Homecoming from Hogwarts

"Dead?"

Harry asked blankly,

"But why?"

In fact, they can figure it out on their own without Dobby answering. The house elf lying on the table looked very old. The layers of wrinkles on its skin were much more serious than those of Sirius's Kreacher. Moreover, the white fur on its body was The length was also the most exaggerated among the elf Harry had ever seen.

"Should we-"

At this moment, Hermione also forgot about what she asked Dom and Dobby to study. Her voice was light. It can be imagined that she was a little overwhelmed in the face of this unexpected situation.

"Shall we call Professor Blaine over?"

When Hermione was at a loss, the first person she thought of was Professor Brain. After all, she and Professor Brain had saved Regina and Dom together.

However, both Harry and Ron were a little unsure about how to deal with the current situation. They were hesitant about who should take care of the death of the house elf.

But then, something surprising happened to them.

Rega, Dobby and Dom beside them, and even Winky, who had been immersed in being kicked out, stopped crying at this time, slowly got up and walked towards the elf, and the busy elves in the kitchen also put down their hands. With the work in hand, he rushed to the little elf's side.

No one was directing, but the elves showed a high degree of order. They gathered around the table and stared with respect at the elf whose life breath had left its body.

"Oh, they are-"

The atmosphere was very solemn, Ron said softly,

"They should be paying homage to it. It really surprises me. I thought they wouldn't care about this kind of thing!"

"This undoubtedly shows that -" the light in Hermione's brown eyes became determined, "they are no different from us, and they will feel sad for the departure of their companions."

Hermione was about to say something else, but then the house elves started singing.

Just like the mournful songs that appear at funerals when a wizard dies, the tunes hummed by the house elves in unison are full of sad meanings. Moreover, the tunes are melodious and very ancient, and they don't sound at all like those used in the wizarding world today. Music spread all over the world.

"Is this their tradition?"

Ron said in surprise,

"You see, Dobby and Winky can also sing, and even Dom can sing. This is probably the same as house elves who are born to work."

Hermione gave Ron a look to tell him to shut up.

To be honest, this scene is really amazing. The people in the castle certainly could not have imagined that while they were sleeping, a house elf funeral with great fanfare was being held in the kitchen of Hogwarts. Harry remembered that in his second year, Nick, who was almost headless at that time, had invited the three of them to attend his five-hundredth birthday celebration. To be honest, it was a very bad experience.

About two minutes later, the mourning song stopped, and the house elves bowed to the dead elf in unison.

"This is the highest courtesy among house elves, sir, ma'am—"

The solemn atmosphere dissipated a bit, and Dobby, who was standing in front of them, turned his head and answered them in a low voice, "Only those house elves who have served the wizards diligently all their lives can receive this honor after their death--"

Dobby looked a little sad, his lips murmured but did not speak. Harry knew very well that Dobby was probably feeling sad for himself. An elf with wages and holidays like him was simply a shame in the eyes of his companions. It's definitely not a diligent person.

Hermione showed dissatisfaction with Dobby's statement.

"What will you do next?" Ron glanced at Hermione cautiously and whispered, "You definitely won't bury it in the kitchen, right?"

If a house elf really did this, Ron shivered violently. He couldn't imagine that the delicious meals he enjoyed every day were made on the grave of a house elf.

"Oh, no, sir -" Dobby shook his head, "House elves don't bury their dead like wizards do, we usually, oh, here they come -"

The two house elves closest to the long table lifted the deceased kindred off the table. Then, the elves stepped back with great tacit understanding to make way for the two elves. Harry and the others also backed away quickly. When I got to the stove, I tried not to disturb the elves' ritual.

Under the watchful eyes of the three Harrys, the two elves carried the body to the large fireplace where they had just been talking.

"Oh--"

Hermione frowned.

"If it is cremated, wouldn't it be too impolite to use a fireplace? You should take it to the venue above, and then notify the people in the castle. Professor Dumbledore, Professor Blaine or Professor McGonagall, they It's the Headmaster and Vice-Headmaster of Hogwarts, they should at least have one. Ah!"

Hermione let out a scream of terror before she could finish her words. The two boys, Ron, were so frightened by what happened next that they almost jumped onto the fireplace. Harry even took out his wand and pointed it at the two boys. The elf's face turned blue with anger!

Harry thought that these two elves would send their dead kind to the fireplace to be burned, which was unacceptable enough, just like burning garbage, but unexpectedly, one of the two elves suddenly burst into laughter. Snap your fingers!

A ray of silver light flashed past the body that was glowing red in the firelight, grunt! Boom!
  The head of an old, lifeless house elf fell to the ground. After rolling several times, it landed at Dom's feet. And the headless body was just as the three Harrys expected. , was thrown into the fireplace.
  "What are you doing!" Harry yelled angrily, "Why do you want to take away its head!"

Harry pointed his wand at the elf who had done something, and was about to step forward to ask for an explanation. However, Dobby grabbed Harry's robe.

"Sir!" Dobby made a silent gesture to Harry and winked at him, "This is also the tradition of house elves. Sir, only house elves who work conscientiously and fulfill their duties for wizards can survive after death. Such an honor.”

Harry's face suddenly turned red. This habit was ridiculously over the top!
  Maybe it was a coincidence that Ruijia and Dongmu were standing together. Dongmu seemed to be frightened by the head at his feet. It stared at the head blankly, with light flashing in its eyes. But strangely, Ruijia was using He looked at Dongmu with encouraging eyes.

Without anyone's instruction, Dongmu slowly bent down and picked up the head, which was still bleeding.

"What are you doing, Tom!" Hermione exclaimed, "Put that head down. I mean, put it down!"

To Hermione's surprise, Dom resisted her order for the first time since he was born. It stared at the head she was holding, its eyes full of respect.

"I'll show you the way--"

Ruijia said softly, and then, it looked at the similar ones around it in warning, and pushed them away from Dongmu.

"This is also an honor, Miss Granger. It is difficult for a newborn elf to resist such an honor. Miss Granger--"

(End of this chapter)