Chapter 1

Dobby, dead. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. He looked up and saw Bellatrix Lestrange. "But, how..." and then he realized that he had felt something tugging the back of his robes as he was apparating. She must have grabbed on to me as we left the Malfoy Manor in one last attempt to stop us...And then Harry also remember the sudden flash of silver, a knife, but no, this couldn't be, Dobby couldn't die...Harry was cut off in his thoughts, it just occered to him the Bellatrix was laughing maliciously at him.

"HAHAHAHAA, Is poor wittle Dobby wobby dead?! Did i kill your poor wittle friend, Pottey?! HAHAHAHAA"

"SHUT UP!" Harry screamed, then without thinking he yanked out his wand, but instead of casting some kind of curse at her he started running at her full speed. Just when he was within arms length of her, she cast a spell at him and before he could react, he was thrown backwards. Harry quickly stood up, but he was too late, she had turned on the spot, disapparating.

Harry spat at the spot were she had just stood and started cursing at nothing. First she kills Sirius and now this! So help me I am going to kill her if it's the last thing i do!. Harry was fuming. He looked down and saw Dobby's feeble looking body. Dobby had stopped bleeding now, it seemed he had no more blood to spill. There was a silver dagger driven right into his heart, and what was worse, it was engraved with Slytherin's crest, reminding Harry of Snape, only making him angrier.

Harry turned around remembering the others. But he was alone, they had all gone up the hill into the cottage, a safe haven. He turned back to Dobby's body and started to dig his grave. He said a few short, yet very thoughful things for Dobby's memory. Harry remember how Dobby had tried to keep him safe by attempting to stop him from returning to Hogwarts in his second year, and then how Harry had set him free. He remember how Dobby had helped him spy on Draco Malfoy just last year, and how just now he had saved his life yet again. Harry was at a complete lose for words. He could not thank Dobby enough for this one last act of kindness.

Harry turned and started to walk up the hill tworads the cottage. About half way up the hill though, Harry hit some sort of boundry and fell back a few steps. There seemed to be some kind of invisible force standing between him and the front garden of the cottage. Then Harry heard a booming voice and jumped. "WHO GOES THERE?"

"Um-I-er Harry Potter, sir" he added quickly

" WHAT SHAPE DOES YOUR PATRONUS TAKE WHEN CAST"

" A stag" he replied this time with a little more confident.

"YOU MAY ENTER" Harry reluctantly stepped foward to the spot that had just recently been blocked and found that he could easily walk past with no problem. He walked up to the door of the cottage and entered. "Oh thank God you're ok Harry, we all came inside in such a hurry we didn't notice that you and Bellatrix were having a go outside, mate." Ron slapped him on the back in what was suppose to be a friendly sort of thing, " What happened anyway? We saw you running at her like a mad man, what did she do?"

"She-she...Dobby, he's dead, threw a dagger right into his heart, he's gone..."

"Oh...i'm really sorry Harry..."

"Nooo..." something groaned. Harry look around and found that the sound had come from Hermione. She was lying on the couch. She looked as if every breath caused her great pain and she shudderd when Harry took her hand. "What is it?" he asked

"Dobby...he was...a great person...he saved us...i can't believe...he's gone..." silent tears started to streak down her face. Ron went to hug her, she winced at his touch but accepted his act of kindness. "Dobby...at least...died free...that i think...is how all house...elvs should live and die...free" Harry could immediatly see where this was headed and spoke up before she could continue.

"It's alright Hermione, he would have wanted it this way, he was free, but right now you need to rest and save your energy, you've been through more than any of us tonight." he paused "You were really strong...you didn't tell them anything, you held your ground, thanks Hermione" She smiled at him and Ron gave her a small kiss on the cheek, she blushed and then, almost immedeatly, she was asleep.