Chapter 69

A Free Elf

I could see Draco's house far in the distance. He led me to what looked like a trap door.

"I made this a few years back. After the Quidditch Cup incident. Ever since my father started... ever since he became a death eater again."

He opened the door and jumped in. He looked up and I jumped down into his arms. I followed Draco through underground tunnels.

"Where do you think they're being held?"

"Probably the wine cellar."

"Sounds fancy."

"Not exactly. It's more like a prison. It was where my father would send me if I made him angry."

I stopped him and he turned back to me.

"There's bound to be at least a dozen death eaters in there. If they see you they'll see you as a traitor. They could kill you."

He smiled at me.

"Not today. I have promises to keep."

I had to smile at least a little.

"Yeah, you do."

He took my hand.

"Come on, this tunnel leads to my room. I have ways of getting around from in there."

"Clever boy."

He winked and I thought for a minute. Boy. No. Draco wasn't a boy anymore. This Draco, the one who was risking his life to save my brother and friends, he was a man. A strong man with a good heart and courage. He took out his wand and tapped three times on a wall. It vanished and he led me inside. I smiled a bit when I saw his room. There was a large bed with a mahogany frame and matching furniture. There was a picture of Mrs. Malfoy holding Draco as a baby... but none of him with his father. I picked up the baby picture as Draco peeked out the door. When he turned to me I smiled.

"You were the most beautiful baby." I said.

He walked over and looked at it. I saw a small smile on his face.

"Take it with you. In your bag I mean."

I nodded and put it in my bag.

"Come on. I heard voices downstairs."

I nodded and followed him. We stayed close to the wall and I saw Pettigrew! I narrowed my eyes and the only thing that kept me from tackling him was Draco's grip on my arm.

"I know, love. I know." He whispered.

We heard him coming back and hid in a corner. He had a goblin with him!

"Quick! This way!"

He took my hand and started running. We came to a door and a gate. He opened it and we ran down.

"Potter? Weasley?"

"Malfoy?"

Harry came around the corner and I ran to him.

"Lily thank god! I didn't know where you were."

He looked at Draco.

"Thank you."

"We have to get out of here. Where's Granger?"

"Your demented aunt took her!"

As if on cue, we heard screaming.

"Hermione!"

Harry held Ron back.

"No! Pettigrew's coming back."

Draco pulled me away to hid behind a pillar. He held his finger to his lips and I nodded. Suddenly we heard,

"Ouch..."

There was a loud thud and when I looked, Pettigrew was on the ground. I smirked and then looked at the top of the stairs.

"Who gets his wand?"

"Dobby!"

Harry's POV

I looked at Malfoy.

"Dobby! I need you to take Malfoy and Lily."

'What? Harry no!"

I grabbed her.

"Yes. If they see Ma... if they see Draco they'll kill him! They'll know he's a traitor and they'll come after him. I can't let that happen. I won't!"

I looked at Malfoy and nodded.

"You protect her."

"I swear. But I have to say I agree with her. You shouldn't be sending us away."

"We'll be right behind you."

He nodded and pulled Lily into his arms. Dobby came down and took them to Shell Cottage. Ron and I ran upstairs and back towards the room they'd taken us from. I saw Hermione on the ground, Bellatrix cut the goblin's cheek.

"You should consider yourself lucky, goblin. The same won't be said for this one."

That was our cue! We ran and I hit Lucius in the face. He dropped the wands but as we picked them up, Bellatrix got Hermione. She held her knife to her throat.

"It's Harry Potter. He's all bright, shiny and new again. Call the Dark Lord. Call him!"

Lucius Malfoy started to roll up his sleeves, but was interrupted by a squeaking noise. When we looked up, I smirked. Dobby take the screws out of a chandelier. As it fell, Bellatrix pushed Hermione away and Ron caught her.

"Dobby! You stupid elf you could've killed me!" she screeched.

"Dobby never meant to kill. Dobby only meant to maim or seriously injure."

Mrs. Malfoy started to slowly raise her wand and Dobby took it from her.

"How DARE you take a witch's wand! How dare you defy your masters!"

Dobby stood tall and narrowed his eyes.

"Dobby has no master! Dobby is a free elf! And Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!"

We all gathered round and took Dobby's hands.

Lily's POV

Not long after Dobby left us, he reappeared with the others. I saw Harry run to him and I knew something was wrong.

"Harry?"

Draco and I ran over and I screamed. Dobby was in Harry's arms, Bellatrix's knife in his little chest.

"No!"

I knelt down beside Harry.

"Dobby is happy... happy to die... among friends."

He slowly closed his eyes and tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I want to bury him." Harry said.

I nodded and we brought him back to the house. I cried silently into Draco's shoulder as we dug the grave and laid him in it.

"He was a good elf. I was nice to him when he served my father, I promise I was."

I looked at Draco.

"I know. I believe you."

I knelt down and Harry took out the wand Ron had given him. On the stone he wrote,

"Here lies Dobby. A free Elf." I read.

Harry hugged me tightly and I held onto him.

"Bye, Dobby."

I looked at Draco. I swore I saw a tear in his eye. We went back into the house and I collapsed on the couch. I was exhausted and still trying to be strong.