Chapter 150 - – A free house elf?! (2/2)

Sirius blinks a bit surprised at Rowan's tone of voice and stammers, ”I didn't mean anything by it.” He'd heard this all before at the Prince manor, but he hadn't really thought much about the topic since then. Nor really paid much attention to her response back then.

Rowan's face softens a bit as she sighs, ”I know you didn't, Sirius. But still, don't just assume things about house elves merely because they enjoy serving wizardkind. That certainly does not mean that they don't deserve our respect nor deserve to be treated as such.”

Lupin and Pettigrew both cock their heads at Rowan as if curious. ”But don't you have house elves, Rowan?” Lupin asked having been regaled with tales by Sirius of what Prince Manor was like.

”Yes,” Rowan replied. ”Our family has three technically.”

”What's that supposed to mean?” Pettigrew blurted out in curiosity as his family didn't have any.

”Well, Dawn is our female house elf, but she just had a baby, Laldey,” Rowan said as she paused to graciously accept the food and drink from Topsy. Taking a sip, she waits for the boys to have a bite of their arriving food, before continuing, ”And then there's Tadbey.”

”And what's so special about his Tadbey?” Pettigrew said with a mouthful of food.

”Tadbey is a free elf, of course,” Rowan said with great relish as she watched their eyes almost pop out.

”House elves can't be set free they'd go mad!” James declared in utter bewilderment.

”Well, this one is,” Rowan said with a shrug.

Sirius nervously eyes Rowan and says, ”And what's he like?”

”Rather well-read,” Rowan mumbled as she took a bite of her cheesecake as she let out a soft sigh in approval. ”And he is always properly dressed in a crisp ironed white shirt.”

Pausing to take a sip of her delicious hot cocoa, she adds, ”Plus he's paid too.”

Sirius wildly begins to choke as Pettigrew roughly slams his back as James just openly gapes at the wild concept. Lupin, on the other hand, nods his head in approval.

”Well, I think that's quite progressive of your family, Rowan,” Lupin said. ”I think that's it should be. A house elf should have a choice to be free or not. And even if they choose to be free or not, they deserve to be properly treated. I think most wizards and witches look down upon house elves simply because they are submissive and willing to serve.”

James and Sirius look rather guiltily as Sirius protests, ”But Kreacher is so old and evil. He doesn't like anyone except Regulus!”

”And why is that?” Rowan sarcastically said. ”Could it possibly be because he's the only one who treats him right? Oh goodness me, a house elf with feelings.”

Sirius flushes rather brightly as James softly says, ”Well, our house elf is treated like my nana, she's been with the family ever since I can remember.”

”And do you say thank you?” Rowan pointed out as she took another bite with her fork.

”Well, no,” James sheepishly said.

”I am not asking anyone to set their house elf free,” Rowan murmured. ”Merely take the time to say thank you, a kind word or gesture. I'm not going to force you to change your present relationships, but at least be as considerate with them as you would with any other stranger.”

Rowan pointed at the house elves before them with her fork. ”Why just look at them,” Rowan said. ”They're quite happy to serve but look at the light in their eyes. They've also done something for their own. They've seen the world learned new things and tried to better themselves in their own way. And who knows, maybe, we'll one day even have house elf, public servants. And I do believe they'd be rather good, since they're quite loyal and faithful to the establishment so to speak.”

James and Sirius appear through their minds have been blown away by the novel idea, while Pettigrew merely shrugs and digs in. The topic did not concern Pettigrew very much nor impact him. Lupin, on the other hand, hides a smile and continues to eat. Either way, it proved to be a rather silent meal for the rest of their remaining time in the kitchens.