Standard Disclaimer: Do Not Own, Do Not Pretend To,

Please be aware that I have decided to keep this so far for now no ships at all. Main reason is that I just can't think on how who or when I hook up Harry at this point of time. So for right and generally throughout this story it will be no shipping but a lot of growing up.

I also would like to thank in advance to my brand spanking new beta Freelancer2233 for helping me with this story that I have started.

Chapter 1

Down at Hogwarts Kitchen

Time period: 5th year, One week before term was to end.

At any given time throughout the day, a house-elf had chores here, there and basically everywhere. You would see them popping here and there, with linens, baskets of food, either in the process of preparation, or even processed completely. Some, assigned by the battle-axe Luly, were cleaning out the fireplaces, or scrubbing floors with wire bristles, other elves were given the task of cleaning the dorms, but of course many wouldn't even touch the Gryffindor's Dormitory, due to one persistent muggle-born who thinks that the elves are helpless. That's if you could catch one of the little buggers. Their magic seems to defy Hogwarts: A History about apparition in and out of Hogwarts.

It was a week before term was to end and most of the senior elves were prepping for the summer cleaning when the whole castle would go under some much needed repairs. some elves had already started grumbling about the red hair twin pests who left a portable swamp of all things in the charms corridor. Granted the elves liked the twins, but they seemed to leave more messes then a group of first years!

But if one were to actually get close enough to an elf, one would observe the faces and how they seem to be more tense and afraid to speak. The new Headmistress of Hogwarts had already issued severe new laws that the ministry had so thoughtfully approved. All elves were to report to her about certain students, most of the elves new of some kids getting together in the ROR for some training by Harry Potter. The DA they called it, some elves referred it to Dumbledore Army, and some, who were closer to the students in that group, referred to it as The Defense Association. And didn't want to get on the new Headmistress's bad side, one was Luly who HAD to enforce the laws the thoughtful Minister enacted. Luly felt bad about informing the Headmistress on how to get to the ROR, but she new if she didn't the work force at Hogwarts would be severely reduced a few old senior elves if she didn't.

The students had finished up their last exams for their OWLS, some had heard there was a commotion with one Boy-Who-Lived and the Nasty-Headmistress earlier, but as of course most elves somewhat paid attention with what was happening with the wizarding world at large. Now true they believed Harry Potter and Dumbledore when they announced that the dark one was back. Truly they did, but what could they do, they were in much danger as the rest of the world.

"Dobby!"

An elf's head popped up from back in the storeroom, were he was putting Winky back to bed looked at Luly, the main head-elf organizer.

"Yes Luly?"

"Please take these towels to the linen closet by the Headmasters suite."

At that Dobby's ears drooped and he gave a small squeak. The elves were all told by the current "Headmistress" to stay clear of the Headmasters Quarters. She then gave them a little sample of what would happen if they did go near, and Dobby knew this. He considered himself a good elf, free yes, but still a good elf. Dobby looked at Luly closer, he saw that she seemed to have more bruises then she had yesterday. He also remembered the confrontation that Dumbledore had with Umbridge over his status of freedom. She was incensed that he was freed, and being paid. Luckily she didn't know about Winky, with the way she has been acting since she got here, Winky would have been taking into custody for whatever Umbridge had made up. Umbridge was known to send non-humans to Azkaban for very simple fractions or slights. Dobby just nodded and grabbed the linen, really he thought, that closet was jam packed as it was.

With a pop, Dobby popped in front of said linen closet, sure enough the closet was full of towels for the Headmaster, as soon as he came back. Dobby was putting the linen away, trying to stuff more linen in the already full closet when he heard the sound of a portkey, the thump of feet hitting the floor. His eyes teared up, ears drooped, and he stood there for a minute trying to decide what to do when he thought he heard a voice he knew. Listening further, sure enough he heard Harry Potter. With a bit more gumption, he found an old storage room that was a perfect fit for him, by the Headmasters office. He noticed in passing that there was dust covering the floor in a thick layer. Dobby had a very bad habit lately of listening in on everyone when it had anything to do with Harry Potter. Most of the stuff he couldn't tell Harry, due to his job, but if there was any chance the he could tell Harry anything he learned Dobby would let him know.

