Violet Potter and the Basilisk Plague (Year Two)

Chapter Twenty-One: The Chamber Of Healing

"Yes, I have brought you another new house-elf to assist with the cooking or perhaps the cleaning and upkeep of the castle, she has need of a new residence and of a purpose. Hogwarts can grant her both, and I hope you will understand this Doctus." Professor Dumbledore explained.

"But of course! Professor Dumbledore is the Headmaster of Hogwarts School, and Doctus is only a house-elf himself sir. Doctus never forgets how Professor Dumbledore gave him a chance when his former mistress turned out to be a very bad witch. A very bad witch indeed!" Doctus replied.

"Indeed." Professor Dumbledore agreed, remembering all of the chaos, pain, and suffering Druella Black once wrought in Wizarding Britain for several years before she'd been incarcerated in Azkaban Prison, and died there too. She had also tragically been responsible for the eventual deaths of Charlus and Dora Potter, by way of dragon pox infection, which was so often a slow and truly terrible way to go.

Doctus had been serving Hogwarts as the head of the house-elves ever since, and he began his interview of Tiny, which was kept very brief. Tiny answered that yes, she would appreciate the chance to work at Hogwarts, and yes, she had two masters before coming to Hogwarts. Even though the first master sold her to the second master and that second master had dismissed her, Tiny gave her word that everything she did would be even above and beyond the standards set for all Hogwarts house-elves, and what she didn't know, she would learn quickly when she really put her mind down to it. In the end, Tiny had gained a home and work which she would now be paid an actual galleon for every month. And instead of a despairing end, it was a new dawn, a new beginning. For most importantly of all, Tiny now had so many good friends---good people who actually cared about her and saw that she had worth.

As Tiny would later say to herself as she lay down on her designated elf cot for the night before letting some much needed slumber carry her on its' wings,
"Tiny has so many friends, Tiny likes freedom. Tiny hopes Dobby shall find freedom too..."

***

Once they had left the Hogwarts kitchen, Violet Potter, Victoria Maynard, and Professor Dumbledore were approached by Professor Sprout, who was followed by Devon Wolfe. She took a small vial out of one of the pockets of her garden-robe, and said excitedly, "Headmaster, girls, just take a look at this sample of the Mandrake Draft which Professor Snape has handed me for analysis, see what colour it has turned, this is very important..."

Violet looked at the very small amount contained within the vial. It was a very pale, almost pearlescent looking green. "With this colour that means...?" Violet began to ask, and Devon answered. "That means the Mandrake Draft is dragon-fire near almost ready. We need to find the other three ingredients in the Chambers of Destiny, Healing, and Time."

"Well isn't that wonderful news, Professor Dumbledore, we very nearly have our antidote for the petrified in the hospital wing!" Tori said happily. "And they will be all right! Just one question, where are the Chambers of Destiny, Healing, and Time?"

Before Professor Dumbledore could drop as much as a helpful hint, a screech owl (this one belonging to the Ministry), flew toward the Headmaster and dropped him a very official looking letter which had a silver wax seal with a very imposing M. Such a letter could have only come from one individual.

"What does the Minister of Magic want with Professor Dumbledore now?" Devon wondered out loud, looking apprehensive. "Never you mind about that, Mr. Wolfe. What is written in that letter is for the Headmaster's concern only." Professor Sprout admonished. While Professor Dumbledore's expression grew more and more serious the further down he read.

Then, Dumbledore folded up the parchment, tucked it away for safekeeping, and said, "The Minister of Magic is coming to Hogwarts. He is going to floo in via my office, accompanied by the school governor, Lucius Malfoy. I must hurry back at once and prepare for their arrival. Pomona, I trust you know what information to give to Miss Potter, Miss Maynard, and Mr. Wolfe?"