Harry Potter had been working in his room, reading his books, and occasionally pausing to meditate.

He was fixing his memory castle, again; his mind was fully off inside itself, nearly insensate to the world around him.

Or so he'd thought, at any rate.

He felt his entire body begin to tilt, and his eyes whipped open automatically.

There was a House Elf in front of him. The probable source of the tilting, actually.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, not sure if he was going to give offense by asking the poor thing's name. He'd read just enough to know about the house elves, and not enough to know how to address them. He'd considered goblins a much more relevant topic, as house elves stayed with houses, and he didn't have a magical house, and wasn't close to anyone rich enough to afford a house elf.

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" The house elf cried, doing a silent jig, "The Great Harry Potter wants to know Dobby's name! Your kindness honors me!"

Harry studied the house elf closely, looking at the tattered pillowcase it was clad in. "Why are you here, Dobby?"

"I bring warning!" The house elf said, and Harry blinked. He hadn't been aware that house elves could... "Are you a Potter elf?"

"No! no, I wish that I were!" Dobby said.

Harry believed him, despite the over-effusive tone. There was something about the elf...

"What can you warn me about?" Harry asked.

"Danger at Hogwarts! You must not go - it would be reckless!" Dobby said.

"Am I to wind up in jail then? Would that be safer?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes! oh, oh, yes! Your very life is at stake!" Dobby cried.

"Can you- can you tell me anything else?" Harry leaned forward, still with his legs crossed.

"Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby! I shouldn't have said as much as I have!" Dobby cried.

Harry asked, "Can I ask you a few questions? You can answer if you want..."

Dobby froze, and stopped trying to put his head through the floor. That was good, because Aunt Petunia would have murdered Harry if there had been any reason to suspect his involvement. It starting from his room would be reason enough.

"What if I'm careful?" Harry asked.

"There's no care that will save you!" Dobby responded.

"I don't believe that," Harry said calmly, "What if we asked Dumbledore to look after the problem?" Harry wasn't sure it was a problem, he wasn't sure if he should doubt this one's word.

"Not even the Ancient and Powerful Dumbledore!" Dobby said.

"Then I guess I'll be a jailbird," Harry said. "Pity, I was hoping to keep a clean record until I was at least out of school."

[a/n: sorry this has been so long. Harry doesn't know the questions to ask here. Reviews?]