The Malfoy Trial

Message from Author:
[Apologies for getting the last three episodes in the wrong order; somehow I did not post one when I thought I had]
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As Harry and Draco arrived back at Grimmauld Place; Kreacher popped in to greet them.

“Kreacher, come and sit down in the tapestry room with us, please.”

“Yes Milord. What have I done wrong Milord? Shall I bring a cane? Am I to be disciplined?”

“Nothing like that Kreacher. Do you know what a Reeve-elf is?”

“Yes Milord. The Blacks used to have one a hundred or so years ago. We were all scared shitless of him.”

“How about you becoming my Reeve-elf, then?”

“What me?”

“Yes you. We will be interviewing for proctor elves, house elves and garden-elves tomorrow. Minerva McGonagall has quite a few to give us. I’d like to get Nubbins in on the garden-elves if you don’t mind. Make him garden-super and ask him to develop the roof garden here and sort the cottage garden out too. Well?”

“Oh, Milord Master, what an honour, Kreacher a Reeve-elf. You know that I’d have a duty to advise you don’t you, Milord?”

“You do that already, Kreacher.” Harry chuckled: “As Winky is your mate, perhaps she should have helpers too.”

“That would be in accord with her status as my mate, yes, Milord.”

“Stop that, Kreacher. I’m still Harry; I don’t want to have that battle all over again.”

“Sorry Harry, I was so overcome with the honour.”

“Honour, be damned, it’s recognition for my elfin general.”

Kreacher sniffed, Draco offered his handkerchief and Kreacher mopped his eyes, absently tucking it into his livery.

“Right then Harry, he’ll need a badge of office,” said Draco

“What like?”

“That locket would do.”

“So how is it different from what He’s wearing now?”

“There’s a special charm you cast, Harry. I saw my father do it once. There’s bound to be a book about it in our library,” suggested Draco

“Okay, do we need a witness or something?”

“Probably! Let’s go to the library, hmm?”

Once they were in the library, Draco did a quick scan of the shelves and found the book he was looking for. He read for some minutes, making notes on some conjured parchment. He looked up, placing his finger on the book: “We’ll need two elves and two Magicals present.”

“Winky and Nubbins, I’ll floo Hermione; she said Ron was on evening duty.”

Half an hour later a small ceremony took place in the library.

“I, Harry James, Mage Black, Seer Potter, appoint thee Kreacher to be my Reeve, to oversee all the elves responsible to Houses Black and Potter and all estates appertaining thereto. Creato Custos Domus Niger et Domus Potterensis.” Harry touched the locket round Kreacher’s neck with his wand. A blue glow surrounded Kreacher and the locket developed a golden halo – real gold, that is. Round the halo was inscribed ‘Custos Niger et Potterensis Domi’.

Nubbins shook Kreacher’s hand patting him on the back; Winky enveloped him in a hug and kissed him soundly. Draco used his wand to conjure a bottle of best bubbly and six glasses, which they used to toast Harry’s new Reeve. There was enough left to toast Nubbins after he had agreed to become garden-super. Then it was dinner time and Hermione stayed for the meal.

After dinner Hermione flooed home and Kreacher joined the two Magicals in the tapestry room afterwards.

“Harry, I think we may have a problem about recruiting.”

“Don’t tell me nobody will want to come here, Kreacher. The Black residence does have an unsavoury reputation.”

“Far from it. As soon as I say Harry Potter wants some elves, we’ll be besieged by volunteers.”

“Okay … What do you suggest?”

“That Winky, Nubbins and I go to see the Hogwarts Reeve and weed out the unlikely ones quietly. We’ll work out a reasonable household and then give you three to interview for each post … On the other hand … Another way to do it would be to appoint a butler and his mate for each house and then let us do the interviewing for the lower positions.”

“When you talk about a butler’s mate what exactly do you mean?”

“The mate can be a housekeeper or a cook/chef depending on the pairing.”

“Where does Winky fit into all this?”

“As my consort and cook she has authority over all the kitchens, so we’d try to appoint a butler/housekeeper duo here. We can be more flexible elsewhere.”

“What do you think, Draco?”

“Father couldn’t care less about his elves, as long as they did their job. If something went wrong he’d kick the elf concerned and then shout at the butler. Sometimes he’d kill the elf and Crucio the butler, depending on his mood. We went through quite a lot of them that way because elves go mad after they’ve been Crucioed. I suppose therefore, that meant that he ultimately held the office holder responsible. So taking it a step further, you appoint the chief officers and let them, with Kreacher, fill the other vacancies. You’ll need to appoint a chief proctor too and then let them choose his or her underlings in the same way.”

“That seems reasonable. Are you happy with that, Kreacher?”

“Yes. If I put a keep heat spell on your bedtime chocolate, Winky, Nubbins and I can go to Hogwarts immediately.”

