The Adventures Of Harry And Dobby Chapter Twelve

Harry and Dobby left the family for bed, but didn't go directly there. Instead they went to Dobby's room to talk.

"Dobby, how do you think we should go about finding this new threat?" Harry wanted to get started right away.

"You might think me crazy Harry, but I was thinking of seeing if Professor Dumbledore might be able to help us there. Do you think he has a way to search our memories to find what we re looking for?"

"That's not a bad idea Dobby, but maybe we don't have to ask the Professor. Maybe Sirius or dad could do something like that. As long as they have been working in the Ministry, they must have learned Legilamancy."

"I don't think so Harry, because it is illegal to use. I know for sure that the Professor knows it, as he tried to probe my mind when we first got to Hogwarts, to see why I was there."

"Still wouldn't hurt to ask them though, don't you think? I mean it might insult them if we went behind their back and asked the Professor."

"No, you're right, we should ask them first and maybe your mum as well, since she worked in the in the Dept of Mysteries."

"Never thought of mum, but you're right as well, she may know how to use it. I think we should key on my youth, before memories meant something to me."

Harry said goodnight to Dobby and left for his room, where he thought about what happened in his unconscious state. He also wondered if it really happened, or something he thought up because of his poisoned state of mind. It all seemed so real though. Plus he didn't want to take the chance it was real and he just passed on looking into it, after being warned.

Harry was up early, before his dad and Sirius were up, so he wouldn't miss them. When he got to the kitchen, even his mum wasn't up yet, so he started breakfast and had the bacon and bangers going and was working on the potatoes, when he was joined by his mum. Lily went to Harry and gave him a hug and a kiss on the forehead. She then took watch over the meat, while Harry worked on the potatoes.

"Mum, can I ask you something that's very personal?"

Lily smiled, thinking she knew where this was going, "So, you are finally getting curious about where you came from?"

"HUH?, No, I already know about that, from Sirius."

"WHAT DID HE TELL YOU?"

Harry laughed, when his mum went crazy over Sirius' talk about anything to do with sex to Harry, "It wasn't like that mum, he didn't get graphic with it. He just told me about the birds and the bees. It was so long ago, I almost forgot all about it. Then about four years ago, I got the same thing from dad and Uncle Remus. So, I think I am well schooled in the subject."

Lily laughed along with him, then asked him to ask his question.

He took a deep breath, then asked, "Did you learn Legilamancy when you worked for the Dept. of Mysteries?"

Lily dropped the fork she was using for the meat. "Why in the world would you like to know that?"

"I just need to know. It's an idea that Dobby and I came up with, that could point us in the right direction concerning our new bad guy. So, do you know it or not?"

"I don't, and neither do your dad, Sirius or Remus. It's not necessary as an Auror and Remus has no need for such a thing. I suppose you do know who does know it, though?"

"Yes, as he has already tried it on Dobby and I. We wanted to give you and dad the chance before we went that way. Not that he would do it, but hopefully he would consider it."

"What memories do you have that you need help with though?"

"When dad showed me around the Ministry after I was born. It would be in my memory, but I wouldn't notice it as such."

"Why are you so sure it was the Ministry that holds the answer?"

"Where else have I been that would have a number of people around me that I wouldn't know? When was my first trip to Diagon Alley, Gringotts and the Cauldron. Those are the only other places it could have been, aren't they?"

"No, I'm afraid not. It could have been church, a grocery store or department store. It could have been to a party we attended, or a restaurant. So many others, it's hard to remember them all. We were very social, before Albus dropped the Prophecy on us and the Longbottoms."

"Crap, we never thought of them and you could be right. But still, isn't the Ministry the most logical place to meet someone with intent to be evil?"

"Do you think that is the only place to harbor evil? It's every where you look Harry, not centralized in one area. Tom wasn't a part of the Ministry, yet he did have his followers there. Slytherin had more than it's share of evil, but all the death eaters didn't come from that house. Diagon Alley has it's fair share of evil in Knockturn Alley. Do you know for sure it's a wizard you are looking for and not a witch?"

