It was several weeks after my brilliant idea to combine arithmancy and runes with computer codes and I was back at the office, working on something I'd wanted to do for a while, now.
"Inky, Dobby, thank you both for coming," I said, looking at the two House Elves who'd appeared in front of my desk when I'd called for them. Remus was standing nearby, watching things with an intrigued expression on his face. He knew about my idea and even supported it, and was curious to see if it would play out like I hoped it would.
"Of course! Young Master Eddy called us, and we answered!" Inky said, Dobby bobbing his head in agreement, causing his ears to flap wildly.
"So, I have a few things I wished to discuss. The first is getting more House Elves. You two have been a blessing, but as my company grows, we'll need more."
"That won't be easy, Young Master," Inky said, a sad frown on his face. "Other House Elves do not often leave their homeses."
"True, but that is a long-term plan," I admitted. "The second item is just as important, and the one we can deal with now."
As the House Elves tilted their heads to the side, I took out a sheet of paper from my desk and passed it over to Inky. He and Dobby looked at it curiously. On the paper were a different couple of drawings of outfits, sized to fit House Elves.
They were tuxedos with sharp dress pants designed to look like cute little butlers crossed with a bellhop's uniform. Very cute.
"I know it's against the rules for House Elves to receive clothes from their owners, but there is nothing that says House Elves can't make their own clothes," I said. "As I said, my company is going to grow. And having employees – which you two are – means they also have to look good and present themselves properly. I can't have employees wearing literal rags."
"D-does this mean… we can haves regular clothes?" Dobby asked, looking up at me with wide, watery eyes.
"Yes, it does," I nodded. "Harry agrees with me on this. Go ahead! Make your own outfits! That design is what I think would be best for you two to wear when working. I took your preferences into account."
"M-master Eddy!" Inky gasped happily. "Y-you mean it?"
"I do. Inky, Dobby, feel free to make your own clothes," I said with a nod. Both of them trembled before bursting into tears of joy, touched by my kindness.
"I'm surprised," Remus said after the House Elves stopped bawling and popped away to grab materials to make their new outfits. "You actually pulled it off."
"It helps that I'm not technically either of their… I hate to use the word 'master,' but it is what it is," I replied. "I'm glad that it worked."
I leaned back in my seat. "Plus, they will look snazzy dressed up like that!"
"True, those little uniforms you drew were very cute," Remus agreed.
"Now, I have a date tonight," I declared. "It's Valentines Day, after all."
"No need to rub it in," the werewolf said, rolling his eyes.
"Sure, sure, you and Sirius enjoy Singles Appreciation Day," I drawled. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"No worries about that," Remus snorted.
I waved him off and then left my office to get ready for my date with Delilah back at the apartment.
The two of us had been going strong, having dates on and off all the time, as well as meeting up while on campus at Oxford. We both had our own circles we ran in, but we had some overlap. Eating lunch together every Tuesday was nice.
Dressing up in a nice outfit for my date tonight – not too fancy, but not too casual – I headed out and hailed a cab, which dropped me off at the place we'd chosen for the first part of our date; the movie theatre. Afterwards, we'd hit up a nice restaurant.
I spotted Delilah standing near the entrance and walked over to her, greeting her with a wave.
"My lady, your chariot awaits," I said, giving Delilah a cheesy grin as I offered her my arm. She grinned back.
"That's not much of a chariot," she snickered, glancing at my arm.
"But I am a wild ride," I shot back, waggling my eyebrows. She snorted in amusement at that, but took the offered limb.
It was a bit unconventional to watch a horror movie for a Valentine's date, but we both wanted to see Bram Stoker's Dracula, and we weren't the only couples in the movie theatre watching it. Horror flicks were a great way to have ladies cuddle up into your side, after all.
Afterwards, we went to a restaurant I'd made reservations at. It was a nice place. Good cozy atmosphere, not too expensive, and it served a good salmon steak, something I knew Delilah really liked.
When dinner was finished and we both left the waiters big tips, we decided to walk around for a bit before heading back to my apartment for dessert.
Yet as we were walking down the road, I caught a glimpse in a window's reflection of four faces peering out at us from across the street. And they way they were looking at us gave me a bad feeling in my gut.
"You know, I've seen those men twice this evening in different places," Delilah whispered into my ear, having noticed them as well. "Near the movie theatre and when we were headed to the restaurant."
"Kidnappers? Again?" I asked incredulously, trying not to glare at the men in the window's reflection, lest it give away the fact I was on to them.
"Could be," Delilah replied, also doing her best to avoid looking at the quartet. "Though they could just be observing us."
"Why?" I wondered.
"Maybe my father wants to keep an eye on me, make sure I don't do anything to 'disgrace the Hunt name,' or maybe it's Sir Briar trying to spy on you to steal secrets," Delilah shrugged.
I grunted at that. Mr. Hunt was an unpleasant man. He was very prickly and considered anything that might stain his honor, or rather, his bizarre and backwards definition of honor, to be an evil to be stamped out, ignored, or mistreated until it could be useful to him.
That, unfortunately, often included his wife and daughter, both of whom he seemed to despise. Mrs. Hunt for having an affair – even though it wasn't her fault at all Lucius Malfoy had abused her in secret, erasing her mind with magic after the fact – and Delilah for being born of said 'affair.' It was an uncomfortable situation, but I put up with it because Mr. Hunt had connections I could make use of. And also because I liked Delilah, and she loved her mother, who still loved her husband despite everything.
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