Dobby and Quidditch
The next morning Harry woke up with Ron shaking him.
"Harry, wake up," Ron said in a hurried voice, "come on mate, wake up."
"What, Ron," an angry reply came from Harry, "why are you waking me up?"
"Mum says breakfast is ready," Ron answered, "she sent me up here five minutes ago."
"Just let me sleep, Ron, I'm not hungry."
"Dad is down there, says he has news about Sirius."
As soon as Harry heard this he jumped out of bed and quickly dressed and sprinted down the stairs, Ron followed closely on his heels. Harry turned the corner into the kitchen and was greeted by more people than just Mr. Weasley.
"Happy Birthday!" was shouted from everyone in the room. The surprise party worked, Harry was so shocked when he saw all his friends and heard their greeting he jumped and he slipped on the tile floor causing him to fall over backwards. Harry looked up at Ron from the floor and shot him a friendly glare that said, you are so dead. Ron laughed as he helped Harry to his feet.
"Happy Birthday, Harry," Ron said, "you ok?"
"Thanks Ron," Harry answered with a huge smile on his face, "yeah I'm ok, my heart finally started beating again. Mr. Weasley, Ron said you had some information for me?"
"Actually yes I do Harry," Mr. Weasley replied walking over to Harry, "Harry, due to a few factors most of which have recently come to light to the Ministry I have news about Sirius. As of this morning Sirius Black's name has been cleared of any wrong doing of your parents deaths, or in the deaths of Peter Pettigrew and the Muggles on the street. The letter you found from your Mum was what finally gave us all the proof we needed. Here is the formal documents for the case and also a full apology to Sirius for his wrongful imprisonment."
"Thank you Mr. Weasley," Harry took the documents from Mr. Weasley and wiped a tear out of his eye, "it just started but this is the best birthday I have ever had." Arthur led Harry to the chair at the head of the table and everyone sat down to breakfast. During breakfast Harry looked around at each of his friends at the table and was proud to know each one of them. Once all of them had their fill of food Mrs. Weasley led them all to the den.
"Ok, Harry dear, sit here," she said pointing to a chair in front of the fireplace, "its time for presents."
Harry then saw the pile of gifts that were waiting for him and he couldn't believe it. He took the one closest to him and saw that it was from and Professor McGonagall, he opened the box and found a new pair of dragon hide gloves that stretched all the way to his elbows and also a new pair of rain goggles for Quidditch.
"Thanks, Professor," Harry said as he turned to look at McGonagall. The next gift he opened was from Ron, it was a miniature Quidditch Pitch with fourteen tiny flying brooms, two tiny Bludgers, a tiny Quaffle, and an even smaller Golden Snitch. The set also came with fourteen tiny players that reminded Harry of the old used army men he used to play with when he was younger.
"We will definitely have to set this up later Ron," Harry actually wanted to set it up right now but knew that everyone was anxious for him to open their gifts. He spent the better part of the next half hour opening gifts, Hermione had got him the book Aurors: Past, Present, and Future, Ginny got him a five memory Pensieve with a note attached For memories you don't want Snape to see during Occlumency, Ginny. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley got him a new book bag, some quills, and new inkpots, Hagrid got him a harness and saddle that could be attached to Buckbeak. When Harry was finished opening his gifts he thanked everyone and they all began heading for the door out of the den.
"Harry," Professor Dumbledore spoke before anyone left the room, "I have a couple more gifts for you."
"Professor, really you don't have to," Harry protested, "I have been given plenty."
"Just this one gift," Dumbledore sounded like he would be hurt if Harry declined.
"Ok Professor," Harry smiled as he walked over to Dumbledore.
"You may enter now," as Dumbledore finished his sentence Harry heard two pops behind him. Harry turned around to see Dobby and Winky standing behind him. They each bowed low to Harry.
"Hello, Harry Potter, sir," came Dobby's squeaky voice, "Winky and myself are looking very much forward to serving you here, Harry Potter."
"Serving me, here? I don't understand, Professor," Harry asked turning back to Dumbledore.
"Well, Harry," Dumbledore began, "Winky was never happy at Hogwarts and Dobby would do anything for you, so I figured you were in need of a house-elf and these two both volunteered to come serve you here. So, Happy Birthday."
"I see," Harry said in disbelief, "thanks. Now what?"
"Harry Potter, sir, you must set rules," Dobby squeaked, "Dobby and Winky have to know masters rules.
Harry could sense Hermione's eyes burning a hole through him and he thought about S.P.E.W.
