Chapter 7:

Dudley followed Betsy out of the room and down what seemed like endless hallways, almost all of which were covered in paintings of regal looking people. Some of the canvased people looked to have been painted in libraries, others in throne like chairs, and others still in front of a huge manor house. Dudley found it hard to keep up with the little creature he was to be following as he weighed quite a bit more than her and walked slowly to ease the pains in his knees he had started to develop over the last semester. She on the other hand seemed to bounce along more than walk, and reminded Dudley of a cartoon skit he had seen once about a young kid that had eaten too much sugar.

After what felt like forever to Dudley they crossed a doorway into what must have been the biggest dining room imaginable outside the Queen's Palace. He stopped stalk still in the doorway as he looked around. The walls were half wood panelling and half a crème colour wall paper with gold inlay. Two walls each held a stone fireplace, sized to heat the gigantic room. The floors were carpeted a dark red with a light gold pattern, but what really shocked Dudley besides the size of the room was the size of the table. If Dudley noticed vaguely that it was made of a rich, heavy wood and was finished with a darker finished, but what had is attention was that It had enough seating for eight people on each side and two chairs at each end that looked like thrones. All together it could fit 20 people. Betsy had stopped moving as soon as she noticed Dudley had and had waited quietly as she gave him time to take in the formal dining room.

"This be being the formal dining room Mr. Dursley." She stated, "We not be stopping here but going through to the family dining room." And with the she continued through the room to its back were another doorway lay. Dudley followed her, his mouth agape.

Once in the family dining room Betsy walked over to the much smaller table and clicked her fingers. Upon the table a tea setting appeared, complete with boiling water, milk, sugar and utensils. Beside which a platter of different cookies appeared. Betsy happily clapped her fingers to get Dudley's attention.

Dudley got a hold of himself and walked over and sat down at the table. While Betsy poured him a cup of tea without needing to ask how he liked it, he took the time to take in this new room. It was drastically smaller than the one previous but still much bigger than his parent's houses dining room. It had a table that comfortably seated six people, and was made of a lighter wood. The walls of this room were the same in that the bottom half was wood panelling but the space above it was painted a red colour that was neither too dark nor to light. The wood panelling was much lighter than the other rooms. It look more like an oak finish. The floors in this room weren't carpeted but instead wood flooring. There was only one chandelier in this room but it was well lite. It was a very comfortable room Dudley thought surprised, and it felt rather homey. It didn't look or feel sanitized like the dining room and kitchen at home he realized.

Betsy had finished serving the tea and seating herself and decide to take the initiative in this conversation. She gave Dudley a few moments to take in the room before starting.

"Mister Dursley, you be having questions I know. I can be answer them now if I can."

Dudley stopped looking around and focused on the creature in front of him and across the table. She barely made it a head above the table due to her short stature but she didn't seem to mind, and Dudley didn't want to insult her by suggesting a cushion to be higher. As if she heard his thought she clicked her fingers and suddenly seemed to be sitting taller. Not knowing where to start with his questions and uncomfortable with his previous thought about mind reading, he asked the first one to come to mind. "Where are we?"

"We be being in the family dining room of Potter Estate in Scotland." She said matter of factually. Dudley watched her as she grabbed a sugar cookie and proceeded to dunk it quickly into her tea before pulling it out just as quickly. She then took a bite out of it and made a pleased sound.

"Haves a cookie Mr. Dursley," She said pointing at the platter after swallowing and grabbing another herself. "I loves cookies!" She stated enthusiastically.

Dudley reached out and grabbed a random cookie, for once not really interested in eating, took a bite and waited for more information to come but realized after a second or two it wasn't.

He swallowed, placed his cup and cookie down and asked nervously "Will Harry be okay?"

"Yes, Master be being okay in a week or two. He has been sick long time. Head banged-ed too much and then sickness gots into his lungs." She said this sadly but then perked up and said, "But potions be making him all better soon!" and happily munched on another cookie.

"Can you tell me who saved him now?" He asked somewhat desperately.

"You saved him Mr. Dursley," a gravelly voice replied from behind Dudley.

