FREEING DOBBY
Ron was now fully awake and was slowly getting up. He looked as though, he was completely dazed. Natasha knew that, he will not remember the whole ordeal with Riddle he had, as Riddle told so. Natasha was really confused as to what to tell him, and scared as to what his reaction will be if he knows the truth. Simran was also looking equally clueless as to what to tell him. Natasha looked at her, and Simran just shook her head. Ron then slowly opened his eyes and said, "What the hell!"
He then slowly looked at the surroundings, as his vision became more and more clear. He was in some kind of a big chamber, but did not remember how he got there. It was all just confusing. Then Ron saw two of his best friends, Natasha and Simran was standing there looking at him with sad faces. Natasha had a sword in her hand, which had blood in it, and Simran had his diary in her hand, and something that looked like a snake fang, except that it was really large. Just meters away was a corpse of a really big snake. Ron got really scared at this, and then he suddenly had a real guess as to where he was. As soon as the two girls realized that, he was fully awake the two of them ran towards him, and hugged him.
"Oh, god you are OK!", Simran said with tears of joy in her eyes. She then gave a small kiss on his cheek. Ron turned red and blushed. But he was still confused about what was happening.
"We are in the chamber of secrets, aren't we?", Ron asked. Natasha and Simran just nodded and didn't say anything else. "How in the world did we get here? Why the hell I don't remember anything? What is that snake? Is that the Slytherin's monster? How did you kill it? What in the world are you doing with my diary?", Ron asked quickly without a pause for breath. Natasha and Simran then looked at each other, and decided to tell Ron at least a part of the truth.
"You were abducted by the heir of Slytherin, and was taken into the chamber.", Simran said sadly. "And we came to your rescue along with your sister Ginny and Lockhart, who couldn't come due to a freak accident. The rest of the school probably thinks that, you are dead."
"What!? You mean I was abducted by the heir of Slytherin? Who the hell was it? How in the world did you manage to defeat him?", Ron asked incredulously.
"Long story, Ron! But I think we better go back to the school, I think all the stories can be told in front of the teachers, and I think you need rest.", Natasha said.
Then Ron pointed towards the snake, and said, "Don't tell me that snake is the monster of the Slytherin, and you managed to kill with your sword."
"That is a good guess, as it is true.", Natasha said. Ron's jaw dropped onto the floor, but Natasha and Simran did not give any other explanation as to what exactly happened.
"But what is my diary doing over here? Why in the world did you bring it over to the chamber?", Ron asked even more confused.
"Don't you remember anything about the diary?", Simran asked.
"Yeah. I remember anything. What is there to forget anyways? It is just a diary that talks back to the user and gives advice as to what to do.", Ron said.
"Please don't tell that, you remember only that much. Don't you remember taking it from me, telling that it is evil?", Natasha asked
"I really don't Natasha. Wait! What were you doing with my personal diary!", Ron shouted. Natasha and Simran just looked at each other with nothing but sadness.
"We will explain all that, after we reach upstairs, Ron! For now, we need the teachers to know that, you are safe.", Simran said. Ron just nodded, and the three of them walked to the door. After a few minutes' progress up the dark tunnel, a distant sound of slowly shifting rock reached Natasha's ears.
"Ginny!", Natasha yelled, speeding up. "Ginny's okay! I've got her!". Natasha heard Ginny give a strangled cheer, and they turned the next bend to see her eager face staring through the sizable gap she had managed to make in the rock fall.
"Ron!", Ginny thrust an arm through the gap in the rock to pull him through first. She struggled at first as Ron was elder and taller than her. "You're alive! I don't believe it! What happened?" How - what - where did that bird come from?"
Fawkes had swooped through the gap after Ron. "He's Dumbledore's," said Natasha, squeezing through herself. Simran joined shortly afterwards.
"How come you've got a sword?" said Ginny, gaping at the glittering weapon in Natasha's hand.
"I'll explain when we get out of here," said Natasha with a sideways glance at Ron, who was looking as confused as ever.
"But-"
"Later,", Natasha said shortly. She didn't think it was a good idea to tell Ginny and Ron yet who'd been opening the Chamber. "Where's Lockhart?", Simran asked changing the topic.
"Back there," said Ginny, still looking puzzled but jerking his head up the tunnel toward the pipe. "He's in a bad way. Come and see.". Led by Fawkes, whose wide scarlet wings emitted a soft golden glow in the darkness, they walked all the way back to the mouth of the pipe. Gilderoy Lockhart was sitting there, humming placidly to himself.
