Popsy had just finished adjusting the water in the bath, as she used to do since the bonding. “Does Master or Mistress need anything else?” she asked, as usual.
“Why do you call us Master and Mistress? We are not your masters, and we could really set our water right by ourselves, you know.”
Popsy seemed to be frightened by the idea. “No, Mistress. It would be very unbecoming for you to set the bath. I’m assigned to your quarters and I’ll feel very bad if you don’t let me do it for you. I wish you would have needed my services more, really. It’s not becoming a house elf to be idle.”
Hermione wouldn’t budge. “But Popsy, we are not your masters. You have nothing to fear even if you do nothing for us.”
Popsy shook her head. “Mistress doesn’t understand. We, house elves, need to work. If we
