Extraordinary (Sign it Series; BOOK 2)

Chapter 30

Simon had no idea where Maddy was leading him, but wanting to delay the inevitable detention that was looming, he didn't say a word, he just ran.

He could still hear the high-pitched scream of Umbridge. The dog-whistle type sound was not something he would be forgetting any time soon.

It was almost like parkour for the two, Maddy had Simon jumping over railings and skipping five or so steps at a time before she finally stopped.

"Why'd we stop?" Simon whispered, nervously observing his surroundings. Maddy shushed him, and stepped towards the painting closest to them and tickled the pear. A door handle appeared, and Maddy swung the fruit bowl portrait open, climbing inside, and gesturing Maddy inside.

"Madeline Lupin!" A small voice cried as Simon shut the portrait behind him. "Keany is so very happy to see you!"

Maddy gave Keany a large smile, and knelt down to give the little elf a hug.

Simon wandered around the room, taking in the multiple house elves busing themselves. "Is this the kitchens?"

He was met with a nod from a small house with more hats on his head than Simon could count. He was standing next to a small house elf on a stool, who was holding a bottle of butterbeer, seemingly drunk. "This is the kitchens, sir. I'm Dobby, sir. And this is Winky. Winky isn't very well."

"Hi, Dobby, and Winky," Simon said quietly. Next to him, Maddy stood up. "I'm Simon, and this is Madeline." It felt odd to call Maddy, Madeline. Simon didn't even know if he ever had before, but Keany had called her Madeline, so it seemed to fit.

"Keany helped Madeline Lupin when Madeline was little!" Keany proudly stated. "Though Keany failed." He was on the verge of tears.

You didn't fail, Maddy tried to reassure the little elf. Simon, tell Keany he didn't fail.

"Maddy said you did just dandy, Keany," Simon repeated.

Keany rushed across the large kitchens to get something, while Dobby looked at the small S.P.E.W. pin Maddy had forgotten she'd pinned on her jacket to appease Hermione, "Is that a pin from Hermione Granger?"

Maddy looked down, before nodding, she elbowed Simon, and signed, Hermione had given it to me over the summer when she started the group. which Simon repeated aloud.

"The other house elves won't clean Gryffindor tower because she hides these hats," Dobby gestured to the pile on his head, "Dobby cleans it, and Dobby takes the hats for Winky and Dobby."

Simon's eyes narrowed as if he were counting them. "You mean, those are all the hats Hermione knitted?"

"Simon and Madeline mustn't tell Hermione Granger."

Maddy gave Dobby a thumbs up before signing, promise.

Simon also agreed as Keany came rushing back with a tray of an assortment of biscuits and cookies. Maddy grabbed a chocolate chip one off, thanking Keany as she took a bite.

"I'm alright," Simon declined as politely as he could. "So, Dobby, you said Winky isn't well?"

Dobby nodded solemnly, "Winky's been very upset since her Master gave her clothes. Winky is drinking too much butterbeer." As if to demonstrate, Winky took a large gulp of butterbeer.

Noticing Simon's confused look, Maddy elbowed him in the ribs, and balanced her cookie between her teeth, Butterbeer can get house elves drunk, not us.

Simon nodded, "Well thank you all, but we should get heading back to our dorms. I appreciate it, really. This is a pretty wicked space you got here."