"Dobby?" asked Harry in disbelief. The last time Dobby was in his room he
delivered some bad news. But Dobby wasn't as timid as he was when Harry for
met him. Harry thought Dobby looked different, still ugly, but different.
He wasn't cowering in Harry's shadow, in fact, he was standing tall and
proud.
"It is indeed Dobby, Harry Potter, sir," squeaked the house elf.
"Wh- What are you doing here?" asked Harry still in shock at seeing Dobby sitting on his bed.
"Dobby has not seen Harry Potter since Christmas. Dobby heard bad things had happened to Harry Potter and Harry Potter was not doing well. So Dobby decided to come visit Harry Potter," said Dobby, smiling.
"Thanks Dobby," mumbled Harry. Dobby wasn't the very person, or creature in this case, he had been wanting to see. But seeing someone from the wizarding world was still an improvement to his horrible summer.
"Is it true that Sirius Black is your godfather, sir?" asked Dobby, who clearly had no concept of subtlety.
"Was Dobby. Was. He died," snapped Harry.
"Dobby is sorry Harry-" Dobby began.
"Shut up Dobby. Everyone is sorry. Why be sorry for me? He is the one who died. I killed him Dobby! I did! I was the one who was a stupid prat in thinking that Voldemort really was torturing him. I was the one who didn't stop and think rashly enough to know that Voldemort was tricking me! I was the one who didn't listen to what one of my best friends was trying to tell me! I should've died Dobby! Me! Not Sirius!" yelled Harry. Dobby's big green eyes were filling up with tears. At this sight, Harry felt ten times worse than he did all summer. Dobby was just trying to help after all.
"D-Dobby was just t-trying t-to comfort H-Harry P-P-P-POTTER!" Dobby wailed.
"Dobby, please, I'm sorry Dobby. Please don't cry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you," said Harry, half-shouting over the constant sobs of the house-elf.
Dobby looked up at Harry and stopped crying, wiping his eyes.
"Dobby understands sir. Dobby knows what it is like to lose a close family member. Dobby lost his mum when he was just a little elf, sir," Dobby said, pausing to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry Dobby," said Harry, softly.
"But Dobby is not done yet sir. Dobby's mum died to save Dobby sir. Dobby's mum was the house-elf for the M-Malfoy's before Dobby. She did not want Dobby to serve the Malfoy's, for they was hard on her and whipped her when she did not get something right, sir.
"She told Dobby when Dobby was little that I should run away, Harry Potter sir. She said that it was too dangerous for young Dobby. But Master Malfoy heard her, sir. She told me to run, sir. She used her magic against master Malfoy to give Dobby time to escape Harry Potter, sir. But he was too quick for her. He killed her, sir."
"Dobby-" Harry began.
"Dobby wants Harry Potter to listen sir," said Dobby. "Dobby's mum did not give her life for me to shut meself up in a room and not talk to no one. She died to give Dobby freedom, sir. That is was Sirius Black did for Harry Potter. Sirius Black would not want to see Harry Potter living his life in a small room, sir. He died to let you live, sir," finished Dobby.
At these words, Harry started to cry. He didn't care that Dobby was there or that Aunt Petunia could be listening to him cry. Harry sat down on his bed with his head in his hands and cried. He sat there for what seemed like an hour when there came a knock on the door. Harry looked up and noticed that Dobby had gone. He quickly wiped his eyes on his shirt as he walked to the door. He opened it and saw Dudley standing there.
"What do you want Dudley?" Harry asked, in a voice that was full of pain.
"I-I just wanted to know what you are doing," said Dudley timidly.
"What does it look like Dudley?" snapped Harry.
"OK, well, um, dinner is ready," said Dudley with his eyes toward the ground.
"Fine," said Harry.
Harry followed his cousin Dudley down the hall but stopped in the bathroom to make sure that he did not look like he had been crying. When he got downstairs, he heard some voices.
"Is he coming Dudley?" asked a voice Harry did not recognize.
"I-I t-think so," Dudley stammered.
Harry walked into the kitchen only to see Lupin standing next to Aunt Petunia, smiling at him.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry exclaimed.
Lupin laughed. "Yes Harry it is me."
Harry stood in the doorway to the kitchen looking at Remus Lupin. He had much more gray hair than from the last time Harry had seen him. His face had more wrinkles and had a more tired look to it. Harry immediately felt guilt surge through him. He forgot that Professor Lupin had lost his best friend, whom he had known since he was at Hogwarts.