With a yelp followed by a crash Dudley fell sideways off his chair.

"One shouldn't try and jump before moving off their chair," the voice noted out loud with amusement.

Dudley still sitting on the floor looked up at the creature that had somehow gotten behind him without him noticing. He was taller than Betsy but obviously of the same species. He had a very stern looking face in comparison to Betsy's child-like one and his voice was much deeper. Dudley assumed he was male based on the depth of his voice and the fact he was wearing a pair of black trousers and a purple shirt whereas Betsy wore something resembling a pillowcase dress. His hair was much grey also and longer as well, which came to about his shoulder length. After taking this in Dudley asked, "Who are you?"

"I am the Head Potter Elf Mister Dursley, and my name is Dougsby."

Dudley nodded his head. He had understood his name and that's what he had been asking, but what was a Head Elf. 'Wait. Elf?' he thought, 'aren't they supposed to be tall and thin with pointy ears?' Dudley mused. He then realized that this creature, though similar in appearance to the one named Betsy, spoke much better. 'Later', he told himself. 'Focus' and with that he voiced his next question.

"How did I save him? I tried everything I could think of but nothing worked!"

Dougsby motioned Dudley to retake his seat. He snapped his fingers to freshen the tea and gazed at Betsy whom was trying to inconspicuously dip a cookie into her tea cup. He watched as parts of it became too soggy and broke of falling into her tea. She looked disappointedly at what was left of her cookie before noticing his stern gaze on her and quickly shoving what was left of the cookie into her mouth and plastering on an innocent look. He shook his head at her, but was amused. Before focusing once more on the Master's cousin. After Dudley had taken his seat and wrapped his hands around his cup and looked at Dougsby showing interest in hearing more, Dougsby moved to the side of the table Betsy was on and sat himself properly before continuing his explanation.

"The love and fear you felt for your cousin at that time and your plea for help was enough to call forth Betsy from this house. For that you have my most sincere gratitude, for if you hadn't the Master would have died" The elf bowed his head at Dudley with a serious expression and Dudley nodded his acceptance of the remark not having anything to say to that. Uncomfortable with the remark he quickly glanced at Betsy whom seemed more interested in sneaking another cookie than hearing the explanation. He smiled at her before focusing back on Dougsby.

Dougsby continued, "Long ago Mr. Dumbledore had placed a blood ward upon your family's property with the intention of creating some protection against would-be enemies of your cousin from gaining access to you, your parents or Harry, and as long as Harry could considered that his home those wards would hold."

Dudley interrupted here because he was confused, "What's a ward?"

Dougsby scowled at the interruption but thought before replying. "Hmm. How to explain that? In its simplest form a ward is like a magical shield or dome. It can be placed around or on an object and its main purpose is to protect that object."

Dudley nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"This is where it gets really complicated. In placing that ward, Dumbledore, hopefully, unintentionally blocked Harry's connection with this house and therefore our bonds. We are bound to the Potter Estate and not him individually. Without that connection and with Harry being unaware of us, he could not call us though those wards, as the ward prevents him from doing so through the bond, and we could not go to him because the ward did not recognize us as friendly but as an unknown creature and it did not recognize a need for our help. Therefore we have been unable to come to his assistance over the years when he has asked for help as the ward only recognized that those within it were to be protected by outside forces and with our bonds blocked we register to it as outside force. Had you asked for help back then on the Master's behalf we could have come to him as the ward would have allowed us through on your wish."

At this Dudley winced knowing only too well why Harry had probably asked for help while living at his parent's place over the years, after all it had been his father whom caused the main injuries that Harry currently supported and up until this year he himself had made Harry's left miserable. Dougsby glared silently at him but continued.

"However, as it wasn't he whom was calling through the wards this time but another on Harry's behalf, we were able to break through to the Master. All because you helped overpower the ward and allowed us too. Therefore, you saved your cousins life."

"Oh," was all Dudley could think to say. He was still confused but understood to some point how it was he had helped save his cousin. He slowly drank his tea not noticing that Dougsby had gotten up and moved away from the table.

He stopped by the door. "Betsy you are to finish that cookie in your hand, drink your tea and then get back to your duties." He commanded. "I will see to the young man for now."

