Chapter 27
Little Master
Harry

Harry woke up in the Hospital Wing, and the first thing he heard was Ron, who said, "Nice of you to drop in," while grinning.

Confused, Harry blinked and raised a hand and felt a stiff turban of bandages on his head that felt a lot heavier than usual.

"What happened?" Harry said.

"Cracked skull," Madam Pomfrey said, bustling up and pushing him back against his pillows, "Nothing to worry about, I mended it at once, but I'm keeping you in overnight. You shouldn't overexert yourself for a few hours."

"I don't want to stay here overnight," Harry angrily said, sitting up and throwing back his covers, "I want to find McLaggen and kill him."

"I'm afraid that would come under the heading of overexertion," Madam Pomfrey said, pushing him firmly back on to the bed and raising her wand in a threatening manner, "You will stay here until I discharge you, Potter, or I shall call the Headmaster."

She bustled back into her office and Harry sank back into his pillows, fuming.

"D'you know how much we lost by?" he asked Ron through clenched teeth.

"Well, yeah I do," Ron apologetically said, "Final score was three hundred and twenty to sixty."

"Brilliant," Harry savagely said, "Really brilliant! When I get hold of McLaggen –"

"You don't want to get hold of him, he's the size of a troll," Ron reasonably said, "Personally I think there's a lot to be said for hexing him with that toenail thing of the Prince's. Ugh, but then the Prince is Snape and Sirius told us not to use more of – hold up. He told you not to, so maybe I can… Anyway, the rest of the team might've dealt with him before we get out of here, they're not happy… nor are Hermione, Ginny, Arthur, Vlad, Lukas and anyone that you're on good terms with. Even some Hufflepuff Players seemed annoyed at McLaggen, apparently, according to Lukas – who came in while you were out, by the way – because just hearing what McLaggen was saying was annoying, even as the opposite team."

There was a note of badly suppressed glee in Ron's voice; Harry could tell he was nothing short of thrilled that McLaggen had messed up so badly.

"I could hear the match commentary from here," Ron said, his voice now shaking with laughter, "I hope Luna always commentates from now on… Loser's Lurgy…"

But Harry was still too angry to see much humour in the situation, and after a while, Ron's snorts subsided. Ron then mentioned Ginny, and how she came in to see Harry, making Harry imagine her and him, together and all that…

Harry was in his dream world while Ron went to sleep, before a familiar face he was very glad to see opened the door dramatically (in a way that was more dramatic than how Kuzco opens doors – which is a lot of drama) to enter. It was Sirius.

"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed.

"Harry!" Sirius beamed and gave Harry a hug, "Vlad contacted me about your skull. Don't worry, it goes away more quickly than you'd think with Madam Pomfrey's help."

"Hehe…" Harry said, feeling extremely happy - so much that his mouth automatically formed a smile as if Harry lost control of his facial muscles - for the first time in a while now; he had been frustrated and stressed, or awkward or worried for a past few days, "I'm glad you're here, Sirius."

"Well now Harry," Sirius said, "Vlad also told me to come to see you in a way that made me thin–"

"AHHHH!" Madam Pomfrey screamed out loud, waking Ron up, before covering her own mouth, looking at Sirius, before realizing something and sighing out in relief. "God, I thought you were here as a student again for a moment."

Sirius laughed. "Well hello again, Madam! Thought you screamed because you still thought I was a murderer for a second there."

"I'm less scared of you as a murderer than as a student here in Hogwarts!" Madam Pomfrey said in a shrill voice, "Just to think of all the times you and your friends ended up in here…! And all the students who ended up in here because of you…! My nightmares…" she shook her head and turned away and went into her office.

"So Harry, as I was saying – hi, Ron, by the way – Vlad led me to think that something's up," Sirius said.

Harry gulped. Of course something was up. Malfoy… Harry was not sure if he should tell Sirius or not, but the fact that Harry had taken this long to say something had probably already told Sirius that something was up.

"Um… so…" Harry said, "Malfoy's up."

Harry and Ron then told Sirius everything that went on that he did not know, and how Malfoy was being highly suspicious and was probably a Death Eater.

