Chapter 4 - The House Elf and the Flying Car (2nd Year)

"One more sound and you'll wish you had never been born, boy!"

Harry's Uncle Vernon stomped flat-flooted from the room.

Shaking, Harry let Dobby out from the closet.

"See what's it's like here," he said. "See why I have to go back to Hogwarts? It's the only place I have – well, I think I've got friends."

"Friends that don't even write to Harry Potter?" said Dobby slyly.

"I expect they've been – wait a minute," said Harry, frowning. "How do you know my friends haven't been writing me?"

Dobby shuffled his feet.

"Harry Potter mustn't be angry at Dobby. Dobby did it for the best-"

"Have you been stopping my letters?"

"Dobby has them right here." Pulling away from Harry's reach, the house elf pulled thick wad of pictures from the inside of the pillowcase he had been wearing. (Ch. 2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

Instead of demanding his letters, Dobby watched as Harry Potter sank down to his lumpy mattress and began crying. Dobby felt so bad that the great and wonderful Harry Potter was hurting like this. Dobby felt like bashing his head into the wall but that would not explain why Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts.

Harry finally pulled himself together and wiped away his tears as he sat up. "Dobby, my so-called family beats and yells at me every day. The only hope I had of getting through this summer was writing to and from my friends and getting back to school."

Hanging his head Dobby replied with a great deal of emotion in his voice. "Dobby's master and his family do the same to Dobby too."

Harry looked up shocked. "Do you like that Dobby?"

"House elves are treated as house elves. That is our place in life. Some masters are kind and some masters are like mine."

"Do you not have any elf friends Dobby?"

Dobby shook his head so fast that his ears flapped like bat wings taking off.

"May I be your friend Dobby?"

Dobby did start crying at that point. "The great and wonderful wizard Harry Potter asks, asks little house elf Dobby to be his friend? That is too much to believe in Harry sir."

"You can just call me Harry Dobby. You can come and talk to me anytime you can get away from your master and his family."

Dobby fell to his knees sobbing in relief and gratitude. Harry was very careful about patting the little house elf on the shoulder and helping him stand up.

"Dobby, may I talk to you directly as a friend and tell what I'm feeling and thinking?

"It.. it would be a great honor and privilege Harry Potter sir if one so powerful as the powerful wizard would talk so to lowly Dobby, a house elf."

"I miss all my other friends Dobby. Not getting their letters only makes me want to see them more. Can you understand that I need to go back to Hogwarts and have my friends around me? They would help and protect me like you've tried to do."

"Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts" the house elf repeated sadly.

"But Dobby there are special wards and other types of protection at Hogwarts. And the greatest wizard in the world, Dumbledore, is sworn to protect all the students. Even me."

"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever had. Dobby knows it sir. Dobby has heard Dumbledore's powers rival those of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named at the height of his strength. But, sir" – Dobby's voice dropped to an urgent whisper –"there are powers Dumbledore doesn't…powers no decent wizard…"

Harry nodded in understanding. "I already know about how the evilness came be used. I saw it and fought it last year."

Now it was Dobby's turn to be stunned. "You fought…"

"An evil man who was possessed by Vol… err, You-Know-Who!"

"Harry Potter is a great wizard indeed then." Dobby appeared confused about the warning he had been directing at the seemingly small wizard.

"Have you read the letter from my friends Dobby?"

"No, Mister Wheezy's and Miss Grainey's words are for Harry Potter alone. Dobby is no snooper."

Harry smiled in spite of himself. Not matter how he had interfered with his mail, Harry sort of liked the strange house elf. Of course, Harry had never met any house elves so as far as he knew they might all be odd.

"Dobby, I will think about your warning and consider not going back to school."

Harry was surprised at the sheer speed of the little person. Dobby had wrapped himself in a hug around Harry's legs almost before Harry had finished speaking. "It's okay Dobby. I haven't made up my mind yet. I just said I would consider it."