But what Dobby was to learn that night by listening into the conversation between Harry Potter and Dumbledore literally ripped open Dobby's heart.

After Harry had finally left, Dobby sat there crying. He never imagined his Harry Potter was that important to the wizards. How could his Harry Potter do this! Dobby stood up and waited for Dumbledore to leave. When the headmaster stepped out, he quickly popped back into the kitchens and ran to his bed. He cried in great pain when he thought about what he had heard.

All that week Dobby was very quiet, didn't even twitch an ear. Every day till the end of term, Dobby went about his chores listlessly. He barely ate, and slept. He was constantly obsessing about what he heard. About what his Harry Potter had to do. Could he do that? Why must he? Why must Harry defeat the dark one? His name was enough to make anyone tremble. Even Firenze the Centaur did not say that name.

On the 3rd day after term ended Dobby found himself in the library dusting some shelves. Books that the student's read he knew, as a general rule house-elves did not read or write. Some had basic elementary knowledge, if their job required certain levels of education. Usually it was up to the owner of the elves to dictate whether or not elves could read or write. Some elves were kept under strict control by the purebloods. He was starting to think that the reason why was because they feared the true power of an elf. As he was putting away the last donated books he accidentally knocked down a thin book with colorful letters on it.

The book fell open to the floor the cry of "F is for Food!" was heard. Next was the "letter F makes fffffffff sound." Dobby jumped down and grabbed the book, looking up to make sure Madam Pince wasn't around or any other elf. Dobby hid the book in his sweater that Harry's Weazy gave him the past year. He had to admit the sweater was comfortable and warm, the castle was notoriously cold in the winter. After he hid the book Dobby popped back into the kitchen were Luly; at the end of her rope was berating Winky.

"You is bad elf Winky! BAD! BAD! ELF!"

Winky who was still morning for her lost family, was huddled into the corner crying.

"Stop Luly! You know she did not want to be free! It is not her fault." He defended.

Luly stopped for a second, looking at Dobby. An elf that wanted to be free, and got himself free. "That may be , but look at her! She needs a family!"

Then Dobby did something again, that no elf would think of saying out loud. "Then you find a family she can take care of knowing that she was touched by Voldemort!" he bellowed.

All through the kitchens elves stopped what they were doing with a cry of alarm. Dishes broke, pot's left unattended boiled over. "You know Luly that elves who had masters that were with Voldemort will only be taken by other families or supporters of Voldemort. She cannot live like that! I could not live like that! I will not allow her to back to that type of servitude!"

With each repeated word of Voldemort the whole downstairs got quieter and quieter. Elves who normally wouldn't even glance at Winky, now looked at her in sympathy. An old, old elf walked up to Dobby.

"Is that why you left Dobby?" he asked.

Dobby turned to the elder, bowing respectively. "No elder elf, I was freed because I, I, I" at this he paused. "I did not like my family. I was born to them, the chores I was given, please do not ask me to repeat elder. I beg of you!"

The elder look hard at Dobby, a feeling of soul searching and judgment from the elder elf came over him. Flashes of his past life with the Malfoy's swam up and out. Then a new feeling came into him, that he could now name. Survival. He survived the most gruesome crimes humans could do to another living breathing creature human or non-human. The elder continued to stare at him, the longer he stared, the straighter he become. Soon if felt like he could feel his power rising with in himself. He did not flinch one bit, just accepted the power. Finally, the elder nodded twice, and then turned to Winky, staring at her for a bit. Glancing back at Dobby, "I give you my word Dobby that I will help you heal Winky.' Turning to Luly "Luly do not bother Winky, she has enough to deal with". Bending down "Come Winky, I will tell you a story little one."

With a look of disbelief at Dobby, Luly left the scene, leaving Dobby standing there gasping for a breath. And elder stood up with him. And elder said he would help him!

When Dobby sat down to lunch later that day, that was when he remembered the book he took. He still couldn't remember why he took the book, Dobby found a small secured corner, and opened the book from page one.

"Welcome!" the book said. Fearing someone could hear it; Dobby quickly snapped his fingers for a privacy bubble. A spell all elves knew how to do to make sure no masters could hear them do their work. Opening the book again he listened to what it said.