"Are you going to come into the kitchen or just stand there?" said Lupin, jokingly.
"I just never expected to see you tonight. I thought that either you or Tonks would come tomorrow afternoon." said Harry.
"Do you think I'd want to miss your 16th birthday Harry?" asked Lupin, surprised.
"M-my birthday?" stammered Harry.
"Yes, your birthday Harry," Lupin chuckled.
"I forgot," said Harry, weakly.
"That's obvious," snapped his Uncle from the corner of the kitchen.
"Vernon, please," pleaded Harry's Aunt.
"Well, here you are Harry," said Lupin, handing him a wrapped present.
Harry sat down at the kitchen table and began to open Lupin's present. He opened the box in which the present was in and pulled it out. It was a picture frame. Of-
"Your baptism," said Lupin, quietly from behind him. It was indeed a picture of his baptism. He saw his parents and Lupin and Sirius and he was holding Harry. A smile crept across Harry's face as he saw this picture. But suddenly, it changed. It had changed to his first (and last) birthday party. He was sitting in his highchair with a very small group of people standing behind him. His parents on both sides of Sirius. All of them were smiling broadly, unaware of what was to come in the next few months. It then changed to another picture which made Harry develop a huge lump in his throat. Him and Sirius at Grimmauld Place. It was the picture Hermione had taken of Harry and Sirius sitting at the dinner table together talking.
Harry looked up from the picture frame smiling at Lupin.
"Thanks Professor Lupin. A lot," Harry said.
"Just call me Remus, Harry. After all, I am not a Professor anymore," said Remus, smiling down at him. As he said this, he looked down at his watch.
"Oh, I've got to go Harry, I will pick you up tomorrow at nine o'clock."
"But I thought Ron said in his letter, one o'clock," asked Harry, confused.
"Yes, well since you can not Apparate yet, we have to leave under cover of darkness," sighed Remus.
"Oh, ok," said Harry, a little disappointed that Lupin's stay was so brief.
"See you tomorrow night Harry," Lupin said. At that, he apparated and was gone with a pop!
Harry turned to look at his Aunt, Uncle and cousin. Dudley looked absolutely frightened. Uncle Vernon on the other hand looked raving mad. But his Aunt had a soft, reminiscent look on her face.
"Er, I think I'll go to bed now," said Harry, anxious to get out of the kitchen, away from a mad Uncle Vernon.
When Harry arrived in his room he noticed packages all over his bed. About eight packages were lying on his bed, inviting him to open them.
He smiled at the presents and sat on his bed and began to open them. His first package was from Ron. He opened the note first, it read:
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday mate! I hope this comes in time. Well, I can't say much in here. But everyone can't wait to see you! Hope you like the present! -Ron
Harry looked contently at Ron's letter for a few moments before opening his present. It was an assortment of his favorite sweets along with a poster of England's Quidditch Team with their players magically flying all over the poster in their black and maroon color robes.
Harry had become a fan of England's Quidditch team after reading about them in a Quidditch book Ron had given him a year ago.
His next present was from Hermione. He again read the letter first:
Dear Harry, Happy Birthday! We all miss you Harry and can't wait to see you! I just got my O.W.L.'s letter today! All Outstanding! Can you believe it? I'm so excited. I got your present from Hogsmeade during our 5th year. Hope you like it! With love, Hermione
Harry was very interested in Hermione's present. As he picked up the package he was surprised to feel that it was incredibly light. He opened the box and at first thought it to be empty. But the harder he looked he saw a white translucent ball, the size of a golf ball. It was so clear that he could hardly see it. When he picked it up, he noticed another note in the box:
Harry- This is called "mentala". Put it back down Harry because I know you have it in your hand. (Harry immediately put it back in its box) It is used in your most desperate situation. It will grant you one wish. It can heal a wound in an instant or transport you somewhere else. You can activate it if you squeeze it in the palm of your hand. I'll explain it more when we see each other. I don't think the salesperson in Hogsmeade really understood what it could do because she sold it to me for cheap. If she had known, it would've been really expensive. I know this will probably come in need. Happy Birthday Harry!
Hermione
Harry looked down at the crystal-looking ball in wonder. He carefully set the box and letter aside and continued opening his other presents. The rest came from Ginny (some more sweets), Fred and George (new, never-been-seen items from their joke shop), Hagrid (a watch . a normal one), and Luna Lovegood (a year subscription to the Quibbler).
