I own nothing but the plot, and not even all of that.
"Dobby!" Harry yelled. He rushed to the elf and dropped to his knees. Picking Dobby up, Harry cradled him as tears flooded his eyes. Ron stood with a hand over his mouth, horrified by the blood soaking the front of Harry's robes. Shooter, who Ron hadn't even noticed, rushed over from the corner he had stationed himself in. He reached for a first aid kit on his utility belt and sprayed a liquid on the stumps where the elf's legs had been severed. It slowed the bleeding but did not stop it.
"What's going on in here?" a deep voice asked. Harry turned to find Aurors Dawlish and Tonks rushing into the common room. They were occupying the Head Boy and Girl rooms to stay close to Harry, and one was typically on duty half the day while the other took the other half. Dawlish was on the night shift and was dressed in his auror robes. Tonks, who fit in better with the students, had the day shift. She had been awakened by the commotion, and was dressed only in thin pajama shorts and a white tank top.
"It's Dobby!" Harry cried. "I called for him, and he just popped in like this." Dawlish waved his wand over the unconscious house elf and muttered a spell. The stumps stopped bleeding, but Dobby's skin had paled nearly white. His breathing was labored and raspy.
"Tonks," Dawlish ordered, "get this elf to the hospital wing, now!" Tonks scooped Dobby out of Harry's arms and scrambled out of the portrait hole.
"I'm going with him," Harry said, getting to his feet. Dawlish put his hand on Harry's shoulder and stopped him.
"No," Dawlish said. "It's after curfew. Madam Pomfrey is always in the hospital wing, she'll see to the elf."
"No," Harry protested. "Let me go!"
"Harry, you have to tell me what is going on," insisted Dawlish. "I can't help unless I know the situation." He was a big man, but his words stopped Harry more than his hand on the Jedi's shoulder. He was speaking calmly and wasn't shouting. It was a trick he had learned as an auror. He found it worked far better than blustering.
"Ron and I were talking..." Harry began. He talked for some time. Dawlish did not interrupt, and only spoke to gently press Harry to continue when he got to the part where Dobby appeared. Harry told him everything that they had learned from Dobby, including who owned him. He also shared their concerns about Ginny's diary. Finally, Harry finished his report.
"These are very serious allegations, Mr. Potter," Dawlish said.
"They're the truth," Harry insisted.
"I know you believe them to be so," Dawlish said, cautiously, "and I hope you trust me to take them seriously. I need you to understand that nothing can be done at this time, however."
"Why not?" Harry asked, coldly.
"Because of who Lucius Malfoy is," explained Dawlish, "and what your friend Dobby is. We cannot charge Mr. Malfoy with a crime without proof, and the only witness is a house elf."
"A house elf that Malfoy cut in half!" protested Harry.
"I know this upsets you," Dawlish said, calmly. "It's not fair, and it's not right, but the truth is that elves do not currently enjoy the same protections that people do. Dobby's testimony would not be admissible, even if he were allowed to speak against his master. Mr. Malfoy could simply explain that Dobby had splinched himself, and Dobby would never say anything to refute that. Even if Mr. Malfoy confessed to it, it wouldn't make any difference. I'm afraid mutilating a house elf is not even a crime."
"So that's it?" Harry said, bitterly. "Lucius Malfoy can chop the legs off an elf, and he gets away with it?"
"I urge you to not say or do anything at this time," Dawlish said, firmly. "I agree with you that this is evil, but you cannot win by attacking him now. He has too many allies in too many positions of power. If you attack him without a cause recognized by the law, you will lose. All that can be done is to begin an investigation, and try to keep it quiet. If the wrong people were to even discover there is an investigation they could stop it without repercussions."
Harry could see red clouding the edges of his vision, and knew he needed to calm down. His emotions were spinning out of control, and he knew that any action he took now would not be rational. He reluctantly nodded his agreement to Dawlish, then sank to his knees and began to meditate.
The portrait hole opened to admit Professor McGonagall. She took in the blood that covered Harry and the floor in front of him, and a Dawlish had to quickly explain that her student was not injured. The auror filled McGonagall in on everything he had just learned.
Tonks ran as fast as she could, praying that her trademark clumsiness wouldn't rear it's ugly head. By some miracle, she made it to the hospital wing without tripping, slipping, or falling. She rushed in, calling for Madam Pomfrey. Rev was awake, fiddling with some equipment, and Doc quickly woke and rose from the cot she was sleeping on. Madam Pomfrey emerged from a doorway just as she was being called and ordered Tonks to place Dobby on a bed.
Pomfrey examined the house elf using diagnostic spells while Doc and Rev scanned him with handheld devices. The school mediwitch had settled her differences with the medics, and they worked well together. The stumps had started bleeding again while Tonks carried Dobby and refused to stay closed.
"These wounds are cursed," Pomfrey proclaimed. "They'll never fully heal." Doc tapped some parameters into her scanner and handed it to Rev.
