Disclaimer: Don't own, Don't sue.

Chapter 4 Dobby Moves South For the Summer.

Third week of July

The Order of the Phoenix was meeting yet again after the breakout from Azkaban. Most of the old timers were speculating on the organized attack at the prison. The Dementors seemed to move just a bit faster than they usually do. Dumbledore was thinking of what could cause that when another order member walked in. Albus looked up in surprise when he saw Snape come through the door.

"Severus! Heavens my boy! Are you all right?" he asked before anyone could say anything. Order members where divided about the spy, some thought yes, they needed to now what was going on in the Lair, the others thought privately that any information was suspect because of Snape's treatment of non Slytherins was just a bit over the top.

Severus took a mug of tea from the tray Molly Weasley always kept up when the meetings were in process. Molly noticed that his hands shook just a bit more than usual.

"Dementors?" she asked him glancing at his hands.

Severus didn't say anything at first, just looked at her and frowned. He never really credited her with much intelligence. After all look what she whelped? She was just someone who cooked and cleaned for the people who really did something.

The whole room waited with bated breath to hear what he had to say. "Albus, I have been informed by the Dark Lord that I will be needed to move in with the rest of the Death Eaters by no later than tonight. But I do have other news that is just a bit more important. The Dark Lord has received more followers from other country's, not just England. He has had them moving into his mansion since mid winter."

"How many?" Moody snapped.

"So far I have counted at least two hundred that I could tell." Glancing at Lupin "He does have Greyback and his gang there." Lupin just winced at that.

"Are there attacks in the works," Moody demanded.

"So far no. The prison was an incitation for most of the foreigners. But he does have certain students at the Lair, training, shall we say. Bellatrix and another Death Eater that I don't know; are training the young ones, plus giving a refresher course to the ones returning. Once they have been dubbed ready they will be paired off with a season veteran. That's when the attacked will commence. There have been many victory party's where the younger Death Eaters are allowed to show the Dark Lord what they have learned."

"We have some reports from the PM of some females that were dumped in London--" Shakelbolt started to say.

"Ah yes, Brannier and Glopstone, are back."

Several of the older members swore feelingly. Those two were known of there cutting up females victims, leaving them so grotesque they were very hard for the muggles to identify. As matter of fact, the Muggle scientist had to develop a whole new technique because of them.

"I must get going Albus, the Dark Lord is expecting me. My roll as Potion Master has been revived."

And with that Snape left the meeting quickly, practically running down to his dungeons for his supplies. Once in his chambers, Snape walked into his office spelled a 7-chamber trunk open. Then summoned his entire library. Another chamber received his potion ingredients, along with his most precious caldrons and pestle and mortars. Glancing around carefully, Snape packed up his dark arts artifacts that he kept hidden from everyone, satisfied that he hadn't left anything behind. Last he summoned his entire wardrobe into the trunk. Looking around again, Snape did not see anything that was important and left for his Dark Lord.

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Unknown to anyone, Dobby had been in the cupboard taking notes of the entire meeting. When the meting broke up, he carefully put them away in a satchel that he found in the lost and found, and popped back to his area in the library. With no Madam Pince to stop him Dobby finished reading the book of wards the founders had left for the Headmaster/Headmistress of the school. Most of the wards were very archaic in the sense that there were upgrades to most of them. Dobby sat down and looked at his notes again, thinking of possible solutions and possible outcomes. The first was making himself known to the Headmaster. Which Dobby ruefully admitted to himself; he was a bit apprehensive on the outcome of that meeting. But either way, how could he leave Harry Potter alone with his family? From what he remembered when he observed of the boy before his second year, he knew that Harry wasn't wanted in the home. He also knew that Harry himself did not consider that house to be his home, which was detrimental to some of the wards that the Headmaster had created. But they still would prevent the Dark Lord from admittance to the house.

Dobby was so lost in thought he didn't see The Elder approach him.

"Dobby?"

Startled Dobby looked up at the Elder. "Yes?'

"Have you decided on what you are going to do?"

Dobby just looked at him quizatively. "I know that you have listening in on the meeting at the Headmaster office. What troubles you about the meetings?"

Dobby leaned his head on his hand and sighed. "The war, Elder."

He paused for a moment. Elder handed a cup of tea, a special blend only the elves drank. Nodding thanks Dobby wrapped his hands around the cup and looked at Elder.

"I have changed Elder, but I do not know if this is for the good of elves, or even mankind. I feel differently than what I use too even a month ago. I, I, I, feel more power. Yes, that it, more power than I have ever felt in myself or any elf that I have meet over the years. But I do not know what it means. I feel freer than when the bonds were broken from my servitude. More since I started to practice what I have found in these books. My magic is drastically stronger than well…." Dobby hesitated to say it.

The Elder glanced up from his own cup. "Perchance stronger than, say, the Headmaster?"

Dobby looked up at the Elder in surprise.

The Elder chuckled "Do not be surprised young one. I have felt the changes in you."

"I think it is time, Dobby, that you left these walls and searched for your own answers. These walls are for human children, do remember that. You are an elf Dobby. The magic an elf has had always been stronger than a wizard or witch. It was our bonds that kept us in servitude."

"As an elf ages, the bond will weaken on their own. No one really knows why. There are histories of course. But they are so ancient, I do not think that any knowledge is left here in England."

"We elves have lacked guidance from within ourselves, we have forgotten where we come from. Ever since I have witnessed the changes in you, I have been trying to search our histories, to find out why we started to serve wizards."

"The only thing I can find or even put together is something happened so long ago that I don't think the humans or even goblins know the actual truth. But the histories that I have don't even describe what happened. Just that we started to serve wizards."

"My Elder at Malfoy's never said that. He said that elves were created by wizards."