"Ok, first of all, all of you need to contact me about all this gossip more regularly," Sirius said jokingly before he swapped to a more serious tone of voice. "…But Draco Malfoy, a Death Eater… Harry, yes he is being suspicious by what you've told me. And you say that the Map sometimes does not display him?"

"Yes," Harry said quickly, "Do you know why?"

"There are only a few places that the Map does not display, Harry," Sirius said, "One is new areas of the school that did not exist when we made the map – I don't there is any, as far as I know. And the second is the Room of Requirements, Harry."

The Room of Requirements! Of course! Harry cursed himself for not thinking of that sooner.

"What could he be doing in there?" Ron said, frowning.

"Who knows?" Sirius shrugged and thought for a moment before saying a name. "Kreacher!"

There was a very loud crack and the sounds of scuffling and squeaks filled the silent room. The three wizards tried to focus on the two elves fighting, confused.

Harry was the first to break out of the confusion to point his wand hastily at the door of Madam Pomfrey's office and mutter 'Muffliato!' so that she would not come running.

Sirius was the second, and he ordered Kreacher to stop fighting the other elf who Harry recognized to be Dobby, still dressed in his clothes, while Ron held Dobby back, stopping the elf from beating up the other who was ordered to stop and was now standing still.

"Kreacher will not insult Harry Potter in front of Dobby, no he won't, or Dobby will shut Kreacher's mouth for him!" Dobby cried in a high-pitched voice.

"Kreacher will say what he likes about his little master, oh yes, and what a master he is, filthy friend of Mudbloods – not even a Black! Oh, what would poor Kreacher's mistress say –?"

"Kreacher!" Sirius shouted out sternly just as Dobby tried to punch the other elf, "I have already told you that Harry is also your master! I've been trying to be more kind to you lately after last year, but if you keep on acting the way you do –"

"Yes, master, Kreacher will do what master and little master says…" Kreacher said with a displeased face.

"Yeah," Harry said, "Right – er, Sirius, mind if I quickly give an order?"

"Go on, Harry, you have all the rights," Sirius said.

"Ok, er, ahem," Harry cleared his throat before saying in the most strict voice he can, "I'm forbidding you to fight each other! Well, Kreacher, you're forbidden to fight Dobby. Dobby, I know I'm not allowed to give you orders –"

"Dobby is a free house-elf and he can obey anyone he likes and Dobby will do whatever Harry Potter wants him to do!" Dobby said.

"OK, then," Harry said, Ron both released Dobby, who fell to the floor, but did not continue fighting. Harry turned to Sirius to ask why he called Kreacher in.

"I just thought, if we want to find out what Malfoy's up to… the best way is to have eyes following him," Sirius said, and Harry got the idea too. The elves could follow Malfoy around!

"That's a brilliant idea!" Harry said, and looked at the elves, "You two can follow Malfoy! Keep an eye on him and tell me what he's up to."

"Dobby will do it, Harry Potter!" Dobby squeaked, "Dobby would be honoured to help Harry Potter!"

"Hold up a second," Ron said, "Am I the only one wondering why they were fighting?"

Harry and Sirius stopped for a second.

"Yeah, why were you two fighting?" Harry asked them with knitted eyebrows.

"Kreacher came to Hogwarts to do what master wanted Kreacher to…" Kreacher said, not saying exactly what Sirius wanted him to do.

"Dobby saw Kreacher, Harry Potter Sir! He was complaining, sir! Complaining that he has to do all this because of Harry Potter, Sir!" Dobby squeaked.

"Oh, okay," Harry said, while Sirius gave Kreacher an intense glare. "But don't start a fight, okay?"

"Dobby will not start a fight, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby squeaked, "What does Harry Potter wants Dobby to do, Harry Potter, sir?"

"OK, then, well, Dobby, Kreacher… I want you to tail Draco Malfoy," Harry said.

"Kreacher, do as he says," Sirius said sternly when Kreacher grumbled. Ron was looking at the two with a look of exasperation.

"Sirius you sure aren't agreeing…" Ron managed to say, and Sirius shrugged in response while Harry gave more detailed instructions to the elves.

"I want to know where he's going, who he's meeting and what he's doing. I want you to follow him around the clock," Harry said.

"Yes, Harry Potter!" Dobby said at once, his great eyes shining with excitement, "And if Dobby does it wrong, Dobby will throw himself off the topmost tower, Harry Potter!"