"Yes, Head Elfy Sir" Betsy hurriedly stated as she cleaned herself up, drank the rest of her tea and disappeared with a small pop.

That snapped Dudley out of his thoughts. He glanced around quickly to see where she had gone. Not seeing her he focused on Dougsby. "Where'd she go?" He asked.

"To see to her duties, Mr. Dursley. I will escort you to the library." He said firmly, all hints of friendliness gone from his voice.

Dudley realized that though he hadn't said 'now' he meant exactly that. So Dudley quickly finished his tea and stood to follow him from the room.

They walked back through the formal dining room and across the vast hall to another room enclosed by double doors of solid wood. Dougsby pushed these open and walked forward, leading Dudley into the room an over to a small round table surrounded by bookshelves upon bookshelves full to brimming with books. There were a few other round tables, all had four chairs encircling them.

Here Dougsby stopped and motioned for Dudley to take a seat. He did and Dougsby joined him at the table.

"What I would like to know Mr. Dursley," He asked firmly "Is what do you intent to do now? Once the Master is awake and aware we can take you home. That would be what I would like, but it is not up to me and alas there is some time between now and then which needs to be occupied. So will you sit in bed all day or otherwise while away the time doing nothing, or do you plan to do something whiles you are here that is productive to some end. The first will see me taking you home as fast as Master will allow, the later may gain you sometime, which will it be?"

Dudley cringed at the tone, but didn't really have an answer as he hadn't thought that far ahead. 'What was he going to do now?' He didn't really want to go back home now that he really understood how wrong his parent's had been to Harry, but he didn't really have anywhere else to go. If he was to be honest with himself he was scared to of having to face his father after having disappeared for a night with Harry too. He decided to be truthful with Dougsby and just answer how he could.

"I don't know, Sir. I don't know what to do while we wait for Harry to wake. All my school work is back at home, but once he does I don't really want to go home, but if I'm not able to stay here I don't have anywhere else to go and no money to get my own place. I guess I'll head out tomorrow to look around a see what jobs are available near here and try and get one to put money away until Harry wakes. If that doesn't work I guess I could um…" Dudley stopped to think here and Dougsby let him.

Dougsby had listened in silence to the boys ramblings while he thought. 'It would do this boy good to get away from that house just as much as it would the Master. Though he wasn't physically abused or even emotionally abused, it was still an unhealthy home environment for the lad with the way his mother allows him to do as he pleases and tries to negate any positive food habits the boy tries to follow. He couldn't keep the boy here even if he wanted to if the Master said no, and truthfully he didn't much like this boy because of his behaviour in the past to their Master. But maybe he, Dougsby could help straighten the boy out and if given the chance maybe the lad would grow up into a fine man. The boy at least started to be less of an arse this past year so there's potential there otherwise Dougsby wouldn't even be continuing this train of thought. However if the master wants him gone, he's gone. I'll give him a chance to prove he's a changing man Dougsby decided and straighten him out with some good teachings. With that decision made Dougsby straightened up and spoke.

"It would do you no good looking for a job outside these doors as you are at least a two and a half walk from the nearest town and have no job experience on top of that. You never done a hard day's work in your entire life, and even if you were to commit to a job that far out the walk back and forth each day would likely kill you."

Dudley sloughed at this, as he hadn't come up with a better plan of action then exactly that.

Dougsby continued, "I on the other hand do have a job position opening tomorrow. It is really hard work, but if you think you're up to it I'll give you a chance."

"I'll take it!" Dudley responded promptly. He couldn't afford not to.

Dougsby nodded his head and snapped his fingers to produce paper and a pen. He much preferred them to parchment and quills. He quickly wrote out two copies of the schedule he had in mind while he explained the rules.

"Firstly, failure to be punctual will see you fired promptly, as will whining about or failure to complete the work given to you to the best of your ability. Remember this is your one chance. Secondly, you will follow instructions to the best of your ability to maintain yours and everyone else's safety at all times. And lastly, starting tomorrow you will report to the family dining room at exactly 6:00am, dressed and showered and ready for work. You will be paid an above average wage due to the two week time limit and longer hours of work. Here is a copy of your working schedule." Dougsby passed the paper to Dudley and place the other one within his trouser pocket.