"You must remember Dobby, the Malfoy's always had young elves. They never lasted very long at that home. I have been around for two hundred years Dobby."

"Two hundred!"

"Yes, not many people or elves know that. I usually stay in the background. I was born from a free elf, so the bonds have never been put on me. I don't think that I could have lived this long if they were put on me."

Dobby sat there stunned. Two hundred! He couldn't imagine living that long; he was only thirty-five years old, as far as he could figure out.

After speaking more with the Elder, Dobby finally made his decision and gathered his belongings. Satisfied that he had everything, Dobby made his way to the Headmaster and the next step in his life.

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Headmaster Suite:

An old wizened man sat at his desk, thinking over the past few weeks. He had received reports from his secretary at the Wizengot that the bill he wanted to amend was passed. Oh no, still couldn't get the students to perform magic at home. No, the amended law was the one that the Minister had pushed through the day the prison was attacked. He still had some pull on the Wizengot.

Albus sighed with regret the tactics that Fudge was making him do. They should be working together to get Voldemort if not stopped, or at least very difficult to move any supplies or his Death Eaters to his Lair. But no, they just had to play these games of politics. The worst thing was that he didn't know what side Fudge was on.

Now granted, Fudge wasn't a supporter of Voldemort, but he was a supported of pureblood law. The Minister, he knew had a little fit when Albus amended the earlier law. He was just grateful that the children list was restricted to Hogwarts only. Lost in his musings, Albus did not hear his door opening or closing. He did not hear a voice speaking, louder every time. It wasn't till he glanced up to ring for some tea when he saw the most peculiar person in front of him.

"Afternoon Headmaster Dumbledore."

Albus just stared at the being before him.

"May I sit?"

Albus just nodded.

"I have come to you with a request to join the Order of the Phoenix." The person said.

Albus continued to stare. Finally he managed "How, How did you hear of it?" Albus knew that they hadn't talked about entering anyone else just yet.

The person just cocked his head at him. Finally Dobby realized the headmaster didn't recognize him. Chuckling "Headmaster, it is I, Dobby the Elf."

"D, Dobby?" Albus was confused. This person was definitely not a house-elf. Wait! He said elf, not house-elf.

Albus stood up and walked around to the front were Dobby sat calmly.

Taking the Headmasters hands, he poured a little bit of his power at the wizard.

Albus backed away abruptly in shook. It felt like when Fawkes sang to him. Albus looked over at Fawkes, he was always a good judge of character. Fawkes was even sitting at his perch starring at Dobby. If he didn't know better, he would've sworn that Fawkes had a confused look.

"I have to confess something's Headmaster."

Albus just nodded, encouraging Dobby to say what he deeded t say.

"I have learned to read and write. I don't really know if there is a law against this, but there you have it. I also have to confess something else. I just don't know how you will react to this, but I remember that you have always been fair with me and Winky."

"Yes Dobby, I will try to be fair."

"On the day you returned, headmaster, I was given a chore to put away linen in your closet when I heard the sound of a portkey, and the thump of feet hitting the floor. At first I didn't move due to Umbridge's rules thinking she may of managed to get into your office somehow." Dobby looked down at his feet, not meeting the Headmasters eyes. "I' sorry sir, but I listened to your conversation with Harry Potter, sir. I know about the prophecy. The whole truth, sir."

Albus stiffened up at that, he paced around the room a bit while he tried to absorb what this elf was saying. "I'm surprised by all this, Dobby. Let us address one thing at a time. It is not really against the law for an elf to learn how to read and write. Mainly their masters would have something to say about that, but since you are not bound, you may learn what you wish. But the other changes in you have startled me. Dobby, have you looked in a mirror lately?"

Grinning "Yes Headmaster. I know how much I have changed and grown."

Albus leaned on his desk towards Dobby. "Do you have an idea what you have changed the way you have?"

Dobby starred at the Headmaster thoughtfully. "I do not say this to be insulting. I don't think that you as a human could understand the transformations I have gone through. I feel so stronger than I have ever before."

Dumbledore shook his head in agreement. It was generally known, but not talked about, that elf magic was more powerful than a human's magic. "Besides feeling more powerful, have you changed in your feelings…"

Chuckling "I am still a good elf. I do not feel the urge to slaughter anyone, not even the ones I used to work for."

Dumbledore half snorted at that. "Could you describe how you feel?"

Dobby looked strait at his eyes and said. "I feel that I need to be with Harry Potter. He needs someone with him soon, and Mr. Lupin has to leave for the full moon. I feel a responsibility to Harry for freeing me from my servitude…and The Elder and I think that my answers to my questions are outside these walls."

Dumbledore eyebrow rose at that. The Elder? Who is The Elder?

Dobby stood from his seat and leaned closer to the headmaster. "Headmaster I am formally giving my notice. I need to leave Hogwarts. But I have to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for me, and for the elves at Hogwarts. My heart and mind tell me that my path here has ended. I need to repay my debt to Harry Potter for what he has done for me."

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, did something that he has never done before. He released Dobby from Hogwarts, and then inducted Dobby the Elf in the Order of the Phoenix without a second thought.

Dumbledore and Dobby sat in his office for sometime talking about the changes that he had gone through, and other subjects that Dobby wanted to discuss. Dobby had Albus that he didn't think that he was done changing. Even Dobby didn't know what he was changing into. But he felt right with the changes. They did not scare him, in fact they do the opposite, encourage him to even push him self even more.

When Dobby told the headmaster that he had found a book of wards the founders had left, the headmaster had Dobby do some spells for him. It was amazing the amount of power that the elf had. The headmaster sought through his library and gave Dobby some books that he thought might be helpful.

After saying farewell to Dumbledore, Dobby gathered his belongings, and left for Privet Drive and the challenges that lay ahead.