"Well rule one, please don't call me Master, call me Harry or if you must insist on formalities Mr. Potter, the second rule is that neither of you are to leave the house unless with my approval." Harry knew this rule would earn him a stern lecture from Hermione on the fair treatment of house-elves but knew it was needed for the Order. "As for the rest of the rules, unless I specifically tell you otherwise, all other house-elf rules apply. Dobby can I have a word with you over here please?"
"Of course, sir," Dobby replied, "how can I help you, Mr. Potter?"
Harry led Dobby out of Winky's hearing range next to Hermione, "Dobby does Winky still feel insulted with the thought of receiving pay for work?"
"Oh yes sir," Dobby answered nodding his head vigorously, "she will never accept payment."
"Thanks, Dobby," Harry sighed a breathe of relief that he didn't mention this in front of Winky, "Ok how does five Knuts sound for your weekly pay, Dobby?
"That is most agreeable Mr. Potter, sir," Dobby smiled, "thank you sir, you are most generous.
Harry looked at Hermione expecting her to be scowling at him but she actually was smiling. They then left the den and went to Harry and Ron's bedroom.
"Thank you for the way you handled Dobby and Winky," Hermione said as soon as the door was closed, "Harry, you really showed respect to me and my efforts of S.P.E.W., and you showed respect to them as well."
"Don't mention it," Harry said glad that he had handled it correctly, "thank all of you for my gifts, they are great. I'm so glad I have friends like you." Harry set his new Quidditch set on the table and opened the box, he and Ron both began to grin from ear to ear as they laid the Pitch out on the table. Ginny attached the goal posts on to the Pitch while Hermione read the instructions out load insisting that Harry and Ron were going about trying to get their players to mount their brooms all wrong.
"Honestly you two," an annoyed Hermione began speaking, "why would the red team be using white brooms while the white team is using red brooms? Switch them around and they will mount their brooms." Harry and Ron thought better of trying to argue with Hermione that it simply wouldn't matter, but as soon as they traded brooms the players mounted the brooms and kicked of from the Pitch. Fourteen tiny players circled the center of the Pitch waiting for Harry to release the balls from the trunk.
"Ok everyone," Harry spoke to the players, "on three. One, two, three." The four tiny Quidditch balls took flight and the game began. Ron and Hermione began cheering on the white team as Harry and Ginny cheered on the red team. The red Captain and Chaser got the Quaffle and proceeded across the Pitch towards his goal.
"Come on number five!" Ron shouted, "Stop him, Beaters, get him. Ok its up to you Keeper! No, you got to get that! Don't leave your center ring like that."
"Sorry coach," the tiny Keeper said, "I'll try to do better." A magical scoreboard appeared above the Pitch and read Red 10 White 00. Harry and Ron spent the next hour coaching their players and noticed that the tiny players really did get better the more they were coached.
"Look," Ginny cried out, "the Seekers are after the Snitch."
They were neck and neck zooming around the Pitch elbowing each other trying to get the upper hand. The four humans could barely see the little Golden Snitch but they watched as the two Seekers climbed straight up into the air. They got near the ceiling when they finally turned sharply to the left and then back to the right, the move proved too much for Harry's Seeker and he slipped off of his broom. Ron's Seeker was able to quickly catch the Snitch without having to deal with his counterpart. Harry caught his Seeker in midair while Ginny retrieved the tiny broom.
"Whew!" the tiny Seeker exclaimed, "good hands coach! Thanks a million."
"Anytime," Harry laughed, "it looks like we are going to have to work on your flying a bit though."
"Ok coach," the Seeker hung his head, "sorry we lost."
"No worries, mate," Harry said knowing how the Seeker felt, "we can't win them all. We will get them next time." At this the Seeker lifted his head and joined the rest of the team who all patted him on the back in a consoling way. It had been a close match, the final score was White 430 to Red 280. The difference was the Snitch, Harry knew that this set was going to get plenty of use.
"You two will have to get your own teams," Harry said to Hermione and Ginny, "then we could have our own Quidditch House Cup Tournaments."
"Hey," Ron added, "that's a great idea Harry. They have them in Hogsmeade we can get them on a trip there this year."
"I don't know," Hermione sounded a little hurt, "I don't know nearly as much as you lot about Quidditch. I don't think I would have much fun losing all the time."
"It wont be that bad Hermione," Ginny spoke before the boys could, "I'll help you learn." Hermione smiled, she was glad that she wouldn't be left out of this, truth was she actually had a great time playing this game. The group went downstairs to set up the dinning room table for dinner and heard Arthur speaking to Molly.
"I don't know how it happened Molly," came Arthur's voice, "but she escaped."