A new term had begun and Dobby was feeling quite happy now as he had been able to help Harry Potter yet again when he mentioned he needed a secret room to hold secret meetings in and Dobby had told him all about the Room of Requirement which he had used a few times a week since the year had began to take care of Winky in private. While it was true that Winky had been more lively than before she still kept at the butterbeer and he figured it was from the force of the addiction, or maybe she just needed his attention. Either way he was happy to be caring for her.

Now as he tucked her in bed after giving her the remedial potion he began hearing footsteps approaching from the around the corridor. He had fine-tuned ears which recognized the sound and rhythm of the footsteps and he knew who was coming it and he was quite pleased.

He quickly his Winky in her little bed behind a magic curtain and arranged a table with a chair into the room and waited a few moments and then the door opened and in stepped Harry Potter.

"Oh! Hello Dobby! I'm not intruding am I?" said Harry, surprised to see him.

"No, not at all, sir," replied Dobby smiling. "Can Dobby get Harry Potter anything? A cup of tea perhaps?"

"Sure Dobby, a cup of tea would be nice, and so would something to eat, please," replied Harry in a rather tired voice.

So Dobby popped out of the room for a moment and returned a moment later with a cup of tea and a roast beef sandwich for his friend.

"Thanks, Dobby," said Harry gratefully as he sat down and took a bite of the sandwich and sipped on the tea.

Dobby was noticing something peculiar about Harry tonight. His features were drooping in a somber way and his voice was slow and tired, almost weak, and he sipped the tea in a way which suggested he needed the nourishment badly.

"Is anything wrong, sir?" asked Dobby in a soft, sympathetic voice.

Harry set his teacup down. Where do I begin? he thought. "I'm just really having a terrible year this term is all," he replied soberly.

Dobby's ears dropped as did the corners of his mouth. "Has someone hurt Harry Potter?" he asked concerned.

"Well, Umbridge did in a way... if this counts," Harry held out the back of his wrist for Dobby to see and he now for the first time noticed the scars on his wrist which were in the shape of letters which spelled out 'I won't tell lies'"

Dobby was aghast. "How could she do this to Harry Potter?!" he exclaimed incredulously. "What lies could Harry Potter possibly have told?"

"I have never lied," said Harry through gritted teeth. "I really did see Voldemort return to power... and he did kill Cedric!"

"Dobby knows Harry Potter did," Dobby assured him. "Why would anyone think Harry Potter would tell a lie about that?'

"Umbridge was appointed by the Ministry and the Ministry doesn't believe me, and they seemed to want to make sure no one will," said Harry forlornly. "Some of the people around here who were my friends a year ago won't talk to me know because they think I'm a nutter now."

"Dobby is sorry for Harry Potter," said Dobby kindly.

"I hate Umbridge!" Harry said seething. "She gives everyone a bad time, not just me. She has no right to be here, and she's not even a teacher, she won't teach us any magical defenses which is why I have the burden... I mean duty of teaching my fellow students who want to learn all I know myself... though I worry it won't be enough."

"How could it not be enough, sir?" inquired Dobby. "If anyone be a master at defenses against the dark arts, it be Harry Potter, sir!"

Harry just frowned miserably. "Umbridge forbids any student clubs or groups and I am well aware that if I ever get caught in here I will surely be expelled, me and all my friends."

"Dobby would never let that happen, sir?" Dobby assured him promptly. "Dobby will make sure Umbridge never finds out about Harry Potter's secret meetings."

"Thanks Dobby," Harry said with a weak smile. "But that isn't the only of my troubles now," he went on. "I also have occlumency lessons with Snape... of all people!"

"What is occlumency, sir?" inquired Dobby.

"From what I understand it is like a way of shielding the mind against evil thoughts and intruders from entering... you see I've had these odd dreams lately about Voldemort... just this Christmas I dreamed I was in the mind of Voldemort's snake and attacking Mr Weasley... and thank Goodness he is alive!"

Dobby winced at the thought of having such nightmares. "So is occlumency helping Harry Potter sheild his mind?"

"I wish I could say yes, Dobby, but with Snape teaching me it's so hard to get the hang of it," Harry admitted regretfully. "I just don't like him invading my private thoughts so much, and I don't care to see his either."

"Harry Potter is afraid of what he might see if he does?" asked Dobby understandingly.

Harry nodded. "I don't know if I can trust him, even if Dumbledore does."

"But Harry Potter does still have people who care about him," said Dobby after a short silence. "He still has his Wheezy and Hermy, doesn't he?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, and I am always grateful for having them by my side."

"And Harry Potter also has his godfather, Sirius Black," Dobby pointed out. "He will always have a godfather who cares about him."

Harry smiled weakly again. "I know I will, Dobby. But I'm also very worried about Sirius now, too. You see, just before I left his home after the holidays Snape came in and insulted him, calling him a coward, and I fear he might do something... I don't know... foolish. And he did give me something with which to contact him if I get in trouble, I don't know if I should use it though."

"If Harry Potter does not wish to contact his godfather he can still contact Dobby," Dobby assured him brightly. "Dobby will always be here for Harry Potter no matter what. All he has to do is call out Dobby's name and he will come, just a snap away."

"Thanks Dobby," said Harry appreciatively. "But I wouldn't want to get you in trouble either."

Dobby's ears drooped again. He watched silently as Harry finished his tea and sandwich shortly.

Harry yawned tiredly and said, "Well, I guess I'll go to bed now. Thanks for being here for me Dobby. I needed someone to listen to me."

"Anytime, sir. Anytime," Dobby said, smiling again.