Warning for mentions of child abuse. It's not graphic, but it's a bit dark.

Draco lay on the floor. He couldn't move. All he could do was cry. He was in so much pain. He was used to it. In his nine years of life, he had felt so much pain. He wished someone, anyone would come to his rescue. But then they'd know. Father had told him no one could know. Father would kill him if he told anyone. He would stay here on the floor.

"Master Draco? Dobby heard you crying, Master Draco. Is there any way Dobby can assist you, sir?"

"Go away, Dobby!" Draco snapped out through his tears. He couldn't accept the help of a House Elf. He didn't know why, but Father always told him House Elves were beneath them.

"Dobby will not go away while Master Draco needs him. Though Dobby will need to punish himself for disobeying Master Draco. Dobby will close his ears in the door when he is done helping Master Draco."

Draco had never liked that. Father had hurt him enough times that he didn't want to see anyone, even a House Elf being punished by being hurt.

"No, Dobby. I'm ordering you to not hurt yourself. So, if you hurt yourself, you'll have to hurt yourself again for disobeying me, ok?"

"Master Draco is too kind. Dobby now must help Master Draco. Is Master Draco hurt? Dobby is used to dealing with being hurt. Dobby can help Master Draco."

"Yes. I'm hurt again."

"Dobby wishes that Master Draco would forgive him for asking this, but how is Master Draco hurt if he doesn't have any cuts or burns or bruises?"

"He hurt me with magic. He pointed his wand at me and said "Crucio!" Then I just hurt all over. He did it over and over. It hurt so bad!"

Dobby gasped. "Master Lucius doesn't even do such evil magic to Dobby! And Master Lucius does everything bad to Dobby!"

"He said I was bad. I was talking about a witch I met in town. I told Father I thought she was pretty. When I told him her name, he said I was bad for thinking the daughter of a Mudblood and a Blood Traitor was pretty. I told him I didn't know what those things meant, and that I didn't care. He yelled at me for being stupid and did this to me."

Dobby had heard enough. He didn't like what Lucius did to him, of course, but he knew it was part of the lot of being a House Elf. Draco was just a little boy. He knew there was nothing he could do to prevent himself from being hurt, but he wanted to do that for someone else. Dobby snapped his fingers and vanished.

To be continued...