"Dobby will stop Harry Potter from going back to Hogwarts."

"I wish I could tell my friends why I wouldn't return."

"Dobby could tell Harry Potter's Wheezy and Graingey for him."

"It's just not the same as talking to them myself. Dobby do you know where Ron and Hermione live?"

Dobby nodded but then Harry slumped over. "I can't do it. I can't ask a favor of you. You've done enough for me already by warning me that there is danger for me if I go back to Hogwarts."

"What does the great wizard Harry sir want?"

"I could be happy if I could go see my friends. But Dumbledore doesn't want me to leave this house as I'm protected here."

"Dobby could bring your friends here."

"Would you do that for me? I really do miss the both of them. I promise I won't talk to them long but I really need to see them."

Dobby nodded but then spoke. "Harry Potter must make his friends promise to never tell anyone about what Dobby says."

Harry agreed. Dobby took a look around and then snapped his fingers. He disappeared with a small pop and then was back three seconds later with a tall red-haired boy.

"Ron!"

"Hrmpy?" Of course Ron had been in the middle of eating an apple but he dropped it on the floor when he saw what was around him.

"Whrrtym - Where am I? I was eating in my room and then poof – I'm somewhere else. And you're here too."

Harry rushed over and stopped himself from hugging his friend. (Blokes never did that to one another after all.)

"This is my bedroom Ron. Such as it is."

Ron looked around curiously. "This is how muggles live? This looks bad Harry. But how did I get here?"

Harry grabbed Ron by the arm and turned him gently around. "My new friend Dobby brought you. But you have to make a promise you won't tell anyone about him."

Ron was nodding but stopped short when he saw Dobby. "You - you have a house elf? Why haven't you written me or Hermione back all summer? What's been going on?"

"I don't have a house elf; I have a new friend. Calm down Ron and I will tell you. But you have to give me a wizard's oath you won't tell anyone – not even your parents."

"Is it about You-Know-Who?"

"Maybe; I'm not really sure. But the oath first or Dobby will take you right back to the Burrow."

Ron was confused but knew enough about Wizard's Oaths from the twins to make one to Harry promising he would never tell anyone else what Harry was going to tell him.

When Ron's wand glowed, Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Harry sat Ron down in his only chair, the one with one leg two inches shorter than the others, and explained how his summer had gone and what Dobby had told him about. And the warning! Harry grabbed Ron from attacking the house elf to get more information out of him.

"Ron. Stop. He came here out of his own concern to tell me that there may be a danger for me going back to Hogwarts."

"Just tell Dumbledore!"

Harry looked at Dobby and then shook his head. "I can't; it might come out and then Dobby might be in real danger if it got back to his master."

"So you're really not going back then?"

"I don't know. I don't want to go through what we went through last year all over again. Or worse!"

"Something like being killed or expelled?" Harry chuckled even as Dobby jumped up from the bed in surprise.

"I have to think about it Ron but you deserved an explanation either way."

"Harry Potter's friend Wheezy must go home now. Remember your promise; do not tell anyone you have talked about."

"Okay Harry, I'll-" Whatever Ron had been about to say stopped as he and Dobby disappeared.

Harry sat down in the chair and thought. What was he going to do? How could he not go back to Hogwarts?

There was another pop and Harry jumped up from his seat to ask Dobby another question. But Dobby had not come back alone. He had brought back Hermione. Harry's joy of seeing her was suddenly replaced with shock and a lot of embarrassment. He spun around quickly to face the wall as Hermione sputtered…. and dripped. It was kind of obvious that the young witch had been swimming somewhere when Dobby had transported her. She was wearing a swimsuit. A bright yellow swimsuit, a two piece bright yellow swimsuit!

"Harry? Harry is this YOUR room? How did I get here?"

Harry grabbed the threadbare blanket off his bed and closed his eyes before he turned around.

"Harry?"