"What in the world happened to this idiot?", Ron asked with eyes wide at the sight of the professor. Natasha went on to explain about that, and Ron laughed a little at the Professors fall. "His memory's gone," said Natasha. "The Memory Charm backfired. Hit him instead of us. Hasn't got a clue who he is, or where he is, or who we are. I told him to come and wait here. He's a danger to himself."
Lockhart peered good-naturedly up at them all. "Hello," he said. "Odd sort of place, this, isn't it? Do you live here?"
"No," said Ron, raising his eyebrows at Natasha, wanting more answers. But Natasha ordered for the stairs to come again, and they climbed it back up along with Fawkes. Lockhart looked at the stairs that reappeared with awe and said, "Amazing! Amazing! This is just like magic!". The others could do nothing but chuckle at him. When they reached back at the bathroom, "You are all alive!", Myrtle said cheerily. Ron looked around with wide eyes, and said, "The entrance was here all the time? What in the world!"
Natasha just smiled at Ron, but did not have the courage to say anything. Both Ginny and Ron was looking at the other two demanding answers. "Where now?", said Simran, with an anxious look at Ron. Natasha pointed. Fawkes was leading the way, glowing gold along the corridor. They strode after him, and moments later, found themselves outside Professor McGonagall's office. Natasha knocked and pushed the door open. For a moment, there was silence as Natasha, Ron, Ginny, Simran and Lockhart stood in the doorway, covered in muck and slime and (in Natasha's case) blood, and ink in Simran's case. Then there was a scream.
"Ron!". It was Mrs. Weasley, who had been sitting crying in front of the fire. She leapt to her feet, closely followed by Mr. Weasley, and both of them flung themselves on their son.
"I am alright mom!", Ron said.
"You have been kidnapped and was taken to the chamber, and you are telling that it is alright?", Mrs. Weasley said with tears in her eyes.
"Honestly mom! I have no memory of what had happened. I am totally blank.", Ron said.
Natasha, however, was looking past them. Professor Dumbledore was standing by the mantelpiece, beaming, next to Professor McGonagall, who was taking great, steadying gasps, clutching her chest. Fawkes went and sat on Dumbledore's shoulders as, Mrs. Weasley came and hugged the three girls. "You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it?", she cried.
"Well, mom. I was only in the last part of this adventure. So, I have absolutely no idea as to what exactly happened before that.", Ginny said hugging her mom back.
"I think we'd all like to know that," said Professor McGonagall weakly. Natasha knew that, they will have to tell them the whole truth, and looked at Simran and nodded. Simran knew that, this was the approval to tell the whole story, and started the story of their little adventure from the very beginning. Then they started telling them everything. For nearly a quarter of an hour Natasha and Simran spoke into the rapt silence, with Ron joining occasionally. They told them about hearing the disembodied voice, how Hermione had finally realized that Natasha and Simran was hearing a basilisk in the pipes. They were shocked to hear that, even Simran was Parselmouth, but did not tell anything. Then they told how the three of them had followed the spiders into the forest, that Aragog had told them where the last victim of the basilisk had died; how he had guessed that Moaning Myrtle had been the victim, and that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets might be in her bathroom.
Natasha knew that, the next thing she had to tell was the hardest part, as now she had to tell about what had happened to Ron. "Very well," Professor McGonagall prompted him as she paused, "so you found out where the entrance was -breaking a hundred school rules into pieces along the way, I might add - but how on earth did you all get out of there alive, Natasha?"
Then Natasha went on to say about what had happened inside the chamber. She told about the accident that had happened in the chamber, and how Natasha and Simran had to go into the heart of the chamber together. When Natasha told about finding a boy called riddle, Ron's eyes went wide.
"Wait a second? What do you mean by Riddle? That is the name of the person in the diary that I have!", Ron exclaimed.
"What do you mean your diary? I never knew that you had a diary! We never brought you one!", Mr. Weasley said.
"I think that, it is better that Ms. Potter explain everything, before asking further questions.", Dumbledore said. Then Natasha went on to explain what Riddle had said. When she told about what exactly happened that year, Ron's eyes went wide and started crying.
"No! Do you mean that I was the one who was attacking all the students!", Ron cried with tears in her eyes. Natasha knew that, Ron go into breakdown if he was not made to calm down. Simran then went to Ron and hugged him. Ron just hugged her back, and he continued crying. Then Natasha told about the rest of the story.
"What interests me most," said Dumbledore gently, "is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ron, when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania."
Relief - warm, sweeping, glorious relief - swept over Natasha. "W-what's that?" said Mr. Weasley in a stunned voice. "You-Know-Who? En-enchant Ron? But Ron's not... Ron hasn't been... has he?".
