Chapter 1: Dobby's Warning
The holidays so far had been quite uneventful for Neville. However, he noticed that not one owl arrived for him, even though his three friends, Harry, Ron, and Hermione agreed to write to him during their holidays apart.
Which led to Neville being angry on his birthday at the end of July. Augusta had made all his favorite food for dinner, of course, but that didn't make him feel any better about not receiving birthday wishes from his friends all day. Augusta left the house to go shopping in the afternoon, leaving Neville alone to his misery.
Neville returned to his room and kicked his school trunk as he passed, groaning as pain shot up his foot. "Has everyone forgotten my birthday?" He demanded, rubbing his foot.
There was a crack from behind him, making him whirl around. A house-elf stood in his room, large batlike ears drooping against his head in terror. A loincloth was tied around its waist. "Neville Longbottom!" It squeaked, bending in a deep bow. "It is an honor!"
"What are you doing here?" Neville asked curiously, moving closer. "You're Dobby, right? The house-elf for the Malfoys?"
Dobby's face fell, and he nodded, his ears flapping. "Do not tell Dobby's master Dobby is here, sir. Master asked Dobby to keep quiet."
"What did he ask you to keep quiet?" Neville asked, curious.
Dobby trembled, casting a furtive glance at a lamp on his desk. He dove for it, but Neville anticipated it and grabbed the house-elf's arm. "Don't hurt yourself, Dobby. Tell me what you can."
Dobby quivered, looking up at Neville with his large, green eyes. "Dobby has come to give Neville Longbottom a warning." He whispered.
"A warning about what?" Neville asked, his heart sinking.
"Terrible things is going to happen at Hogwarts this year." Dobby whispered, as he looked imploringly up at him. "Neville Longbottom must not go back to school."
Neville blanched. "What? But I have to go back, I'm a wizard. My friends-"
"Friends who don't even write to Neville Longbottom?" The elf asked, slyly.
"I expect they're-wait, how do you know my friends haven't been writing to me?" Neville asked, suspicious.
The elf slipped out of Neville's grip and darted away, pulling out a thick package of letters tied together with twine. "They're all here, Neville Longbottom. Dobby hoped that if Neville Longbottom thought his friends forgot him, Neville Longbottom wouldn't want to go back to school."
"Give me my letters." Neville snapped, taking a swipe at the letters.
Dobby dodged. "Neville Longbottom will be in grave danger if Neville Longbottom goes back to Hogwarts." Dobby looked up at him, a pleading look on his elfish face.
"I have to go back, Dobby. It's where I belong." Neville responded.
"Then Dobby must do what is right for Neville Longbottom." The elf said sadly and darted out of the room.
Neville charged after Dobby and found the elf in the dining room, levitating a tea set. "Dobby please, that's my grandmother's favorite tea set. She will kill me if it breaks."
"Neville Longbottom must promise he will not go back to school." Dobby said firmly.
"I can't…" Neville shook his head.
"Then Dobby must do what is best for Neville Longbottom." The elf snapped his fingers and the tea set fell as he disappeared. It smashed into pieces on the floor.
"Neville Frank Longbottom!" Augusta shouted, appearing in the doorway to the dining room, having just arrived home. "Why were you playing with my best tea set?"
"It w-wasn't me!" Neville insisted, horrified.
"I can fix it, but you shouldn't be playing with my valuable possessions." Augusta sighed, pulling out her wand. With a wave, the shards of china came together, repairing itself into her tea set. "But I assume the Ministry will hear about this."
"What? Oh no…" Neville moaned. "But I didn't do anything! It was Dobby the house-elf."
"Dobby? What would he be doing in our house, Neville? You are in trouble enough, you don't need to make up stories." Augusta scolded.
A barn owl swooped in through the window and dropped a parchment letter in Neville's hands before zooming off. "I expect that's from the Ministry." Augusta sighed.
Neville's hands shook as he unrolled the letter and read quickly. "I've been given a warning." He explained to his grandmother.
"Well, it could have been worse. It must be because it's your first offense." Augusta sighed. "I'm sorry I've been so busy on your birthday, Neville. I made a run to Diagon Alley to buy you a birthday present." She went into the kitchen and brought out a gray owl in a bird cage. "Happy Birthday, I thought you needed your own owl for this year." She smiled down at him.
"An owl? Wow, that's awesome! Thanks, Gran." Neville hugged her.
"We're going to be going to Diagon Alley as soon as your letter arrives for the new year. James and Molly sent letters this morning saying that we could meet there as soon as we get them." Augusta explained. "You want a snack?"
"Yes, please." Neville nodded, following his grandmother into the kitchen. He cast a glance back at the tea set now sitting on the self in the dining room. Why would Dobby give me a warning? Maybe it was Malfoy's idea of a joke. After all the elf belongs to his family.
Shrugging, Neville let it go. It wasn't his business.