Chapter 4

Grace wants to give “Grace” a thumbs up as she chooses Muggle Studies as one of her electives, not Divination and Arithmancy.

She went to Muggle Studies with the others. She’s trying to integrate and make some connections, and it’s best to start with her Gryffindor house.

She talks to other students from other houses, sometimes she would help them understand Muggle gadgets. ‘ I can still use this time to plan how to deal with Malfoy. ‘

Hermione looks around after taking a seat but doesn’t see Grace.

*

“Harry, did you see Grace?”

“No.”

“Maybe she chose other electives,” Ron said.

“Arithmancy?” Hermione felt that maybe Grace really went to Arithmancy.

“Maybe. Divination seems… rubbish,” Ron commented.

Hermione sighed as she started to regret choosing Divination.

With class over, Grace hesitated to walk towards the library. She wants to learn how to cast the Patronus Charm from Professor Lupin but doesn’t know if it’s appropriate to suddenly knock on someone’s office and ask them to teach her the spell out of nowhere.

Finally, she chose to go to the library first and try to study it on her own. After entering, she politely greeted Madam Pince before looking for the books she needed. She picked up a few titles, like Charm of Defense and Deterrence by Professor Catullus Spangle, Intermediate Transfiguration, and A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration by Emeric Switch.

She found a deserted corner and buried herself in her studies. She felt much more comfortable, studying always helps her unwind and distract herself. She read quickly and keep taking notes of important details in Charm of Defense. The book had only a few pages, but its content was rich and interesting.

Grace absorbed as much knowledge as she could as she’s starting to find it interesting. After finishing the book, she checked the time and saw it was almost lunch. She returned the book, then borrowed the transfiguration titles to study more.

Instead of going to the Great Hall, she went directly to the Hogwarts Kitchens. She looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then hid and waited for two minutes to be certain.

The entrance is hidden behind a magical painting of a bowl of fruit. Grace tickled the green pear in the painting, which made it giggle and transform into a door handle, allowing her to go in.

Inside, it was a vast, high-ceilinged room with stone walls, a large brick fireplace, and tables matching those in the Great Hall. Food prepared here magically appears on the tables above.

Over a hundred house-elves paused their work upon seeing her, bowed respectfully, and looked at her with expectant, happy expressions.

Grace was startled by their sudden bows and quickly reached out to help the one nearest her. ” Please, you don’t have to be so formal. Let me introduce myself, I’m Grace Ashworth, but just call me Grace,” she said, smiling gently at the house-elves.

” Miss Grace, what would you like to eat?” one of the house-elves asked.

” I actually came to look for Winky, but can I join you sometimes? I know some dishes that taste really good,” Grace said enthusiastically.

” Yes! Miss Grace, you’re so kind!” shouted one of the house-elves wearing two brown socks.

” Then can you help me find Winky first? I need to talk to her.”

” Miss Grace!” Dobby suddenly popped up. “Winky is over there, she kept crying. Dobby loves freedom! Winky is free now, but she keeps crying. Freedom is good!”

” Why is she crying?” Grace pretended not to know.

” Because she’s free now!” Dobby answered, leading Grace to Winky.

Winky was sitting by the large brick fireplace at the far end of the room, on a stool, mourning her former master Barty Crouch Sr.

” Winky! Miss Grace wants to talk to you!” Dobby said, but Winky ignored him.

“BWinky?” Grace called out, but she was ignored too. After a moment’s thought, she asked Dobby to leave her alone with Winky for a while.

Once no one was paying attention to them anymore, Grace moved closer to Winky. She wasn’t sure why she felt compelled to do this, but seeing Winky cry, and knowing the reason, made her feel that simply keeping her company was like giving comfort to her own past self, when she was young and alone in an unfamiliar world.

Winky cried and cried, but the girl beside her didn’t say a word, she just sat down next to her. Winky looked at the girl, who seemed sad, and felt that she should smile instead of looking so down.

” Winky is a good house-elf,” Grace said when she noticed Winky was watching her.

” Master doesn’t like Winky anymore. Winky is bad,” Winky said through her tears.

” Winky, you are good. It’s just that sometimes life gives us twists and turns to help us meet the right people.”

” Right people? Does Miss want to find the right person?” Winky asked curiously, forgetting to cry about her master for a moment.

” No, but I’m looking for the wonderful Winky to serve me food because I’m hungry.”

Winky’s eyes widened, then filled with tears again. Her small frame straightened up a little as she clutched her apron.

Sniffles, then bows deeply.
“Miss… Miss says Winky is good? Winky… Does Miss really want Winky to serve you? But Winky is not good…”

” Winky is good, and I want you to serve me food. In exchange, I’ll pay you for your hard work.”

” No! house-elves don’t need pay!”

” But it’s important. Everyone needs money, you could buy beautiful clothes, try other delicious foods, study them to create your own recipes, or buy gifts for friends and loved ones. There are so many benefits.”

” But.. but house-elves already serve their masters.”

” Winky, I’d feel guilty seeing you work so hard without anything in return. It would be like letting you walk through fire for me while I stay safe doing nothing, it would make me feels worthless. I can’t ask you to serve me if you don’t accept payment,” Grace explained carefully. She could tell this was a difference between how things worked in the wizarding world and what she was used to.

‘ I can’t make big changes as I know I’m not capable enough, my knowledge in Wizarding World is still too little. ‘

Winky looked up with wide eyes. ” Miss wants Winky to serve her, but if Winky wants to serve Miss, Miss has to pay Winky?”

” Yes,” Grace said, smiling happily.

” Miss really wants Winky to serve her? Oh! Oh, Winky is so happy! Master may not want Winky anymore, but Miss wants Winky’s help so much! Winky is not bad after all!” Winky finally stopped crying.

” So, Winky, are you willing to be paid?” Grace asked.

” Yes! Yes! As long as Winky can serve Miss, Winky is willing to be paid!”

After saying this, she hurried toward the kitchen tables, bustling excitedly.
“Miss is hungry! Winky will make the best food, tarts, puddings, roast chicken, whatever Miss likes! House-elves make the finest meals! Winky will even send it wherever Miss needs, even that come-and-go room Dobby talks about! Winky is a good house-elf now, yes she is!”

Grace laughed happily as she watched Winky.

Dobby looked at Grace with amazement.

” Miss Grace, you’re amazing! Winky is happy! Miss is great! Dobby is happy too!” Dobby said excitedly.

Grace changed her plan and decided to eat in the kitchen before heading to her next class.