After he had finished opening his presents, he lay on his bed and fell fast asleep. Completely forgetting about his unopened Hogwarts letters at the foot of his bed.
"It is indeed Dobby, Harry Potter, sir," squeaked the house elf.
"Wh- What are you doing here?" asked Harry still in shock at seeing Dobby sitting on his bed.
"Dobby has not seen Harry Potter since Christmas. Dobby heard bad things had happened to Harry Potter and Harry Potter was not doing well. So Dobby decided to come visit Harry Potter," said Dobby, smiling.
"Thanks Dobby," mumbled Harry. Dobby wasn't the very person, or creature in this case, he had been wanting to see. But seeing someone from the wizarding world was still an improvement to his horrible summer.
"Is it true that Sirius Black is your godfather, sir?" asked Dobby, who clearly had no concept of subtlety.
"Was Dobby. Was. He died," snapped Harry.
"Dobby is sorry Harry-" Dobby began.
"Shut up Dobby. Everyone is sorry. Why be sorry for me? He is the one who died. I killed him Dobby! I did! I was the one who was a stupid prat in thinking that Voldemort really was torturing him. I was the one who didn't stop and think rashly enough to know that Voldemort was tricking me! I was the one who didn't listen to what one of my best friends was trying to tell me! I should've died Dobby! Me! Not Sirius!" yelled Harry. Dobby's big green eyes were filling up with tears. At this sight, Harry felt ten times worse than he did all summer. Dobby was just trying to help after all.
"D-Dobby was just t-trying t-to comfort H-Harry P-P-P-POTTER!" Dobby wailed.
"Dobby, please, I'm sorry Dobby. Please don't cry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you," said Harry, half-shouting over the constant sobs of the house-elf.
Dobby looked up at Harry and stopped crying, wiping his eyes.
"Dobby understands sir. Dobby knows what it is like to lose a close family member. Dobby lost his mum when he was just a little elf, sir," Dobby said, pausing to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry Dobby," said Harry, softly.
"But Dobby is not done yet sir. Dobby's mum died to save Dobby sir. Dobby's mum was the house-elf for the M-Malfoy's before Dobby. She did not want Dobby to serve the Malfoy's, for they was hard on her and whipped her when she did not get something right, sir.
"She told Dobby when Dobby was little that I should run away, Harry Potter sir. She said that it was too dangerous for young Dobby. But Master Malfoy heard her, sir. She told me to run, sir. She used her magic against master Malfoy to give Dobby time to escape Harry Potter, sir. But he was too quick for her. He killed her, sir."
"Dobby-" Harry began.
"Dobby wants Harry Potter to listen sir," said Dobby. "Dobby's mum did not give her life for me to shut meself up in a room and not talk to no one. She died to give Dobby freedom, sir. That is was Sirius Black did for Harry Potter. Sirius Black would not want to see Harry Potter living his life in a small room, sir. He died to let you live, sir," finished Dobby.
At these words, Harry started to cry. He didn't care that Dobby was there or that Aunt Petunia could be listening to him cry. Harry sat down on his bed with his head in his hands and cried. He sat there for what seemed like an hour when there came a knock on the door. Harry looked up and noticed that Dobby had gone. He quickly wiped his eyes on his shirt as he walked to the door. He opened it and saw Dudley standing there.
"What do you want Dudley?" Harry asked, in a voice that was full of pain.
"I-I just wanted to know what you are doing," said Dudley timidly.
"What does it look like Dudley?" snapped Harry.
"OK, well, um, dinner is ready," said Dudley with his eyes toward the ground.
"Fine," said Harry.
Harry followed his cousin Dudley down the hall but stopped in the bathroom to make sure that he did not look like he had been crying. When he got downstairs, he heard some voices.
"Is he coming Dudley?" asked a voice Harry did not recognize.
"I-I t-think so," Dudley stammered.
Harry walked into the kitchen only to see Lupin standing next to Aunt Petunia, smiling at him.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry exclaimed.
Lupin laughed. "Yes Harry it is me."
Harry stood in the doorway to the kitchen looking at Remus Lupin. He had much more gray hair than from the last time Harry had seen him. His face had more wrinkles and had a more tired look to it. Harry immediately felt guilt surge through him. He forgot that Professor Lupin had lost his best friend, whom he had known since he was at Hogwarts.
"Are you going to come into the kitchen or just stand there?" said Lupin, jokingly.
