Chapter 17
"Dobby! What did you do!" Harry began to shout.
"Dobby must not say!" shrieked the house elf.
"Dobby! Tell me what you did!" Harry shouted.
Dobby put both hands over his mouth. Hermione and Ron looked at him with puzzled faces.
"Dobby," Harry said more gently, "Please, you have to tell us what you did. We can help you."
"No one can help Dobby sir," Dobby squeaked, tears welling up in his eyes, "Dobby has killed a Death Eater."
Harry's stomach turned, "Dobby, you…..you killed a Death Eater?" He asked full of disbelief. Hermione's eyes got big. Ron gaped at Dobby.
Dobby shook his head, "Dobby killed Bellatrix Lestrange, Harry Potter sir."
Harry turned around to face Hermione and Ron. No one moved.
"Dobby, how did you kill her? Are you sure it was her?" Harry asked.
Dobby nodded, "Ms. Lestrange sir was going to kill Ms. Weasley sir. Dobby had to stop her sir."
"But Dobby, I…..I killed her," Harry said. His mouth went dry.
"No sir, Mr. Potter sir didn't kill her. You only hurt her sir," Dobby continued.
"Dobby, what happened?" Harry asked.
"Dobby was spying on the Order sir. Mr. Malfoy sir had been going there secretly. Dobby had to stop him. But Dobby saw Death Eaters holding Ms. Weasley sir. Dobby saw you, Mr. Potter sir, you attacked Ms. Lestrange. But Dobby saw when she fell, she was still alive. Ms. Lestrange stayed still, waiting for everyone to leave the room. After everyone left, Ms. Lestrange got up slowly. Dobby had to stop her. And Dobby did," he squeaked.
Harry and the others couldn't speak. They had thought Harry had become a murderer. But he didn't.
"Dobby, does Vold- I mean you-know-who know what you did?" Harry asked.
"Yes Mr. Potter sir. He came back for her, sir, and saw me, and her. He knows, sir."
Harry sighed deeply, "Dobby, your staying here for a while ok? Wait, did you say Malfoy was there? Lucius Malfoy?"
Dobby gritted his teeth and dodged at the nearby table stand. He picked up the lamp sitting on it and started beating himself over the head.
"Dobby stop!" Harry said grabbing the lamp away. Dobby fell off the table. He was knocked unconscious.
"Alright, let's put him on the bed or something. He picked him up and placed him there.
"So do you think he really killed Bellatrix?" Harry asked.
"His story seems believable, except for Lucius coming back," Hermione said.
"Hermione, that's it! Lucius is impersonating Dumbledore! That's why Dumbledore hasn't been talking to anyone except Snape and Malfoy! It's Lucius!" Harry shouted, standing up.
"Harry, that can't be possible!" Hermione urged.
"No, it can be. Voldemort's sent me false dreams before!" Harry said, getting excited.
"But Harry, even the Daily Prophet said he was dead," Hermione said.
"Don't you see? He's been faking it!" Harry said.
"Harry that's not possible, I'm telling you," Hermione said.
"But it is!" Harry insisted.'
"Harry, if Lucius was still alive, don't you think Malfoy would know?" Hermione asked.
Harry thought about this for a minute, "But that's why Dumbledore talked to Malfoy. Because Lucius is impersonating Dumbledore. He only talks to Snape and Malfoy because they're members of the Death Eaters!" Harry shouted loudly.
"But don't you think someone would've figured that out?" Ron asked, "I mean that Dumbledore wasn't himself."
"But I did Ron!" Harry said.
"But I would think Moody would say something like that," Ron said.
"Are you saying I'm mental like- wait..," Moody, Harry thought, Moody changed Malfoy into a ferret in our fourth year. He knows Lucius, "What if Moody didn't just turn Malfoy into a ferret at random? What if, there was a reason?"
"Harry, what reason would Moody have to purposely turn Malfoy into a ferret?" ron asked.
"Well, I've been seeing a ferret around here a lot. Yes! That's it! That's what's going on!" Harry shouted happily.
"Harry! What are you on about?" Ron asked loudly.
"Lucius Malfoy is an animagus! He turns into a ferret! That's why Moody turned Malfoy into a ferret in our fourth year! Irony! The ferret I've been seeing is Lucius! That's why Dumbledore wasn't in his office when I left! Because Lucius is impersonating Dumbledore and following me around as a ferret! That's it!" Harry yelled, "We've got to go tell the others!" Hermione looked at him.
"Harry, I think you're right! I really do!" she shrieked, "We have to go tell them now!"
"Alright, then we'll talk to Lupin and Sirius and find out if they know anything about the horcruxes!" Harry said excitedly.
The three of them ran from the room after picking up Dobby. Harry finally had some answers! They rushed out of the house and across the street to retrieve Buckbeak. He was still there, prancing around the yard. Harry bowed and hopped on. Hermione and Ron joined him, with Dobby in between Harry and Hermione. Harry pulled on the rope and they were on their way to warn the others.
