7/12/91

Petunia laughed as Sirius's strangled yelp echoed throughout the atrium. Once she calmed down enough to speak she managed to sputter out, "Oh Harry, His animagus form is a dog. You just sent him to get groomed. It's too perfect. It is something he would do as a prank."

"I thought so too. Maybe this is the start of us getting to know each other." Harry merrily said.

"Harry, my dad looked pissed. He's going to get you for that. I think in his mind you have just declared a prank war." Dudley said as he smiled. "Can I get in on it? I wouldn't prank you though."

"I should clear a prank war with my dad first. He might not want me to be in a prank war with Sirius. I'll ask him tonight."

Petunia looked thoughtful as she asked, "Okay . . . where is the quest to?"

"The Department of Mysteries. I've dreamt of it the past couple of nights, specifically the prophecy room, row 97, fourth shelf from the end about a sixth of the way up."

"What is there Harry?" Dudley asked.

"I think there is a prophecy that concerns me."

"Harry, why didn't you tell us you were a poet?" Petunia said with a smile.

"What? A poet? Me? Where'd you get that idea?"

"Duh Harry, 'a prophecy that concerns me', you're a poet and didn't know it!" Dudley said as he softly chuckled to himself.

"Very funny guys. Let's go."

"Hey mum do you want to go with us? With you there we are less likely to get in trouble."

"Sure." Petunia said as she walked back to the lifts with Dudley, Harry and Spot.

Harry got a grin on his face and grabbed Petunia's, Dudley's and his cloaks. He handed them to Spot.

"Spot, do me a favor. Take these cloaks home and bring back our gray acromandula silk cloaks that have the jewel-encrusted clasps. Petunia's cloak should have the Stuart and the Corvinus family crests. Dudley's is the one with the crests for the Evans family and the Black family. Mine should be the one that has the Prince family crest along with the crests for the Elf, Fae and Ancient lines I descend from. Also dress in the Elf warrior bodyguard outfit that is your size."

"Right away Master Harry." - POP –

"Harry why did you have him do that?"

"Well, I have noticed that several people have been giving us rude looks and I figure that they'll be less likely to do that if they see us in our fine robes flaunting our family crests. I've gotten the impression that in the wizarding world, bloodlines and financial status matter more then they should."

- POP - "Here you go. Did I get the right ones?"

"Yes Spot. Now, you are to guard us to the best of your ability. Make sure no harm comes to my aunt, my cousin or myself. Got it?"

"Yes Master Harry."

The party of four entered the lifts. Just as the doors were closing a tall older man with long blond hair and gray eyes slipped in. He had an aristocratic look to his features and a pinched look on his face, as he looked them over.

"Morning, I am Lucius, head of the Most Ancient House of Malfoy. Who are you? What are your blood statuses?" He said with a disrespectful edge to his voice.

Petunia drew herself up to her tallest as she sniffed in distain. "I am Lady Petunia Evans of the House of Stuart, Ambassador for the Corvinus Clan of the Immortals. This is my son Dudley Regulus Black, Heir to the Most Ancient and Most Honorable House of Black and beloved Great-grandson to the Ruler of all Immortals. This is my nephew Harrison Snape, Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Prince, Beloved of royal houses of Elf, Fae and Ancient alike. That is Spot, personal body guard and companion to Harrison."

Lucius looked sharply at Harry, "How are you related to Severus Snape boy?"

Harry glanced at Lucius and asked, "How is that any of your business?"

"You will do good to treat me with respect boy. I am his closest friend."

"Oh, I seriously doubt that. My father has never mentioned you. In fact there are no pictures of you anywhere in his house nor his manor."

"You filthy disgusting dirty blooded brat. You dare speak to your better like that?"

Petunia stepped up and slapped Lucius. "He is Royalty. His families blood has been pure for at least the last 100 generations, mine for the last 20. Can you say the same? I think not. After all you still follow the memory of a half-muggle insane sycophantic pathetic excuse of a man who gave himself the title of 'Lord'. If he was so powerful how did that 15-month-old Potter boy defeat him?"

