Disclaimer: I do not own Dobby, Dumbledore or Snape...unfortunately , though I could use a houseelf. As usual, all characters are copyright by J.K Rowling, Warner Brothers etc. and no copyright infringement is intended, as this work is strictly non commercial.

Authors Note: I am really sorry if this story seemed to be abandonned. Real life got in my way of writing and my muse refused cooperation. I hope this will change for the better.

Chapter 5

The sun was already high, when Harry woke with a start.

This was neiter his room at the Dursleys, nor the cupboard under the stairs, where they occasionally locked him up...

And it was not the dormitory in Gryffindor tower either.

He sat up and groaned involuntarily.

A numb pain ran through his body, like it often did when Dudley and his friends had beaten him up, Uncle Vernon was in a bad mood or he had had too little time to finish too many chores.

Cautiously he touched his ribs, where he had had some particularly nasty bruises.

Nothing...the bruises were gone, only the pain was lingering and he had suffered worse... much worse.

What had happened?

He remembered Hedwig..Hedwig had brought a dead mouse into the house and Aunt Petunia had nearly stepped on it. Uncle Vernon had got mad, threatened to kill Hedwig and pushed him down the stairs... and then.. Snape... Snape of all people had come to take him away, owl and all.

Just as mean and sarcastic as ever he had apparated Harry, hedwig and his trunk... where?

He couldn't remember. Had not Snape tried to poison him? His head started to hurt, as he racked his brain for another memory. But everything that had happened after he fell down the stairs was just a vage blur. Just some pictures, a few sounds...

But he distinctly remembered Snape.

Carefully Harry put one foot on the floor, then the other. Eeverything around him seemed to turn upside down, as he resolutely pulled himself up, lost his balance, tried to get a hold and sent a small, shabby nightstand crashing.

Harry sank back onto the bed.

What would happen? Ife there was anybody around, this noise just couldnt go unnoticed...

and Harry was right.

The door opened and a familiar head with bulging eyes and laarge batlike eary peeked into the room.

Even without his glasses, Harry recognized this face.

„Dobby?" he exclaimed.

„Master Harry!"

The house-elf rushed up to him and hopped on the bed to give Harry a big hug.

„Master Harry is awake! Dobby is so happy!"

„It's ok, Dobby, I'm fine.. I think.. but what happened? Where am I? And what are You doing here?"

„Harry Potter is ill.. and Dobby helps to make him well again."

The house-elf smiled broadly.

More steps were sounding from outside and suddenly the door was pushed open.

„You!"

„Potter!"

The potions master stood in the doorway, wand in hand, looking slightly dishevveled, but regaining his composure in the instant.

„Me.. whom did You expect? The minister for magic?"

„Where am I? Did You kidnap me?"

„Master Snape, Sir..." the house-elds ears drooped dejectedly „Dobby could not explain.."

„What?"Harry stared at the minuscule elf.

„You are in on this?"

Snape crossed his arms.

„Obviously You are feeling better, Mr Potter.. so I suggest You take a shower and get back to bed. Dobby will bring You something to eat"

„The hell I will! Where's Dumbledore? Dobby.. please..tell the headmaster Snape kidnapped me.. he is not Your master... he cannot stop You"

Snape rolled his eyes.

„For Morganas sake, Potter, You are unnecessarily melodramatic. If I had wanted to kidnap You, I wouldnt have done so under the uncaring eyes of Your relatives and I certainly would not have brought You to my home.

Stop this racket and do as You are told.

Your glasses are over there on the desk, Have the kindness to put them on, unless You try to ruin even more of my furniture."

He cast a quick Reparo on the nighstand and turned to go.

„By the way Potter, I rather pride myself on the wards I have set up around my home, so do not try anything foolish."

„Miserable, greasy bastard" Harry muttered.

„I heard that Mr Potter..."

Harry watched the hated potionsmaster disappear down the corridor.

„Please Master Harry..."

Harry shot the elf an angry glance.

„You betrayed me!"

„No, no... Dobby loves Harry Potter, Dobby wants him to heal..."

„I am fine! I just want to get out of here!"

„No!" Dobby shook his head, ears flapping.

„Harry Potter is not fine. Dobby heard Madam Pomfrey and headmaster talking.. Harry Potter has bruises.. and broken bones... and he has a bad, very bad head...Dobby hears as they talk"

„Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore? Tthey know? But.. why am I here? By the way.. where is this?"

„This is the house of Professor Snape...and headmaster told Dobby to look after Harry Potter".

„Snapes? And Dumbledore knows?"

Dobby nodded.

„Please Harry Potter... bathroom is over there.. Dobby has been told to make sure Harry Potter doesnt overexert himself.."

„DOBBY! NO!" Harry yelled, as the elf pointed a long finger at him and he felt being levitated upwards.

„Dobby only does what is best for Harry Potter... Harry Potter is weak from illness.."

Waving frantically, Harry couldn't stop himself from being floated into tha bathroom, his pajamas being vanished and himself placed under the shower, where a big piece of soap instantly started to scrub him down.

„You miserable traitorous..." he spluttered.

„DOBBYYYYYY!!"

„Dobby only does what is best for Harry Potter."

Having been scrubbed, dried and dressed in fresh pajamas, Harry was finally set down on the floor.

„Dobby leaves Master Harry alone now for 5 minutes... The elf disapparated with a crack and Harry found himself alone.

„Traitor" he muttered.

The small room seemed old and worn, but was still meticulously clean. A window much too small to climb through let in some light.

„No escaping here.." Harry murmered.

Maybe there was another room. He tried the doorknob.

„Locked.. and I dont have my wand..."

Harry felt like throwing something against the wall, but there wasnt anything, except his own toothbrush and some towels.

„I might as well use waht little privacy I get, before that crazy elf turns up again.."

Some minutes later, he felt as if he had just finished one of Woods training sessions. Suddenly Dobby reappeared.

„Harry Potter ready?"

„Can' You at least knock? But I'm ready..yeah.."

Again, he was rising in the air and gently floated back into his small room onto the bed.

On the nighstand stood a tray from which mouthwatering smells rose.

„Dobby has prepared food..." The house-elf smiled.

There was a big bowl of chicken soup, bread rolls and a glass of pumpkin juice. It smelld delicious and Harry found himself unable to resist.

„Now Dobby" he began as he wolfed down the food."just tell, why am I here? Why in Snapes house?"

Dobby sighed.

„Dobby knows not all...but Harry Potter is not safe anymore.. and Professor Snape tells headmaster Harry Potter is hurt..and Madam Pomfrey says Harry Potter needs time to heal.. and Professor Snape very good healer and very good wizard...keeps Harry Potter safe.."

Harry groaned."Of all people..Snape...he is going to poison me or hex me into oblivion. Why can't I stay with Dumbledore?"

„Dobby does not know, Harry Potter, but Dobby knows Professor Snape promises to take good care of Harry Potter. Professor Snape is good wizard"

Harry shook his head.

„Ouch.. that hurt...

„Master Harry must be quiet and rest.. Dobby goes now and gets bread and butter pudding for Harry Potter" he beamed at Harry.

Harry lay back.

Dumbledore thought he wasnt safe anymore with the Dursleys. But stay with Snape? That prospect made summer with the Dursleys seem nearly bearable.

With the usual crack Dobby reappeared, balancing a large plate full of the most wondefull smelling bread and butter pudding Harry had ever seen.

„Professor Snape says to eat and then to take potion against pain and then to rest" Dobby explained.

„Tell Professor Snape he can go to hell" Harry muttered befor he started on the pudding.