lot of questions he knew he needed to ask but there was only one thing on his mind.
“I wanted to tell you thank you. I might’ve died without your help.” Harry knelt in front of her and her sad eyes looked up at him finally.
“Master Harry is the first nice man Tillie has met in a very long time.” Tillie’s cheeks were wet with tears.
“I’m not sure you did it just for me.” Harry set a hand on top of hers. “Will you tell me what happened?”
“Kreacher told me to stay in the pantry room, to not come out, He gave me the wands and shut the door. It was very dangerous, he said and Tillie must not get hurt. But I heard the terrible voice calling. I knew Master Malfoy was there. His voice is like a monster in a dream. Madam was upstairs in the room but I heard Kreacher unlocking the door. He could not have her again. It all happened in a moment, I raised her wand and he was gone.”
“That sounds very brave.”
“Madam gave me my freedom, and now I have given her hers.”
“There is a price to pay for freedom.” Hermione entered the greenhouse and stood next to Harry.
“I will pay it.” Tillie looked down. “May I say goodbye to Madam before it happens.”
“Before what happens?”
“Before…” Tillie wrapped her hands around her throat.
“No one is going to hurt you Tillie, but you do need to come with us and tell some people what has happened. After that Hermione is going to take good care of you.” Harry promised.
“And if I can, I’m going to make sure you go back to Mrs. Malfoy. But right now she’s in a lot of trouble because people think she’s committed a crime.”
“Oh!” Tillie started crying. “I didn't know! I didn’t know.”
“I know, it’s alright.” Harry shushed her. “Come now, we need to help her.”
Harry led the elf from the greenhouse followed by Hermione. If they had any luck there were enough people working late at the ministry to get Narcissa out of prison and home tonight.