Round 1 for QLFC season 10
Team: Montrose Magpies
Position: Keeper
Prompt: A horseshoe – Write about someone running out of luck.
Word Count: 1058
Warning: Character Death, Mentions of torture and injury
It was dark in the tunnel, the path slanting upwards. He had been walking for ten minutes now but could not see the light. It always took him longer than the others to cross the tunnel, his feet covering much less space. But he was walking faster today as he had an important task to complete and he always finished his work, no matter what. He could have used other ways to reach there, but that would be too noisy, better to walk through the darkness.
Only a little way to go now, he thought, and then he would be there. He could see the end, and sped up a little more, pushing open the door with his hands. The room was dimly lit, a man with a long white beard standing near the table.
"Dobby has come to deliver news sir, Mr. Dumbledore sir." Dobby said while jumping into the room.
Aberforth Dumbledore turned around and grunted. "My brother was called Dumbledore elf. Not me. Now, what is this news, let's hear it."
"Neville Longbottom and his friends have rescued a small boy from torture sir, yes they have. But they are injured sir. And Dobby has been asked to help bring food for them." Dobby was happy to help Neville Longbottom as he was Harry Potter's friend. Dobby would always help Harry Potter and his friends.
"Ah…Those death eaters have started beating up little kids now. Take whatever you need from the kitchen Dobby."
Dobby knew the way to the kitchen as he had helped Mr. Dumbledore many times before. He turned to go but paused when he saw something on the wall.
"Why does Mr. Dumbledore sir has a horseshoe on the wall sir. Dobby has never seen it hanging like this."
"Oh this, ahh… a hag sold me this. The muggles believe that it brings luck. Never believed in these superstitions much, and we do have potions for these sort of things. But it wouldn't hurt. And we could all use a little luck on our sides these days."
Aberforth Dumbledore was staring out the window while explaining. His voice turning softer with each word. Dobby looked as well. It was dark outside. It was always dark these days, Dobby thought, and it was sad out there too. But Dobby did not feel sad. As he believed that everything will be right in the end.
"Dobby feels that Dobby has been very lucky sir. Very lucky indeed as Dobby had cruel masters before Harry Potter freed Dobby. And now Dobby has friends and Dobby can do as Dobby likes. Harry Potter and his friends will save us all sir. Dobby believes that."
Aberforth Dumbledore did not answer but he looked at Dobby with those eyes and then went to the fireplace and picked up a mirror. Dobby hurried towards the kitchen and started gathering food for his friends. Dobby heard some noises from the other room and Mr. Dumbledore started cursing. Dobby ran to see what had happened and saw that Mr. Dumbledore was talking to himself.
"They have gotten themselves into a mess. Stupid kids, should have gone into hiding." Aberforth turned and saw Dobby in the room.
"Dobby, Harry Potter and his friends are in trouble and we must help them. Can you do that?" Aberforth walked towards Dobby and crouched down.
"Dobby will always Harry Potter sir. As Dobby is his friend and Dobby must protect Harry Potter and his friends."
"They are in the cellar of the Malfoy Manor. You know it, don't you?"
Dobby froze. Harry Potter and his friends were trapped in Dobby's old masters home. Dobby suddenly remembered all the times that Dobby had been punished in that cellar. Left in the dark without food and water for days at a time. Dobby's old masters would order him to remain in the cellar and then forget about him. Dobby feared that if he went back he would not be able to come back.
But it was Harry Potter who had given Dobby his freedom. Harry Potter had helped Dobby when no one else had. And Dobby owed Harry Potter his life. Dobby had believed that Harry Potter would save the world and Dobby stood by his beliefs. After all Dobby had been very lucky to find such a good friend in Harry Potter. And he knew that Harry Potter would protect Dobby. But Harry Potter was in trouble and only Dobby could help him. So Dobby would let go of his fear and rescue Harry Potter and his friends.
So lucky, so very very lucky.
Dobby had been so lucky that the chandelier he dropped had not injured Ms. Granger and the Goblin. She had been screaming when Dobby came back to take them. Dobby faced his old mistress now with years of hatred and fear standing between them. But the only thing Dobby could think of was to help his friends. But Dobby could not go without saying this.
"Dobby has no master!" He tried to shout around the fear in his throat. "Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!"
Dobby shouted and reached for Harry Potter's hands. Dobby had grabbed everyone and disapparated for the beach house when Dobby felt something struck him. Dobby landed on his feet, miraculously, and looked down. Dobby could see the blood. Such tiny drops, as if Dobby had nothing in his veins.
Dobby swayed as he looked up. Dobby could see Harry Potter coming to him. And Harry Potter took Dobby in his arms as Dobby fell. Dobby could see the stars and the sky and it was beautiful. But most of all Dobby could see Harry Potter, Dobby's friend. It seemed that Dobby's luck had finally ran out. But Dobby was not sad. As Dobby was with his friends and Dobby had saved them. Dobby could take this with him. Dobby knew that the life that was given to him had been precious. Dobby would miss his friends, and Harry Potter. And Dobby would miss Winky.
Dobby tried to tell Harry Potter all this. That Dobby was happy.
"Harry…Potter…" Dobby tried to say. But as luck would have it, Dobby could not. And Dobby stared at his friends and the sky and the stars, and Dobby felt free again.