the_debt_of_time

The elf rolled her bright blue eyes, mimicking Dorea's expression perfectly. "Tilly
does not spoil," she said, sounding offended. "Tilly coddles, dotes, and pampers."
Charlus smirked. "That's the same thing."
"Tilly does as Tilly does." The little elf shrugged, brushing him off as she reached
for Hermione's hand, giving a soft tug. "Young Miss will follow Tilly. Master and Mistress
must go to bed, yes they must. Tilly will be cross if theys be staying up too late again."
"Yes, Tilly," Charlus said with a grin on his face, pretending to be scolded by the
house-elf as though he were a young child. "Goodnight, Hermione. Sleep well. We'll figure
everything out in the morning. You're safe here."
Hermione wanted to take another moment to properly show her gratitude to the
couple, but she was tugged out of the room by the overly excited—and strangely
independent—house-elf.
"Tilly? Can I ask... Are you treated well here?" Hermione whispered with a frown.
"Do you...? I mean to say... wouldn't you rather be a free elf?"
"Tilly is a free elf."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock. "What? You've been given clothes?" she asked,
looking at the little tea towel that Tilly wore. Hermione knew it was the typical uniform of
the house-elves, and the quality of their care could often be seen in the cleanliness of the
cloth. Kreacher, for instance, had been perpetually filthy.
"Tilly does not need clothes to be free," Tilly explained in a tone that Hermione felt
was just a bit patronising. Tilly continued to tug on Hermione's hand, leading her down
another long hallway and up a flight of stairs.
"Tilly took care of Mistress Dorea when she was a Young Miss. When Mistress
married Master Charlus, Mistress Dorea asked Tilly to come live with her. But Mistress
Dorea's mother was not happy, no, no she was not. Tilly's old Mistress Violetta was not
happy at Mistress Dorea's wedding. Tilly's old Mistress Violetta said that Tilly would have
to stay with her just to spite Mistress Dorea. But Mistress Dorea yelled at Tilly's old
Mistress Violetta; told her she was taking Tilly. She hexed Tilly's old Mistress Violetta good,
yes she did. She hexed her."
The house-elf let out a happy, nostalgic sigh of contentment. "Tilly is very happy to
takes care of Mistress Dorea and her family. Tilly is free from the bad Mistress Violetta."