It was late evening at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Draco Malfoy was doing his prefect duties. Or, that is, the usual tormenting of students that were either younger or more cowardly than he was.
He pushed the large oak doors that led into the Great Hall. The candles that floated above the house tables gave the only light source to the vast chamber. The effect was eerie. He allowed his eyes to adjust to the light.
The hall was beautifully decorated in preparation for a singing competition that was to be held the next day. Streamers were hanging from the walls and the tables, and a large banner was hung above the high table.
He was just about to leave when something caught his eye. Two Hufflepuff first year students were sat snogging the living daylights out of each other. Observing the scene before him, he slowly and silently entered the hall.
"What do you think you're doing out of bed?" he bellowed slamming his fist on the table in front of him. The Hufflepuff girl let out a squeal while her boyfriend froze.
"Well…what are you waiting for? Move!" he shouted. The two students jumped and quickly walked past him out of the hall, not daring to look him in the eye. Draco smirked.
"Ah, another successful night, I think," he smiled to himself following the Hufflepuff's out of the Great Hall.
He paused in the middle of the entrance hall at the bottom of the marble steps. He looked to his left and then to his right, seemingly studying the two doors in front of him. The one on the left would lead him to the Slytherin dormitories. The one on the right would lead to the Hufflepuff dormitories and to the kitchens. He looked up the marble staircase before choosing the latter door.
He opened the door and stared down the corridor before him. It was empty. "Perfect!" he beamed. He walked swiftly down the long passage before coming to a portrait. He examined the painting and quickly found the pear amongst the bowl of fruit. He hesitantly lifted his hand, and with a long pale finger, he tickled the piece of fruit. It giggled before turning into a golden handle. He entered the kitchen.
The kitchen was bustling with action. House-elves were preparing food on the five tables. His eyes skimmed each of them. He quickly found what he had been looking for and edged his way to the table at the far end of the room. He assumed it must be the table directly below the high table where the teachers would eat.
There he saw the house-elf wearing a tea cosy for a hat, a long sky blue jumper that reached to his bony knees and one neon pink sock and one black. Draco observed the elf before him and shook his head, most likely thinking 'what in Merlin's beard'.
"Dobby! How nice to see you. How is life treating you?" Draco said with obvious malice in his voice.
"Master Draco! You must leave at once. Shouldn't be here, should be in bed!" he exclaimed.
"I'm a prefect you imbecile. I'll do as I bloody well please."
"Yes sir. Dobby is sorry sir."
"I'm here on business actually. I have a little errand for you."
"Yes Master. Anything you wish of me Master Draco sir."
The kitchen had quietened down considerably. The only noise coming from a rather small house-elf who could not quite reach to hang a pot on the wall.
Draco looked around to make sure no one was listening. He placed a hand in his pocket and Dobby flinched. Probably expecting a curse from his wand, as he had at one time been use to from the blond boy standing before him. Sensing he was frightened, Draco flashed him a genuine smile and Dobby relaxed.
Draco pulled his hand from his pocket and held it out to the house-elf. In his palm there was a small vial containing a thick liquid. It had a mother-of-pearl sheen to it. Dobby held it up to his bulging green eyes. He removed the cork stopper and was immediately overwhelmed by the aroma of cookies. His nose followed the steam rising from it in characteristic spirals. He felt dizzy. He felt butterflies in his stomach.
"Dobby loves cookies!" he cried in pure bliss.
Draco grinned at the little elf before taking the stopper from his hand and placing it back on the vial.
"You should try drinking it. Powerful stuff that," he laughed.
"What is it sir?" Dobby asked.
"It's probably better if I don't answer that. What I can tell you is it's a present for someone I like. Only it's a surprise. That's where you come in. I need you to deliver it for me."
"Of course Master Draco. Dobby would like to take it to her," he squeaked.
"Ah…right. Actually, I was rather hoping you could slip it into her drink for me. It's perfectly safe," he assured him.
"Dobby won't get into trouble will he?"
"No. Of course not! I was thinking in return I could help you with that little problem of yours. You know the cookie thing," Draco smiled at the elf whose eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his eye sockets.
"But sir how did you…I haven't told…no one knows…." he stuttered.
"Love is a powerful thing Dobby. It's not easy to hide. I can see you're in love."
"And you would help Dobby?" he asked.
"I will help you Dobby. Now…you need to place the potion in her drink just as the singing contest begins."
"Beg your pardon sir, but who is the girl?" Draco smiled at Dobby.
"The girl…is Hermione Granger."