Forever | Harry Potter x Reader

The Mystery of Mr. Crouch

On Sunday morning, our quartet headed to the Owlery to send a letter to Percy asking about Crouch. After that, we decided to give Dobby a visit in the kitchens, showing him his new socks.

You could say Dobby was definitely excited. He began hopping around, waving his flashy star patterned socks in the air. The other house-elves gave him disapproving looks, but Dobby was too happy to notice.

"Harry Potter is too kind!" Dobby squeaks cheerily.

"You saved my life with the Gillyweed, Dobby," Harry says, thankfully. Dobby clasps his hands together and beams.

"Do you have any food?" Ron asks the house-elves. They eagerly went to bring him a tray filled with eclairs.

"You just had breakfast!" Hermione says, rolling her eyes.

I grab an eclair and take a bite. "Mmm," I say as the delicious vanilla cream melts in my mouth.

"Not you, too!" Hermione groans.

"I'll send some of these to Snuffles," Harry says, grabbing a few.

"Where's Winky?" Hermione asks, looking around at all the elves.

"By the fire, miss," Dobby says with a slightly more grim expression.

I look over to see her sitting on a tall wooden stool right next to the fireplace. Her clothes were ragged and her appearance was filthy. She was gripping a bottle of butterbeer and hiccuping. She looked to be just on the verge of tears. Hermione puts her hand over her mouth and gasps.

"Winky is unhappy, Harry Potter. Getting through six bottles a day. 'Tis very strong for a house-elf. Winky believes Crouch is still her master," Dobby says, shaking his head.

"Poor thing," Hermione whispers, shaking her head.

Harry hesitantly walks up to Winky, "Hey, Winky?" Winky's head shoots up with a hiccup. She looks at Harry with bulging eyes.

"Do you know anything about what Mr. Crouch is up to? He hasn't been judging the Triwizard Tournament," Harry says. Winky blinks a few times.

"Master—hic—s-stopped coming?" Winky asks.

"The Daily Prophet says he's ill," Harry says with a nod. Winky shudders.

"Master—hic—ill?" Winky says, her voice quivering.

"Well, we don't know for sure," Hermione says quickly, trying to comfort her.

"Master is needing his—hic—Winky!" Winky sobs, "Master—hic—can not manage—hic—by himself! Master is trusting—hic—his Winky with the—hic—most important secret!" Winky shakes, slopping Butterbeer down her stained blouse.

"What secret?" Harry asks, curiously.

"Winky keeps—hic—Master's secrets!" Winky points a trembling finger toward Harry, "You is—hic—nosing, you is!"

"You must not say that to Harry Potter! Harry Potter is not nosy!" Dobby says, angrily.

Swaying very heavily now, Winky stiffly replies, "He is—hic—nosing! Winky is—hic—a good elf—hic—Winky keeps Master's secrets—hic—people trying to—hic—pry and..."

Winky's eyelids droop without warning and she slumps, sliding off her stool. The Butterbeer mug clatters to the ground. Several house-elves rush over to cover her with a tablecloth, all of them looking at Winky, disgusted.

"We is all sorry you had to see that," An elf says, bowing it's head, ashamed.

"She's unhappy! You should be trying to cheer her up!" Hermione says.