A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 33 ~ Elves R Us

The next day, Severus let his morning class out half an hour early so he could go to Diagon Alley during his lunch hour and speak to Miss Petunia Pickles, the proprietor of “Elves R Us” an establishment that matched suitable house elves to suitable masters…for a small fee of course.

The elves at this establishment were all unbound and basically utilized Miss Pickles services to locate masters. Hogwarts had enough elves and was no longer accepting any more. Elves had to be housed and fed as well, so although they were helpful and excellent servants, the school couldn’t maintain them.

Petunia Pickles reminded Severus of Delores Umbridge in manner of speech and dress, although she was not toad-like. She had the air of a socialite however, and was a woman of about eighty and rounded. There was a distinct air of superiority about her and she studied Severus rather shrewdly as the Professor sat down in her office, handing her the application form he had filled out.

“Thank you, Mr. Snape. Here at ‘Elves R Us’ we match our elves to potential masters based on what skills are most needed. Highly skilled elves are a bit higher priced as far as our ‘finder fee’ goes. But a good, loyal house elf is worth it.

“Are your elves bound to this business?” Severus asked the witch.

Petunia shook her head.

”Oh no. All of our elves are free. They’ve registered with our service in search of masters of their own volition. Most have quarters in the basement and maintain my place of business for the time being, although some are “rented” out for parties, home maintenance and the like,” the witch replied.

As if on cue, a little green house elf entered the room and bowed to Severus and Petunia, then produced a cloth and began dusting.

Severus thought Petunia had a good thing going here, particularly renting the elves out. Since they received no pay for their work, it was mostly profit for the company sans their food and board. Hermione would have a fit if she knew about this.

Petunia looked over Severus’ application.

”I see you are in need of a ‘nurturer,’ an elf with experience caring for expectant mothers, newborns and children in general as well as the upkeep of a home and…”

She peered at the list.

”One who can shop,” the witch said.

”Yes, he may need to pick up a few items from time to time,” the Potions Master said.

”So, will he be caring for your wife?” Petunia asked, picking up a quill.

Severus thought about the honesty wards of the rental applications he had filled out. He didn’t want to go through that again.

”Ah, no. She is not my wife,” the wizard said.

Petunia looked up at him.

”Your betrothed, then?” Petunia said, her eyes narrowing slightly.

”No. She is an acquaintance of mine,” Severus said.

This was true. He was very acquainted with Hermione. Every inch of her.

But Petunia frowned.

”Mr. Snape, is the person the elf is to be bound to a single mother bearing an illegitimate child?” she asked the wizard pointedly.

”She is not married…no,” Severus said.

The little elf who was wiping down tables paused for a moment, looking at Severus keenly. Petunia saw him.

“Eli, tend to your chores!” she snapped at the elf, who trembled and bowed.”

”Yes, Mrs. Pickles,” the elf squeaked, applying himself to the underside of an end table with gusto.

Petunia looked back at Severus and gathered his paperwork together neatly.

”I’m sorry Mr. Snape, but we have nothing to suit your ‘particular’ needs,” the witch said, a disapproving look on her face, “We like to place our elves in stable, suitable environments with proper masters and mistresses. I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

Severus rose and left before he said something scathing. Even in this sector, Hermione was ostracized. The dark wizard strode from the office, the little elf looking after him.

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Severus walked toward the apparition point. It looked as if he’d have to get an elf from Hogwarts. There was nothing wrong with the elves there, but he wanted one that had experience with pregnant witches and newborns. House elves were extremely fast at learning new service, but he would have been more comfortable knowing Hermione was in capable, experienced claws.

“Um, excuses me sir,” a small voice squeaked behind him.

Severus spun and saw a little house elf looking up at him a bit fearfully.

”Yes?” the Potions Master said, scowling at the little creature.

”Eli begs your pardon, sir, but Eli wonders if your Miss would likes to binds with me, sir. Eli is a good elf, and has much experience with mothers and children sir. Eli raises six children very well sir…until…until the Death Eaters takes them sir. Takes everyone. Eli tries to saves them but couldn’t sir,” the elf said, his ears flattening, “But is a good elf sir. A very good elf that loves children sir.”