"It was this diary," said Natasha quickly, picking it up and showing it to Dumbledore. "Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen...". Dumbledore took the diary from Natasha and peered keenly down his long, crooked nose at its burnt and soggy pages. "Brilliant," he said softly. "Of course, he was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen." He turned around to the Weasleys, who were looking utterly bewildered.
"Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. I taught him myself, fifty years ago, at Hogwarts. He disappeared after leaving the school... travelled far and wide... sank so deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations, that when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognizable. Hardly anyone connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy who was once Head Boy here.", Dumbledore said with a sad look.
"But, Ron," said Mrs. Weasley. "What's our Ron got to do with - with - him?"
"His d-diary", Ron sobbed. "I've b-been writing in it, and he's been w-writing back all year-"
"Ron!" said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. "Haven't I taught you anything. What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain? Why didn't you show the diary to me, or your mother? A suspicious object like that, it was clearly full of Dark Magic!"
"I d-didn't know," sobbed Ron. "I found it when you and Mr. Malfoy had a fight in the bookstore. I thought that it would be a good thing to get a diary."
"Mr. Weasley should go up to the hospital wing right away," Dumbledore interrupted in a firm voice. "This has been a terrible ordeal for him. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she has been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort.". Natasha and Simran were totally relieved when Dumbledore told this, and smiled at each other. Dumbledore strode over to the door and opened it. "Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up," he added, twinkling kindly down at her. "You will find that Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just giving out Mandrake juice - I daresay the basilisk's victims will be waking up any moment."
"So, Hermione's okay!" said Simran brightly. "There is absolutely no harm done, Mr. Weasley said. Mrs. Weasley led Ron out, and Mr. Weasley and Ginny followed, still looking deeply shaken.
"You know, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully to Professor McGonagall, "I think all this merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go and alert the kitchens?"
"Right," said Professor McGonagall crisply, also moving to the door. "I'll leave you to deal with Potter and Weasley, shall I?"
"Certainly," said Dumbledore. She left, and Natasha and Simran gazed uncertainly at Dumbledore. What exactly had Professor McGonagall meant, deal with them? Natasha feared that, she was going to face the consequences of all the things she did.
"Normally I will have to expel you both, for breaking so many of the school rules.", Dumbledore said. Natasha and Simran stared at the professor in disbelief. "But even the best of us, will have to bend the rules considering the circumstances. You will both receive Special Awards for Services to the School and - let me see - yes, I think two hundred points apiece for Gryffindor, and fifty points for Ms. Weasley too.", Dumbledore said with a smiling face. Natasha and Simran looked at each other and grinned.
"But someone in particular seems to be really modest about the adventure you just had.", Dumbledore said looking at Lockhart. "Why so serious, Gilderoy?"
Natasha had forgotten about the Professor till then. When Dumbledore addressed the Professor, he looked at the headmaster. "Professor Dumbledore,", Simran said quickly, "there was an accident down in the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Lockhart-"
"Am I a professor?" said Lockhart in mild surprise. "Goodness. I expect I was hopeless, was I?"
Natasha struggled not to laugh as, even the professor himself though unknowingly admitted that, he was hopeless in teaching. "The professor tried to perform a memory charm on us, with a broken wand and it backfired.", Simran said with a small smile.
"Dear me," said Dumbledore, shaking his head, his long silver moustache quivering. "Impaled upon your own sword, Gilderoy!"
"Sword?", said Lockhart suddenly. "I don't have any sword with me. That girl has one though. I am sure that he will lend you one if you ask him.", he said pointing at Natasha.
"Can you take Professor Lockhart to the infirmary. I am sure that, you can't wait to see how Mr. Weasley is doing. I also want to have a word with Ms. Potter.", Dumbledore said to Simran. Simran nodded and took Professor Lockhart and went to the infirmary. Natasha knew from Simran's look that, she couldn't wait to see Ron.
"Sit down, Natasha.", Dumbledore said pointing to the chair next to him. Natasha sat down with a nervous look on her face.
"First of all, I would like to thank you, Natasha. You showed real bravery, and loyalty throughout the year, and inside the chamber.", Dumbledore said with a kind smile.
"It was Simran who destroyed Riddle, Professor. She had stabbed the diary with the fang, which caused the boy to vanish.", Natasha said.
"Yes. Yes.", Dumbledore said nodding his head. "I am grateful to her too. Even she had shown real bravery inside the chamber. Nothing but loyalty and bravery of you both, could have called Fawkes to you.", Dumbledore said stroking the bird in its head.
"So, you met Tom Riddle.", Dumbledore continued. "I bet that he was very much interested in you."
