'Haa.' Harry sighed and called for the elves, but stopped midway as he realized that he had not asked their names yet.
Knowing that he was being careless, he just called out, "Elves!"
With a pop, three almost identical elves, differing only in their hairstyles, stood in front of him.
"You people are so dumb. Do you really think I will have you collect this many newspapers? What were you three thinking...?"
Harry said this as his psychotic temper screamed to beat these three for the annoyance they caused first thing in the morning. However, his better nature reminded him that elves are naturally timid and it might be really hurtful. Whatever the case, he settled for just scolding them.
But that did not last long. His rational side also told him that it would be better to groom them first, to teach them, and also to treat them right. These elves might become even more loyal than their counterparts in the movie and book versions.
He observed as all three had different reactions, yet somewhat familiar.
One was looking down, her eyes pouring rain down her ragged clothes.
The one to the left had balled fists as she looked at her sister, but she too had her head slightly lowered. She would look at him through her raised eyes from that angle. Then there was the other who stood straight, looking at him as if she was hearing a report of current affairs rather than curses.
Harry was amused inside as he saw all three with mixed displays of their emotions, yet not so different in that they all had the look of hurt in their eyes. It wasn't that they didn't feel bad; they just had different ways of dealing with those feelings.
He had a slight inkling of why this was, but nothing was yet confirmed.
He had a maniacally wide smile as he found this very interesting.
He looked at them and then said in a chipper tone, "Alright, don't look at me like that. I know it was my mistake too. I should have expected as much."
"I will teach you better. First, tell me your names."
"But know this: I will have these episodes of manic temper, and this is how it will be to work for me, alright…"
The three were visibly confused by Harry's behavior and also a bit dreadful of what their days would be like.
"Okay, just take my teachings to heart and the rest with a grain of salt. I will never physically punish you, and I think banishment is out of the picture for any of us from the intuition I felt at our contract. After I have settled today's matter, I want to know more about it. I feel you have a better idea of what's happening.
So let's begin."
They walked behind him as he went ahead. He took a new brush and used it to brush his teeth.
After that...
He told them to meet him in the hall; he would come after freshening up.
After brushing his teeth and freshening up, he walked out to see them, but was even more surprised to see the Dursleys, as he had totally forgotten about them. They were looking fearfully at the three elves, while the innocent one looked at them with curiosity. The other two stood by her as if to guard her.
It was funny how even Dursley was looking at them with curiosity, as much as his almost dead eyes could show.
Oh, and that reminded him that he had not fed them in two days.
He heard a ringing sound. Walking up to it, he realized it was from Vernon's workplace, asking why he had been out of reach for two days. Harry said that his sister, Aunt Margaret, was suddenly sick and they had to go to her.
Coming back, he looked at the three and asked the most important question first.
"First of all, tell me your names."
It was the nonchalant one, the level-headed one who walked with a straight back, who stepped forward and said her name,
"Inni," she said. The next was the temperamental one, "Mini," and then the innocent one, "Moo."
"Inni, Mini, Moo. Where's Maini then?" The elves looked at Harry in confusion. If they knew, they would look at him with the same disappointment that the readers are feeling.
"No master, it's only the three of us," said Inni.
"Yeah, that's the first thing: no calling me master."
"Servant," Mini called him quickly after that.
Harry looked at her with a deadpan expression, "You cheeky little bastard."
Harry held her ear and pulled on it lightly.
Moo gasped, "AHH!"
While Mini just stared at him with a bit of defiance, Inni only glanced at Mini with a side glance.
"You call me sir, you understand?"
"Yes sir," the two said in unison.
"..." Harry looked her in the eyes.
"Yes sir," Mini added.
"Inni, keep her in line."
"Yes sir," came the immediate confirmation from the most reliable-looking elf. Harry let go of Mini's ear.
"Go and prepare something to eat for me, and also feed these pigs too… and make sure not to let them loose, only open their stuffed mouths."
"Should we feed them too?" asked Mini.
Moo pulled her back, while Inni slapped the back of her head.
"I will educate her properly, sir."
"No… she brought up the right question. Place a bowl in front of them and let them have it."
"Yes sir…"
Harry walked away, only to hear some muttering. He didn't have to look back to know who it was.
"In fact, smack her some more for me," said Harry, not turning back.
He then heard some sounds of smacking and small yelps and growls.