The House-Elf
Harry Potter woke up with a jolt. He was sweating and his mind was full of terrible images. He had been home for almost a month, but the nightmares had been the same every night. Harry saw his former Defence Against The Dark Arts Professor dying whenever he closed his eyes. He knew his parents were worried, but he didn't feel like telling them about the nightmares.
With a sigh, Harry gave up on trying to sleep and got out of bed. He left his room and went to the kitchen. He had just finished making himself a sandwich when he noticed he was being watched. A House-Elf?, he asked himself. The little creature had very green eyes.
"Uh. Hello?", he wasn't sure how to approach the House-Elf. Maybe he belonged to someone who worked with one of his parents and he was there to deliver a message? "May I help you?", Harry asked.
That had been the wrong thing to say, he learnt. The House-Elf gasped, muttered something and, to Harry's utter horror, started both bawling and hitting himself on the head.
"I'm sorry!", Harry exclaimed, trying to hold the creature's hands. "I didn't mean to upset you!", he was relieved to hear footsteps coming from his parents' room.
"Who's there?", James Potter shouted. The House-Elf gasped once again and, with a POP!, disappeared. Harry's father arrived at the kitchen a second too late to see him. "Son? What was all that noise?"
"It... It was a House-Elf.", Harry replied, still unsure of what had happened. "I thought he was here to give you or Mum a message, but he went crazy when I asked him if I could help him."
"A House-Elf?", James asked, sounding as confused as Harry felt. "Well... That's unusual.", he muttered. "Wait, what were you doing here in the middle of the night?"
"Oh.", Harry hadn't been expecting the question. "I was just... hungry.", he said. His father nodded, and then started making a sandwich like Harry's.
"Well, don't mind if I join you.", James winked. He sat down next to his son and they started eating. "Harry, how are you? Really."
"I'm fine, Dad. Really.", he replied. The almost twelve-year-old boy didn't want to have that conversation. Not yet. But his father shook his head.
"I know you're not fine. I know you. And I'm worried. So is your mother. And your Uncle Remus and your Uncle Sirius. Even Matthew asked me what's wrong with you.", James said. Harry felt his cheeks burning. "Son, just... Talk to me. Let me help you."
"I can't forget it.", Harry whispered, after what felt like ages. "I can't forget the fire. And the smell. I didn't even notice the smell at the time, but now I remember it so well. Flesh burning. Human flesh.", he shuddered and, to his surprise, so did James. "I can't forget anything."
"And you shouldn't.", his father gently said. "That is not the kind of thing we forget, Harry. It's the kind of thing we remember everyday of our lives. And then we ask ourselves what we could've done differently. What could you have done, Son?", he asked. Harry was slightly startled by the question. He took his time to think of a good answer.
"I could've waited. Dumbledore would've known what to do and he arrived almost immediately after I set fire on Professor Quirrell.", he replied.
"What if he hadn't? What if Dumbledore hadn't arrived then? And how could you have known he'd get there in time?", James asked.
"I... I don't know.", Harry answered, confused.
"Exactly.", his father said. "You did the best you could do, knowing what you did, in the situation that found yourself into, at that time. That is all we can hope to do, Harry. Our best.", James offered him a smile. "Now, let's go to bed. It's pretty late."
Harry went back to his room and, even though he had to admit it had been good to talk to his father, James's words hadn't really made him feel much better. His best had gotten three people killed and nothing would ever change that.
"Harry Potter?", a voice whispered. The boy jumped out of his bed with a yelp. Harry looked around and saw the tiny House-Elf again.
"Hey!", he could feel his heart beating fast. "You've scared me!"
"Dobby apologises. Dobby didn't mean to scare Harry Potter.", the House-Elf said. He looked very upset with himself.
"Uh, it's all right... Dobby.", Harry replied. "So, is there anything you want me to tell my parents?", he asked. But Dobby shook his head.
"No, Harry Potter. Dobby is here to give you a message.", he whispered.
"Me?", now Harry was very confused. Who would send a House-Elf to give him a message? "Well... I... I'm listening?"
"Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts! He must stay where he's safe.", Dobby half-whispered, half-shrieked. Harry waited for more, but the little House-Elf just stood there, watching him with his eyes wide open.
"Dobby, that's insane.", he finally said. "Why would you even say that? I want to go back to Hogwarts. And, all right, last year was intense and dangerous, but I doubt this year will be the same.", Or at least I hope so, Harry mentally added.
"If Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts, he'll be in mortal danger! There's a plot, a plot to make terrible things happen at Hogwarts!", Dobby whispered.
"What terrible things? And who's plotting them?", Harry asked, shivering a little. But the House-Elf just shook his head. A terrible thought took over his mind. "Dobby? Is it... You-Know-Who?"
"Not him, not He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.", he replied, but he looked at Harry in a strange way, almost as if trying to say something without actually speaking. Harry considered that for a few moments.
"Is it... Someone else working for him, like Quirrell?", he tried. Dobby seemed to deliberate a little.
"It is much worse than that.", the House-Elf said. "Which is why Harry Potter can't go back!"
"I'm sorry, Dobby. I have to go back.", Harry shook his head. "My friends will be there and I really want to be with them."
"Harry, who are you talking to?", he heard his brother's voice. Before he could answer, Dobby disappeared again. Two seconds later, Matthew opened Harry's bedroom door. "Are you talking to yourself now?"
"It's... It's a long story, Matt.", Harry shrugged, not sure yet what to make of his conversation with the House-Elf. "Nev, Seamus, Justin and I are going over Ron's tomorrow. Want to join us? We might play some Quidditch."
"Sure, why not?", his brother replied. "But, seriously. Who were you talking to?"
"Nobody, Matt. Just let it go.", he said. He'd definitely discuss the strange warning from Dobby with his friends, but Harry didn't think it'd be a good idea to share that with his little brother. Tomorrow I'll talk to Nev, Ron, Seamus and Justin and I'll see what they think about that, he thought to himself as he saw his brother leaving his room.
So... not exactly an exciting first chapter, but we'll get to see more of Harry and his Summer on the next chapter. Again, I'd like to thank everybody who has read and reviewed my first story. I hope you enjoy this one as much as "Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone"!
