Quote:
Originally Posted by
Berty Borr 
Lord Borr was uncharacteristically --- delighted. There was a grin on his face that he got only when a new batch of cookies arrived.
"So, I think we all agree," Lord Borr started, moving to hover over the little elf. "Mr. Wendleworth - give me an article of clothing, please."
Nicholai clenched his jaw slightly; he didn’t really want to free the elf- unless it was the elf responsible for the garbage. Nico was convinced it wasn’t; he could only hope that the others would help him convince Lord Borr of the same.
He watched avidly as the other students leaped to the defence of the elf; and Lord Borr became more and more infuriated. He spared an uneasy glance at the elf as it squeaked and called for another elf. Nico cringed at Maddox’s approach and blinked as another house elf appeared; waiting for Lord Borr’s reaction before he said anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Berty Borr "The headmistress is NO BOSS OF MINE!" Lord Borr's voice boomed, so loud that the panes of glass in the windows rattled. "I have rights given to me by THE MINISTER HIMSELF, thank you very much! I think you all - ALL OF YOU - forget who I AM! And YOU ALL forget where you are! Hogwarts is NO MORE!"
"I am LORD Borr, Berty Borr, a very busy and very important former Ministry official and best teacher ever of all time -- EVER EVER EVER! You all should be BOWING, not talking about some idiot little girl who only even has a job out of pity from her big, generous, very high up, brother! You all have been hoodwinked and mind-washed by her and her kind and I won't stand for it!"
"HOUSE ELF! Poop! I believe I I asked you to make a choice. I won't ask again. After that, I'll let my boys vote on your fate." Lord Borr shook the shirt at the other pestering elf. Vermin infestation in his office on top of the garbage, bah! "Put out that kid's pants, other Elf!"
“Sir, with respect,” Nicholai bowed, “Not all of us have been brainwashed – I myself have never met the headmistress.”
Unfortunately.
“But I know I am lucky; as we all are,” he glanced around at the other boys; making a slight face at Kingston’s shirtlessness, “To have the privilege of being taught by you; handpicked as you were by the Minister. And this lesson is an important one indeed- you are very clever sir to have the house elves demonstrate, so that we may recognise insubordination.”
Nicholai mentally crossed his fingers before he continued.
“House elves take pride in doing their work well and I have never known a house elf to out and out lie. I still stand by my statement; an insubordinate and incapable house elf
should be punished; but you sir, in your wisdom with this…
demonstration, have shown that this house elf is not the culprit; if it were it would have jumped at the chance of being freed. Of course we students are not clever and intelligent as you are; Lord Borr, and we do not know who the disrespectful miscreant is- though I am sure an important gentleman such as yourself
does know and we are being tested- I humbly request that along with whatever homework you choose to set us sir, you allow us to find out who the real culprit is…perhaps someone who is disloyal to the ministry or even jealous of your great importance, Sir. And if we do not discover who is responsible then we will have clearly failed you.”
Nicholai bowed once more; knowing that this could go either way and hoping that the other boys would help him…and the elf.