A Bag of Galleons

The first time he stepped into the large, gloomy looking manor, he knew he was about to have the worst life he could get, but he was not one to complain. He was brought up to do his job well and sounding empty gongs was something he never did, as he was after all, a house elf.

He first entered the wizarding world looking for a job to support his family. And though the elf community of which he came from told him that wizarding families treated all elves like slaves, he knew it was a sacrifice he had to make.

So, on the day his son was born, he told his wife he was going to meet with the Trader. The Trader was a man who dealt with all the magical creatures’ trades, whether it be mystical objects of magical creatures itself.

For elves, he would pay them 100 hundred galleons and give them a home to work in for the rest of their lives. It was a one time pay for a life time of work and hardship, but the elves knew what they were signing up for, and their loyal innate nature made them live up to their part of the deal.

Castel was like many of the elves who sought out the Trader and brought home the bag of galleons. A week later, he was called to meet the Trader at a small town near his community, where he was given paperwork to sign before he was told that he was going to meet his new master, and that the black car waiting outside the tavern was for him.

As he got into the car, Castel knew he was never going to see his family again, but he had a gut feeling that someday, he might meet his son. And though he could not be a father to his son, he knew he had provided enough for his wife and child to survive for a long time. He also secretly hoped that his son would not have to be a house elf like him, but his hope was merely a bubble waiting to be burst for a magical creature like him.

20 years later, Castel received a letter from his wife, which he had to sneak into a dusty old cupboard to read. It said on the letter that his son was going to look for him and bring him home. His wife mentioned that she did all she could to stop him but his son was as persistent as he was.

Partly proud that his son took after his determination, he knew that that determination was going to lead them into a spiral of problems, but it was out of his control. He could only hope that his son would never find him and that he would not cause a domino affect that would cost Castel a week of blistered fingers and toes.

Unfortunately, Castel underestimated the intelligence of his son, and found out from his fellow house elves that his young boy had met up with the Trader for information. And on that very same evening, Castel opened the front door of the Malfoy Manor to a young house elf with perky ears, in a well dressed suit, who smiling widely at him.

“How may I help you?” Castel asked, hoping it was not his son he was speaking to, even though he knew it was.

“I’m looking for my father, his name is Castel,” the young house elf replied.

“Dobby?” Castel asked softly, as he took quick glances around the front porch.

“Father?” Dobby replied excitedly, and a little too loudly.

“Hush now,” Castel said as he exited the house and led Dobby behind a large rose bush. “What are you doing here? You should go home!”

“I’m here to bring you home father,” Dobby replied, still with a smile on his face.

“I can’t go home, it’s not part of the deal. You have to leave Dobby, leave now!”

“But you’re getting old. You can’t keep working. Surely there’s a way to let you go home. I even have a bag of galleons to free you!”

“Money won’t free me Dobby, I can only go if my masters give me new clothing,” Castel explained, still in whispers.

“Then lets ask them!” Dobby replied, and immediately walked into the sight of a little boy.

“Hey! Elf! Who are you? You don’t work here,” the boy shouted as he ran over.

“I’m Dobby, Castel’s son. And you are?” Dobby asked the blond headed boy, who was around the age of 9.

“I’m Draco. Your father’s young master,” Draco replied slowly, emphasizing each word as he spoke.

“Well, I’m here to ask you then to let my father come home with me,” Dobby said boldly, as Castel failed to silence him in time.

“Castel is not going anywhere. Now, go fetch me a glass of orange juice, elf,” Draco ordered.

Castel was about to rush off to the kitchen when his son demanded, “You do not speak to my father like that. You have to show some respect!”

Draco merely laughed. He then gave Castel a hard kick in the stomach and when Dobby wanted to react using his magical abilities, Castel shouted, “Dobby, enough! No more of this nonsense!”

“But father-“

“You do not know how this works. Clearly you do not understand my part of the deal. Now please, leave. And don’t cause any more problems for me,” Castel said, as he looked away from his son. He was sure to put a hint of disappointment in his tone, but he started regretting doing so immediately.

“Problems? What problems?” A voice came from behind them that very moment, and Castel recognized the intentions behind it.

Still stubborn and determined to bring his father home, Dobby immediately replied, “The only problem is that my father is too old to work and I want him to come home.”

“Well, of course he can, if you would take his place,” Lucius Malfoy said with a smile so false that even a troll could tell that he was pulling a con, but Dobby however, was too ‘intelligent’ to even spot a con and agreed before Castel could even object.

Advertisement