"I can't believe I have been so blind to everything you just said. Why can't it be a witch? We could have been wasting our time looking for a wizard and lost sight of what we should really be looking for. I guess we should rethink our strategy and come up with a better plan. Thanks mum, for pointing all this out to me and I will pass it on to Dobby and the rest."

"All I did was open your eyes to the many possibilities that are out there to look. The magical world is so intertwined with the muggle world, that who ever you're looking for could be anywhere. However, you always go with your first intuition, with that being the Ministry. I'm sorry if this confuses you, but now you know what you face if you really want to look into this. Like you said, it could be years before this person begins to show his or her intention."

That was when they heard the others coming down the stairs for breakfast. Harry and Lily brought the food to the table and took their seats with Harry leaving the seat next to him mum for Dobby. It had been his seat for as long as Harry could remember and Lily had thanked him for his understanding on several occasions.

After clean up, Harry asked them all to sit for a few minutes, as he and Dobby had something to tell them. Lily thought it was going to be them asking James and Sirius about the mind reading, but she was surprised when Dobby started it by saying, "I just want you all to know that Harry confirmed something that I thought had happened. Because of the love and care you all showed me, I have turned as human as an elf can get. I am more human then elf, except for my powers, which are all elf like. The explanation will have to wait as that could take hours and you all have to get to work, except for you Missy Lily." Dobby was taken back when they all got up and went about their business. He thought they would be dumbfounded or happy about this.

Lily walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder, "Dobby, what you just said, we already knew. Have for as long as you have been here. It was our intention to try and make you as human as possible, in order to defeat Tom the first time. As an elf, you could never do it because of your oath."

Dobby thought on the matter and saw where Missy Lily was right. An elf cannot take a human life, unless it was to safe his owner. Lily and James were not even in the house when he beat Tom. He looked to Harry and saw where he was confused, because it was the first he heard of it by the council in his dream. Then Harry thought, if everyone already knew, then it was meaningless for him to hear about it. If that was like that, then why wouldn't everything else be. What if there is no one waiting to take Tom's place and he was looking for something that didn't exist. So, why would they make up a story like that and use Harry to make up his own thoughts on who it was? Maybe they were using Harry to create another Tom by using his own ideas, or his friends ideas? He needed another talk with Dobby and his mum.

After James, Sirius and Remus left Harry brought up his new thoughts and was happy they listened to them and agreed it may be like he said. Harry asked Dobby to go to their friends and tell them to quit trying to figure out what he asked them to do and just have fun with their summer hols. He would explain to them all when they got back to school.

Harry hoped it was as he thought, because he didn't want to miss seeing the return of another Tom Riddle.

Dobby made sure his last stop would be Hermione and he would tell her the whole story, because he wanted her to know what he knew about everything. The Weasleys and Luna took it alright, as did Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati and Padma, Draco, Daphne, Tracy and Blaze. Now he had to see Hermione and see what she thought of Harry's idea.

Hermione wasn't home, so he tried her parents practice and saw her sitting down reading a book she brought with her. He walked in and she looked up to see him and got up and went to him and gave him a much wanted hug. He asked her to go with him for something to drink and he took her to a small diner around the corner and he told her of Harry's thoughts. She not only agreed with his thoughts, but told Dobby if she had been thinking right, she would have brought it up to Harry. She felt the whole thing Harry told them sounded a little odd and curious. Why tell him something, but not all of it. That thing about their superiors not allowing it sounded like so much drabble. "I know this sounds crazy, but after his talk, I was thinking the very same thing. The thing is, why would they do it? What would they gain by having us look for someone they knew wasn't real?"