"Hermione, you're… you're not…" Harry extended his hand out holding the blanket. He felt the thin blanket plucked from his hand and kept his eyes closed until he was given permission to open them. Harry peaked out slowly and was relieved to see that Hermione had wrapped herself up and was sitting in the chair Ron had just vacated a few minutes before.

"Before you go raising your voice Hermione, you have to be quiet. Uncle Vernon is looking for any excuse to come up here and… and punish me for disrupting his meeting with a very important client."

"They punish you?!"

"Shhh!" Harry could barely stop himself from clapping a hand over Hermione's mouth. What he ended up doing was coming to sit right at her feet and trying to explain. And hope his red face wouldn't give away he saw that the blanket had shifted a bit and exposed a bit of Hermione's previously unseen calves.

It took about five minutes for Harry to calm the witch down and start the tale he had told Ron. She had looked at Dobby strangely but he would not answer any of the questions she had for him. Hermione stopped Harry at one point and protested she couldn't give a wizard's oath as she didn't have a wand. They both looked over to the house elf. Dobby stared at both of them and then snapped his fingers again.

Both Harry's and Hermione's wands appeared in their hands and Harry was very glad to get his wand back. His Uncle Vernon had locked all of his school stuff up in the cupboard under the stairs when he had got home at the beginning of summer.

Hermione had stood up and Harry had to look away as she made her oath; the blanket had fallen from her shoulders and Harry just couldn't look at the exposed skin. She gave a little ''Hrrumph boys" at him when she replaced the blanket around her shoulders and went to go sit on Harry's bed. She sat down, frowned at the mattress and then patted the space beside her. "I'm not going to bite you for Merlin's sake. Tell me what's going on."

Harry reluctantly sat down beside Hermione and stared at the wall as he repeated how his summer had gone, why he hadn't been able to write her back and what Dobby had told him.

Hermione's anxiety had risen the longer she had listened to Harry and she began chewing on her lower lip. Harry knew that meant she was thinking and thinking hard.

"We must tell…"

"Can't!"

"But Harry, you can't not go back to school."

"You know what happened last year; Dobby says something else will happen this year."

"That's so wrong. You shouldn't be a target again Harry."

Harry suddenly thought of another question to ask his new short friend. "Dobby, am I the only target for this danger that is coming?"

Dobby shook his head no.

"Oh wonderful. Can you tell me who else is in danger?"

Dobby again responded negatively and Harry placed his arm on Hermione's to stop her from rounding on the house elf. "It's okay Hermione; he simply can't betray his master. It may cause him to die or something."

"That's barbaric!"

"And so's his master" Harry said quietly. Hermione smiled at the care Harry had for this being that had barged into his life so abruptly.

"Anyway Dobby agreed I could tell you what happened and why I might not come back to school."

"But… Harry…"

"As much as I like seeing and talking to you I think it's time for you to go home Hermione. You don't your parents to discover you've been missing."

"You're right Harry."

"One for my side then" Harry said a little sadly.

"I guess I'm ready to go home now Dobby." Hermione stood up as Dobby walked over to stand at Harry's bedside. Hermione rose and then dragged Harry to his feet. "I'm going to miss you."

"It'll be okay Hermione. Things will work out eventually."

Hermione bit her lip and Harry was surprised what she did next. She shrugged off the blanket and grabbed Harry in a big hug. Harry was speechless; a half-naked girl was hugging him! And he sort of like it coming from Hermione even if it was totally unexpected.

"I'll think about this every day Harry. There must be something we can do."

Harry nodded. He didn't know what to say back to her.

"What's your aunt and uncle's phone number?"

Harry was too surprised at the question not to give her the information. Hermione squeezed him once again and then let him go.

"You won't stop me from talking to Harry will you Dobby?" Hermione was very quiet and sincere as she addressed the house elf. Dobby just silently shook his head again. "Dobby will trust you like Harry Potter trusts you to keep the secret."