"Yes, he really was. I think he was obsessed with me, as he told that we both were similar in many ways.", Natasha said. "Half-bloods, Orphans and even being parselmouths."
"But there is one fundamental difference, Natasha. He chose the path of darkness, whereas you did not.", Dumbledore said smiling.
"Thank you, professor. But one question still bugs me. How can I speak Parseltongue if I am not the heir of Slytherin? I know that it is an uncommon ability over here, but I know that it is not in other countries. Do you think that I may be connected to Slytherins?", Natasha asked.
"As far as I know, neither your father or mother has any connections to the founder. As far as I know, Voldemort is the only living heir."
"Then how do you think I got those abilities?", Natasha asked.
"You can speak Parseltongue, Natasha," said Dumbledore calmly, "because Lord Voldemort - who is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin - can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do, I'm sure...".
Natasha actually turned a bit pale after that. "Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?", Natasha said, thunderstruck.
"It certainly seems so.", Dumbledore said sadly.
Natasha was actually shivering in fear, when she heard Dumbledore said that. The very concept of Voldemort transferring her powers was unsettling. But she knew that, she had to be strong.
"But that does not make you a Slytherin automatically Natasha. For some proof, take a look at the sword that you used in killing the snake.", Dumbledore said taking the sword from the desk. He gave the sword to Natasha so that, she can examine it closely. Dully, Natasha turned it over, the rubies blazing in the firelight. And then she saw the name engraved just below the hilt.
Godric Gryffindor
"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat, Natasha." said Dumbledore simply.
"I really don't care about where I am placed Professor. I had no preferences, when I came here.", Natasha said.
"That is an admirable thought, Natasha. That is a really rare thing in the wizarding world. The thoughts like this will bring unity between the houses. That is something that I always dream of.", Dumbledore said smiling.
For a minute, neither of them spoke. Then Dumbledore pulled open one of the drawers in Professor McGonagall's desk and took out a quill and a bottle of ink. "What you need, Natasha, is some food and sleep. I suggest you go down to the feast, while I write to Azkaban -we need our gamekeeper back. And I must draft an advertisement for the Daily Prophet, too," he added thoughtfully. "We'll be needing a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Please bring someone good next time, sir. I don't think that, we learned anything this year.", Natasha said.
"I think I have an excellent candidate. If he agrees to come, I am sure that he will be an excellent teacher.", Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Now off you go, Natasha. As I told you really need some rest."
Natasha got up and crossed to the door. She had just reached for the handle, however, when the door burst open so violently that it bounced back off the wall. Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby. Natasha knew immediately what it meant. "Good evening, Lucius," said Dumbledore pleasantly.
Mr. Malfoy almost knocked Natasha over as he swept into the room. Dobby went scurrying in after him, crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face. The elf was carrying a stained rag with which he was attempting to finish cleaning Mr. Malfoys shoes. Apparently, Mr. Malfoy had set out in a great hurry, for not only were his shoes half-polished, but his usually sleek hair was dishevelled Ignoring the elf bobbing apologetically around his ankles, he fixed his cold eyes upon Dumbledore. Natasha knew that, somehow Mr. Malfoy was the one indirectly responsible for this whole mess, this year at Hogwarts.
"So!" he said "You've come back. The governors suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts."
"Well, you see, Lucius," said Dumbledore, smiling serenely, "the other eleven governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They'd heard that Arthur Weasleys son had been killed and wanted me back here at once. They seemed to think I was the best man for the job after all. Very strange tales they told me, too... Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place."
Natasha was really angry at this. Draco's father was clearly evil, and wanted Dumbledore to go so that, the school will be under him. Mr. Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits of fury. "So - have you stopped the attacks yet?" he sneered. "Have you caught the culprit?"
"We have," said Dumbledore, with a smile.
"Well?" said Mr. Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?"
"The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary.". He held up the small black book with the large hole through the center, watching Mr. Malfoy closely. Natasha, however, was watching Dobby. The elf was doing something very odd. His great eyes fixed meaningfully on Natasha, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr. Malfoy, and then hitting himself hard on the head with his fist. Natasha was totally confused as to what Dobby wanted to say to her. She knew that, she has to somehow connect the dots.
"I see..." said Mr. Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.
"A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye. "Because if Natasha here -" Mr. Malfoy shot Natasha a swift, sharp look "and her friend Simran hadn't discovered this book, why - Ronald Weasley might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will..."
Mr. Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike. "And imagine," Dumbledore went on, "what might have happened then... The Weasleys are one of our most prominent pure-blood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and - killing Muggle-borns... Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from it. Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise..."
Mr. Malfoy forced himself to speak. "Very fortunate," he said stiffly. "that this time you again had Potter to save the day for you."
