"You mean the world to me, Harry," whispered Daphne tenderly. "A few years ago, you were just the boy hero from the children's' stories my mother used to read to me when I was a child. You were the Boy-Who-Lived, but you are more than just an icon to me now. We have gone from being casual acquaintances to friends to best friends and finally to romantic partners. I deeply love you, Harry and I can't stand the thought of losing you. Please don't do something like this again. I won't be able to handle it."
"I'm sorry," whispered Harry, cupping her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. "I didn't know, I swear."
Daphne smiled slightly as she leaned down to kiss him softly. Harry reciprocated, his kisses full of warmth and love he felt for her as wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
Harry and Daphne complemented each other, completed each other. Both of them were not perfect and would never be perfect, but they were perfect for each other, which in the end, was all that mattered.
...
Twenty minutes later, Harry and Daphne were having dinner in the kitchens. Just as they were finishing dessert, they saw five elves sitting in a corner, drunk. The other elves were giving them worried looks, and the Head Elf was looking at Harry strangely, wondering if he could solve their problems as Dumbledore was not at the castle for the moment.
"Trixie, is there a problem here?" asked Harry, bending down to one knee so as to be level with the elf.
The Head Elf nodded hesitantly. "There is a problem at Gryffindor Tower, Master Harry," she said softly. "The bushy haired Gryffindor is giving clothes to elves. Trixie be wanting to explain to her, but Trixie is scared of the bushy haired girl. She has set four elves free by tricking them to take clothes while we clean Gryffindor Tower."
Harry's eyes flashed with anger. Hermione Granger had been going on about house-elves and slavery over the past month, but no one had paid any attention to her. But to think she would do this!
"What about the fifth elf?" asked Daphne.
"That is Winky, Mistress Daphne," said Trixie. "She used to be the Crouch elf, but her master be giving her clothes. She is very sad and wants a real family."
"How is it that those elves were freed when Granger gave them clothes?" asked Daphne curiously. "Your bond is with the castle, and you report to Harry and the Headmaster."
"We serve the students, Mistress Daphne," explained Trixie. "We be bonded to the castle which houses the students. When any student intentionally gives clothes to free us, it be the same as a master giving us clothes."
Harry nodded in understanding as he stood up. He went over to the depressed elves and said, "Do you four want to bond with the castle again?"
"Yes, Master Harry!" said one of the elves desperately. Tears leaked from the elf's big eyes as he said, "The bushy hair be trying to kill us!"
"Calm down, Floppy!" said Harry. "I'll take you back. Winky, would you like to work here or do you want to work with a family?"
"Winky would want to work with family, Harry Potter sir," said the elf miserably.
"Well then, I have a master who would be delighted to have you," said Harry with a hint of a smile. "At Ravenclaw Tower, you'll find a second-year student named Dylan Lestrange. Go to him and explain what happened and tell him that I would like him to bond with you. Explain why it must be done and then go to Potter Castle. My elves will give you a job to do, okay?"
Winky's face brightened immediately. "Thank you, Harry Potter sir!"
With a pop, she was gone. Harry turned to the others. "I, Harry James Potter, Lord Gryffindor-Slytherin, do hereby take back these elves to serve the residents of Hogwarts School. I also give an order to all the Hogwarts house-elves that any clothes intentionally given to you by the staff or students will not affect you unless you wish to be set free."
There was a small magical discharge and the elves were suddenly feeling better as the bond from the castle helped them recover. They immediately hugged Harry's legs, making him smile.
"I'll take care of the Granger problem," said Harry as he and Daphne walked out of the kitchen.
"I can't believe her," said Harry, sounding annoyed.
"It is because of Muggle-borns like her that the rest of them suffer," muttered Daphne, as Harry made a noise of agreement.
....
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