The table, normally bare to the polished wood, was covered in a crisp white table cloth that draped down just right. The table was laid out with eight full place settings, plus glasses. The two small candelabras were lit. And spaced down the middle of the table were tureens, serving plates, serving dishes and two gravy boats, all covered.
"Wow!" exclaimed Wendell.
As they walked in, Harry spotted 'the problem' and called, "Dobby!"
When the little elf appeared, he said, "Apparently, there'll only be six for dinner tonight, Dobs; not eight. Sorry."
"Of course, Master Harry," replied the elf. A snap of his fingers and two of the settings, along with two of the chairs, vanished. Another snap of his fingers and the two chairs and settings now remaining down each side, where there once was three, were evenly spread out." And popped away again.
From where he was looking down at where Dobby stood, Wendell asked, "That was a house elf, right?"
"Yes, Sir... Wendell," replied Harry. "That was Dobby. He's bonded to me. It was my fault he was freed from his previous master and, when I found out he was dying because of it, I asked if he wanted to be bonded to me to save his life. Moments later, he was."
Indicating the table, he asked, "Shall we?"
Hermione looked to the auror who was still tailing them and said, "Call your partner. Unlike at Hogwarts, you're eating with us."
The auror looked about to argue, took one look at Hermione's stern expression, gave a single nod and disappeared.
As the Grangers and Harry moved around the table, both aurors re-entered.
Harry was surprised when Hermione seemed to take charge and directed folks where to sit. It clearly amused her parents, though.
Sitting eventually became Wendell at the head of the table away from the kitchen; then clockwise, Harry, Hermione, her mother at the other end, the male auror and then the female auror to Wendell's right.
As soon as they sat, Harry indicated each serving dish, plate or tureen and explained what it contained, then indicated the condiments. "Dobby and I have prepared 'chicken pieces in orange and honey sauce'; dry roasted potato, sweet potato, carrots and onion quarters; and steamed green peas, beans and shucked corn. I've included extra orange and honey sauce for the chicken for those who prefer more, butter tabs for the corn, soft honey for the carrots, mint sauce for the peas and beans and chicken gravy.
"For desert we kept it rather simple as Hermione told me I was to keep it simple. So, we've only prepared a thickened egg and vanilla custard baked in a pan pastry with your choice of a dollop of thickened unsweetened cream or ice cream. Dobby will serve that when we're ready."
While everyone else looked at the dishes in awe they watched as the covers on each of the dishes suddenly vanished with elf magic. Only Wendell and Monica were surprised to see that happen.
Hermione asked Harry, "Why isn't Dobby eating with us?"
"He told me eating is a private thing for house elves and begged me not to order him to eat with us," he replied. "I didn't have the heart to order him to, but did tell him he was to make sure he ate enough and well. I don't want to see him going without."
Hermione looked like she was going to argue about it; but, seeing the expression on Harry's face, didn't push it.
Seeing that no one had started reaching for the food yet, Harry looked to Wendell and said, "Sir, as Head of this House, it is by your command that we can eat."
"Oh!" said Wendell snapping back to himself. "Please, everyone; help yourselves." And immediately put action to word and reached for one of the dishes of chicken.
The looks Wendell and Monica gave each other across the length of the table around the candelabras had both knowing they'd now had a lot more to talk about than they originally thought they would.
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