"I just never expected to see you tonight. I thought that either you or Tonks would come tomorrow afternoon." said Harry.
"Do you think I'd want to miss your 16th birthday Harry?" asked Lupin, surprised.
"M-my birthday?" stammered Harry.
"Yes, your birthday Harry," Lupin chuckled.
"I forgot," said Harry, weakly.
"That's obvious," snapped his Uncle from the corner of the kitchen.
"Vernon, please," pleaded Harry's Aunt.
"Well, here you are Harry," said Lupin, handing him a wrapped present.
Harry sat down at the kitchen table and began to open Lupin's present. He opened the box in which the present was in and pulled it out. It was a picture frame. Of-
"Your baptism," said Lupin, quietly from behind him. It was indeed a picture of his baptism. He saw his parents and Lupin and Sirius and he was holding Harry. A smile crept across Harry's face as he saw this picture. But suddenly, it changed. It had changed to his first (and last) birthday party. He was sitting in his highchair with a very small group of people standing behind him. His parents on both sides of Sirius. All of them were smiling broadly, unaware of what was to come in the next few months. It then changed to another picture which made Harry develop a huge lump in his throat. Him and Sirius at Grimmauld Place. It was the picture Hermione had taken of Harry and Sirius sitting at the dinner table together talking.
Harry looked up from the picture frame smiling at Lupin.
"Thanks Professor Lupin. A lot," Harry said.
"Just call me Remus, Harry. After all, I am not a Professor anymore," said Remus, smiling down at him. As he said this, he looked down at his watch.
"Oh, I've got to go Harry, I will pick you up tomorrow at nine o'clock."
"But I thought Ron said in his letter, one o'clock," asked Harry, confused.
"Yes, well since you can not Apparate yet, we have to leave under cover of darkness," sighed Remus.
"Oh, ok," said Harry, a little disappointed that Lupin's stay was so brief.
"See you tomorrow night Harry," Lupin said. At that, he apparated and was gone with a pop!
Harry turned to look at his Aunt, Uncle and cousin. Dudley looked absolutely frightened. Uncle Vernon on the other hand looked raving mad. But his Aunt had a soft, reminiscent look on her face.
"Er, I think I'll go to bed now," said Harry, anxious to get out of the kitchen, away from a mad Uncle Vernon.
When Harry arrived in his room he noticed packages all over his bed. About eight packages were lying on his bed, inviting him to open them.
He smiled at the presents and sat on his bed and began to open them. His first package was from Ron. He opened the note first, it read:
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday mate! I hope this comes in time. Well, I can't say much in here. But everyone can't wait to see you! Hope you like the present! -Ron
Harry looked contently at Ron's letter for a few moments before opening his present. It was an assortment of his favorite sweets along with a poster of England's Quidditch Team with their players magically flying all over the poster in their black and maroon color robes.
Harry had become a fan of England's Quidditch team after reading about them in a Quidditch book Ron had given him a year ago.
His next present was from Hermione. He again read the letter first:
Dear Harry, Happy Birthday! We all miss you Harry and can't wait to see you! I just got my O.W.L.'s letter today! All Outstanding! Can you believe it? I'm so excited. I got your present from Hogsmeade during our 5th year. Hope you like it! With love, Hermione
Harry was very interested in Hermione's present. As he picked up the package he was surprised to feel that it was incredibly light. He opened the box and at first thought it to be empty. But the harder he looked he saw a white translucent ball, the size of a golf ball. It was so clear that he could hardly see it. When he picked it up, he noticed another note in the box:
Harry- This is called "mentala". Put it back down Harry because I know you have it in your hand. (Harry immediately put it back in its box) It is used in your most desperate situation. It will grant you one wish. It can heal a wound in an instant or transport you somewhere else. You can activate it if you squeeze it in the palm of your hand. I'll explain it more when we see each other. I don't think the salesperson in Hogsmeade really understood what it could do because she sold it to me for cheap. If she had known, it would've been really expensive. I know this will probably come in need. Happy Birthday Harry!
Hermione
Harry looked down at the crystal-looking ball in wonder. He carefully set the box and letter aside and continued opening his other presents. The rest came from Ginny (some more sweets), Fred and George (new, never-been-seen items from their joke shop), Hagrid (a watch . a normal one), and Luna Lovegood (a year subscription to the Quibbler).
After he had finished opening his presents, he lay on his bed and fell fast asleep. Completely forgetting about his unopened Hogwarts letters at the foot of his bed.