What could have happened if Dobby didn't die after rescuing Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor?

Here is my take on this. As usual, it is a Harry/Hermione pairing.

As you all know, I do not own the Harry Potter universe or any part of it. They all belong to J.K. Rowling and her associates. I only play with the characters for my own pleasure and hopefully yours as well.

Dobby's Friend

1. Bonding

"Dobby, no, don't die, don't die!"

Harry was desperate. Dobby had just rescued him from Malfoy Manor, but the cost seemed too high. Dobby deserved to live and Harry was unable to help the little elf. In his desperation he remembered another house-elf. "Kreacher!"

He didn't really know why he said that name, not really calling it, but as soon as the sound left his lips, the other house elf appeared in front of him, bowing slightly.

"What can Kreacher do for Master?"

"Can you help Dobby? He's badly hurt!"

Kreacher turned to Dobby and snapped his fingers. The silver knife sled out and fell to the ground and the wound seemed to be closing, yet Dobby didn't seem to get better. He was losing his conscience and seemed to be dying just as before.

"Kreacher can do no more. Dobby is dying for lack of master. Only bonding to a wizard or witch can save him now," Kreacher said, his voice devoid of any emotions.

Harry didn't hesitate. "How can I do it?"

"Just say you accept Dobby as your bonded house elf."

"I, Harry James Potter, accept Dobby as my bonded house elf and my friend," Harry said as quickly as he could. "I also swear to let Dobby free whenever Dobby asks for it," he added just as solemnly.

"And why would I ever want to leave the Great Harry Potter Sir?" a weak voice asked him.

"Dobby! You're alive!" Harry looked at the small elf. He was still looking sick and weak, but there was a new sparkle in his big eyes.

"Dobby is alive now, thanks to the Great Harry Potter Sir." His voice sounded a bit stronger.

"Dobby, I command you to rest until you're fully healed," Harry said sternly. He turned to Kreacher. "Is there anything else we can do for Dobby?"

"No, Master. The magic of the new bond is sure to heal him soon." Harry couldn't decipher the elf's expression.

"Please help me carry Dobby inside," he asked Kreacher.

He bent down and tried scooping Dobby like he was carrying a child in his arms. Kreacher helped move Dobby, who seemed to fall asleep. "Kreacher can levitate Dobby there," the old elf remarked.

"I know, Kreacher, but Dobby has just saved my life along with the lives of my friends. He deserves to be treated like a friend as well."

The old elf nodded. "Kreacher understands," he said thoughtfully.

Harry carried Dobby in his arms into the house, where Bill and Fleur were already waiting. "I need a bed for Dobby," he told them.

Fleur raised a brow but said nothing. She only led Harry to a small room, adjacent to the kitchen, and conjured a small bed, just the right size for Dobby. Harry put Dobby in the bed and tucked him in. Dobby smiled in his sleep but didn't wake up.

"Kreacher, keep an eye on him. Call me if he gets any worse. I'll just check on my friends and join you here," Harry said.

Harry checked Hermione first. She was suffering the after-effects of the Cruciatus curse and her arm was still bleeding where Belatrix had cut it, but she managed to smile at Harry despite it. "Fleur is going to tend to my injuries and give me a potion to help with the curse. I'll be alright by morning."

Harry knew from experience that it would take much longer, but he accepted her words, wishing they were really true. Ron was also there and he was sure Ron would take good care of Hermione.

He then checked Luna and Dean. Both felt relieved and thankful for being rescued and Harry let them rest and recuperate. Ollivander was grateful as well, but he wasn't well. He had suffered for too long and would need more than a few days to regain his strength. Harry was surprised to see that Griphook was still holding the sword of Gryffindor, yet that brought an idea into his mind, one he would need to think some more about before he could act upon. Griphook had already been treated by Fleur and would regain his health quite soon, so it seemed.

Relieved that all those rescued were on their way to recovery, Harry returned to Dobby's bedside. "Kreacher, you may rest now. I'll take over staying with Dobby."

"Kreacher needs no rest now, but Master needs it badly" Kreacher replied, looking quite stubborn. "Master must rest now. Kreacher will watch Dobby until Master is fully rested."

This surprised Harry. While Kreacher had become much more cooperative since they gave him the fake locket, he never before showed any initiative. "Are you sure?" he asked, some disbelief showing in his voice.

"Kreacher is sure. Master must rest now."

It was almost midday when Harry woke up. It took him some time to fall asleep, as Voldemort's fury at the residents of Malfoy manor was terrible, yet it also helped a bit. Knowing that Hermione's tormentors and his were being punished helped him sleep deeper. But now he was worried anew. He needed to know how Dobby was doing and then he had some plans brewing in his mind while sleeping. He needed to act on them and the sooner the better.

A "pop" was heard and Harry was surprised to see Dobby in front of him. "Will the Great Harry Potter Sir eat breakfast now or lunch?"

It took Harry a moment to register what he saw. "Dobby, you should still be resting. You've been badly injured. We've almost lost you, you know."

"Dobby knows. It was only The Great Harry Potter Sir's magic which brought me back to life. It's such great magic that Dobby needs no more rest. Dobby can now serve the Great Harry Potter Sir as Dobby always wished."

Harry knew it was futile to argue with Dobby. He had already tried once, during the summer before his second year at Hogwarts.

"Alright, Dobby, but you should not call me by that long name. I'm just Harry for my friends, and I consider you my friend."

He winced as he saw the effect his words had on Dobby. The little elf seemed to almost jump out of his skin from joy and also seemed to have lost his tongue, unable to speak. He just hugged Harry's leg, the one closer to him, as if it was his life line while his eyes were leaking tears of joy. Not knowing what to do, Harry called Kreacher.

