"They can definitely Apparate inside Hogwarts, which probably means inside lots of places where wizards can't."

"Yeah, like that. And they can find people, at least people they're serving, I think better than owls can."

"So Hogwarts probably can't inconvenience them even if the rooms move around all the time."

"That means they can find places and not just people, since usually they're in and out when nobody's around..."

"They serve Hogwarts, right? Maybe it counts as a person."

"Ooh, maybe!"

"That'd make it hard to do the thing you and Timothy were thinking, though, if that's why serving Hogwarts works."

"Yes, but he did ask your family elves and they said it'd work and I don't think they said 'as long as the thing is a person'."

"Or we could try reconstructing all the magic that went into making Hogwarts," he says longingly.

"Good luck with that!"

"Bet you someday me and my dad can do it!"

"No bet," says Miranda cheerily.

He bounces and then remembers it's not dignified. He gets himself another serving of dinner.

And a few days later he heads down to the kitchens to try to get a feel for whether he can have lots of house-elves under the auspices of his world-spanning empire.

The elves are whipping up meringues. And reducing chicken stock. And churning butter. And grinding their own flour. Busy, are elves. Still, one peels off the workforce to greet Mr Timothy, what can elves be doing for Mr Timothy today, would Mr Timothy like some cheese and crackers or to try the applesauce?

He would love some cheese and crackers! He would love to try the applesauce!

Then in a shake of a lamb's tail he has a plate of the one and a bowl of the other! "Jiffy is hoping you is liking it, Mr Timothy!"

"I have tasted enough of your cooking to be certain it will be amazing!! Do you have time to talk, or know anyone with time to talk?"

"We can be making time for talking! What is Mr Timothy wanting to talk about?"

"Being an elf of Hogwarts! How is it different than being an Elf of a specific family?"

"None of us Hogwarts elves has ever been a family elf, so we is not knowing very much, Mr Timothy, Jiffy is sorry."

"Do you like being a Hogwarts elf?"

"Of course, very very much! Hogwarts is ancient and noble and there is lots of work for us elves!"

"So if there were some other place that was noble and had lots of work for elves, could I get elves to come work there? Or would that be too hard?"

"If there was being work elves would come! If they were not already engaged, Mr Timothy."