"Maybe they were hoping Harry would announce it to the Minister and get everyone all nervous and scared again. We don't really know who they were, so what if they were playing with our feelings, hoping to have something to have a big laugh over, while people down here went into hiding again?"

"That would make them awful shallow. However, it could be something like that, and with them giving that line about it could possibly go on for years, makes it even more of a possibility. If I were Harry, I wouldn't go any farther with this than he has. If Professor Dumbledore wishes to do something with it, then let him do it without help from Harry. For some reason though, I don't think he will, until Harry gives him something he can work with." Hermione was hoping it wouldn't go any further. "Oh and Dobby, we'll be going to France in two weeks for two weeks, as our vacation. I'll try to come by before we leave to spend a little time together with you and Harry."

"Do we have to include Harry?" Dobby tried to make it sound like a joke, but what he really wanted was some alone time with her.

"I didn't say we would be spending all our time with Harry. He's a big boy and can find something to occupy his time." She then hugged him once more, before he left.

When Dobby told Harry what Hermione thought and what she had planned, Harry tried to find plans of his own for the time she visited. He thought of the twins and a trip to Diagon Alley and then a trip to Hogsmeade. However, when he floo'ed them, they were gone and wouldn't be back until Ginny's birthday. They were with Charlie at his reserve. Ron was in Ireland with Seamus and Dean and would be gone until then also. Ginny was free though, as was Luna and Harry made the plans with them.

Harry and Dobby sat down with the family, which meant Sirius and Remus as well, and told them what He, Dobby and Hermione settled on doing about the threat, and everyone of them thought it was an excellent choice. They all thought you can't find something that may not be there, and if something did happen, that would be the time to react.

Hermione sent a letter to Dobby and it asked if she could visit for two days that weekend and Lily agreed and Dobby sent his reply with Hedwig and floated around the house the rest of the day, helping Missy Lily with what ever she needed and even with things she didn't know she needed.

Harry had to laugh as he watched Dobby doing the same thing three times, not realizing he was doing it. He even polished and waxed the kitchen and hallway floors and would get the fallout from that when everyone got home from work as they slipped and fell when they walked on it. It didn't bother Dobby as he tuned it all out, having only Hermione on his mind.

It was like that until Saturday morning, when Harry left for the Burrow and Dobby went to get Hermione, saving her from using the floo and traveled by elf magic.

Harry sat on the sofa when Molly asked him to get comfortable. She told him that Ginny and Luna were upstairs getting ready and should be down shortly and asked him if he wanted anything to drink which he refused. "Well, what are you going to be doing Harry for two days in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade?"

"To tell you the truth, Mrs. Weasley, I haven't the foggiest. I am just doing this so Dobby could spend some time alone with Hermione. She included me in her visit, but I didn't need to be in their way. I was hoping the twins would go with me, but to be honest, I am happy Ginny and Luna will be going. They are a little more serious about things then Fred and George."

"Is this the true reason for your happiness, or is there an alternative motive? I was young once too you know."

"Mrs. Weasley, I have no alternative reason for wanting Ginny and Luna to go with me. But, I must admit they do brighten up the weekend by being with me. Is that wrong for me to say?"

"It might be to the girls mother, but I will overlook it this time and put it down as wishing for good company." It was at this time that both Ginny and Luna made their way down the stairs and Harry smiled brightly for the two young ladies. He did notice that they both looked very pretty when dressed up. He took their hands and used the floo to get to the Cauldron where they ate lunch before heading into the alley. After lunch, they entered the alley and their fun day began. It started with the apothecary where they purchased ingredients needed for their next school year. Luna walked up to the jar filled with eyeballs that joined her in a staring contest that Luna knew she couldn't win. It lasted fifteen minutes.

The next shoppe was Tuthills Robes for special events. This was where Ginny tried on several different robes, knowing they were way beyond her dreams of owning. However, when she tried one of them on twice, Harry knew she loved it and thought about buying it later when she wasn't around.