Another "pop" announced the arrival of the older elf. "Master called Kreacer?" he asked.

Harry pointed at Dobby, who was still hugging his leg and weeping of joy. "Can you make him relax?"

Kreacher seemed to keep himself from smiling. His new master was clueless about house-elves, that was evident, and that young elf was much too excitable, simply unbecoming for a house elf, yet almost as adorable as a small child. "What did Master say to Dobby?"

"I told him he should call me Harry, as I'd like you to do as well. I consider both of you my friends."

Kreacher felt his eyes getting a bit wet as well. "Kreacher is too old to change his ways. If Master allows, I'll keep calling him Master."

"As you wish, although I'd like it better if you call me Harry."

Kreacher only nodded. He approached Dobby, who seemed oblivious to the world, and started peeling him away from Harry. He did it tenderly, whispering quietly into Dobby's big ears. The younger elf seemed to gradually relax and return to his normal self.

By the time Harry finished his shower, Dobby was ready with a large breakfast tray. "Lunch will be served in another hour in the kitchen," he informed Harry.

While Harry ate, Dobby prepared some clean clothes for Harry. He then stopped, looking at his outer robe. "You should wear your house crest on your robes," he noted.

"I know, but it's safer not to display the Potter crest at these times."

"You could use the Black one," Dobby suggested.

"Are you sure?"

Dobby rolled his eyes, reminding him of Hermione. "You own Kreacher and the Black ancestral home, which means you are Lord Black, just as much as you are Lord Potter."

Harry thought for a moment and then sighed. "I'm not sure it will be any safer, you know. I should wait for better times to display my ancestry."

Dobby didn't seem to like the idea either, but he didn't comment. He waited for Harry to finish eating and then disappeared with the tray.

It was a lovely day. Harry found that all his friends were outside, soaking the warmth of the sun and looking much better than when he had seen them last.

Hermione was talking with Fleur, exercising her French and laughing occasionally. Ron was staying near them, yet he was eying Luna, who was wearing a very short dress and seemed to wear nothing under it. She was dancing dreamily, her eyes closed as her face was turned towards the sun and her arms raised. Still, the hem of her dress never reached higher than her mid thigh, to Ron's disappointment. Dean was sitting on a rock, looking at the sea, not actually seeing it. Harry couldn't guess what Dean was thinking about.

Farther away, he saw Mr. Ollivander stretched on a sun bed, covered with a blanket, as if the sun wasn't warm enough, with Bill sitting near him. Ollivander looked pale and unhealthy. Harry didn't dare think of what he had been through during his long captivity.

Hermione noticed him approach. She left Fleur and ran towards him. "Oh, Harry! I was wondering if you'll wake up before dinner," she said with a smile, hugging him as tight as she could. Harry was suddenly becoming very aware of the fact that she was a girl. Now, only wearing a thin dress, her breasts were being pressed onto his chest, leaving no doubt about her being a young attractive woman. Her dress also had a low neckline, allowing him to see quite a nice cleavage, something he had never seen on her before. He felt his face getting much too warm. He was sure it was also turning red, but Hermione didn't seem to mind. She was probably feeling his body reacting to her proximity as well, but that didn't stop her from hugging Harry some more.

"How are you?" he finally asked, once he could control his voice again.

"I'm fine, really. That potion had worked wonders on me, and Fleur even found a spell to heal the injury leaving practically no trace. See?"

She moved her sleeve up, showing him her arm, free of any blemish. Only a thin scar and a slight discoloration showed where she had been injured by Belatrix. "Fleur believes that it would become completely invisible within another day or so."

Harry was glad. Hermione sounded happy, just as he remembered her during the Yule ball. Although she was no longer hugging him, she was still holding his hand and Harry had their fingers entwined without even thinking of it. For a few precious minutes, he was at peace with the world, as Hermione was happy at his side.

By now, Ron was also approaching them, followed by Luna.

"Hi, mate. I've never thought you'll sleep later than me," he smiled at Harry.

"I've surprised myself as well," Harry replied patting his shoulder.

"Harry Potter, thank you for taking me away from that place," Luna said.

"You should thank Dobby for that. We could not escape so easily without his help."

"Where is he?" Hermione asked.

"I've last seen him in the kitchen, discussing with Kreacher the merits of different foods for Mr. Ollivander and for Luna."

"He's well? That's wonderful!"

"Yes, he was the first to come to me as I was waking up. How's Mr. Ollivander?"

Luna frowned. "The Dark Lord has tortured him many times. It's a miracle he's still alive, but maybe Dobby and Kreacher will be able to restore his physical health. I'm not so sure about the rest." This time, she sounded precise and focused, as expected from a Ravenclaw, not at all like her regular self.

"You care for him," Hermione noted tenderly.

"He's the only person I had there to support me whenever... And he wasn't well either." There was some deep pain in her voice, a pain she didn't manage to mask.

"What did they do to you?" Hermione asked with a lot of concern.

"It doesn't matter now," Luna answered in her dreamy tone, yet it was clearly meant as 'Leave me alone about this!'

Hermione seemed to hold Harry's hand tighter, as if conveying a message. Ron seemed suddenly very tender as well. He offered Luna his arm and led her to another spot facing the sea. She put her head on his shoulder and seemed to relax.

"They look good together," Hermione noted.

"I thought you fancied Ron," Harry noted with evident surprise.

"I love him as a friend, but my heart belongs to another," she said, tightening her hold on his hand.

He responded the same way. He thought he understood, but it was not yet time to talk about his feelings. He hoped that time would come soon.

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