"Aunt Petunia, he is not worth getting upset about. Remember, my father has the same mark as this man. Obviously he is just ignorant of the proper manners and respect one should always display towards others."

"You are right as always Harrison. I tend to forget that the 'Wizarding' world has archaic traditions. I much prefer the ones of the Immortals. My father did well to send me there after Walburga insulted and broke the contract between the House of Stuart and the House of Black. Though I shall endeavor to do as my betrothed demands. He after all, has just been released after 10 years in Azkaban. I do love him so. Oh here we are boys, follow me." Petunia said as the lift came to a halt and opened at Level 9.

Petunia frowned as she noticed Lucius had followed them out of the lift. Suddenly Dudley tripped and face planted on the cold marble floor. Harry and Petunia rushed to his side. After rolling him over Petunia pulled out her wand and pointed it at Dudley's now broken nose.

"Episkey"

Petunia looked over as Harry whimpered and scooted around to hide behind Dudley and his aunt. She followed his frightened gaze and found it locked onto a sneering Lucius Malfoy. He quickly smiled and held his hand out to Petunia.

"May I be of assistance?" He asked in a sickly sweet voice that held barely concealed rage.

"No, I am a healer and am quite capable of taking care of my own son. Go on with your day and don't bother yourself with us again."

"Oh no, I insist."

Petunia drew her wand as she stood and quickly pointed it at Lucius' throat. Looking him straight in the eyes, without blinking she spoke in a clear precise voice.

"Sir, if you come any closer to my son, my nephew, or myself, I shall be forced to magically castrate you. Then I shall let Spot do with you as he sees fit. I told you I don't want nor do I need your help."

Lucius scowled at Petunia as with a flick of his wand he petrified the boys and Spot. He then yelled, "Expelliarmus!" and sent Petunia's wand out of her hand and sailing down the hall.

"You dare threaten me? You slander the Dark Lord's blood status? You will pay for that!" Lucius snarled before spitting in her face.

He threw her violently against a wall with such force that there was a sickening crack as her head collided with the wall. She crumpled to the floor as she lost consciousness. Lucius stood over her and as he pointed his wand at her he did not see a brick in the wall behind him start to glow as it wriggled and shimmied it's way out of its confines.

"Cruci-" Lucius failed to complete the spell as the now free brick slammed into the back of his head knocking him out cold and crashing face first onto the hard marble floor.

A voice echoed throughout the hallway as a now visible house elf pounded its head against the floor. "Bad Dobby. Bad bad Dobby. Dobby is a bad house elf for saving Missy Petunia and hurting Master Lucius." Petunia stirred and groaned as she regained consciousness. She groped around for her wand. Upon failing to find it her eyes fluttered open. She drew in a quick breath as she spotted a house elf smacking its now bloody forehead against the floor.

"Dobby"

Dobby abruptly stopped punishing himself as he looked in her direction. "Missy Petunia is addressing Dobby?"

"Yes, please fetch me my wand."

"Yes Missy Petunia." Dobby chirped as he staggered down the hall, grabbed her wand and brought it back to her.

"Thank you Dobby. Why do you serve him?"

"Dobby is part of Mistress Narcissa's possessions brought with her to her new house. I is her personal elf. She is telling Dobby to do as husband says and to call him Master. I is doing as I is told. Not liking it though. Dobby is a Black elf, not a Malfoy elf."

Petunia nodded at his words as she pointed her wand at the boys and Spot. "Finite Incantium."

"Mum are you okay?" Dudley asked as he scrambled to her side.

"That bastard!" Harry exclaimed as he helped Spot to his feet. "Spot are you injured?"

"Spot is fine. That house elf is hurt." Spot said as he pointed to a weaving Dobby.

"Boys, this brave elf is Dobby. Dobby this is my nephew Harry Snape and my son Dudley Black."

