Unexpectedly Expecting

34: Laying A House Elf To Rest

I had to carry Dobby's dead body home with me via the floo network, and that had not been without difficulty because Smocky had been absolutely devastated when she found out about Dobby's murder. I didn't know much of anything about how house elves handled their dead, but Lark had said that they were buried, same as with witches and wizards. Draco and Luna insisted on coming to the funeral once they received the owl post telling them of it, mostly at Luna's instigation, because she adored all magical creatures almost as much as Hagrid did. I popped off a letter to him as well, and he arrived via the floo network, due to him not being allowed to use magic legally.

He didn't feel altogether comfortable in the Manor, so I had the house elves arrange for him to erect his travel tent on the veranda so he would be close to the ocean. The house elves were in a state of clear mourning, because Dobby had been much loved by my staff, and anyone couldn't help but like him once they got to know him after a while.

Hagrid insisted on having the funeral be this oddly grand but endearing affair, and we all went along with it. I finished up what homework I had to send off my essays to Hogwarts via owl post, and did some Manor accounting in the office. Thank the gods I had a computer to assist with this, because at least in this respect I was part of the modern era, and it sure kept me organized, although I ardently wished that I could email my Professors like any muggle would even if they weren't studying online.

Draco popped his head in the office, and he smirked at my rapid typing. "I didn't think my Uncle would let you use such a blatantly muggle invention."

I favored him with a smirk, "Uh huh. And I'm sure you aren't enjoying the invention of the central air and heat in this house. Has Hagrid finished arranging the flowers as he was agonizing over which ones to use for an hour?"

Draco laughed. "Hey, I didn't say that the muggles haven't invented some cool creature comforts, I'm just saying that my dad wouldn't dream of using one in the Manor. And the answer to your question is yes. Luna made him not use tentacula plants, she said strangling the funeral attendees was not a smart idea."

I typed for a bit before answering. "Thank Merlin for small favors. I'm glad someone around here can rein in our fellow gentle half giant." I finished up my work, saved my files, and put my computer on snooze. I sat back and rubbed at my suddenly dry eyes. "Who else is coming?"

"Dad, Weaselby, Crabbe, Goyle, and I think Weaselby is bring his Lav Lav," Draco reported.

I rolled my eyes at that. "Oh, goody. Just what I needed, Lavender Brown's shrill saccharine voice giving me a migraine during the funeral. I saw on the Weasely family tree in the Tapestry Room that Ginny and Neville jumped on the baby train."

He whistled. "Longbottom works fast. I didn't think Weaslette would go for him...or anyone to be honest."

"He slept with Luna first."

"Yeah, so? She had to initiate it, and it took a few times for him to warm up to the idea of doing bedroom stuff to a witch."

"I'm just saying that if they show up it might be weird to your wife to see her ex."

"Ah. I get it, just like seeing Weaselby will be for you," Draco reasoned. "I'm not worried about it, Luna and I are together that's all that matters, just like you and my godfather are together now."

"You're right," I hugged him. "It's only for one day, right?"

Draco kissed my cheek. "Right. Are you ready to go?"

We released each other. "Nope, but I have to be, I suppose..."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