Hey. I'm back. Not really much to say, is there? Here's Dobby.
James Potter drowsily rubbed his eyes and sighed. He had spent sixteen years in the Afterlife, and never, not once, had something like this happened.
There was a house-elf hugging his legs.
"Dobby is honored to meet you, mister James Potter, sir! Dobby has heard great things, sir, very great things! Of course, only a great wizard could be the father of Harry Potter! Yes, Harry Potter is a great wizard, and a kind wizard! Dobby died protecting Harry Potter, sir!"
James could hardly understand a word the elf was saying. He kept hearing "Harry Potter" over and over, but that was about it. If his son was a normal, not well-known child, then he would be ecstatic to meet someone who knew Harry, but seeing as the boy was famous world-wide (as James had recently discovered), he paid it little attention.
Lily, on the other hand, was fascinated with the little creature, talking to him and asking curious questions.
"So Dobby, you knew Harry? Personally? I've heard from a few of the residents who came here after James and me that he's very selfless."
"Oh yes, Lily Potter, ma'am!" Dobby squeaked excitedly. "Harry Potter is very selfless, indeed! It was Harry Potter that tricked Master Malfoy into giving Dobby his sock, ma'am! And Dobby was freed, and since then, Harry Potter and his friends have given Dobby many socks, and even hats and scarves and sweaters!"
Lily beamed proudly. "That's very nice, Dobby. I can see that Harry means a lot to you."
Dobby nodded, his bat-like ears flapping on his head. "Oh, yes, very much so! Harry Potter was at Malfoy Manor, because he was captured to be taken to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but Dobby was able to go to Malfoy Manor and save Harry Potter and his friends! It was as Dobby was taking Harry Potter away from the manor that Bellatrix Lestrange threw a knife and Dobby and Dobby was killed!"
Lily had turned considerably white at this explaination, but was saved when Dumbledore and Sirius walked over.
"Ah, Dobby. Good to see you again. I assume you are enjoying your stay?" Dumbledore asked, much like a hotel manager would ask a hotel's resident.
"It is very nice here, Professor Dumbledore, sir! The people are very kind. Dobby has never been treated better, except for Harry Potter and his friends!"
Dumbledore smiled at him while Sirius looked at him with an expression of mild curiosity.
"A house-elf, huh? I figured they were all disgusting little beasts like Kreacher, but I've been proved wrong," he said mildly.
Dobby looked up at Sirius in horror. "K-Kreacher? Bad Kreacher has been dirtying the house-elf legacy again! None of the house-elves like Kreacher, but Dobby is nice to Kreacher, because Kreacher is Harry Potter's house-elf."
"No need, Dobby. Kreacher doesn't deserve your kindness," Sirius snorted.
Before Dobby could speak, Dumbledore cut it. "If I may," he said, "I believe that Harry has been rather polite to Kreacher as of late, and it has rewarded him greatly. Kreacher now cleans the house properly, creates edible dishes, and is overall tolerable."
Sirius gawked at Dumbledore in horror. "K-Kreacher?! Tolerable?! And polite?! I knew that elf for my whole unfortunate life and never was the filthy thing one or the other!"
Lily looked at Sirius with mock sadness. "I'm sorry, Sirius, but apparently, Harry is just naturally more likable that you."
Sirius clutched at his heart and fell to his knees, looking up at James with twinkling eyes. "You love me more than Harry, don't you, Prongs?"
James laughed and shook his head. "Sorry, Paddy, but family comes before friends. I love Harry more."
"But Jamsie!" Sirius cried, flinging himself at James's feet. "I'm practically your brother! I lived with you since we were sixteen! Don't you remember?!"
James laughed again, attempting to pry his best friend off of his leg (because Dobby was still clinging to the other one, and he'd rather have full control of both of his legs).
"But really, Sirius, you could learn a thing or two from Harry," Lily said with pretend gentleness.
Sirius looked at her questioningly. "About what?"
Lily grinned. "Not dying, of course."
James's eyes lit up. "She's right, Padfoot. Harry's had who knows how many near-death experiences and gotten out alive, and yet you get killed-"
As if they rehearsed, James and Lily chorused and the same time, "by a curtain."
Ha, are you sick of the curtain joke yet? Anyway, there's still time to vote on my poll if you haven't already! Review, please!