“Quite happy with that, thanks.”

Kreacher popped off on his errand.

“Draco … I thought an elf was always tied to his house?”

“As your Reeve, Kreacher has a much larger remit. He can go anywhere now, as long as he is on Black or Potter business.”

“That idea doesn’t hold together. I used to be able to summon him to places other than just here.”

“The difference is that you had to summon him, now you trust him to go out as your representative. To all intents and purposes he is a free agent within the estates’ business, which can be quite widely interpreted. Father’s Reeve was the only elf he didn’t persecute; she was far too valuable for that. I wonder what became of Binder now the Ministry has taken over the Manor. She’d make you a good chief proctor.”

“I’m for bed. Let’s see who our triumvirate come up with tomorrow, shall we?”

“Lead on, Milord. Your vassal only wishes to fulfil your every command.” Draco grinned.

“Now there’s and interesting thought.” Harry chuckled.

Draco decided to reinforce the present position in their relationship, before moving on to the next stage and inveigled Harry into a joint shower. Draco pretended to drop the soap and in retrieving it managed to get his lips round Harry’s growing boner. Suckling and fondling until Harry shot forth.

As they were drying afterwards, Harry dropped his towel and used the same excuse to service most of Draco’s sexual needs. A quick cleaning charm and a drink of hot chocolate had them both under the covers and kissing like there were no more tomorrows. Intertwined, they fell asleep.

###

Kreacher came in to wake them. In fact they were already awake and had indulged themselves twice before the Reeve appeared.

“You look a bit under the weather, Kreacher.”

“Well … You see … When the school elves found out about my promotion they had an impromptu party. As guest of honour I couldn’t refuse the drinks offered. I’m afraid I drank much more than was good for me. Having taken the pledge, Winky was the only one still sober enough to get us back home.”

Draco and Harry giggled.

“I’m sure I have a sober-up potion if you’d like it,” offered Draco.

“I’ve already had two and that’s the limit, isn’t it … Ooh! My head!”

“You must have been in quite a state then.”

“I’ll be all right once I’ve had my porridge. A fry-up’s beyond me just now. After coffee I have a few elves for you to interview. We thought two butler combinations would be enough for the present because your cottage isn’t ready yet. About your chief proctor, interview three so’s to be seen to do the right thing, but I would recommend Binder. She was your Father’s Reeve, Draco. It’s a step down for her, but there was no other possibility anywhere. Oh yes! I nearly forgot, I’ve found a couple of personal elves for you.”

“Personal elves?”

“Yes Harry. They’ll act as valets and assistants all rolled into one. Robbie and Bobby are in a relationship just like Justin and Seamus, and much the same age, too. They worked in the apothecary’s shop that was destroyed. I thought Draco could do with Robbie’s knowledge to help with the potions store at Hogwarts. Erm … Bobby was able to make a magical and physical shield, it held up a collapsing roof for three days … so I think he’ll be able to help Harry too.”

“Do I get the feeling there’s something more, Kreacher?”

“Yes Draco. The Hogwarts Reeve and I wanted to find somewhere where they would be treated properly. The Apothecary was a real bastard. He used to beat and starve them and then feed them experimental potions. Poppy had them in the elf-ward for fourteen weeks. They’re recovered physically now, but are still quite nervous of adult Magicals. I think you two could help them and, in turn, have two very capable personal-elves.”

“Okay, Kreacher, we’ll interview them.”

“Erm … Harry … Don’t be cross … but I’ve already taken them on; acting in my capacity as your Reeve.”

“Oh … Um … Right … I suppose we’d better meet them; as soon as we’ve risen.”

“Erm … Harry … It might be better if they see you together in bed, first. It’ll encourage them. If you see what I mean.”

Draco chuckled: “Kreacher; you’re a very devious Reeve-elf.”

“Yes, I know, Draco. Now I can practice it openly, instead of hiding behind subterfuge. Before you get the wrong idea, let me remind you that I can only act in the best interests of the estates.”

Harry chuckled: “You’d have made a very good Slytherin.”

“Why thank you, Milord. I shall take that as the highest compliment.” Kreacher had an enigmatic smile on his face.

Harry looked at a beaming Kreacher. He could not decide whether the remark was sarcastic of genuine; so he just smiled back, making a condescending gesture.

The trio fell about laughing. Draco was surprised because he had never seen uncontrolled mirth in an elf before, he found it very refreshing; and said so. It only refuelled their mirth. When they recovered, Kreacher had gone and there were two young elves sitting on the bed’s foot, hugging each other and looking fearful. What made it doubly touching was that one had long fair hair and the other one had tousled black hair, both of them wore the House elf-liveries.

Harry smiled and held out his hand: “You must be Robbie and Bobby. Welcome to your new home.”

