A/N: WARNING!

This last chapter might be triggering to some in this time of uncertainty and isolation. Nothing bad happens, but certain things that are said and described might be considered triggering.

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Hanging up his jacket, Sirius picked up the stack of papers he'd left laying on his bed.

"How did it go with Garth?"

"He accepted and I'm pretty sure he already has most of the new owners in mind," smiling, he placed the stack on the pile of houses dealt with, eyeing the small pile still left before turning away from the desk to greet Tiffy.

"Tiffy glad, did he give yous trouble?"

"Not half as much as I was expecting, which cements it to me that Remus' stubbornness has nothing to do with him being a werewolf and he just likes to be difficult."

"That surprises you?" The clear amusement in Tiffy's voice made Sirius choke back a laugh.

"Not really," he admitted, accepting his school robes as she held them out to him and slipped into them. "Where are you supposed to be?"

"The lavatory."

"And Moky is just letting you skip out on that?" Shooting her a knowing look, he took a seat on the ground to be on her level.

"Moky is a slave driver," she complained as she dropped down beside him. "She is always giving Tiffy the meanest chores."

"Well, you are the one who skips out of her chores the most," biting back a smile at her glare, he leaned back against his bed.

"Only because yous keep getting hurts."

"I don't get hurt half as much as you claim I do, you just use that excuse to get out of doing the chores you don't like."

"Maybe, but she doesn't knows that," the mischievous grin made him roll his eyes fondly.

"If I end up on Moky's naughty list, then I'm blaming you. What did I do this time?"

"Yous hurt your hand in Herbology and are refusing care from Miss Pomfrey."

Nodding in acceptance, he held out his hand so that she could bandage it up to support her story. "How long do you want me to keep it on?"

"A day or two," happily wrapping his hand in bandages, Tiffy looked up to him. "Will yous stay at the castle now?"

"Unless something comes up, I should be at the castle all month outside of work," inspecting her handiwork once she was done, he wiggled his fingers a little. "What exactly did I do?"

"Got bitten by a Venomous Tentacula."

"Moky must think I'm disastrous at Herbology with all the accidents I supposedly have there," barking out a laugh, he shook his head fondly. "Did we even deal with those today?"

"Yes, Moky doesn't know yous left the castle," patting his now bandaged hand fondly, she looked up to him in consideration before pulling out a piece of parchment written in Elvish. "Could yous sign this?"

"Moky wants written confirmation now?" Accepting the pen she held out to him, he quickly signed without bothering to try and translate and she pocketed the parchment again; her smile faltering. "Tiffy doesn't like yous are out there."

He could pretend that he didn't know what she was talking about, but that would be a lie so he just sighed. "I can't sit back and do nothing, not if I can help in some way."

"Tiffy is scared," the sudden softness of her voice made him sigh and he half turned to take her hand.

"I'm being as careful as I can and right now all I'm doing is sharing information I overhear."

"Last week yous were called to heal someone," she reminded him. "Theys pulled you right into their war without hesitation and it was nots the first time."

"It is my war, too, Tif, sooner or later I will be pulled into it whether I like it or not. At least this way, I'll be as prepared as I can be."

"Wes been training for as long as yous been here," she looked down at their hands. "Tiffy just hates nots being there when yous are."

"What do you mean? You want to fight?" She had never stuck him as the fighting type, even though he knew she was more formidable than most would believe possible.

"No," her little hand tightened in his. "Soon yous will leave me and Tiffy won't know how yous is doing."

"What? You think I won't come visit you and Peeves?"

"Whos will make sure yous eat well, take care of yourself?" Large blue eyes looked up to him, ignoring his tease. "Tiffy can see you vaporize at sight, it's horrible."

"I do actually eat even when you're not around, you know that, right?" Biting back the snort wanting to escape at her clearly disbelieving gaze, he said. "I do."

"Nos, Tiffy can just see it. Siri, so thin, stepping into broken pieces of glass, cutting himself open on ragged edges and losing what little bloods he has."

"Once...I stepped into glass one time that you know of and that was only because you scared me," he protested. "And didn't we just agree you make up half of the injuries I supposedly sustain just to get out of your chores?"

"So much blood and no ones to take care of injuries like Tiffy does," her high voice broke and tears appeared in those beautiful blue eyes, making Sirius' heart skip a beat at the sudden pain in them.