"Get these made up, top priority," she ordered." Rev took the scanner to a box that was set up in the corner the medics had claimed for their use. It was the largest piece of equipment they had brought with them. Using extremely precise miniature tractor and repulsor beams, it could manufacture anything it was programmed to. It's only constraint, other than the size of the object to be made, was the availability of the raw materials to use.
While Rev was setting up the replicator, Madam Pomfrey was pouring potions into Dobby's mouth.
"Blood replenishers," she said, answering Doc's unasked question.
"Will they work on an elf?" Doc asked.
"Yes," Pomfrey answered. "They work by duplicating the blood you already have, so even though an elf's blood is very different from ours, it will work for anyone. I can't administer them forever, though."
"Here, Doc," Rev said, and handed her two small, silver colored devices from the replicator. They were shaped like little domes, with holes the exact shape of the stumps that were all that was left of Dobby's legs. Doc took them, put them on Dobby's stumps, and activated them. With two identical clicks, the devices clamped onto the stumps. Small indicator lights began to flash in several colors and patterns as the devices began to operate.
Professor McGonagall walked into the hospital wing and stood next to Tonks, watching. She looked at the state of the younger woman's shirt, which was almost completely soaked red with Dobby's blood and waved her wand. The blood faded away. McGonagall frowned at the limited clothing the Tonks was wearing, and conjured a simple robe, which wrapped itself around the younger woman. Tonks, watching the progress, didn't even notice.
"What are those?" Pomfrey asked, pointing at the devices that were attached to Dobby.
"Limb caps," answered Doc. "They're customized for him. They'll not just stop the bleeding, but will also send the blood they collect back into his system. They won't restore any functionality, but it's better than just leaving a stump, since the veins and arteries will work as normal."
"I think it's working," Pomfrey said, noting that Dobby's color was improving.
"Madam Pomfrey," asked Professor McGonagall, "would it be possible to put this elf in a private room?"
"A private room?" Pomfrey asked, confused.
"Yes," McGonagall said. "Headmaster Dumbledore has been temporarily removed by the board. Lucius Malfoy has been installed as High Inquisitor."
"Oh my," Pomfrey exclaimed.
"Indeed," McGonagall said. "This is his house elf, Dobby. We believe Mr. Malfoy is the cause of his injuries. We'd like to make sure Mr. Malfoy is unaware he is in your care."
"I'll have to keep him unconscious," Pomfrey said. "Private room or not, if that man calls him, he'd be compelled to answer."
"I'll leave it in your hands," McGonagall said. "How is he?"
"It was a very close thing," Pomfrey said. "If he'd gotten here a minute later, or these limb caps Dr. Silva and Mister Rev provided hadn't worked, he would already have died."
"Well done, then" McGonagall said. "All of you."
The next morning was a Saturday, and Hermione woke to find Harry still awake in the common room. She was horrified to learn what had happened to Dobby, and furious to learn it wasn't even a crime. Dawlish had a much harder time keeping her calm about it and had to promise multiple times that he would start an investigation. Hermione, furious at the unfairness of the wizarding legal system, had to be coaxed to breakfast. She was going to skip it, planning out a multi-tiered rebellion to secure elf rights.
The aftermath of the previous night was devastating for the more of Gryffindor house. Ginny was beyond horrified to learn of Dobby's injuries. She refused to leave her room and wouldn't allow anyone to even speak to her. The twins were far more subdued than normal, knowing they lucky McGonagall refused to allow Mr. Malfoy to punish them.
That morning at breakfast, the entire school fount everything had changed. Dumbledore was rarely at breakfast, but someone new was present. Lucius Malfoy stood at the podium and directed everyone to pay attention.
"Good morning, students," he began. "In light of the dangerous circumstances you have found yourselves in, I am pleased to announce that the Board of Governors has elected to take a more active role in keeping you safe. For that reason, it has been decided that the man who allowed these attacks to continue would be removed, and that I would step in as High Inquisitor. Professor McGonagall has graciously agreed to perform the role of acting headmistress. If you have any concerns, please feel free to ask her about them. In order to maintain your safety, you will be divided into sections within your own year group. You will find a roster of these new groups in your common room after breakfast. You will also be issues patches to place on your robes that will clearly show which section you belong in. Any students found to be mingling with a group outside of their assigned section will be issued a detention. That will be all."
Lucius finished his speech, then turned to leave the Great Hall. As he passed Professor Snape, who was standing behind the chair he usually used during meals, he stopped.
"I wonder if we could have a word, Severus," Lucius asked. "In private, if you please."
"Of course," Snape answered. "My quarters should suffice."
During his speech, the entire school was in shock that Dumbledore had been removed. Most of the Slytherins reacted with wild applause. Draco participated, though his face had initially gone white when he saw his father sitting at the head table. Daphne Greengrass gave a much shorter, but still polite, clap. She then locked eyes with Neville and gave a short shake of her head. Her unspoken message was received.
"We need to lay low," Neville told Harry and Hermione in a whisper.
"Lay low?" hissed Hermione. She was outraged that Dobby's mutilator was now in a position of authority. "That evil man chopped Dobby's legs off!"
"Daphne just told me we need to lay low," Neville insisted.