Next was the pet shoppe and they all went in different directions here. Ginny to the owls, Luna to the animal cages and Harry to the reptiles where he had a talk with the different snakes and lizards. He didn't know parstletongue worked for both species. He was talking to a snake when the snake told him, "Sspeaker, why does your light haired friend pet the prickly one. Doesn't it hurt her to be stuck by the pins?"

Harry turned around and saw Luna petting a hedgehog. He watched as it rolled up in a ball and then open up for her to rub its belly. He saw Ginny still with the owls, so she was alright. He continued to watch as Luna and the hedgehog played whatever game they were playing and enjoying it. He went to the owner and asked how much it was and he bought it for Luna and then he watched as Ginny was with the same owl she was with when Harry looked in on her. It looked like a much smaller version of Hedwig. He didn't want Ginny to feel left out, so he bought it as well and told the girls it was for the missed birthdays this past year. Luna named the Hedgehog Mr. Tickles and Ginny named the owl Stormy because she was told it flew with a speed of a strong wind.

Meanwhile, back home, Hermione was disappointed that Harry wasn't going to be there for the weekend as she did want to talk to him about his idea for his dream. She thought it was a brilliant thought of it being a set up by who ever the council was, however, Dobby and Lily kept her mind occupied with their thoughts on what they could do.

It started with Lily asking for their help with making a dessert for their dinner. Hermione was asked what her favorite dessert was and she answered, "Black Forest Cake with extra cherries."

Lily liked the thought of it and Dobby and Hermione helped her with it, after she sent Dobby out to get what was needed for it. There was even enough batter left over for three mini cakes to enjoy at lunch.

Once the cakes were in the oven, they sat down to talk until they were done. "So, Hermione, what have you and your parents got planned for the summer?" Lily wanted to begin with an easy question.

"Well, mum and dad want to go to the continent, but, Europe is getting boring for me and there are things I wish to visit here at home. One I hope to have Dobby join me to visit while I'm here."

"Where's that?" Now Dobby was interested.

"The Tower of London and Big Ben and the crown jewels. They are opening it up to the public for the summer and I would like to see where our tax dollars go and if it's worth it. I have heard that one of the big stones was thought to be a ruby, but come to find out it was something else. I think it was a red tourmaline or Spinel, but I'm not sure."

"So, it was over priced?" Lily was interested in the logic behind this purchase, if it was indeed a wrong purchase. She also saw where Hermione started to question things that were told to the public and turned out to be false.

"Well, I'm not sure about that, as tourmaline's are quite expensive as well as Spinels and possibly more rare than rubies and diamonds. It is just, how can the ones in control miss something like that and it was for the Queen? It also asks the question, what else have they missed that could have cost so much money?"

They pondered this and finally the timer went off for the cakes in the oven. Lily took the frosting job and Hermione took the cherry placement job. Dobby was on clean up detail, since he was the fastest with it.

They moved to the sitting room to get away from the heat of the oven and would return for lunch once it cooled down.

Hermione went over the list of other sites she wished to visit during the summer and she asked what Lily had planned for the summer.

Lily hadn't really thought about it. She was like Hermione, having seen all of Europe she wanted to see and really wanted to enjoy their first summer of freedom from Tom and the Death Eaters. That meant staying around London and enjoying the local sites.

Their talk brought them to many different sites to visit that could take place while Hermione's parents worked. Lily even thought about having them come stay with them for a couple of weeks so they could visit some of the sites themselves. Hermione was thrilled with this proposal and couldn't wait to ask her parents if they wished to do this.

TAOHAD-}

Harry and the girls had so much fun the first day thast they looked forward to day two, when they went to Hogsmeade. They stayed in the Cauldron for the night and got up early and had breakfast. Ginny left her owl with Eylops so it would not be bored. Luna couldn't do that with her hedgehog. It rolled up into a ball and slept in her pocket. Mr. Tickles had yet to stick Luna with his spines, but the chances were he would eventually. Especially if they continued to play their favorite game which Harry found out, was toss him. Ginny used Stormy as soon as she got home and wrote to Hermione and found out how fast she was, when she got an answer back the same day. Thank goodness she remembered she was at Harry's house or it might have been a long trip having to go to two different residences.

