Winki the Houself
How much time had passed no one knew. Everyone had dozed off, except Delphini. She couldn't sleep without a plan in her head. There were no means of escape except the front gate which was always locked. There was nothing but that dead rat, so she couldn't even send a message out to anyone. Even if she could, there was no one to send a message to. For the letter to reach the New Burrow in time could take days, even weeks. There were no people in the manor except the houselves- The houselves! A thought struck Delphini's brilliant head.
She could use a spell to help levitate the rat to her personal house elf, Winki! Or she could just call Winki. "Winki!" Delphini yelled quietly. There was a small pop and a small female houself wearing a ragged pillow case appeared. Her blue ocean eyes lit up at the sight of her kind mistress, "Oh! Winki was wondering when her mistress would call Winki."
"Winki be a little softer," Delphini said and the elf shut up immediately, "How many people can you apparate at once?" she asked. Winki thought for a moment or two before answering, "ten at most miss." "Ok good. Do you know if father owned a snake, named Nagini?" Delphini asked again. Winki was an old elf. She had even fought in the battle of Hogwarts. Winki's eyes went wide once more as she nodded her head, "She was with Miss's father during the battle. He keeps her- Oh he forbade Winki to tell."
Delphini thought. Winki knew where the snake was. But her oaf-of-a father had ordered her. She couldn't tell a soul. "Winki if I order you to tell-"
"That won't work, miss. Sir, forbid."
"What if I set you free? You are my elf," Delphini said suddenly before she could control her mouth. "Free Winki! Abandon Winki!" Winki cried as her eyes glossed over. Delphini panicked, desperate to calm the elf, "No, no! Not abandon. Just so you could tell me?" Delphini said hurriedly. She removed her black, leather shoe and tore off the white socks from her foot, handing it to Winki, without a second thought.
"Winki is free?" the elf said, taking the sock, her ears drooping. "Now tell me, where is the snake?" Delphini asked carefully. Winki sniffed before replying, "Mistress Astoria's closet."
"Delphini?" A voice spoke sleepily. Delphini shot her head up to see Harry, supporting himself on his elbow, since he had been lying flat on the ground. His almond shaped eyes caught sight of the tiny elf and recognition passed through the said eyes, "Winky?"
"She is going to help us. We know where the snake is," Delphini informed.
***
Once everyone had been awoken, a plan had to be formulated. That was the difficult part since no one knew how to get out of the cage without being caught. "Can't winki apparate us to Tori's room," Aquila questioned, Albus swore he could see the gears turning in her head. "It would create too much noise and we can't be sure if someone would be there waiting for us or not. He most likely has that room guarded somehow," Draco answered, his mind trying not to concentrate on his deceased wife. "Couldn't Winki apparate out of this cell, unlock the cage from outside?" Hermione asked, glancing at Delphini for approval. Delphini shook her head, "You need a wand to unlock the cage. Winki cannot use one, she's an elf and our wands have been taken away."
"Wandless magic?" Harry questioned. Delphini snapped her eyes at him, glaring- almost into his soul, "Well genius! If wandless magic was an option don't you think I would have tried it already?" Her voice alone was enough to make Albus shut his mouth and not talk to her for the rest of his life. Aquila however seemed unfazed by the behavior. "Winki do you know where our wands are?" she asked the quiet elf. She sniffed before shaking her head, her large ears flapping as she did so.
Delphini's eyes lit up, as if an idea just struck her. She lifted her hand towards the cell door and chanted, "Accio wand." They waited for a second long, nothing. They waited for another, then another and yet another. Albus perked his ears up when he thought he heard a swoosh. Not five seconds later a slim twelve and half inch yew wood wand appeared and found its way into Delphini's hands. Everyones' eyes lit up with hope as Delphini stood up checking her wand and twirling it between her fingers. The celebrations were cut short when they heard heavy thuds approaching them. Delphini expertly transfigure her wand into a ring and wore it around her finger. She sat down solemnly, as did the others, awaiting the person who was the owner of the footsteps.
By the irregularity of the thuds, some soft, some heavy, Albus figured there were two or more people approaching. A stout figure, unlike the man before, unlocked the cage. She wore a ghastly pink, one that blinded Albus. She resembled a large pale toad with broad, flabby face, a wide slack mouth twisted into a sickly sweet smile and a short neck. Albus noticed how the adults' jaws tightened, as if angry at that woman. "Hello children," she spoke, as if she were a teacher speaking to class at the beginning of the year. Behind her was a tall man, with a lanky figure, his skiing completely covered and dark hair slicked back with gel.
"Your lord wishes to see you miscreants," the toad-like woman spoke. Harry, although hesitantly, stood up first and rest followed. A spell was cast to tie their hands and they were made to follow the two out. Delphini and Harry were side by side, hissing softly in what seemed like parseltongue. They were probably formulating a plan, Albus deduced, hoping he was right. They were led up a flight of stairs, into a large room with several chairs. Albus was thrown to the rightmost chair and Aquila the farthest from him.
Darkness filled the atmosphere, a chilling sensation went down everyone's spine, a ball of black smoke appeared from the chandelier and humanized into an unmistakable figure...