Severus looked down at the elf. So he lost his family to Voldemort. Poor little fellow.

”Aren’t you from ‘Elves R Us?’ The elf that was cleaning the office?” the wizard asked him.

The elf bobbed.

”Yes sir. That was me sir. Eli thinks the witch needs service badly, very badly. Is not good to be a witch alone, sir. Eli can helps. Eli can helps and comforts sir. All babies is beautiful sir and deserves to be loved, sir. Eli has love,” the elf said, bowing his head.

Severus looked at Eli thoughtfully.

”I take it your name is Eli,” the Potions Master said.

”Yes sir,” Eli responded.

”Well Eli, the Miss I am speaking of doesn’t approve of house elf servitude. Will you be able to bond with her despite that?” the wizard asked.

Eli shook his head.

”No sir. No elf can binds with a master who does not want servitude,” the elf replied.

”I see,” Severus said, disappointed.

Then suddenly Eli looked very sly.

”But Eli can binds with the child she carries if Eli is in service to you sir. If Eli binds to you Eli is bound to serves your offspring,” the elf said a bit conspiratorially.

Severus arched an eyebrow at him.

“Are you saying Eli, that you will serve the mother because of the child she carries?” he asked him.

”With my very life, sir,” the elf replied, a little fierce look on his face.

Severus considered the elf. He was quite…Slytherinish. He liked that.

“But what about Miss Pickles? I don’t think she will approve of you serving me,” Severus said to the elf.

Eli stood up his full height.

”Eli is free. Eli would rather serves a master who needs me than lives in a basement doing worthless service. Miss Pickles has no holds on Eli. Eli will serves a worthy master. One who shows concern for a witch with no one,” the elf said firmly, then his ears flattened a bit as if he realized he was being too forward, “If you will haves me, sir.”

Severus mouth quirked at the elf. He had never seen one who has such a sense of independence.

“Eli, I believe you have found a master,” he said to the elf, who looked up at him, smiling horrendously, all his sharp little teeth showing before he did a frightening little dance of joy.

Suddenly he stopped and began to glow. A tendril of golden light suddenly flashed from his body and wrapped around Severus, squeezing him tightly, then snapped back into Eli, who then bowed low.

”I is in your service, Master,” the elf intoned, looking up at the wizard, “In service to you and yours for always.”

The Potions Master looked down on the elf.

”Very well. Come with me,” the wizard said, turning and heading for the apparition point.

Eli did another little dance and followed his new master, grinning like a little imp.

He was in service again. Good service.

He would not let his master down.

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Eli stayed in Severus’ private rooms, taking over the duties of the Hogwarts’ elves, which caused quite a little row between him and the other elves. Apparently, house elves were very territorial and Eli would not stand for any elf entering Severus’ rooms to collect clothing or bedding or do any cleaning.

“This is MY master’s domain. You wills not enter!” Eli would say, snarling viciously at any elf that dared put one scaly foot in the Potions Master’s quarters.

After a couple of physical altercations which Severus had no idea about, the Hogwarts elves got the message, saying that Eli was just as snarky and bad-tempered as his master.

Severus went to the local bookstore and after perusing the shelves chose a book about pregnancy entitled, “So Your Wife’s Having a Baby,” to familiarize himself with what Hermione was going through and what to expect. He frowned at the title, but the book was clear and concise so he purchased it and spent much time studying it.

It helped him feel less ‘out of the loop’ concerning Hermione. He wanted no surprises.

He would stop by the Three Broomsticks every evening for an hour or so to check on Hermione, without Eli of course, and he stayed the weekend. However, he wasn’t intimate with Hermione though he slept with her in his arms because she needed contact. Ever since he found out about the pre-labor contractions, he was concerned that sex could negatively affect the witch and explained this to Hermione.

She wasn’t happy about it, but since he did stay and provided some contact, she accepted it.

Hera was quite pleased as she watched the couple sleep, Hermione curled up in the wizard’s arms, Severus’ hands resting protectively on her belly. Yes, he was coming along nicely. It wouldn’t be long now…though it was unlikely they would marry before the baby was born. The child would be the final push to wake him up and realize that he had something precious in his life. A witch who loved him and a child that would look up to him. Something the wizard never even dreamed of.