"I'm not….you act like James is not as an insufferable overprotected mother hen as much as you are."

"Jamsie….oh Jamsie wills never forgive Tiffy for not having been there to care for his Siri, or worse, letting yous bleed out and unhelped," honest to merlin tears started to roll down, alarming him.

"Tiffy? What…."

"No one to tucks you in at night when yous are sick or make yous soup," she wailed, throwing herself into his chest crying. "Such cold, no warmth waiting for Siri as he comes home after missions...bleeding, pained."

"I..." swallowing uncomfortable at the sudden distress she was in, he hugged her close while trying to find something to say; anything to erase the mood that had gotten over her. "What would you suggest I do then? I can't just stay at Hogwarts forever."

"Whys not?" she sniffed, tightening her hold on him.

"Well, if old students were allowed to stay, I don't think anyone would ever want to leave here," softly rubbing her back, he leaned his head back against his bed. "And I can't exactly take you with me."

"Whys not?" Teary blue eyes shot up to look up at him. "Yous think Tiffy would nots care for you? Make hot meals for yous and care for your injuries?"

"I have no doubt that you would take excellent care of me, you always do," biting back a smile at the truly scary glare she shot at him, he nodded solemnly. "You do."

"Then why would yous leave me behind?" New tears formed her eyes and not quite sure how they'd gotten from a comfortable conversation to her sudden distress, he pulled her close again.

"I...you belong with Hogwarts?"

"Tiffy's heart will break...your bloody, cold body on the floor...so cold and lonely," she shuddered and although common sense would've told him how unlikely that was to happen, all his logic had disappeared out of the window for the moment and he found his mind blanking as he scrambled to find any words that would pull her out of this state.

"I would take you with me if I could."

"Then say Tiffy belongs with Siri, that Tiffy can take care of yous."

"You are mine as much as I am yours, Tif, you know that. You are family and I love you."

It didn't seem to be the right thing to say as her sobbing intensified, her fingers petted his arm sadly. "So thin….so cold...Tiffy will die of broken heart if Siri dies."

"Tif..." At a loss of what to do to comfort her, he bit his lip, fighting back tears himself at her distress. "What do you want me to say?"

"Say yous would be lost without Tiffy, that Tiffy belongs to yous?"

"Would that make you feel better?"

"Say it," expectant blue eyes bore into his and although he wasn't quite sure how those words would make her feel better, at this point he was willing to do nearly anything to cheer her up.

"All right, I'd be lost without you and you belong to me."

"Tiffy accepts," a brush of ancient magic washed over him as Tiffy grinned up to him, all traces of sadness gone and all of a sudden he understood exactly what she had been doing.

"You…." he could only stare at her grinning face in disbelief as she cheerfully patted his rumpled clothes down before dabbing at her now dry eyes to remove the tear stains calmly with a cloth she pulled out of her tea towel. "Why….."

"Because Tiffy loves yous," the little devilish actress beamed up to him. "And Tiffy knew Siri would never even think of taking Tiffy in service so Tiffy does it instead."

"Because servitude is slavery," he pointed out, unable to believe he had fallen for her little act.

"Nots if its yous," she caressed his cheek, smiling warmly at his no doubt incredulous look. "Tiffy was alone and lonely for so long, then she met Siri and she so, so happy. Life is so colourful and happy, bright and joyful any time Tiffy is with Siri and she wants to stay with yous forever."

"So you tricked me into accepting you as my House-elf," despite himself, he leaned into her soft touch. "You didn't have to do this, trick me into doing this….making you a...a..."

"Tiffy not a slave," her little fingers brushed away tears he hadn't realised had gathered in his eyes. "Tiffy not lying when saying her heart woulds break if left behind. Please, please let Tiffy come with you."

"I….I can't keep you safe," leaning into her embrace when she pulled him close, he let out a shaky breath at the feeling of her magical presence swirling deep inside of him as their bond settled into place properly.

"It is not your job to keep Tiffy safe, it is Tiffy's job to keep yous save; always has been and now she won't be in trouble for following her heart's desire," he could almost feel the magnificent smile on her lips and couldn't help but snort regardless of the mixed feelings her actions had given him.

"I've never let them punish you for not doing your job."

