"Good Morning, Malcolm," Hermione said, frostily.
"Are you still mad at me about the house elf?" Malcolm said as he looked up from his breakfast. "I told you it wasn't my fault."
"We have nothing to talk about," Hermione said, as she walked past.
"What would you like me to do?" Malcolm yelled after her, "Do you want me to adopt him. Will that make you happy?"
"I don't know why she's upset," Ginny said, "He looked cute in the picture they sent."
"Yeah," Malcolm admitted, "but things are getting weird at my house. According to my Mom, Francis taught the house elf to lie."
"Is Francis home now?" Neville asked.
"No, apparently he gave lessons over the phone. Mom's furious about the phone bill."
"Could we talk about something else other than Malcolm's house elf?" EJ asked, "I hear this argument every morning."
The owls swooped in with the morning mail, and Malcolm picked up the letter placed by his hand. Ron Weasley scowled as he picked up his own letter from the butter dish.
"Hermione will love this," Malcolm said as he read the letter.
"Let me guess," EJ said, "Your family IS going to adopt Nob."
"No way," Malcolm said, "They only want legal custody, so they can send him to school."
"What's wrong?" EJ asked as Malcolm's face became confused.
"Well," Malcolm said, "The Government wants to take Nob away, because he told a lie."
"Isn't that a little harsh?"
"It seems that house elves don't lie. Since Nob lied, there must be something wrong with him." Malcolm looked down for a minute, then got up and walked toward the teachers table, where Professor McGonagall was sitting. EJ thought for a minute and walked over to where Hermione Granger was sitting, with Harry Potter and Ron and Ginny Weasley.
"Hermione," EJ said, "I need a favor. I need to know if any house elf has ever lied."
"Nob," Hermione said, harshly, "after all, he is Malcolm's house elf."
"Hermione," EJ said, "I need a favor. I need to know if any other house elf has ever lied."
"House elves don't lie," Ron said, wryly, "At least the ones that stay away from Malcolm and his family."
Ignoring Ron's remark, Hermione said, "Probably, if one house elf can lie, then other house elves can lie. But, why would you want to find a house elf who lied."
"It's for Malcolm," EJ explained, "Malcolm's parents want to have legal custody, but the government says that Nob is abnormal, because he lied, and he should be taken away."
"You're joking?" Hermione said in surprise.
"About which part?" EJ asked.
"Both parts," Hermione said, "it sounds like a demented soap opera."
"A what?" Ron asked, "Never mind. It's probably a muggle thing. Hermione, if you're looking for a lying house elf, just find one that has spent time with Malcolm. I swear it will work."
Hermione scowled as Ron and Harry laughed.
"Dobby would be an excellent choice," Ginny said, "especially after last year."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked, smirking at Hermione because he managed to ask the question first.
"I shouldn't tell you this," Ginny said, in a conspiratorial whisper, "but remember last year, when Hagrid kept complaining that Buckbeak wouldn't eat. Malcolm talked Dobby into sneaking muffins out to the hippogryph after dark. Buckbeak wasn't eating because he was already full."
Ginny and EJ started laughing, but the three older Gryffindors simple stared at them. "Cor," Ron said, "I was right about Malcolm. Dobby told us that he only started working at Hogwarts a couple of months ago."
*
"You are going to be late for classes," Dumbledore said, as the Gryffindors walked up to where he was talking with Malcolm and Professor McGonagall.
"But Professor, we found the answer," Hermione said, "we know how to prove that Nob is normal."
Dumbledore smiled, and asked, "How?"
"We need Dobby," Ginny said, "We think we can prove that he lied."
"Do you see, Professor," Hermione said, "Nob is free and he lied. Dobby is free and he also lied."
Albus cast a spell with his wand, and said, "Marvelous thinking Miss Granger. Something that happens once is an aberration. If it happens twice, it is merely unusual."
"Dobby is here," Dobby said, "Dobby heard you call him."
"Thank you, Dobby," Dumbledore said, "I need to ask you three questions, if you don't mind."
"Dobby will answer a thousand questions," Dobby said happily.
"Very well, I must first ask you if you have ever lied about anything, or if you know of any house elf that has ever lied?"
"No, Professor Dumbledore Sir," Dobby said, "A house elf does not lie. A house elf cannot lie. Dobby has told Dumbledore that."
"Yes, you have, Dobby. My second question is this. Do you remember when it was that you came to Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Sir, Mr. Dumbledore, Sir. It was after Friend Harry Potter tricked my master into freeing me."
"My last question is this," Albus said, pointing at Harry, "when did you tell Harry Potter that you started working here?"
Dobby looked at Harry, who had his arms crossed, and froze in his tracks.
After a long silence, Hermione Granger said, "We already know the answer to that question. Why don't you tell us why you lied, Dobby?"
Dobby looked from face to face. A look from Dumbledore told him there was no use in running. Finally, he said, "Dobby was ashamed. Dobby is free. Dobby can do whatever Dobby wants, and Dobby runs to Friend Harry like Dobby is still owned."
"We wouldn't have thought any less of you, if you had told us the truth," Harry said to the cowering elf. "Personally, I'm honored that you thought so much of me, that you wanted to come here."
"Friend Harry is a good friend," Dobby said, trying to smile.
"This changes the entire situation, " Dumbledore said, "I'll need to get written statements from the three of you, so I can forward them to the Department of Magic. That should take care of things."
[That was cool. I went from major problem to problem solved, and I didn't do anything.]
*
"I liked your remark to Dumbledore," Harry said to Ron as they left the headmasters office.
"The one about Malcolm being contagious?" Ron asked. "I thought it was a good line, as well."
"I want to know," Hermione said, "why Dumbledore said it was a good thing."