The Book of Magical Tales (HPReadathon2017)

Tabby the House-Elf

Tabby the House-Elf lived with witch, wizard and their young child. Normally in a story, it says that the main character lived a lovely and peaceful life. This story however, is not one of those. Tabby lived a horrible life. She was treated disgustingly, abused both mentally and physically. Her wizarding family would shout abuse at her, even if she wasn't doing anything. She got the blame for everything, especially since the wizarding family had had their young child, who kept saying Tabby was the one breaking the vase and the window and the new broomstick and the cauldron... 

But Tabby couldn't get away from this horrible life, she lived to serve this wizarding family until the day she died. She didn't like the wizarding family and every time she thought this she banged her head against the wall until she knocked herself out. She mustn't insult her master and mistress! She lives to serve the magnificent wizarding family!

One day, the wizarding family were sitting in the living room. It had been a peaceful day for the wizarding family, they had had a mouth-watering breakfast which was made by Tabby, who woke up at four in the morning to prepare it. They then went outside in the garden and played a game of exploding snap while Tabby cleaned the house. The child then wanted to play some Quidditch and accidentally-on-purpose hit Tabby with the Beaters bat, even though he was playing chaser. They then went in for some lunch, which then again was prepared by Tabby, who had accidentally used tomato paste in the sandwiches instead of jam because her head was still throbbing with pain from the beaters bat. Tabby was then thrown in the dark kitchen cupboard. She didn't whine or complain though. Tabby was a good House-Elf and would never say anything bad to her master and mistress. 

The day went on and the wizard and witch had decided that they wanted to go out for dinner by themselves. They got into their posh wizarding robes, which was made with the finest silk you could buy and their posh wizarding hats. The child stropped around and screamed at his parents, saying that he wanted to go as well and that it wasn't fair, and that his parents were horrible. They calmed him down and said they would buy him a new broomstick if he behaved. His tears vanished and he gave them hugs before they left. As they went out of the door and got ready to apparate, the wizard spoke his concern for his son.

"He'll be fine." The witch reassured him. "Tabby's there to look after him."

But they had forgotten to tell Tabby that she was allowed out of the cupboard.

Hours and hours passed and the wizard and witch were still not home. The child was bored and hungry and went into the kitchen to get some food. The witch and wizard had thrown away all the sweets and there was only some soup left in the cupboard. The child looked around for his parents wands, but they had taken them with them, so he had to heat his soup a different way. He lit the stove a put the soup in a bowl on top of the stove, then left the kitchen to get his old broomstick. He was sure he had left it in his bedroom but it wasn't there! Minutes later he found it in the attic and then went downstairs. When he came back into the kitchen however, it was on fire! He had left a tea towel on the stove and it had started a fire! He went to run but was trapped by the fire spreading to the door! He screamed as loud as he could, hoping someone could hear him. He couldn't do anything! He didn't know how to apparate and there was nowhere he could fly to with his broomstick! He screamed and screamed and screamed- Until Tabby broke out of the cupboard, ran towards him and grabbed ahold of him then apparated outside the house! 

The witch and wizard came back to a burning house and their crying child. They bombarded Tabby with questions and she explained as quick as she could- also telling them that they had forgot to tell her to get out of the cupboard and apologised for disobeying them. But then something unexpected happened- the child hugged her! 

"If Tabby didn't save me, I would have died!" The child said in between tears. "Thank you Tabby!"

From then on that day, the wizarding family looked back on their actions and asked for Tabby if she could forgive them. They realised that all House-Elves should be treated with respect and kind-heartedness, because even though they are a different species, they have thoughts and emotions just like any other wizard. 

The End.