DOBBY IS FREE!

MAY/JUNE 1993

2nd Year

• • • •

Harry, Annabelle and Ron, covered in muck and slime stood in Dumbledore's office. Fawkes was perched on a pedestal behind Dumbledore, who sat at his desk, examining the charred diary. He looked up, regarding Harry, Annabelle and Ron gravely.  

"You three realize, of course, that in the past few hours, you have broken, perhaps, a dozen school rules." The man said.

"Yes, sir."

"And there is sufficient evidence to have all three you expelled."

"Yes, sir."

"Therefore, it is only fitting..."

The trio looked up nervously.

"That you both receive special awards for services to the school."

The three Gryffindors looked smiles, then back at Dumbledore again.

"Thanks, sir." Ron grinned.

Professor Dumbledore smiled at the students, then stood up while handing some papers to Ron, "And now, Mr. Weasley, if you would, have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. I believe we... we want our gamekeeper back," Ron smiled, taking the papers from the Headmaster and exiting his office, while Dumbledore turned to the Potter twins, "Harry... first, I want to thank you, Harry. You must've shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could've called Fawkes to you. And, second... I sense something is troubling you. Am I right, Harry?"

"You see, sir. I couldn't help but notice certain things... certain... certain similarities between... Tom Riddle and me." The boy confessed, making his sister look at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"I see," Dumbledore nodded, "Well, you can speak Parseltongue, Harry. Why? Because, Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken, Harry, he transferred some of his powers to you the night he gave you that scar. The same way that you, Annabelle can speak Parseltongue because Harry can speak Parseltongue."

The siblings looked at the mans, amazed.

"Voldemort transferred some of his powers to Harry?" Annabelle asked.

Professor Dumbledore nodded, "Not intentionally. But yes."

"So, the Sorting Hat was right," Harry said, as Dumbledore returned to his seat behind the desk, "I should be in Slytherin."

" It's true, Harry. You possess many of the qualities that Voldemort himself prizes: Determination, resourcefulness, and if I may so, a certain disregard for the rules. Why then, did the Sorting Hat place you in Gryffindor?" Dumbledore asked.

The twins glanced at the Sorting Hat.

"Because Harry asked it to." Annabelle realised.

"Exactly, Annabelle, exactly," The professor nodded, "Which, Harry, makes you different from Voldemort. It is not our abilities that show what we truly are, it is our choices. If you want proof why you belong in Gryffindor, then I suggest you look more closely, "He picked up the sword, "At this," Harry took the sword by the blade with his left hand, and its hilt with his right, "Be careful."

Harry examined the sword, seeing the name 'Godric Gryffindor' on the Basilisk venom-coated blade, "Godric Gryffindor."

Professor Dumbledore nodded, "Ah. It would take a true Gryffindor to pull that out of the hat." He said, making Harry look at Dumbledore with a smile, as Annabelle watched the scene in content, happy that her brother now knew that he definitely belonged.

The door to the office swung open, and Dumbledore glanced past Harry and Annabelle, who turned around as Lucius Malfoy stepped in to the office, with Dobby standing feebly behind him.

"Dobby!" Annabelle exclaimed in surprise.

"So this is your master," Harry realised, looking at Lucius, "The family you serve is the Malfoys."

Dobby nervously looked at Harry and Annabelle, "Mm-hmm." He squeaked, fearfully glancing up at Lucius.

Lucius looked at the house-elf through clenched teeth, "I'll deal with you later."

Dobby cowered away from the man with a whimper, making Annabelle glare harshly at him. Lucius then pulled out his walking stick and walks toward Dumbledore's desk, followed by Dobby, as he walks up the steps, he coldly used the stick to push Harry and Annabelle aside.

"Out of my way, Potters," He then addressed Professor Dumbledore, "So... it's true. You have returned."

"When the governors learned that Arthur Weasley's daughter was taken into the Chamber, they saw fit to summon me back." The Professor said.

Lucius scoffed angrily, "Ridiculous!"

