This one will consist of 3 relatively short chapters because it makes the most sense to me to post it like that instead of just adding line breaks.
It is one of my favourite stories that I've written and because I'm such a big softy, it still makes me tear up a bit each time I read it. No judging though... Dobby and Winky are two of my favourite characters.
Dobby was sadly making his way back to the kitchen, he had just been to see Professor Snape and he'd gotten some terrible news. Now he had to go tell Winky that he had to leave Hogwarts.
He went in through the fruit painting and moped over to where she was sitting next to the fire place, a bottle of butterbeer in her hand.
"Winky," Dobby squeaked, taking her free hand. "I is having to leave Hogwarts. Professor Snape is saying so. He is saying that Dobby knows too many things and it's not safe for Dobby to be here. He is telling Dobby that he has to go stay with Professor Dumbledore's brother coz he will hide Dobby from all the dark wizards."
Winky dropped the bottle and looked up at him.
"Well, I is going with you then, Winky wants to stay with Dobby."
"Winky can't. Winky must stay here. Professor Snape is saying so. He is saying that it is safer for Winky here and for Dobby to go."
Winky pouted, then her lip trembled and tears started flowing.
"Winky is going with Dobby." She told him, stubbornly, through the tears.
"Winky can't. Winky must stay here. Dobby will be back when Harry Potter defeats the Dark Lord. Professor Snape says so. Professor Snape says Dobby knows too much for Dobby to be safe here." Dobby's voice wobbled as he told her, trying to hold back his tears.
"But what will Winky do?"
"Winky will stay strong for Dobby. Winky will stay here and help Professor Snape however she can and Winky will be a good elf, like she always is." Dobby held both her hands now and his tears started to fall as he tried to comfort her.
"I is not a good elf. But I is going to be now. I is going to be good and I is not drinking anymore and I is doing what you say."
"That's a good Winky. Dobby will be back and he is going to see Winky again."
"Dobby has to stay safe for Winky. Promise Winky that Dobby will stay safe and that Dobby will come back to Hogwarts and back to Winky."
"Dobby will stay safe. Mr Dumbledore will look after Dobby when Dobby tells him what Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore says to tell him. But Winky cannot tell anyone any of this. Professor Snape says so."
"Winky knows, Winky is good at keeping her master's secrets."
"I is knowing that Winky is."
Both elves had managed to stop crying, but their noses were still running and their cheeks were blotchy.
"Dobby has to go now, before the Carrow's arrive. And Winky is to stay away from them if she can."
Winky nodded and started to cry again.
"Be safe Dobby. I is going to miss you."
"Dobby will miss Winky too. I is not knowing when I is going to see you again." He released one of Winky's hands, reached into his pocket and pulled out a sock. "So Dobby wants you to have this. This is the sock that Harry Potter used to free Dobby."
Winky took it with the same care that she would have used if it was her master's prized possession and wrapped it around her wrist like a bracelet.
"Winky will keep it with her always." She told him, now a blubbering mess.
They hugged, and then as Winky stepped backwards Dobby apparated away before he started to cry again.