Chapter 72 - Midnight Snack (2/2)
”Actually, I was wondering if we could make a deal,” Rowan rather muffled asked, before swallowing. ”By the way what is your name?”
”Habbey, Miss,” the male house-elf joyful said as his wing-like ears flapped eagerly.
Ignoring the fact that his ears reminded her of Dumbo, Rowan replies, ”I'll come down here on some nights to teach all of you some recipes, but in exchange, I can come down here anytime to eat anything I want?”
The house-elves unanimously nod their heads as Habbey elegantly said, ”We only live to serve, Miss,” as the other house-elves squeaked in agreement.
”Excellent, then I shall write a couple of recipes down that don't require my being here,” Rowan said. ”Now if someone would just jot them down while I eat that would be great.”
A few house elves rush off and soon between mouthfuls, Rowan has described how to make a tres leches cake, risotto, pizza with a soft, thick crust, vegetable curry, and spaghetti with rich sauce and meatballs. The house-elves are in awe as Rowan kindly suggested, ”All of you really should go and ask Headmaster Dumbledore for one day a month off and a galleon per week.”
The house-elves instantly take a step back and eye Rowan warily as if in embarrassment. ”Please don't misinterpret my words,” Rowan hastily said. ”It is to help you to better your art of service. The money is to be used to purchase ingredients or spices that may not be readily available including a suggested list of cookbooks to better thy knowledge. And as for the day off, well, how can you compare your level of service without tasting the works of other competitors! I don't offer freedom, but the prospect of how to better thy service skills!”
The house-elves seem shocked as if the idea had never occurred to them as the idea was simply mind-blowing to them. Had they really been left behind and were no longer able to properly service their masters? The very thought caused their bodies to shake as maybe for the first time in their lives curiosity and interest was born to better improve their art of service.
”I mean, that's what the muggle butlers do,” Rowan persuasively said. ”Not only are they dressed impeccably, but they train for years in every art to master the art of perfect service. Surely, you aren't any less capable, are you?”
”But we only live to serve!” Protested Toppy in indignation.
”Exactly, it is a modern age after all and you cannot remain as in the past,” Rowan argued. ”To better serve as house elves, you must all up your art of service so to speak.”
The house-elves whisper in undertones until they finally come to a conclusion. They all push Habbey forward as he straightened up and says, ”We have considered thy argument and after some resistance on our part, we finally concluded that we can only ask for two silvers per month.”
Shuddering Habbey distastefully and rather quickly adds, ”And shall request one day off per month to be taken in shifts for the kitchens cannot remain empty.”
”Excellent,” Rowan said out loud as she darkly thought. ”That ought to stump, old Dumbledore.”
With a happy sigh, Rowan licks her lips clean and pats her satisfied belly. ”Well, I best be going,” Rowan said as a crowd of elves suddenly appear with cream cakes and pies.
”Goodness, no, I just ate,” Rowan protested. ”But I look forward to coming back to see the results.”
”We shan't fail to serve!” The house-elves said in unison. Waving goodbye, Rowan exits the kitchen into the brightly lit hallway. The moment she is out, Rowan teleports back to the girl's bathroom. With a happy sigh and happy stomach, she ignores the cold and happily climbs back to bed. Because sometimes, the best kind of food is a late-night snack.