Clothos, Lachesis and Atropos had set up a mirror in their cavern set to Hermione constantly. The witch showed no sign of any foul play. Her thread was still connected after all and she was healthy.

But that could change very quickly.

The Fates would make sure it would at the proper time.

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Realtor Goode Sails was as good as his word, and the following weekend, Severus, along with his solicitor finalized the purchase of the house. The Potions Master then went to Knockturn Alley to see Cedric. He only wanted one item from Hermione’s old flat. The crib.

”The flat was ransacked. Everything was either taken or broken,” Cedric simpered to the tall, scowling wizard.

”What about the crib?” the Potions Master demanded.

”It’s still there but in bad shape,” the proprietor replied.

“Take me to the flat,” Severus said to him.

Cedric shuddered with delight at how commanding the wizard was. If only he were into men. Cedric took the Potions Master to the flat and let him in. Severus’ eyes washed over the mess, then he strode into the bedroom.

The crib was overturned, several slats broken and the bedding was gone. The potions bottle mobile lay on the floor beside it. It wasn’t damaged however.

With Cedric watching, Severus pulled out his wand and pointed it at the crib.

”Reparo,” he said, restoring it.

He then reduced the crib and the mobile and pocketed them.

“Thank you,” he said to Cedric and left the flat without another word.

Severus apparated to the newly purchased house, let himself in and placed the crib in the bedroom next to the master bedroom Hermione would occupy. He attached the mobile to it, then with one pale finger, spun it gently…a small smirk on his face.

Then he left to tell Hermione they had to go furniture shopping.

Furniture shopping with Hermione was a great ordeal at first, the witch checking price tags and passing on items Severus knew she wanted. The witch was thrifty, but Severus believed if you bought good quality items they would last, so would be a better investment. Finally after trying to persuade Hermione not to look at the price tags, the wizard went to the manager and asked him to remove the prices from all the items in the store, slipping him a few galleons to close it to the public for an hour or two.

The manager knew a good thing when he saw it, and promptly did as the wizard asked when Hermione went to use the loo. She seemed to have to pee all the time now. When Hermione returned, she found no tags on the furniture.

”How am I supposed to tally everything up?” she complained, craning her neck to locate the manager who was no where to be found.

”You aren’t,” Severus snarked, “That’s my job. Just pick out what you want, Hermione. Good gods. Why does this have to be such an ordeal?”

”I just want to make good buys,” Hermione said, once again making the rounds of the store.

Finally, two hours and a very grumpy Severus later, Hermione finished shopping. Severus promptly sat her down in a comfortable armchair to rest while he paid for the items, warning her that if she attempted to come anywhere near the counter while he was completing the transaction, he’d put a binding spell on her.

Her arms folded, Hermione stayed put, scowling at the wizard for not letting her know what he spent, which was a pretty galleon.

Eli was waiting at the house when the furniture arrived and imperiously told the delivery wizards where to put everything.

”Pushy house elf,” one wizard said to another as they carried a heavy sofa from one part of the living room to another.

”Yeah, but he has to be satisfied or we won’t get paid, Marvin…so lift,” the other wizard replied, moving the sofa into the new position.

Finally, Eli contacted Severus and told him the house was ready for occupation. Severus promptly packed Hermione up and took her home.

Severus had not yet seen the house furnished. He opened the door and let Hermione in, the witch’s eyes going round. It was beautiful.

“Oh Severus, when did you…who is that?” Hermione suddenly said, frowning and pointing her finger at the corner of the room.

Severus looked, then paled. Damn it…he forgot to tell Eli he had to stay out of sight. The house elf was grinning broadly at Hermione, then walked up to the witch and bowed low, his hand on his heart. Then he straightened.

“I am Eli, Miss. Eli serves the house of Snape,” he announced, a pleased expression on his face.

Hermione spun on Severus.

”A house elf, Severus?” she said to him, her hands on her hips and belly protruding.

”Yes, a house elf,” Severus snapped back at her, not about to be cowed, “You need help, Hermione. You are due anytime now. I won’t have you in this house alone…something…something could happen to the baby.”

