Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

38

Hermione had made her way back home, silent than ever before. She didn't know how she could look her Grandma in the eyes after hearing what Delores had said. And what if Delores lied to her? What if Delores was just saying that to make Hermione hate Elka as a way to get back at Elka? It was too confusing even for Hermione. Just as walked through the door, she could hear her Grandma calling her. 

"Hermione is that you?" Grandma Elka called. Hermione hurried into the living room to find Grandma Elka at the table with tons of pieces of parchment and a quill and ink bottle. Grandma Elka peered over her glasses as she sighed. 

"So how was Delores? Still bitter about me?" Grandma Elka asked while she scratched something off her list. 

"What are you doing Grandma?" Hermione asked, curious. 

"Oh, I work part time at Honeydukes making their goodies' recipes. Sometimes they are so busy they don't have time to make it at their shop, so I offered to bake it at home for a small payment. Of course, I also do some other odds and end jobs around Hogsmeade. Just some things to do in my free time." Grandma Elka stated, "I just finished making the Chocolate Frogs..." 

Grandma was cut short by a scream coming from Hermione's Mom. 

"Which your Mother is not a big fan of." Grandma Elka stated as she set her quill down, "So about Delores?" 

"She was-- interesting." Hermione said. Grandma Elka removed her glasses before leaning back in her chair. 

"What did she say?" Grandma Elka asked. 

"She said something about an incident involving a student being murdered--" Hermione started when Elka jolted in her seat. 

"She told you that! Why am I not surprise she went straight for that? She's always been mad at me for asking for her help." Grandma Elka growled. Hermione's eyes widened as her jaw dropped. 

"Grandma you tried to cover up a murder?" Hermione asked. Grandma Elka shook her head. 

"OH! No, no, no, no... it wasn't like that. It was a complete accident! I swear! The boy was only defending himself. Now, I'm not defending his actions, mind you... I'm just explaining what happen. That kid... that bastard actually was bullying the poor boy all because of he was a Slytherin." 

"That's it? There wasn't nothing else?" 

"Oh! The Houses at Hogwarts always had a tiff with Slytherin because we're considered the oddballs out of the four. But, yes! And even Slytherins teased him a lot because of a rumor about his parents wanting to get him out of the house. Everyone was always taunting and teasing him.  He didn't feel safe at Hogwarts... except for when he was around me, of course. I didn't care one bit and was furious at how people were allowed to behave like that." Grandma Elka told her, "As you may have guess, the boy just... had enough of being tormented and ended up in a duel with the kid. Well... one thing lead to another and a misspoken word later... and well... there it is."

"Why didn't you explain it to the teachers or whoever was in charge?" 

"Because even the teachers showed favoritism towards their Houses, I hate to say! I'm sure you even witnessed it yourself." Grandma Elka suggested. Hermione nodded her head, remembering how Snape favored Slytherin over Gryffindor. 

"You see... the victim was a Gryffindor, and I and the boy were Slytherin. If you are a Gryffindor, you were already marked as a good person and that no way could you do anything wrong... but if you were a Slytherin, that marked you as a psycho and destined to be murderers. I could have a thousand files on hand filled with enough proof to show how the kid was rotten, but no one was going to believe me when I told them it was self-defense. The justice system in the wizarding world is bad... worst than the muggle's justice system." Grandma Elka declared. 

"So what happened?" 

"The poor boy was sent off to Azkaban. Oh, the worst place on the earth. Thankfully, last time I check, he was able to get out. They finally listened to my letters that demanded he got out on parole. Guess they were tired of my nagging." Grandma Elka stated to Hermione, "I hope you don't see me as a horrible person because I did what I thought was best." 

Hermione just stood there, unable to grasp what she had just heard. Her Grandma covered up for a murderer. She claimed it was self-defense but she was so filled with doubt how was she to know what's the truth. Hermione excused herself so she could have a moment to think. She rushed up to her room and when she entered, she noticed she wasn't exactly alone. There was a creature sitting on her bed, staring at her. For a moment, no one spoke. Hermione cleared her throat. 

"Er-- hello," 

"Hermione Granger!" The creature said, "So long has Winky wanted to meet you, ma'am... such an honor it is..." 

"Um... thank you." Hermione replied as she edged over to her desk's chair to have a seat, "I'm sorry... who are you?" 

"Winky, ma'am, Winky the house-elf." Winky told Hermione. Hermione nodded. 

"And-- what are you doing here?" 

"Oh, Winky has come to tell you, ma'am... it is difficult, ma'am... Winky wonders where to begin..." 

"Why don't you sit down?" Hermione asked her. The elf looked like she had been insulted and started to burst into tears. 

"S-sit down?" Winky wailed, "Never... never ever..." 

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you or anything!" 

"Offend Winky? Winky deserves to be offended. I'm not the greatest house-elf." Winky said, which made Hermione heart break a little. 

"Don't say that! You seem like a very sweet elf." Hermione told Winky, "What kind of horrible person would want to insult you?" 

Suddenly Winky seemed to went nuts as she wobbled over to Hermione's dresser and began banging her head on it. Hermione gasped as she grabbed hold of Winky and pulled the struggling elf away from it. 

"What are you doing? You could have hurt yourself!" Hermione shouted at Winky, horrified of what she had done. 

"Winky had to punish herself, ma'am..." Winky whimpered, "Winky almost spoke ill of her family..." 

"Your family?" 

"The wizard family Winky serves, ma'am... Winky is bound to serve one house and one family forever..." 

"Do they even know that you're here?" Hermione asked, wondering why would they send their house-elf to her home. Winky gulped. 

"Only one of them, ma'am." Winky admitted, "The one, who sent Winky to give you a message. But the others must not find out. Oh, the others would be cross if they were to find out... Winky will have to burn her hands!" 

"What do you mean? Wouldn't they notice if you burnt your hands?" She asked, a bit furiously. 

"Winky doubts it, ma'am." 

Hermione felt her stomach twisting in disbelief at what she was hearing. How could her so-called family allow this madness and abuse. 

"Why don't you leave? Escape?" Hermione asked. Winky gasped as she clutched her head in her hands. 

"House-elves must be set free, ma'am. But Winky doesn't want to leave. Winky's job is to serve wizards!" Winky told Hermione. Hermione attempted to convince Winky to tell her how she could help but Winky interrupted. 

"But Winky must give her message! Winky must inform Hermione Granger she must not come back to Hogwarts!"