Dobby lay in shaking arms, body stiff as he grabbed at his chest, dagger protruding at a threatening length. His breath came in soft gasps, the world around him blurring.
In.
Out.
Someone was pleading with him. Oh, but it hurt, more than he could have imagined. He couldn't bring himself to focus on the words being shrieked at him. It was a crippling pain that wracked his body, forced his lungs to heave, and caused his vision to blur.
But he couldn't bring himself to think of this as the worst pain he'd ever endured.
Kicked and repeatedly abused as a house elf under the Malfoy's.
That was painful.
That was evil.
A life of continuous discontent and unhappiness.
Dobby couldn't think of the foreign object puncturing his body to be as painful as all of that. He had risked his life to save Harry Potter. He had saved his friend.
Words.
Shouting.
"Dobby! Dobby!"
Yes, Harry Potter was safe. Dobby's lips lifted in a small smile, breathing becoming less labored as his pulse slowed, his fingers tapping slowly at his chest, counting his receding heart beat.
He was content now. Harry Potter had saved him from a life of servitude. Harry Potter had used a sock to save him.
Dobby never imagined a sock would change his life.
The arms gripping him held tighter and Dobby could feel rivets of water staining his soiled clothing.
Reaching his hand up blindly, Dobby's spindly fingers touched his cheek.
Yes, it was Harry Potter.
"To protect Harry Potter."
The words left his lips just as he felt a numbing dullness wash over him, vision disappearing completely. Harry reached for the elf's hand, missing it as his own fingers struggled to function through their violent shaking.
Dobby's hand fell to the side, dead weight compared to his light body.
"DOBBY!"
Yes.
Dobby decided that socks were probably his favorite thing in the world.
Right next to Harry Potter.
And then the world fell silent.
A/N: This idea wouldn't leave me alone. Please let me know what you think! *Dobby Forever*