Time passed week after week. Harry got involved in the learning process, and it went on as usual. Since he was forbidden to play Quidditch, he spent his free time on fencing lessons and physical training.
He conducted classes in an abandoned classroom, which he accidentally discovered two years ago during one of his night outings. Its indisputable advantages were remoteness, as well as the fact that there were no portraits in the corridor leading to the room that could report suspicious activity to anyone who did not need to.
Harry studied diligently, not responding to Snape's attempts to humiliate and overwhelm him, did not pay attention to Umbridge, getting rid of her with polite phrases, and continued to communicate only with Hermione and Neville. To his shame, he discovered that Neville turned out to be a very good conversationalist. You could talk to him on any topic, and without shouting, screaming and waving your hands, as Ron usually demonstrated. It turned out that Grandma Neva brought him up not only strictly, but also traditionally. So Harry gradually began to understand etiquette: how to use cutlery correctly, how to communicate with people correctly, as well as various traditions of the Magical world.
Every time he learned some little thing about which he had not heard, and all those born in Magmir took it for granted, he never tired of being amazed at his own ignorance. His childhood spent in the Muggle world caused him great damage. He did not know the rules of behavior, could not speak normally and express his thoughts correctly, and he was also trying to judge something! Every day he became more and more convinced that Dumbledore was using him in some strange game, and finally, on the eve of Halloween, he received proof of this, and in a very painful way.
In anticipation of the holiday, the whole castle smelled of pumpkin. She was everywhere! On the table: in casseroles, pies, side dishes and in jugs in the form of juice. On the walls and ceiling - in the form of decorations. In Hagrid's garden, they are huge to the point of horror, and can serve as a carriage for Cinderella.
As usual, before the holiday, Harry's mood deteriorated sharply. For him, Halloween was associated with the death of his family, not with jokes and a fun carnival. He once again hid from everyone in the classroom and waved his sword, learning another bunch. Hermione was sitting in the corner, reading another book "for easy reading" and glancing at him from time to time. At that time, she couldn't stand Ron's regular screams, which should pretend to be attempts at reconciliation, and, yelling at him, simply ran off to Harry.
Potter finished his training and, hiding the sword in a hiding place, sat down on a chair to rest. Hermione closed the book and just decided to talk to a friend, when suddenly there was a bang and Dobby appeared in front of them, twisting his ears with a guilty look.
"Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is a bad elf, bad!"
" Quiet!" barked an irritated Harry, who was being exasperated by the hyperactive elf. " What happened?"
"They want to hurt Harry Potter! Dobby can't protect Harry Potter, sir! The elf started banging his head on the floor."
"Freeze!"
Dobby froze, faithfully staring with tear-stained eyes at his beloved idol. Hermione sat in a stupor, looking at this scene.
What kind of danger do you have in mind, Dobby? Who wants to make me feel bad?
"Headmaster Dumbledore, Harry Potter, sir!"
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances.
"How can you prove it? Harry asked grimly."
" Dobby saw everything! Dobby can show you! But Harry Potter will have to hide! Dobby can hide it and Harry Potter, sir, will see for himself!"
Harry jumped up and, taking the invisibility cloak out of the pocket of his robes, unfolded it, preparing to put it on. Hermione immediately ran up to him.
"I'm with you!"
Harry had no strength to argue, and he wrapped them both in a mantle, commanded:
" Dobby! You're going to take us to someone who wants to make me feel bad. You will make it so that no one will see us, hear us, or be able to detect us in any other way, magical or non-magical. I want to see everything for myself. Then you'll bring us here just as carefully. All that time you will be silent and hide our and your presence. Do you understand everything?"
Dobby nodded and snapped his fingers. Pressed against each other, the friends felt that they could not move their bodies and speak. Then they silently found themselves near the wall with the door. Dobby passed his hand, and the wall and the door became transparent. Harry looked straight ahead and felt that he was freezing. His late parents were sitting right in front of him.