Lord of time (chapter 41-107)

55

"I can't believe you just paid three hundred galleons to Rookwood for those House-elves!" Tom hissed out in exasperation after they landed back in Peverell manor. He'd kept silent despite his earlier surprise when Harry opened his mouth, he didn't even attempt to negotiate the price. Something had caused Harry to stiffen and outright demand the House-elf he'd agreed to receive and its bloody parents, using the excuse he wanted the House-elf to be trained further to please the Peverell Lord properly, appropriately for his station. Tom knew it had been a lot of nonsense, but Rookwood had eaten it up and the contracts had been altered and signed. Rookwood didn't even try and demand more money for the creatures either. It was almost as if he had just dealt with two stubborn full of heart, bloody Gryffindors.

"It's Dobby, Tom," Hadrian said seriously, "My Dobby; I didn't put it together...not until I heard his name. Dobby belonged to the Malfoy family and what did Abraxas say in his letter to the others?" as soon as he'd seen those eyes and that face he'd known it to be true. While House-elves were similar in appearance, like the goblins, there were ways to tell them apart. Hadrian himself had never had trouble doing that, he suspected it was mostly due to the fact the Pureblood's didn't bother giving them any attention whatsoever. Abraxas had reluctantly allowed Rookwood to give the House-elf to Hadrian instead of getting it as an alliance between the families. Mostly in an effort to appease Tom since he could not do it from Hogwarts anymore.

"I see," Tom replied understanding dawning, Hadrian wasn't loyal to many people from his past, obvious since he'd been betrayed, but there were a few people he was fond off, and Dobby was evidently one of them. He had died to save Hadrian in the past; inwardly he thought it pathetic when he saw Hadrian crying over the dead House-elf, the scene not Hadrian, nothing about Hadrian could be seen as pathetic. He would have to make sure those thoughts never see the light of day. Admittedly he did feel grateful to the House-elf; he had saved his soon to be bonded after all. His lip curled, he was NOT getting fond of House-elves.

"Follow me," Hadrian told the House-elves, moving swiftly through the living room into the dinning room and through to the kitchen. He made his way to the cupboard, the one the House-elves would be using. Unfortunately there was only one bed, he had only planned on having one after all, but it was easy enough to transfigure a few pieces of wood into a bed for them. He had plenty of wood, especially in the corner of the kitchen; its primary use was for the fires. Grabbing two pieces from the large bucket of wood he made his way back over slipping into the cupboard he transfigured the wood into frames.

The frames were the right size for a House-elf, putting them in place he moved out of the cupboard, ignoring the exasperated yet amused look on Toms face. He summoned the box he'd put the discarded stuff in and levitated out two of the mattresses and cleaned, sterilised and practically good as new before shrinking them down, just as he had done with the one already in the cupboard. It might be useful to keep the stuff; there was plenty of space to put them in some sort of storage just in case they came in handy. He also added a few of the throws he didn't like on top of the bed, if they didn't like them well he knew how good they were at sewing and that, they could make their own.

"The bond will not be done until tomorrow morning;" Hadrian informed the wide eyed House-elves, "By then, both me and my partner will be bonded so you will belong to both of us. It will also give me enough time to get you some...uniform without it being considered freeing you." they were not keeping what they had on right now, it looked as if it was some sort of old short skirt that they'd changed into something to wear, which was utterly filthy. "You are now Peverell House-elves and your clothes will reflect well upon my name,"

"Where exactly are you going to get something for them? There is no House-elf clothes shop you can just wander into and purchase what you need." Tom pointed out dryly.