"Curiously, Lucius, several of them were under the impression that you would curse their families, if they did not agree to suspend me in the first place."

Malfoy narrowed his eyes at the man, "How dare you?!"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "I beg your pardon?" 

"My sole concern has always been, and will always be, the welfare of this school and, of course," Malfoy addressed the Potters, "Its students. The culprit has been identified, I presume?"

"Oh, yes." Dumbledore nodded.

"And?" The blonde man asked eagerly, "Who was it?" 

Professor Dumbledore looked Malfoy in the eye, "Voldemort." 

"Ah." 

"Only, this time, he chose to act through somebody else, by means of this." Dumbledore said, holding up the impaled diary, making Malfoy's composure falter slightly, as Dobby pulled on the Potter twins' robes, pointing at his master and the diary.

"I see."

"Fortunately, our young Mr. Potter discovered it. One hopes that no more of Lord Voldemort's old school things should find their way into innocent hands. The consequences for the one responsible would be severe." Dumbledore gave the long-haired man a hard look.

"Well, let us hope that Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day." Malfoy stared down the boy.

"Don't worry," Harry met his gaze, "I will be."

Annabelle smirked to herself as Malfoy glared at her brother after recovering from his shock.

"Dumbledore," The man nodded in goodbye, "Come, Dobby. We're leaving." 

"Ahh! Oow!" Dobby cried as he was kicked out of the office by his master.

Annabelle licked her lips, as she looked between the diary on Dumbledore's desk and the door where Lucius and Malfoy had just exited through.

"Professor Dumbledore?" She asked, making the man look at her as she pointed to the diary, "Could I have that?"

Dumbledore nodding made Annabelle quickly turn to her brother.

"Give me your sock."

"What?"

***

The Potter twins ran down the corridor next to Dumbledore's office, chasing after Malfoy.

"Mr. Malfoy!" Harry called, "Mr. Malfoy!"

He turned around, giving the two seconds years a look.

"We have something of yours." Annabelle said, shoving the diary into Malfoy's hand. 

"Mine?" Malfoy scoffed, "I don't know what you're talking about." 

"Oh, we think you do, sir," Harry countered, "We think you slipped the diary into Ginny Weasley's cauldron, that day at Diagon Alley."

"You do, do you?" Malfoy asked, shoving the diary into Dobby's arms, making Annabelle smirk to herself, as the man came closer to Harry, looking at him in the face, "Why don't you prove it?" He spat, "Come, Dobby. Dobby!"

Dobby looked up at the twins who gestured towards the diary.

"Open it." Harry whispered, Annabelle sending him a wink.

Dobby complied, opening the diary, a smile overtaking his face as he looked at thw piece of clothing that had been placed inside it.

"Dobby?" Malfoy called, still walking. 

"Master has given Dobby a sock!"

"What?" Malfoy asked, turning around, "I didn't give-" 

He saw the sock in Dobby's hands.

"Master has presented Dobby with clothes!" Dobby exclaimed, "Dobby is free!" He grinned. 

Malfoy looked between the elf, the Potter twins and Harry's sockless foot with an angry glare.

"You've lost me my servant!" The man seethed, unsheeting his wand, pointing it at the pair as he advanced forwards.

Dobby stood protectively in front of the two  second years, "You shall not harm Harry and Annabelle Potter!" 

"Avada-"

Dobby shut the man up, using his magic to throw the blonde backwards, making him land on the floor as Dobby crossed his arms and nodded with a proud look on his face

Malfoy scrambled to his feet, "Your parents were meddlesome fools, too. You mark my words, Potters," He pointed at them, "One day soon you are going to meet the same sticky end!" He glared, before limping away.

Dobby then turned to Harry and Annabelle with a smile. 

"Harry and Annabelle Potter freed Dobby! How can Dobby ever repay them?" 

"Just promise me something." Harry told him.

"Anything, sir!"

Harry gave him a small smile, "Never try to save my life again."

Dobby looked guiltily down at his feet, before looking up at Harry with a small grin. 

