Chapter 46 – Returning
Bill accompanied Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione and Dobby back from Egypt. He was allowed to resume his leave of absence since the work that had brought him there was finished. They all stopped in at Diagon Alley, taking the Floo Network to Weasley Wizard Wheezes. After a visit with the twins, Bill went to visit Fleur while the others went to Gringotts. Although the bank would be closed, as it was Sunday, there was great activity around it. Reconstruction was proceeding apace. The wizard businesses in the area which had anything that could be shared, even so much as a bit of extra space where operations could be continued or supplies stored, were lending it. Much had already been done, but more remained.
The welcome they received from the goblins could not have been warmer. It was truly ungoblinlike, which the goblins acknowledged, but the way to get past a goblin's reserve and stern demeanor is to help defend his or her home. The welcome was especially enthusiastic for Dobby, whose picture had been posted on one of the remaining intact walls of Gringotts' lobby, identified as a brother goblin and valiant defender of the home. They had devised the term 'sungoblin' to designate those like Dobby, should there be any more. Dumbledore approved enthusiastically, noting that having a word for something suggests recognition and even acceptance of its existence.
What Dobby really was interested in at Gringotts, though, was not the healing of the building, but the healing of Melony. Grishnack escorted all of them to his hullabaloo's clinic. Melony was sitting up and had even been allowed to do some walking about. She gushed over Dobby and Harry when she saw them. Such behavior made Grishnack grumble that she must be part sungoblin herself.
Melony smiled at him, "I've learned from these friends of mine, Grishnack, that hard work and fun are not opposites; they go together very nicely."
"Flibbertigibbet!" accused Grishnack, "Then you'll probably like what Gargamel is here to say. Go ahead, son."
Dobby looked imploringly at Harry for help, but Harry just smiled and said, "You're on your own on this, Dobby."
Dobby took her hand. "Melony, I don't know how the goblins does this. And I has no parents to negotiate terms like my ex-master did. So I has to just say what's on my mind. I thought I was a happy fellow when Harry Potter got me my freedom, but that was a pale shadow of happiness compared to what I felt when I woke up nine months ago looking into your eyes and feeling your hands holding mine. Getting clobbered in the head was worth it to find you. And every time I have been with you, I has felt better and stronger and freer. I want to feel like that every day. I need you for my hullabaloo – will you marry me?"
Hermione completely broke down, and put her head on Harry's shoulder; he put his arm around her.
"Dobby, you're the sweetest goblin I have ever known – I guess it wouldn't take much to claim that title, would it? – but I have to know that we have a home to go to and a means of support. I won't be part of a wandering hullabaloo if I can help it."
Dumbledore then spoke up. "In fact, I can help with both parts of that. Clearly wizards need to know more about goblins and elves than we do. I can think of no two better suited to teach us about both goblins and elves than you two. I would like to call it the Special Program for Elf/goblin Wisdom," then he turned to Hermione, "if I may appropriate the acronym."
She giggled when she pieced it together and said, "Of course."
"I would also like to see a sharing of techniques between goblin healers and wizard healers – there is much that both could learn from each other. As for a home, we would hate to lose Dobby, ah, Gargamel: Hogwarts Castle has ample space to set aside suitable living quarters, in, say, the dungeons?"
"Well, if we are negotiating, sir," said Melony, "then I think we need to insist on being a bit higher up – my wonderful sungoblin should have a window. And I think we will raise our goblets as sungoblins, too."
Dobby gasped, "Then you will?"
"Of course, Dobby, I want to marry you and have you for my glamdring; I have ever since I saw your true nature."
Dobby jumped and cartwheeled and squeaked and cavorted and capered about quite unrestrainedly. The rest laughed at his antics, but Grishnack covered his eyes, shook his head and groaned.
"Miss," said Melony to Hermione, "could I ask a rather large favor of you?"
"Certainly, Melony."
"Could you knit me another jumper for the wedding? The one you made me was cut by the knife when I was stabbed, and it has raveled. Dobby so loves the things you knit. I've never seen him wearing less than ten of your garments, so I'd like to wear at least one."
Hermione grinned. "Of course, I'd be thrilled. Would you like the same color?"
"If you don't mind, since we're being so ungoblinlike, could it be in all the colors Dobby likes?"
"Well, that covers a broad range – a rainbow jumper it is."
"Well, Hermione," said Harry, "maybe this is your career – couturier to the sungoblins."
Grishnack invited them to stay for dinner, but Hermione was a bit concerned. "Um, you're not serving anything you got from the Weasley twins, are you?"
"Oh, no, Miss, not since the battle."
"Well, I guess it would be alright then," she said.
"And how would you like your graphorn steak cooked?" asked Grishnack, then responded as he saw her discomfort. "What else would we do with it? We had several thousand pounds of fresh meat right at our doors. Waste not, want not."
Harry actually enjoyed getting back to the relative routine of exams. He was still grieving for Marietta when the year end feast arrived, but he was far better able to cope than he had been the year before. Points were awarded for all who participated in the Battle of Gringotts, with an extra hundred for Harry and two hundred for Marietta. A minute of silence followed by a toast was observed for her. Those points along with the quidditch cup gave Ravenclaw the House Cup. Although Harry had enjoyed the several years of Gryffindor colors around the Hall, he thought it was quite nice to have some fresh colors.
The Hogwarts Express was almost like a holiday party train. Even amongst Slytherins, there were very few holdouts from the generally good cheer and camaraderie. Malfoy kept to the Prefects car, perfectly aware that there was no opportunity for mischief. Harry was surprised when Crabbe and Goyle came to meet specifically with him. They thanked him for being so sporting about not letting them fall during the quidditch game, especially after they had fouled Ron so badly. Harry said they were welcome, and that they were also still welcome to join the DA. They said they thought they would, especially since Malfoys' Cobras Dueling Club had dwindled to a very sparse handful.
At the station, Harry said his goodbyes and then walked out to where the Dursleys were waiting. They had a banner to meet the train, but the banner said "Welcome home, Dobby." Harry hated to explain to them that Dobby was not likely to be coming around this summer. The Dursleys were obviously put out on hearing that.
"Alright, then, Potter, get in the car. Don't scratch the paint with the birdcage."
"We aren't going back to how things were two years ago, are we?"
"Hrmf. No, I suppose not. We just got kind of attached to the little guy."
Harry had to agree, "Yeah he is quite a special character. I'll miss having him around, too. But he has a new family now."
END