"Fine, then now yous don't have to lie to keep Tiffy out of trouble any more," pulling back, he looked down to see she truly looked happy with what she'd chosen to do.

"Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?"

"Yes and if Tiffy ever wants to leave, she knows Siri will let her. But Tiffy wants to stays with yous," seeing the truth in her large eyes, he nodded his consent and immediately found himself knocked over by an ecstatic House-elf as she cheered.

"But you have to promise me that you'll talk to me if you are unhappy or want to return to Hogwarts," he hugged her back. "And you have to let me pay you."

"Tiffy will but she won't accept payment," straightening again, she pulled out a piece of parchment. "Yous accepted that wish when yous signed Tiffy and Siri's demand list."

Recognising the parchment he had only just signed, he raised an eyebrow at her sly look. "Just how long have you been planning this?"

"Since yous got hurt in that attack in your third year," she admitted calmly. "Tiffy made list of demands since then."

"All right, let's hear what else you've tricked me into," knowing she wouldn't have made him do anything he would never agree with, he leaned back against the bed beside her again while she tenderly unrolled the parchment.

"Clothes are no punishment, Tiffy may handle and wear whatever clothes she likes; terms of leaving will bes spoken of with words," large twinkling blue eyes met his as he snorted; well aware she loved clothes even if she wasn't allowed to wear any as a Hogwarts elf.

"What else?"

"No calling Master or Mistress. Siri is Siri and Siri's family is called by Tiffy's chosen names unless family member expresses dislike for Tiffy's chosen name. Siri's friends are called by given names."

Humming, Sirius glanced at her. "Unless they won't mind you giving them a nickname when you wish to do so."

"Acceptable," she grinned. "Tiffy is to rapport if someone is mean to Tiffy so Siri can hex and curse them."

"A given," biting back a smile now at her so called demands so far, he wet his lips. "And I'm holding you on that one."

"Tiffy is in control of household chores, groceries and food making. Siri may help if he wishes, unless Tiffy shooes him off for any reason, then Siri is to shoo off," she accompanied that demand with such a fiery glare that he nodded despite not even having the desire to protest as he had known that one was coming. After all, for all that she hated certain chores, she always seemed quite happy to do them when it was for him or James.

"Siri is to rapport if someone is mean to Siri so Tiffy can kill them."

"You'd be killing half of the world then, Tif," at her stubborn look, he fought even harder to keep a straight face. "No killing people."

"Seriously maim then?" The hopefulness in her voice broke his resolve and he laughed.

"No."

"Fine, Tiffy be allowed to make theirs life miserable if theys harm Siri, no killing unless truly deserved."

"When exactly did you develop such a mean streak? Is that Peeves' bad influence?" Eyeing her from the corner of his eye, he frowned. "I don't remember you having had this evil side before."

"Yous just never noticed before. Many a Slytherin found itchy things in their bedding at night or their soap changed to bad things over the years."

"That was you?" Blinking at her in surprise, he choked out a laugh. "All those times James and I were accused of pranking the Slytherins, you were responsible?"

"Pippy and Peeves helped sometimes and Tiffy only punished them if they were hurtful to Siri."

"So you've been making them miserable every day," he knew she was protective of him, but he had never quite imagined her to have done this.

"Not every day, maybe every week?" She didn't look sorry at all for her actions, innocently batting her eyes at him.

"You….I don't even know what to say to that. Did anyone ever catch you?" The devilish grin she shot him gave him all the answer he needed and incredulous, he laughed. "I can't believe I've never noticed that."

"Do yous want Tiffy to stop?"

"I trust you know what you're doing and are only doing it to those who truly deserve it?" Accepting her nod as truth, he shrugged. "I'm not the boss of you, just don't get into trouble."

"If Tiffy gets in trouble, yous are the one they come complain to now," which, was absolutely true and he couldn't help but laugh at her cleverness as she knew he wouldn't punish her for her actions.

"No wonder you get along with Peeves so well, you're both scary."

"Only to those wes believe deserve it," patting his leg in mock comfort, she picked up her list again.

"I'm doomed."

"Yes," her smile was entirely too happy to be considered safe, but as his heart swelled at the clear love and devotion in her eyes, he didn't think he minded too much.

"Any other demands that are supposedly yours?"