“Th-th-thank you, M-Master, Milord Mage. I’m Bobby and this is my mate Robbie. You aren’t going to separate us are you?” It was the fair haired one who spoke; almost inaudibly.

“No; we’ll not separate you. We’re like that too, as you can see. So, Robbie, I hear you know a lot about potions ingredients.” Draco also held out his hand.

“Y-y-yes, M-Master, Milord Adept. S-sometimes I helped to make potions too.”

The two elves crawled carefully up the bed towards the outstretched hands. Harry looked at Draco and indicated the space in between them with his eyes. Draco nodded. The result was that the two Magicals shuffled apart so that Robbie and Bobby were ensconced between them.

“I hear you made a rebounding-shield for holding roofs at bay. Would you like to tell me how you did it?” Harry asked Bobby quietly.

At much the same time Draco was encouraging Robbie to tell him about the potions he had made. That broke the ice. Both elves relaxed somewhat and the four of them chatted for about an hour.

“I think we’d better be getting up now, or Winky will be telling us off.” Harry smiled at Bobby.

“Reeve Kreacher says we have to help you here as well as at school. Is that all right?” Bobby looked worried.

“My father had a personal elf and he used to help him dress. I never had one, neither did Harry, so we’ll just have to work things out as we go along, won’t we?” answered Draco.

“Yes Master, Milord Adept. What’s first then?”

“We go to the bathroom and have a shower together.”

Robbie and Booby rose, taking off their liveries and scampered into the bathroom.

“That’s not quite what I meant, Love,” whispered Draco with a quiet giggle: “It might become embarrassing, especially like now as we’ve got morning wood.”

Harry giggled back: “They had, too. Didn’t you notice?”

“Oh! Well now, do I get to soap you or does my elf do it while I watch and wank?” Draco grinned ferally at his mate.

“For now, we soap each other, please. Later on; who knows …” Harry gave his love a quick ferrule-flip and ran off into the bathroom. He noticed their assistants taking in their waggling woodies, so he returned the scrutiny.

The elves had set out Harry’s shaving kit, and their toothbrushes; they had also turned on the shower water and regulated the temperature. Harry and Draco climbed in, before the door closed, both elves were under the water, too. Harry started to soap Draco and Bobby followed suit on Robbie. Draco huffed as he neared his third summation of the day, noting that Robbie was almost there too. Discharge over, the pairs swapped. Harry found it quite a turn on to watch his miniature undergoing the same treatment; it definitely added to the enjoyment when he came.

Ablutions finished, next came dressing.

“Master, Milord Mage. Why does Master, Milord Adept only wear a loincloth?”

“It’s a sign that he’s my vassal, Bobby. I think we’d better dispense with this Master, Milord business … Um … Kreacher calls us by our given names.”

“But he’s the Reeve, he’s allowed to. We can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not fitting. He’s your personal representative and that makes a lot of difference.”

“You shared the shower with us, and the other enjoyments, too. He never has.”

“As personal-elves we see you in private and all the revealing things, too. He won’t, at least from now on he won’t. Personal-elves keep their master’s secrets, even from the rest of the household.”

“So … That makes us friends, doesn’t it … Friends call each other by their given names.”

“It’s still not right Master, Milord Mage.”

“Don’t be such a stuffed shirt, Bobby.” Robbie gave his mate a light punch on the arm: “How about a compromise? You must admit it’s a mouthful. How about just Lord Harry or Lord Draco?”

Draco nodded to Harry.

“Okay, that’ll do to begin with.” Harry shrugged: “However, later on …”

###

Robbie and Bobby served breakfast, with Kreacher hovering in the background.

“Kreacher, are you supervising our two or is there something else?”

“I am keeping an eye on them slightly, however I thought I’d fill you in about the ones you’ll be interviewing.”

“Have you had that porridge yet?”

“No!”

“Right … Join us at table … we can have a working breakfast, so to speak.”

“Who … Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re my Reeve so you can do some advising. We may well only have this time for discussions when Draco and I start teaching. I imagine we’ll be expected in the main hall for the other meals.”

Kreacher drew up an elf chair [they were a little higher so elves could reach the table easily] and started tell the two Magicals about the applicants. Harry wanted to know about their former owners, mainly because he wanted to support the worse off if at all possible. The problem was that all of them had harrowing backgrounds so there was little to differentiate them.

“It’s a good thing that all of them are in the same need, Harry.”

“Why’s that, Draco?”

“Sentiment is not a good reason for choosing a decent worker. Skill is what you want.”

“Possibly, but rescued ones are more likely to be more loyal.”

Draco kissed Harry on the cheek: “You have a point, but we’re choosing on skill, nevertheless. They all qualify for your compassion equally, okay?”

Harry nodded back. Then they went into the drawing room to start the interviews.