"Hello. I is a bad house elf. I not do as Mistress's husband instruct. I…"

"Dobby. You belong to the House of Black correct?"

"Yes, Dobby does."

"Dudley is the son of the current Head of the House of Black. That means he is one of your main owners right?"

"Yes"

"Good. Dudley, give him one of your socks."

"Why?" Dudley asked in a confused voice.

"Just do it."

Dudley reluctantly took off his socks and thrust them at the house elf. "Here take them, they belong to you now."

Dobby smiled as he took the socks from Dudley. "Young Master Dudley is given Dobby socks. Dobby is presented with clothes. Dobby is free! Thank you Mister Dudley sir." Dobby sat down on the floor with a thud and pulled the socks onto his feet. "I's now get warm feet."

Harry grinned as he took off his shoes. He held one up to Dobby's feet and was thrilled to find that they looked to be the correct size. "Dobby, one just can't have socks without shoes, so these shoes are now yours."

"You is too kind Mister Harry sir."

"Nonsense. You saved my aunt from a horrible fate. As a result you saved my life too. Shoes are the least I can do as a thank you."

Petunia held out her hands palms up. "Dobby, my full name is Petunia Stuart Evans of the House of Stuart. I have many houses and house elves. Yet I have no bonded personal elf to serve me. Will you bond with me and consent to serve me as my very own personal elf? Before you decide you should be aware of the conditions I request you agree to. 1st: I will require that you have one day a week off. 2nd: You shall have an allowance of 10 sickles a month to do with as you please. 3rd: You shall wear a uniform of your choosing from the options I shall provide. So will you enter into a bond with me?"

"Dobby is not needing one day off a week Missy Petunia. Dobby does not"

"Dobby my nephew is part Elf and Fae, as was his mother before him. They both believe all creatures need one day off of work a week to take care of their own needs. I believe this also. This requirement is non-negotiable."

"But Dobby wants"

Harry interrupted the protesting elf. "Dobby, you will become part of our family. We want you to have the same rights as we do. One day off a week so you can do whatever you want. If you want you can serve but you would not be required to do so. All house elves from the House of Prince and the House of Stuart were given this same deal. You accept it and in return you become members of our family. We protect and take care of family. We NEVER harm or allow harm to come to those belonging to our family. Should harm befall you, we as a family shall endeavor to enact retribution upon the heads of the ones responsible for such a grievous act."

"Y-you w-would pro-protect D-Dobby?"

"Yes we would. You are a sentient being. You have rights that you should insist on being respected. (1) You have the right to relax and have fun just like every other person that is employed. (2) You have the right to a nice uniform of your own choosing as long as it displays the crest of the house you work for. (3) You have the right to find and bond in matrimony with your chosen mate as long as they consent to it. All offspring from your union will be free. Once they reach adult hood they shall be presented with the same offer of bondage. Even if they choose to bond with a different family they shall forever be considered members family of this family. (4) You have the right to wages of your own. That way you can choose to spend it on whatever or whoever you choose to. These are your rights." Dudley quietly explained.

"You want Dobby to be part of your family?" Dobby asked in a quivering voice as tears welled up in his large eyes.

Petunia smiled and nodded her head as she held out her arms. Dobby started crying as he threw himself into her arms. She hugged the shaking house elf and rubbed his back until his sobbing quieted.

"Y-yes. D-Dobby w-wants t-to b-be p-part of y-your f-family." Dobby wiped his running nose on the filthy shift he was wearing. "Dobby accepts your offer and is now belonging to Petunia Stuart Evans for as long as Dobby lives!"

"Okay, Dobby I want you to go to Stuart Manor and take a bath, use all the healing balms and potions it requires to get you back to health. Please fix yourself a meal and eat your fill. I will summon you to me later this evening so we can get you a uniform. You can wear what you want in the mean time, but be sure to burn what you are currently dressed in. I also request that you call me Mistress Petunia. Also, even after I marry my son's father you shall still serve just me. You will not be required to serve anyone from my husband's family. You may go now."