Harry opened his eyes. It was now dark in the room and stars were twinkling in the sky outside. Harry slowly sat up and groped around for his glasses, not remembering ever taking them off. Everything was dark and blurry, making his search a bit more difficult.
Oh, where are they? Harry thought, annoyed. His hand finally wandered onto the table next to the bed and he felt the cool metal frame of his spectacles under his fingertips. Harry grabbed his glasses and put them back on, the room returning into focus, and he looked around, half-expecting Snape to be standing guard. Fortunately, Harry found himself very well alone.
He glanced down at himself. How had he ended up underneath the blankets? Harry remembered letting himself fall on the bed in the wrong direction but he had felt so exhausted that he had not cared; he had not slept remotely properly in three days, fearing the Death Eaters running freely in the castle; he had heard a few stories via the portraits of headmasters and headmistresses past. But he certainly did not pull the blankets over himself. Harry supposed he may have slept walked or something.
Getting out of bed, Harry decided to walk around a bit. It was late and Snape should be in bed. At least, that was what Harry hoped; he preferred to avoid Snape if he could. The Chosen One strode across the room and cracked open the door. The only source of light seemed to be the moonlight flooding from the windows. Needing to make sure that Snape was not going to walk in on him, Harry tiptoed over to the next room.
The master bedroom, as Harry and his Muggle heritage called it, had its door open. Harry crept inside and found Snape lying in bed, sleeping soundly. Harry approached him noiselessly and was surprised to see his former professor look so peaceful. Even during the time they were friends Snape had rarely put his guard down around Harry and anyone in general. The Chosen One had guessed that Snape did not want to do it again after exposing himself to Harry during the teen's second year at Hogwarts.
If Harry was unsporting, he would have taken advantage of Snape's defenseless state and make him pay dearly for his betrayal. But Harry supposed that ripping the pillow directly from underneath Snape's head would do even though it was an equally deadly thing to do. Harry did not dare to imagine what kind of fury would be sent his way.
A loud crack! was heard from downstairs, loud enough to wake the entire castle. Harry grew rigid with shock as Snape slowly shifted but, amazingly, did not wake up. Not believing his luck, Harry silently rushed out of the room. He paused outside the door. Should he go investigate the cause of the noise? It might be an incredibly stupid thing to do: a Death Eater could have just Apparated inside the office. Harry knew for a fact that Snape had removed the enchantment that prevented people from Apparating in and out of Hogwarts but since all Harry has ever done was Side-Along Apparation he had decided not to risk trying this mode of transportation by himself.
Harry's instincts were telling him to verify the commotion below so he crept toward the railing. He looked over it and saw a small creature dressed in an assortment of odd clothing placing a tray of sandwiches and pumpkin juice on the headmaster's desk. Harry squinted through the darkness and recognized the creature.
Dobby! Harry thought, happy to see a friendly face. He hastily made his way downstairs as quietly as possible.
"Dobby! What are you doing here?" Harry whispered, skidding to a halt in front of the house-elf.
"Harry Potter!" Dobby squeaked, hugging Harry hard around the middle. "Dobby is so very glad to see you safe, sir!"
"Define 'safe'," Harry mumbled as his friend released him. "Dobby, you shouldn't be here," he added in a clearer tone. "If Snape finds you here –"
"Oh, Headmaster Snape has ordered Dobby to bring food to Harry Potter," Dobby said, his eyes wide. "But Professor Dumbledore on the other hand has different instructions for Dobby."
"Instructions? What kind of instructions?" Harry asked, perplexed, as he cast a swift glance at Dumbledore's currently empty portrait. What was he up to now?
Lowering his voice, Dobby replied, "He told Dobby to do want he can to help Harry Potter in any way he needs but he must do this without Headmaster Snape's knowledge."
Harry smiled weakly. "Is there any way to get out of here?" he asked.
The house-elf shook his head. "No, sir. Not unless you Apparate, sir," Dobby said.
"That option will most likely get me splinched," Harry sighed. "I won't bother trying that."
"Is there anything Dobby can do for Harry Potter outside of Hogwarts?"
The question struck Harry. Of course, why had he not thought about that? He could use Dobby to reach out to Ron and Hermione! Harry felt a sliver of hope course through him.
"There is something you can do for me, Dobby," Harry said breathlessly.
"Anything, sir!" Dobby exclaimed, his high-pitched voice alarming Harry.
"First of all, keep your voice down! We don't want to wake up Snape. Second of all, can you find Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and deliver them a message?" he asked.
"Dobby would be honored, sir. What is the message?" Dobby replied eagerly.
"Tell them that I'm trapped inside Hogwarts and that they shouldn't use You-Know-Who's name since it has been bewitched into a sort of tracking device. They say the name, they will be found."
"Dobby will be sure to tell them! But can Harry Potter tell Dobby where he might find Mr Weasley and Miss Granger?"
"Try number twelve Grimmauld Place. If they're not there then God knows where they could be."
"Yes, sir! Dobby will be going now, Harry Potter, and he will return when he has found your friends!" And with that the house-elf vanished with another loud crack! and Harry was alone again.
He genuinely smiled for the first time in days. He now had something to finally look forward to. He just prayed that Ron and Hermione were at the location he had given Dobby.
The lights suddenly flickered on and Harry spun around. Standing at the top of the stairs dressed in a grey nightshirt was Snape, looking, as accustomed, surly. Harry swore under his breath at the sight of him.
"What," Snape drawled, "was all that noise?"
Harry did not answer. Snape's eyes them flitted over to the tray of food Harry had forgotten Dobby had brought.
"I see that that house-elf has brought you the food I have asked for," Snape said silkily.
"His name is Dobby," Harry said through clenched teeth.
"A matter of little importance," Snape sneered. "Eat up and get back to bed."
The former Potions master retreated upstairs, closing the light again. Harry, unable to ignore his growling stomach, ate in the moonlight.
One of these days, Harry thought bitterly as he chewed, your power will be lost, Snape, and your master will be equally gone.
Yay! Dobby's here! Who's happy to see him? I know I am.