"She's sitting at the other end of the Great Hall," Hermione protested.
"I know," Neville said. "I don't know any other way to put it. She told me to lay low."
"Are you trying to tell us you can read each other's minds?" Hermione asked.
"No, nothing like that," Neville said. "I just know she wants us to not make a fuss about this right now."
"She's right," Harry said. Hermione shot him a look of betrayal. "I'm not saying I'm going to let him get away with it," Harry insisted. "It's just not the right time yet."
Cornelius Fudge hated working on Saturdays, but it wouldn't do to ignore a request for a meeting with Dumbledore. The man may have stepped down from the ICW and the Wizengamot, but if there were ever a wizard who held the key to influence, it was Albus Dumbledore.
He arrived early that morning, as Dumbledore's owl indicated a matter of some importance. He sat at his desk and had barely been settled when his secretary announced Dumbledore.
"Ah, Albus," Cornelius greeted. He stood and shook hands with Dumbledore as the old wizard entered his office. "Welcome, welcome."
"Minister," Albus greeted Cornelius, taking a seat.
"Have you had breakfast?" Cornelius asked. "If not, there's a delightful new bakery just down the street. It's a muggle shop, but the pastries are amazing."
"Thank you, Minister," said Albus. "I've already eaten, but I'll keep it in mind for next time."
"Splendid," Cornelius said with a smile. "Now, what can I do for you today?"
Albus, who usually delighted in small talk, was in no mood for it on this day.
"You can get that man out of my school," he answered.
"You mean Lucius?" Cornelius inquired. "Yes, I can imagine you would be upset by that."
"I need to be reinstated," Albus said.
"Why on earth would you think I could do that?" the minister asked with a laugh. "He was appointed by the board of governors, not the Ministry."
"Surely you can see that the children will be in far greater danger in the current situation," Albus protested.
"I again ask," Cornelius responded, "Why do you think doing anything is within my power? Centuries of tradition holds that Hogwarts is to be held separate from the Ministry of Magic. You yourself have written several laws cementing that separation in place. I cannot just swoop in and make drastic changes, and the school would have to be in near rebellion against the ministry before I were permitted to do so. You know this, Albus."
Dumbledore did indeed know this. He was grasping at straws hoping the ministry could help, but with the backing of the board of governors, he was powerless to remove Lucius Malfoy on his own using legal methods.
"There must be some influence you have with the board," Dumbledore pressed. Cornelius sat back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.
"This is not a good time for this," the minister said. "With Sirius Black on the loose, the debacle of his lack of a trial, and the shackles that puts on our ability to catch him, the entire situation is a disaster waiting to happen. We really don't need another situation distracting us at the same time." The minister suddenly sat up.
"There is one thing I can use," he said. "There's a piece of legislation being debated that is of great interest to many members of the board."
"The Muggle Protection Act," Dumbledore said, realizing the ministers plan.
"Yes," Cornelius said. "Discussion was tabled in the last session, but that was just a delaying tactic. It will come around again next month, and they know it. If you could convince Arthur to shelve it, I think I can convince the board that it is not an appropriate time to begin any major renovations to our educational standards."
Albus sat back. Convincing Arthur would not be difficult, and he was well aware that you had to give in order to receive in politics. This was an important bill, however, and shelving it meant it might never be reintroduced.
"I don't like this," Albus said with a sigh. "Current safety must take precedence, but I feel the greater harm is in cementing this notion that we are better than the muggles."
"It was only a steppingstone bill," Cornelius argued.
"It was a beginning," countered Albus. "A beginning to a better future for us all."
"Yes, well," Cornelius said, in a placating tone, "a beginning not begun may still be started later. If you wish for any hope of being reinstated, I must be able to present the board with something."
"Very well," Albus agreed with a heavy heart.
"Splendid," Cornelius beamed. "I'll meet with a few of the more prominent members of the board this weekend, and hopefully have you reinstated as soon as possible."
Albus said his goodbyes and departed for the Burrow. He would have to break the news to Arthur. He hoped he hadn't given up too much, but the safety of his students was far too important to let Lucius Malfoy have authority over them for any length of time.
A/N - Some of you have asked whether Dobby splinched himself, or if Lucius stepped up his abuse. I decided that the event itself should happen 'off-camera,' but he did not splinch himself. Malfoy was most definitely involved.
A/N 2 - Much of my stories are actually written on my phone. I prefer to write on a computer, but have a lot more time to write when I'm not at a computer. Until now, I would write in Google Docs, then copy/paste to the Doc Manager here on this site when I'm ready to release it. I then format and proofread it, invariably missing a number of spelling mistakes that I only find once I've released it. (Seriously, if you read my chapter in the first few minutes after you get a notification, you might want to wait for a few more minutes while I curse, correct like a madman, question my own intelligence, and then submit again.) Saturday, however, I finally lost patience with Google Docs. It erased a good quarter of what I had written for this chapter. I'm now using a paid app called Just Write. It's minimalist, but I love that the words actually look like text on paper and that I can control whether something is saved locally or to the cloud.