Ron told Harry about what happened the night before and Harry confirmed that he'd never asked Dobby to help him with his nightmares. He was just astonished that Dobby had spent the night with him without him knowing.
"So, you think Malfoy's got something to do with this?" Ron asked as they both sat down on Harry's bed.
Harry shook his head. "Dobby would never do what Malfoy told him to do. He hates the Malfoys."
"Then what could it be?" Ron shrugged. "Seriously Harry, you should have heard him when he said…what was it? Something about your physique or something."
"My physique?!"
"Yeah. He sounded just like Malfoy."
Harry pursed his lips. "Well," he said slowly, "there is the possibility…but you don't think…? Nah," Harry dismissed the thought. "That wouldn't make sense…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"What? Come on Harry!"
"Well…" Harry took a deep breath, his face reflecting his skepticism at the idea. "I suppose…well, I suppose it could have been Malfoy who was, um…pretending to be Dobby. I mean," he added hastily, seeing Ron's dumbfounded look, "I know it's a stupid thought, but, I mean…if Malfoy had used Polyjuice Potion or something-- but there are so many inconsistencies in that idea I wouldn't know where to begin!" He quirked at eyebrow at Ron. "What do you think?"
Ron was thinking, If it was Malfoy, could that mean Seamus' joke is actually true?! But he didn't say that. Instead he said, "I think that you're right, there are heaps of inconsistencies in that idea. Like, why would Malfoy bash his head against a bedpost?"
"All part of the act I suppose," Harry suggested, "to make him seem more like a house-elf."
"And would Polyjuice Potion give Malfoy powers only endowed to elves?"
Harry shrugged. "Maybe. We'd have to ask Hermione that one."
"And why exactly would Malfoy want to be sleeping next to you in the first place?"
"I…uh…well, um…" Harry blushed bright red and looked down at his hands.
"No answer to that one, hey Potter?" Ron teased and was awarded with a scowl. "Perhaps he just wanted to admire your manly physique?!!" Ron laughed loudly as Harry chased him down to the Common Room.
Coming up...Chapter 5- Eavesdropping Hermione