Hermione stared at Severus then turned to Eli.

”I don’t want an elf serving me,” she said to the little creature.

”Eli serves the house of Snape,” the elf repeated, “And the offspring of Snape.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the elf.

”So that means you will serve me regardless because of my child,” she said to him.

Eli grinned and nodded.

Hermione spun on Severus.

”Where’d you find a Slytherin house elf?” she demanded as the wizard smirked at Eli. Both of them had their arms folded.

“Actually, he found me. My application for a house elf was turned down because…well because the proprietor felt I wasn’t bringing the elf into a proper situation,” he said delicately.

Hermione’s mouth turned down.

”She didn’t want to give you an elf to serve an unwed mother,” she said.

Severus nodded.

”Then Eli followed me out and told me he loved children and that he thought you needed help and he wanted to serve you and our child. He left ‘Elves R Us’ without consulting Miss Pickles to come here. When I told him you wouldn’t accept a house elf, he told me he would serve my child in your womb if he bound himself to me. So you see, all this was his idea,” Severus said, pawning the blame off on Eli smoothly.

Hermione looked at Eli, her face softening a bit.

”You wanted to serve us that badly, Eli?” she asked him softly.

”Oh yes, Miss. Eli loses his own family in the bad times. Misses them badly. Eli has much love for a baby, Miss. Much love for a mother and baby, Miss,” the elf said earnestly, “I knows how to care for both. Don’t be angry, Miss. I is only here to helps, so you is not alone and the master will not worry,” he said.

Severus looked at Hermione a bit uncomfortably, not saying anything. Eli had hit the quaffle on the head with his statement. He didn’t want Hermione to be alone while he was at Hogwarts.

“What…what do you do, Eli?” she asked the elf.

”Everything. Eli cooks, cleans, washes, shops and knows how to care for mothers and babies. I will takes good care of you when the ankles swells and the back aches,” the elf said knowingly, “Will rubs your feets, draws your bath…”

”All right, all right Eli. You’re here now…and…and yes, sometimes I do wish I had a little help…so welcome,” Hermione said.

Eli did another scary little dance, Hermione looking at him wide-eyed for a moment, then she smiled.

”We is going to be fine, Miss…you, me and the little one,” the elf gushed, “I go to make food now.”

Eli suddenly winked out.

”Food?” Hermione said.

Severus shrugged.

“He must have gone food shopping,” the wizard said.

“But…but I don’t eat everything Severus, you know that,” Hermione said doubtfully.

Hermione needn’t have worried. Since Eli was bound to Severus, he knew what the wizard knew, which meant he knew what kind of foods Hermione liked as well as some very dark secrets. He also understood what had occurred between his master and the witch to bring them to this point. The elf also knew something else.

That Severus Snape loved Hermione Granger, but didn’t know it himself.

Yet.

Good house elves always acted in the best interests of their masters, and it wasn’t just regulated to physical service. They took care of their emotional well-being as well.

The Miss was good for the master…when he recognized he loved her…she would be even better for him. So helping his master see his love was also on the little elf’s agenda. Once he married Hermione, Eli could bind himself to her as well, since she would be of the House of Snape. Then all would be right and good.

Hermione and Severus moved through the house, Hermione exclaiming over how nicely everything was set up. They entered the kitchen and found Eli had made it wonderful and functional, gleaming pots, pans and utensils hanging from hooks in easy reach, spices set neatly in racks and labeled and little stools around the island so they had someplace to sit and eat if they didn’t want to use the dining room.

Severus pulled open the cooler and studied the contents.

”I think you have nothing to worry about witch,” Severus said, looking at all the fresh vegetables, fruits and sliced meats as well as other items like cheesecake and pickles.

Hermione looked in the cooler and almost squealed. She liked everything Eli had provided. She looked at the elf, who was making ham sandwiches.

”Eli how did you know I liked these foods?” she asked him.

”Eli has many secrets,” the elf replied obtusely, smiling at the witch.

”Eli will take good care of the Miss,” he said, looking at Severus who looked very, very pleased.

Hermione had her help.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.