Hey all - welcome to chapter 11 of "The Boy Who Didn't Live" :)

I've decided to put forth a challenge to you all today; I'm (hopefully) doing this as a daily page fic, with a equal (about Harry's 30 deaths). Every 50 reviews starting from now (I'm near 100) I'm going to let that reviewer choose a method of death.

So please, as I write daily, review daily to give me the motivation to continue, you supermegafoxyawesomehot people. (yeah, a starkids reference :P)

Kyae x

Day 11

Elves and Bonds

"We can't allow this slavery to go on!" Neville and Harry groaned good-naturedly as Hermione began her speech, the first official meeting of SPEW taking place. There were now officially five member (Hermione, Harry, Ron, Neville, and by extension Luna), however since Ron was now ignoring everyone and anyone who was friends with Harry, and Luna was, at the moment, unfindable, there were only three members present.

"But Hermione..." Neville began, but was cut off by Hermione.

"There are no excuses – these poor creatures are brainwashed into believing anything that wizards want them to!"

"They..." Harry began.

"For heaven's sake they have to punish themselves if they do anything that is against their master's wishes!"

The meeting continued in a very similar way, Hermione ranting whilst Neville and Harry learnt to just nod politely at her points and murmur their agreement if they wanted to avoid her scathing looks.

Even though he thought at times that Hermione's points were a little out of reach, or unrealistic, Harry admired the witch's passion, her deep hazel eyes flashing with emotion as she spoke her argument. Never before had Harry (in this life, or his previous one) seen someone speak for their beliefs so much. Thinking back, he remembered the face's of the DA when they were in the final battle, the determination similar.

But they were in a situation of life and death.

Hermione however... there was nothing but her beliefs behind this, and so Harry made up his mind to help her in whatever way he could. Besides, her voice was rather hypnotic...

What am I thinking? He protested to himself. She's my best friend!

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Harry look down at his map, and saw Luna near the hufflepuff common room, remaining completely still.

"Hey guys." He called out as Hermione paused in her tirade. "I've found Luna."

"Let's go." Hermione had no time to pause them as Neville agreed with Harry, and the two boys chivvied the witch through the corridors until they found Luna sitting there, alone in an alcove, without any shoes on.

"Have they done it again?" Again, Harry was surprised to see the anger in Neville's eyes as they saw what had happened to Luna, but the young blond just smiled at him softly.

"The Wrackspurts were lazier than usual today – they often are after a Hogsmead trip." She shrugged, standing up, but was stopped by Hermione, who conjured her some shoes. "Thank you Hermione."

"You're welcome." The brunette smiled, putting her wand into a holster that Harry had given her from Ollivander. "What were you doing down here anyway?"

"Oh I was waiting for Harry – I could feel him looking for me, so I waited." She smiled airily again, before moving to a particular portrait.

"Hey isn't that...?"

"Yes Harry." She nodded, tickling the pair, causing the portrait to open.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked, only to gasp as she came into view of the kitchens, seeing hundreds of house elves bustling about. "Oh dear lord..."

"Don't upset them Hermione." It was Neville who warned her, although Harry had his hand on her shoulder, stopping her from protesting. "House elves are very loyal. If you earn their trust first, then you might be able to make changes. Not until then though."

She nodded in agreement, but all could tell it was a reluctant agreement as they went through, the witch obviously repeating something in her head to keep herself from butting in.

"Harry Potter Sir!" All four froze in shock as the strangest house elf they had ever seen came forward, only one wizard recognising him.

Dressed entirely in what seemed to be a patchwork quilt, there must have been about five socks around his person, each washed pristinely, other than the one he wore on his right foot, which was still covered in basilisk blood.

"Hey Dobby – guys, this is Dobby, Dobby, these are my friends Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood."

"It's nice to meet you." Hermione was the first to greet Dobby, and held a hand out, which instantly began to cause the elf to well up.

"Dobby knew you must be a great witch, Harry Potter's Grangy to be friends with Harry Potter, but never has a witch asked to shake Dobby's hand..." Through his sobs of happiness, the elf managed to shake the offered hand, before pulling out another sock and using it as a handkerchief.

"Well, I think you're a fine elf Dobby, and I am honoured that you've looked after us all so well." Hermione didn't notice it, but Harry saw that some of the elves were looking at her with a bit more respect than they had before. "Oh... what's that noise...?"

The noise in question was a 'hiccup', and Harry had a sudden sense of déjà vu as winky was revealed to them.

"Winky is drinking too much Mr Harry Potter Sir." Dobby whispered in a hushed voice, looking nervously at the elf. "Without a family she is wasting away."

"But isn't it good that she's free Dobby?" Hermione protested, this time, actually whispering it.

"Oh no, Miss Grangy – House elves need a bond to live – the magic given empowers us." Dobby nodded, some of the others agreeing with him. "Some master's aren't as good as others, but without them we can't survive..."

"Wait – does that mean you're becoming weaker without a bond?" Harry suddenly realised how serious this was – what if the reason why he couldn't apparate in time was that he was becoming weaker...

"Yes, Harry Potter Sir – but Dobby is fine a free elf – Dobby likes the socks, and would only want one person to bond with him Mr Harry Potter Sir..." Dobby all of a sudden went really nervous, shifting suddenly.

"Dobby... would you like to bond with me?" Seeing both Dobby's adoring look and Hermione's shocked one, he continued hurriedly. "This wouldn't be a slave bond or anything – I would be paying you, and expect you to take days off, but if it helps make you stronger, then..."

All of a sudden, Harry had received two hugs, one around his legs, and one from one bushy-haired witch.

"Thank you Master Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby wailed in happily as he skipped around the kitchen. "I wills be getting to work with your stuff straight away!"

And with that the happy elf popped away, leaving only Winky's hiccups to fill the silence.

"Hey Hermione..." Harry began to whisper something in her ear, and at his prodding, she began to ask Winky if she would help her family, and be their elf...

And so it was that ten minutes later, Winky was happily cleaning the Granger's house, and the quartet were sitting in the kitchens, watching the elves make dinner, all chatting happily to both the house elves and each other.

"Hey – how are they going into those ovens without burning themselves...?"

It was only as dinner was being pulled out of the ovens that Harry realised that the elves were actually going into them to cook.

"Oh we's have special fireproof charms to protect us Harry Potter Sir." One of the smaller elves explained. "It's so, so fun going in there, like having a warm bath!"

"Urm... I know this sounds odd, but how intense a flame could they withstand?" Noticing where Harry was going, Hermione began to get a gleam in her eyes.

"Oh very well Miss Grangy – we don't want our family getting hurt after all! Why even Mr Hagrid's assistant elves use the spells!"

With a secret smile at each other, Harry and Hermione told the other two what they were going to do...