Finally, after their trip to Hogsmeade, which was not as fun as Diagon Alley, Harry made it home and found Hermione still there with Dobby and Harry's family. She went to harry and pulled him in for a hug and asked him how his weekend went with the girls. She went crazy when she was told about Mr. Tickles and Stormy. She turned to Dobby and he said to her, "I asked where you wanted to go, Hermione. It's not my fault you didn't want to go to the Alley. Maybe next weekend we can go there?"

"But there won't be a Mr. Tickles there? Were there any other fantastic creatures there Harry?"

"Well, let's see, there was a descented skunk there, but it was kind of rough. Then there was a lizard I liked there. Quite a few snakes. Many owls. Ow yeah, there was another Hedgehog there, but it was bigger than Mr. Tickles."

"Well, I can't get the hedgehog, as that would be copying Luna. A skunk, even if it is descented, can just stay there. I'll pass on the lizard, the owls and the snakes. Looks like we pass on the trip to the Alley Dobby."

Dobby didn't know what to tell her, but harry tugged on his sleeve and whispered, "Later."

Hermione finally made it home and Dobby came back to seeing everyone laughing where they sat. Harry was telling them stories of the girls during their weekend. Dobby took a seat next to Harry as he went into the story of Ginny's encounter with Crabbe and Goyle in Hogsmeade. They started to embarrass her because of her clothes, and she sent them running when she hit them with her bat boogies. The green showed for over a hundred feet as they ran. Harry told them how he wondered if they ever popped on them.

They stayed up for another half hour then Harry and Dobby made their way to bed, but Dobby went into Harry's room to see what he wanted to tell Dobby.

"Dobby, I didn't want Hermione to know that there is something there she may like. She likes cats, and there is a type of cat there that isn't common around here. It's called a Fisher Cat, and this one is from the States. It's bigger than a house cat, but this one seemed pretty smart and mostly gentle, but it could get wild. However, with Hermione's caring and Luna's understanding animals, they she be able to handle it, if you're interested."

"OK, what is a Fisher Cat?"

"I'm not for sure, really. It's Black with pointed ears with little tuffs of fur on the tips, sort of like a Bobcat. It's much smaller than a Bobcat though. My guess is, that the cat is known for catching fish from low hanging branches of a tree that spread out over the water."

"Is it cute?"

"Dobby, why don't you go check it out tomorrow and find out for yourself. It's not as if it's a waste of time for you, as you could get it done in two or three minutes. Longer if you decided to buy it."

"Will you go with me? I still haven't got the Galleons, Sickles and Knuts thing down yet." Harry agreed and hugged Dobby before he left for his room.

Harry laid down and thought about the great weekend that just ended. He thought the twins would be a lot of fun for the weekend, but it turned out the girls may have been even more fun. Ginny was so funny, she had Harry's sides hurting, and Luna was so cute, what with her talking to the hedgehog like he knew what she was saying, and it acted like he really did.

His night turned on him once he was asleep though. He was back in the chamber with the five figures again. He didn't even meet the pretty young girl this time. He was brought right to the chamber where he was told to take a seat. Harry wasn't even given a chance to ask why he was back.

"Why have you ignored our warning we gave you, Potter?"

"I didn't ignore it. I asked my family if they had seen anyone that fit the stupid description you gave me. Then it struck me, that it didn't make any sense what you told me. No one would try to get help using vague features such as I may have met him or her in the past. He or she is always around, but never heard. That was when it struck me, that you may be trying to get me to create my own demons. Find someone who fits close to this description and then make him my enemy. My guess is that you want to see more destruction because your last attempt was cut short by Dobby and me."