"Tiffy will nots be paid, but daily hugs are much appreciated instead," something they shared every day anyway, so he only lightly bumped into her in response. "And not on list, but Tiffy will remain at Hogwarts until Siri graduates, then she will comes with him."

"Right, I'm going to have to break the news to Remus about that."

"He'll deal or its his problem," smiling she rolled up her list. "Siri has any demands Tiffy should add?"

"Which bedroom do you want?"

"Tiffy would prefer the little side room," she held up a hand to stop his immediate protest. "House-elves like warm small spaces, Tiffy would be more happy there."

"I...are you sure?"

"Yes."

"All right then, you're going to spend the free time you have decorating and furnishing your new room to your liking. As my House-elf you'll automatically have been given access to my accounts so take what you need and I mean it, Tif, you're to make it exactly to your liking."

"Do yous want me to make clothes or buy them?"

"Whatever you want, you can do both if you want, just get as much as you like," looking up as the door opened, he smiled as James entered; his brother pausing momentarily at the sight of them.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"Nos, yous are just in time to save Tiffy from having to agree to too much," smiling at him, Tiffy rose to her little feet; half turning to give Sirius a hug. "Tiffy will see yous later."

"Yeah, you're telling Moky of what happened, though!" He called out after her before she Disapparated with a small pop.

"What did I miss?" Coming over to him, James pulled him to his feet; using the momentum to briefly pull him into a hug. "What did you do to your hand?"

"Nothing, it's to back up Tiffy's claim."

"Is she shirking on her chores again?" Bemused, James walked to their school books to exchange some from his bag.

"Tiffy tricked me into taking her on as my House-elf," saying it out loud didn't feel quite as bad any more and he let himself fall back onto the bed; hearing James drop the book he was exchanging in shock. "Yeah."

"How did she manage to do that?" The bed dipped underneath James' weight as he joined him moments later; laying down beside him.

"We were just talking about her avoiding punishment from Moky when she suddenly started wailing."

"The way Myrtle does?"

"No, honest to Merlin wailing, big fat tears and everything. It was horrible and I didn't know what to do!"

"So you said anything she wanted to hear to make her feel better," there was a clear hint of amusement in James' voice and a smile crept over his own lips as his brother truly knew him too well.

"Yeah."

"Well, she's clearly gotten what she wanted."

"Had a whole list of demands and everything," meeting each other's eyes, they burst out into laughter simultaneously.

"How long had she been planning to do this?" James eventually asked as their laughter subdued.

"Apparently since the Hogsmeade attack, had it all figured out from the looks of it and I fell for it."

"You sure did," Incredulous, James laughed before sobering and leaned up to look at him. "Are you all right with it, though?"

"It's what she wants, she's made that more than clear."

"I gathered that, but are you all right with it?"

"I don't know, I've never even considered it; but she was so happy when her little scheme had worked, how could I not accept?"

"You're a sap," the fond smile on his face made Sirius roll his eyes and he pushed James just hard enough to make him lose his balance and fall back onto the bed with a yelp and a laugh; pulling Sirius down with him again. "Does this mean I've lost my bedroom to her now?"

"She preferred the side room, so your room is safe."

Stretching a little, James sighed before crawling off the bed again, holding out a hand to help him up as well. "Are you coming to class or are you going to sleep?"

"What are we having?"

"Double Defence."

"Always fun to watch Professor Blickley bumble along like an idiot," accepting the book held out to him, Sirius put it into his bag. "Where is the rest?"

"Peter went to the kitchen for a quick snack, Remus went off with a mumbled excuse I didn't quite understand and Lily's changing clothes since Peeves accidentally caught her with water balloons when she crossed the hallway at the wrong time."

"Was he targetting someone specific?"

"A bunch of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, it didn't seem to be any retaliation, though, as he was using a bat to throw them with."

"Who else had Defence today?"

"The first and third years," humming in thought, James ran a hand through his hair. "So it could be he's just channelling the picked up negative emotions, yeah."

"At least it's a harmless prank this time, despite probably using cold water," making his way out of the dorm, he smiled as Lily was waiting on the couch. "Was it cold water?"

"It was," she returned his smile. "Your errant went all right?"

"Better than expected even," following her out of the common room, he quietly told them both about his meeting with Garth; easily falling back into the daily routine of school as they made their way to class.