Annabelle smiled softly at the house-elf, crouching down and giving him a hug.

"You can happily save my life whenever you'd like, Dobby. Just as long as you don't try to kill me in the process."

***

Fear and suspicion banished, students sat in the Great Hall at the end of year feast, eating and chatting, the House tables abuzz with excitement and anticipation... all except the Slytherins, who do not share the general feeling.

Seated at the tables, are the formerly petrified, revived students. Justin Finch-Fletchley joins his fellow Hufflepuffs. Colin Creevey snapping photos of the merry surroundings.

Nearly Headless Nick, now revitalized, floated along the row between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, talking to students as he passed them.

"Welcome back, Sir Nicholas!"

"Thank you."

"Good evening, Sir Nicholas."

"Good evening."

"Good to see you, Sir Nicholas."

"Thank you," He then glanced at another pair of students, "Hello."

Reaching the doors to the Great Hall, he passed Filch, who was just happy to have Mrs. Norris back, and Hermione walked in as he turned towards her.

"Hermione! Welcome back."

"Thanks, Sir Nicholas." The brunette grinned at Nearly Headless Nick, before the ghost floated away as Hermione glanced at the Gryffindor table.

Noticing the girl at the entrance of the hall, Neville tapped Annabelle's shoulder, drawing her out of the conversation that she was having with Cora - who was sat on the table next to her.

"Anna - it's Hermione!"

Hearing Neville's statement, Annabelle's head whipped around to the direction of the doors, grinning widely when she saw her smiling best friend up and well, Harry and Ron following suit.

Beaming, Hermione ran down the aisle to where her friends were standing up, launching herself into her best friend's arms.

"I've missed you." Annabelle mumbled into the brunette's shoulder.

Hermione smiled at the redhead, before hugging Harry, then turning to Ron, before stopping, the pair clearing their throats awkwardly, settling for a handshake.

"Uhh-um... Welcome back, Hermione." Ron told her.

Hermione smiled, "It's good to be back! Congratulations! I can't believe you solved it!" 

"Well, we had loads of help from you." Harry said.

"Yeah," Annabelle nodded in agreement, "We couldn't have done it without you."

Hermione blushed, "Thanks." 

Professor McGonagall tapped her spoon against her glass, making the hall fall into silence, "Could I have your attention, please?" She asked, making the quartet sit down at the Gryffindor table, as everyone turned to look at the teachers' table. 

Dumbledore stood up, "Before we begin the feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout and Madame Pomfrey, whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been Petrified," He said, making the two women earn a loud round of applause, "Also, in light of the recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been cancelled!" He told the students, making everyone clap and cheer in excitement. 

"Oh, no!" Hermione frowned, making Annabelle nudge her with a fond smile.

At the rear of the Hall, the great doors then opened, revealing Hagrid. He entered, stopped and looked around as the hall fell silent, all eyes upon him. The half-giant glanced around, nervous and embarrassed.

"Sorry I'm late," He said, starting to walk down the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, "The owl deliverin' my release papers got all lost 'n confused. Some ruddy bird named Errol."

Ron exchanges a nervous glance with Dumbledore, as his friends gave him a look.

Reaching where the quartet were sitting, Hagrid looked at all of the faces staring at him, before he turned to Harry, "I jus' want to say... that if it wasn't fer' you, Harry... an' Ron an' Annabelle... and Hermione, o' course, I woulduh- I'd still be you-know-where, so I- I'd just like to say 'Thanks.'"

Harry stood up and smiled at the half-giant, "There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid."

"Oh." Hagrid smiled with a blush, before Harry hugged him, Hagrid patting his head, as he smiled down at Ron, Annabelle and Hermione.

Dumbledore then got to his feet, slowly bringing his hands together to clap for Hagrid, the other students and teachers joining him. Soon, everyone was on their feet and the Hall was roaring. As the students surrounded Hagrid, he blinked, wiping at his eyes as Hogwarts continued to applaud their Groundskeeper.