Harry felt a little bit of hope come back into his life. He thought Hermione could figure this out.

The young witch stepped away from the bed and held out her hand for the house elf. She looked up and smiled shyly at Harry. "I'm glad it was you instead of Ron that saw me in my swimsuit Harry. I'll call you soon."

The two disappear and Harry sat down totally gobsmacked by the afternoon's events and what Hermione had just said to him. And how she looked!

Xxxx xxx

The letter from the Improper Use of Magic office had really set Harry's Uncle Vernon off. He swore Harry wouldn't return to Hogwarts and even had iron bars fastened across his window to keep Harry from escaping that way, Harry had been surprised and relieved when he found out that Dobby had moved his trunk from the locked cupboard under the stairs to the closet in Dudley's second bedroom. Harry at least could read a little as he was locked in.

Harry was surprised when his aunt let him out of his locked room the next day to answer the telephone saying he had received a call. Dudley was shocked that Harry even knew a girl and made many snide and rude remarks while Harry was conversing with Hermione. He really couldn't say a lot as he was being watched and listened to very intently. He hoped Hermione understood his part of the conversation as he whispered that his relatives were right there beside him. Harry could only spend a few minutes on the phone before Aunt Petunia ripped it out of his hand and told his friend not to call again. Harry was very upset and lonely when he was locked back in his room again.

It was three days later that something truly miraculous and magical had happened. The decision of going back to Hogwarts or not was answered by a flying car of all things! The twins and Ron had appeared outside his window in the old Ford Anglia and rescued him by pulling the bars off the window and getting him, his trunk and Hedwig away from 4 Privet Drive for the rest of the summer.

They had flown Harry to another incredible place – The Burrow. The slightly oddly constructed home of the Weasley family. Harry had been more than glad to get to know the Weasley family – even the shy and slightly odd Ginny who was extremely nervous or star-struck around him.

Harry had an adventure filled day shopping for his new school books as he mis-flooed to a really awful second-hand dark wizarding junk shop in Knockturn Alley where he heard some very interesting things said by Draco Malfoy and his father. Luckily he ran into Hagrid who escorted him back to the nearby Diagon Alley where he reconnected with the Weasleys. Then there came the embarrassment of being pulled out of line by a famous and fame-seeking Gilderoy Lockhart who was to be their new Defense teacher. Harry wanted none of the limelight but had his picture taken anyway with the author and world-renowned wizard for the front page of the Daily Prophet.

Which had immediately changed into another confrontation with Draco Malfoy who was only slightly more insulting to Harry and the Weasleys than his father Lucius had been. Everyone made their way back to the Burrow where Harry had enjoyed a few more days as a guest and observer of a loving magical family.

That had led to this morning's trip to King's Cross in the same small magical car. Mr. Weasley had explained to Harry that there were special expansion charms on the boot and the back seat for everyone to put their trunks and themselves into the car. Because of numerous delays in leaving they had only arrived at Kings Cross with a few minutes to spare to catch the Express. Everyone else had run through the magical barrier to get to Platform 9¾ before Harry and Ron. They tried to get through but the portal but it suddenly turned back into a brick wall as they got there. They crashed their trolleys (rather spectacularly) and spilled their trunks and other belongings all over the floor and creating a scene that all the muggles around them noticed.

Harry and Ron quickly gathered up their things even as the clock on the wall counted down the seconds until 11 AM. Then both boys realized that the Hogwarts Express had left without them. And Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were nowhere in sight and both had no idea what they were supposed to do now

Ron pressed his ear to the cold barrier.

"Can't hear a thing" he said tensely. "What're we going to do? I don't know how long it will take Mum and Dad to get back to us."

They looked around. People were still watching them, mostly because of Hedwig's continuing screeches.

"I think we ought to go and wait by the car" Harry said. "We're attracting too much atten-"

"Harry!" Ron said, his eyes gleaming. "The car!"