Dudley looked at the paper he had just been passed and almost gulped. Almost every hour of his day was now scheduled in for hard work and even one hour called studies. Which confused him slightly as he wasn't sure what he was to be studying. His brained felt overwhelmed with information and he felt so out of his world that he just nodded at Dougsby and thought he'd think everything over once he was alone.

Dudley's Schedule: Time/ Area to report

6am: Breakfast- Family Dining Room

7am- 11am: Field Work- Hippogriff Stables

11am -12pm- Lunch- The Grounds Hall

12-4: Field Work- Garden Grounds

4-5:30: Wash up and Dinner- Family Dining Room

6-7: Studies- Library

He allowed the boy a few minutes to look it over before saying, "I suggest you use your time this evening to settle down before bed. Use the time provided before tomorrow to straighten out your thoughts so that you can rest easier and so that you can get up for work tomorrow. An alarm clock has already been placed in your room, which has changed from the one you woke in. You are now next door to the sick beds room. Do you remember the way or do you need an escort?"

"Yes, Please, an escort," Dudley stated as he climbed from the chair he had been sitting in. He glanced around the room and notice a clock. He had some time yet before he needed to sleep as it was only going on four in the afternoon. He followed Dougsby back through the doors and hallways until they reached a room with a wooden plague on it that stated Dudley's room in fancy black writing.

He felt emotion rise up in him for reasons he couldn't explain but the plague made him both happy and sad. He opened the door and walked in. The room was smaller than the one he had woken up in but it was astonishingly beautiful. He walked around it slowly admiring it. The walls were a dark, almost metallic purple. The floor was a fluffy carpet the colour of champagne. Straight across from the door was a four-poster bed, its curtains drawn back to expose the violet with black pattern comforter and bed sheets. On each side of the bed were a black nightstand. The one on the right of the bed had an alarm clock upon it, and the one on the other side had a small reading lamp. On the far right hand of the room was a desk with lots of space. On the far side to the left next to an open door was a wardrobe that Dudley assumed contained clothing that might fit him. He walked through the opened door on the far left which turned out to be a small bathroom that housed a shower, toilet and sink with some shelving for toiletries and towels. 'Wicked!' Dudley thought. This had to be the best bedroom colour scheme ever.

He turned to Dougsby whom had remained standing by the door as Dudley travelled around his new room and said the only thing that came to mind. "Wicked!"

Dougsby smiled mentally to himself knowing that Betsy would be very happy with the boy's enthusiasm. "I take it the room meets your expectations?"

He knew it did, after all it had come straight from the boys own mind. Subconsciously the boy had wanted a room decorated just like this and through the use of House Elf magic this wish was known to him and Betsy. After all House Elf's used this mind magic to meet their master's wishes every day to tend to their duties to varying extends. Some Elf's like Dougsby had great control and power in this field, whereas others could only glance surface thoughts, needs, and likes. And though he wasn't fond of the boy, Betsy, whom had taken a liking to him, had requested his help and so they had worked together last night while the lad was sleeping to put this room together to his liking. Betsy had been the one to request this extra work as opposed to just shovelling him off into a guest bedroom which was what Dougsby had wanted to do initiatively, but Betsy had brashly demanded that the boy responsible for saving the Master not be treated as just a guest and that he deserved to have his own room. He gave in to Betsy request as it was true that they owed the boy something for helping save the Master's life. Betsy has been the one to do all the actual work in putting the room together. Dougsby had just searched the boys mind for his subconscious for his most desired bedroom and passed it on to Betsy though mental imagery. All the modern technologies of the boys desired room was missing like a television, stereo and computer but the basic colour scheme and setup were now actualized. Betsy was the one to personalize and add the plague on the door, knowing that it would make the lad happy to feel welcome here.

"I love it! Dudley replied.

"I leave you now to yourself, dinner will be served tonight at 6pm in the family dining room."

With that Dougsby made his hasty retreat to go back to his own duties.