"That's absurd, why would we do something like that?"

"Maybe it's because you didn't tell me who you work for, like Death?"

They were silent for quite some time and Harry decided to add to his comments, "So, that's it then, you do work for Death and he feels cheated by us ending it so soon."

That was when a fog rose from the ground and everything around Harry became invisible. Then when it cleared, one lone figure sat where the others sat. "I see where Miss Granger has been a strong influence on you Mr. Potter. That was a very astute observation you just made. Very close to the truth. The one thing you missed was that both you and Dobby were also supposed to die there in the Chamber with Tom. How you and him cheated me was beyond me. So, I came up with a plan for you to falsely accuse someone of becoming the next dark lord and die because of this accusation. Once again you have thwarted my plans and because of it, I may never try it again, for fear of losing my post. But I must let you know that, I have the utmost respect for you and your family and friends. I have never lost two battles with anyone I went after. You have just become my first and hopefully my last. To prove what I say, I want you to meet someone, and just to let you know, you are the only person to ever meet him while still alive. Harry Potter, meet the Creator." and the fog once again filled the room and then disperse leaving one lone figure sitting behind the tables. Harry could not see a clear figure sitting there, just a shadow sitting in a golden glow.

"Mr. Potter, it is a pleasure to meet someone who has totally taken down my young upstart, Death. He needed to feel the hurt of defeat, in order for him to become a better manager. Michael has had to pay Lucifer many visits because of his behavior, but still he defied me. Your besting him twice with the help of Dobby has shown him he is not the all powerful being he thought he was. Thank you for showing this to him. Before I go, is there anything you wish to ask me?"

"Yes sir, was I really meant to die in the chamber, as well as Dobby?"

Harry heard a laugh coming from the glow and then, "Strange question from someone who lives. If you were meant to die there, you both would have died. Death seems to think he controls life and death, but all he controls is his realm and the people within it. He has tried and succeeded in the past to cause someone's death, but he never failed on two attempts on the same person, until now."

"Whew! So we didn't cheat death?"

"Oh yes you did Harry, but that was all you cheated, as it was not ordered by me. Like I said, he sets his own rules and doesn't like to see them broken. Because you have done it to him twice, he is forbidden to try it again on you or anyone linked to your life, like family or friends. Now, can I ask you a question?"

"Why would you need to ask me anything, since you know my whole life, sir?"

"It's not like that Mr. Potter. We don't watch over you every minute of every day. We look in occasionally to see that everything is going as planned. If not, then we look into seeing where it changed. The path you take in your life is your choosing, not ours. Any major event, such as Tom, we monitor very closely. You and Dobby did something no one expected, and that was to live, while Tom died and you even allowed the Basilisk to live. It was amazing."

"I did have help with that, sir. Dobby has always been the strong one between the two of us."

"If you really believe that, then good. It shows me you hide no false pretenses. However, I must tell you, you are stronger than you believe. You told me what Dobby did when he saw the Basilisk, but you didn't do that. You faced it as his equal and believe me, you did. No one else would have stood there while it loomed over them. I think our time has ended and I should let you get back to your body, as Dobby is trying to wake you as we speak. You have been down here long enough, and you won't be coming back, until it is your time, picked by me. Do not ask how long."

This time it was Harry that left the Chamber, to find him being shaken quite hard by Dobby, "Will you wake your arse up Harry, it's time for breakfast and Missy Lily has been calling for you for over thirty minutes."

"OK, OK. I'm awake already. Geez, a person can't get a few extra minutes of sleep around here. But thanks, Dobby."

"Not a problem, but we need to talk later. Your mumbling sounded like you were paid a visit."

"I was and you all need to hear it. And I mean all of you, including Hermione, Ginny, Luna, the twins, Ron, Draco, Neville and all the rest."

"Crap, does that mean what I think it means?"

"You'll have to wait and see Dobby."