"What about it?"

"We can fly the car to Hogwarts!" (Ch. 5, CoS)

"Ron, No!"

"Why? I've watched Dad and the twins drive and Dad explained to me how the car works. We could just follow the train."

"Ron – do you even have the key?"

"What key?"

"The key. The key to the car."

"We need a key?"

Harry dropped his head. This was going to be a difficult explanation. Ron was convinced they could take the car all the way to Scotland by following the Hogwarts Express. Harry had felt lucky that the battered old Anglia had held together long enough to get to King's Cross.

"Ron, do you remember when the twins and you rescued me?"

"Just like yesterday."

"What did Mrs. Weasley do when we all came back to the Burrow?"

"Uh-oh. That wasn't good was it?"

"And what do you think you're Mum and Dad will do when they find the car gone? Along with us?"

"Bad. But we're in trouble, we're going to miss the Welcoming Feast. We might get expelled!"

"We might be in trouble with the Headmaster but this probably has happened before. Don't you think?"

"Maybe."

"So if we 'borrow' the car we might be in trouble with the headmaster AND your parents?"

Ron's face fell. "That would be very, very, very bad."

"All we can do is explain what happened to your Mum and Dad. That the entranceway closed up. Somebody else must have noticed."

"But Harry…"

"Ron, we could get lost. Doesn't the train have some sort of spell to keep anyone from seeing it when it's moving?"

"I never thought of that Harry. We're doomed!"

Harry laughed. "We may be in trouble but I hardly think we're doomed. Let's go back to the car and wait. Your Mum and Dad may already be there."

"Ack. What if they've left too?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "They haven't come this way. Let's go back to the car with our trolleys."

The two boys pushed their trolleys back outside and waited near the car. Luckily, Harry had calmed Hedwig down by this time and they weren't nearly as noticeable for the muggles around them.

It was ten minutes later when Harry and Ron saw his parents rush out of the station.

"Why are you here?" Mrs. Weasley asked them when she got close.

"Mum it was… Mrs Weasley we couldn't…"

Mr. Weasley held up his hand. "One at a time, one at a time. Ron?"

"The portal closed up and we couldn't get through."

"We ran right into the bricks and dumped our stuff all over everywhere" Harry said. "The train left and we couldn't get though."

"Okay, okay. We believe you. We couldn't get back out either to check on you."

Both Harry and Ron breathed a sigh of relief. All they had to do now was get to Hogwarts. Somehow.

"Are we in trouble Mr. Weasley?"

"I'm not sure Harry. I think we should leave that decision up to the headmaster. He'll decide after he listens to your story. Molly?"

"Yes Arthur?"

"The Leaky Cauldron?"

"That would probably be the easiest. Okay boys, load your things back in the car again."

The two boys rushed to comply with Ron's mother and were soon sitting in the back seat by themselves as the Anglia left the train station.

"So where are we going exactly?" Harry asked.

"We going to the Leaky Cauldron. If I can remember how to get there. Driving is so much different than walking."

Mrs. Weasley turned in her seat to face the boys. "We'll use their floo to go to Hogsmeade and then walk up to the castle."

"Oh, that seems so simple when you say it like that."

"Always try not to panic Ron, Harry if you're in a strange and difficult situation. It could keep you from making a fatal mistake."

Ron mouthed 'fatal?' at Harry and both boy's eyes grew wide at the implication.

"Are you coming too Mr. Weasley?"

"I might as well. I can talk to Dumbledore while you two and Molly try to find McGonagall."

"There's a scary thought by itself" Ron muttered.

Harry smiled. He'd much rather face his Head of House and the Headmaster any day instead of taking a chance on something Mr. Weasley had fixed up. Harry's grin faded as he suddenly thought of using the floo again

'Oh no! Here we go again' Harry thought as he suddenly saw the sign for The Leaky Cauldron ahead.