"There won't be any need for that," Harry hastily said.

"Little Master wants me to follow the youngest of the Malfoys?" Kreacher croaked, "Little Master wants me to spy upon the pureblood great-nephew of my old mistress?"

"That's the one," Harry said, "And you're forbidden to tip him off, Kreacher, or to show him what you're up to, or to talk to him at all, or to write him messages, or … or to contact him in any way. Got it?"

"Don't talk to anyone minus him and me, he means, Kreacher," Sirius added in to prevent any loopholes.

"You can talk to Hermione, Vlad, Lukas and Arthur too," Harry said, "But no-one else."

"Kreacher doesn't want to talk to the Mudblo – "

"KREACHER!" Sirius shouted angrily, "I told you, you are banned from using the m-word."

Kreacher grumbled and said with bitter resentment, "Master and Little Master thinks of everything and Kreacher must obey them even though Kreacher would much rather be the servant of the Malfoy boy, oh yes..."

Sirius was going to shout something again but Harry stopped him.

"That's settled, then," Harry said, "I'll want regular reports, but make sure I'm not surrounded by people when you turn up. The people we told you that you can talk to are OK. Don't tell anyone what you're doing. Just stick to Malfoy like a couple of wart plasters."

"Dobby is thrilled to do this task from Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby squeaked, "Harry Potter will be seeing Dobby soon, sir!"

With that, Dobby snapped his fingers and disappeared into thin air.

"Wait, Sirius, don't you need Kreacher to clean your house?" Harry asked, and turned to Kreacher, "Kreacher, even when you're following Malfoy, when Sirius needs you and calls you, answer him. Er, you're dismissed…?"

Kreacher just nodded then disappeared as well. Sirius smiled at Harry and patted his back.

"Just don't get into too much trouble, Harry," Sirius said, "And when Malfoy is doing something… bad, contact me immediately and don't go face him on your own."

"Ok, Sirius," Harry said.

"Also, Harry, are you using any more of Snivellius' spells?" Sirius said with a more stern, but still warm, expression on his face.

"Well, er," Harry sighed and admitted that he did use more of Snape's spells.

"Harry," Sirius said, "I can now see that I can't stop you from using the spells. But I am warning you – some of those spells are dangerous. Very, very, dangerous. Don't test out a spell on a person immediately – or on any living being. Go to the Room of Requirements or something and use every single one of those spells to see what they do. And if you find any dangerous ones, note them, and do not use them."

Harry nodded with a sheepish expression on his face, and Sirius beamed at him.

"Mirror-call me more often, Harry," Sirius said, "Good night."

Harry wanted Sirius to stay a bit longer, but let him go. He probably the Order's work to do. Harry wished that Sirius would tell him more about the Order's work, but knew that some things, Sirius won't tell him. Just like how Harry doesn't tell Sirius everything.

"Good night, Harry," Ron said, rusting in his bed to find a comfortable position. He did not comment further about Harry using the elves to track Malfoy.

"Good night," Harry said and turned the lamp off so that the Hospital Wing was lit by nothing else but the moonlight seeping through the windows.

-0-0-0-

I AM BACK, READY TO WRITE NEW CHAPTERS BECAUSE EXAMS ARE CANCELED AND SO LIKE F*** REVISION.

I hope everyone is safe in this COVID-19 madness. I wish everyone the best of the best luck; we all need it - for ourselves and for our families and friends. If your family member or friend is infected, I hope they get better soon.

We can all get through this, as long as we all stay cautious. Stay home as much as you can, and wear a mask when going outside for battle in the supermarket.

Also, thanks for all the lovely reviews! I've been reading all reviews even when I was not posting, and they fueled me to get through all the work dumped on me by school. I'm glad people are enjoying this fanfic. Everyone who's reading this is an awesome person; it means you're still here after a lot of time. Love y'all.

-PotterheadNo.04

p.s.

In response to Sapphire Diadem's review:

The purpose of this fic is: save some characters and write comedic interactions. 'Course, changing canon events would make things more interesting, but my brain ain't got the capacity to change the storyline drastically in a way that is still realistic (school drained my brain) (especially Maths). Sooo yeah that's why this fic doesn't far from canon. I got 0 ideas on how to completely change the HP story.