"Not just that, Lucius. Riddle was defeated by Simran girl, who is a muggleborn. Quite an irony, isn't it?", Dumbledore said. Mr. Malfoy had nothing but pure disgust in his face.
And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then punching himself in the head. Then suddenly Natasha understood what Dobby wanted to tell her. It was Mr. Malfoy who planted the diary in the first place! She remembered that, when the books had fallen from Ginny's cauldron, Mr. Malfoy somehow slipped the diary, with the hope that, the Ginny will use it. But somehow, Ron was the one who received it instead. She was fuming with anger, but she knew that, it was not the right thing to do. She nodded at Dobby, and Dobby backed into a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment.
"Don't you want to know how Ron got hold of that diary, Mr. Malfoy?" said Natasha.
Lucius Malfoy rounded on him. "How should I know how the stupid boy got hold of it?" he said.
"Because you gave it to him. At least indirectly. You wanted to give it to Ginny, didn't you?" said Natasha. "In Flourish and Blotts. You picked up her old Transfiguration book and slipped the diary inside it, didn't you?". She saw Mr. Malfoy's white hands clench and unclench.
"Prove it," he hissed.
"Oh, no one will be able to do that," said Dumbledore, smiling at Natasha. "Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any more of Lord Voldemort's old school things. If any more of them find their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you..."
Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and Natasha distinctly saw his right-hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand. Instead, he turned to his house-elf. "We're going, Dobby!". He wrenched open the door and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him right through it. Natasha felt really bad for Dobby, and she wanted to do something that would help him. Then Natasha remembered what Dobby had told about how the house elves are freed. Smiling to herself, she formulated a plan.
"Professor Dumbledore,", she said hurriedly. "Can I give that diary back to Mr. Malfoy, please?"
"Certainly, Natasha," said Dumbledore calmly. "But hurry. The feast, remember... Natasha grabbed the diary and dashed out of the office. He could hear Dobby's squeals of pain receding around the corner. Quickly, wondering if this plan could possibly work, Natasha took off one of his shoes, pulled off her slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it. Then she ran down the dark corridor. She knew that, if everything went according to what she thought, Dobby will be freed in no time.
She caught up with them at the top of the stairs. "Mr. Malfoy,", she gasped, skidding to a halt, "I've got something for you-". And she forced the smelly sock into Lucius Malfoy's hand.
"What the -?". Mr. Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously from the ruined book to Natasha. "You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Natasha Potter," he said softly. "They were meddlesome fools, too."
He turned to go. "Come, Dobby. I said, come.". But Dobby didn't move. He was holding up Natasha's disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure.
"Master has given a sock," said the elf in wonderment. "Master gave it to Dobby."
"What's that?" spat Mr. Malfoy. "What did you say?"
"Got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby - Dobby is free.". Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf Then he lunged at Natasha.
"You've lost me my servant, girl!", he shouted.
"Well, you were the one who threw the socks.", said Natasha shrugging.
Mr. Malfoy raised his hand and said, "Avada- ". But Dobby shouted, "You shall not harm Natasha Potter!". There was a loud bang, and Mr. Malfoy was thrown backward. He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below.
He got up, his face livid, and pulled out his wand again, but Dobby raised a long, threatening finger. "You shall go now," he said fiercely, pointing down at Mr. Malfoy. "You shall not touch Natasha Potter. You shall go now.". Lucius Malfoy had no choice. With a last, incensed stare at the pair of them, he swung his cloak around him and hurried out of sight.
"Natasha Potter Freed Dobby!" said the elf shrilly, gazing up at Natasha, moonlight from the nearest window reflected in his orb-like eyes. "Natasha Potter set Dobby free!"
"Least I could do, Dobby," said Natasha, grinning. "Just promise never to try and save my life again."
The elf's ugly brown face split suddenly into a wide, toothy smile.
"I've just got one question, Dobby," said Natasha as Dobby pulled on Natasha's sock with shaking hands. "You told me all this had nothing to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, remember? Well-"
"It was a clue, madam," said Dobby, his eyes widening, as though this was obvious. "Was giving you a clue. The Dark Lord, before he changed his name, could be freely named, you see?"
Natasha wanted to tell Dobby that, it was not a great clue at all, but decided against it, as the elf was in a happy mood and she didn't want to ruin that. "Right," said Natasha weakly. "Well, I'd better go. There's a feast, and my friend Hermione should be awake by now...". Dobby threw his arms around Natasha's middle and hugged her. "Natasha Potter is greater by far than Dobby knew!" he sobbed. "Farewell, Natasha Potter!". And with a final loud crack, Dobby disappeared.