Dobby's Warning

Arthur was speechless upon seeing the odd little creature on the bed. It had large bat-like ears and bulging green eyes that were around the size of a tennis ball and were the same eyes he saw in the hedge earlier. It also seemed to be wearing what looked like an old pillowcase with rips for the arms and legs, which Arthur found to be odd.

The creature then slipped off the bed as Arthur entered the room and closed the door behind him. He watched it bow so low that the end of its long thin nose touched the carpeted floor.

"Hello." Arthur greeted it awkwardly.

"Arthur Pendergast!" The creature said in a high pitched voice that Arthur was sure could carry down the stairs. "So long has Dobby wanted to see you, sir…. Such an honour it is…."

"Uh… thank you." Arthur replied, walking up to and sat on his desk chair, next to Athena's cage.

"Who… are you?" He asked, hoping he'd say what he is, having never seen anything like this creature.

"Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the house elf." The creature introduced itself.

"Huh…. Look, I don't mean to come across as rude but what the hell are you doing here?" Arthur asked, wanting an explanation.

"Oh, yes, sir. Dobby has come to tell you, sir… it is difficult, sir… Dobby wonders where to begin…." Dobby said earnestly.

"Well, why don't you start by sitting down first." Arthur suggested politely, pointing to the bed. This, though, led to the elf bursting into tears, crying loudly too.

"S-sit down! Never… never ever…." Dobby wailed. Arthur hoped the Dentleys didn't come up to figure out what's going on.

"Wait, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Arthur tried to quiet him down.

"Offend Dobby! Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard… like an equal…." The elf choked. Arthur shushed him at the same as he ushered Dobby back onto the bed. He sat hiccoughing, now looking more like an ugly doll. He eventually managed to control himself and sat with his eyes fixed on Arthur with water adoration.

"You probably haven't met any other decent wizards, have you?" Arthur asked him, trying to cheer him up.

Dobby shook his before, without warning, leaping up and banged his head repeatedly on the window, shouting 'Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!'

"Stop! Please!" Arthur hissed, pulling him back onto the bed just as Athena came back, swooping in and landed in her cage. She tilted her head, hooting in confusion at Dobby.

"Dobby had to punish himself, sir. Dobby almost spoke ill of his family, sir…." Dobby explained, slightly cross eyed.

"What do you mean your family?"

"The wizard family Dobby serves, sir… Dobby is a house elf, bound to serve one house and one family forever…." Dobby explained. This made Arthur frown in disgust. Seeing that there's a race of, for lack of better terms, slaves in the wizarding world just made him sick.

"Do they even know you're here?" He then asked, making Dobby shutter.

"Oh no, sir, no… Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to see you, sir. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for this. If they ever know, sir-"

"Wouldn't they notice if you shut your ears in the oven door?"

"Dobby doubts it, sir. Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, sir. They lets Dobby get on with it, sir. Sometimes they reminds me to do extra punishments…." All of this was just making Arthur feel more disgusted, especially towards the family Dobby serves.

"Can't you just leave or escape?" He then asked.

"A house elf must be set free, sir. And the family will never set Dobby free… Dobby will serve the family until he dies, sir…." Arthur shook his head, exhaling deeply through his nose at this.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" He then asked, instantly regretting he did because Dobby started wailing in gratitude.

"Please, be quiet…. I don't want my relatives to see you." Arthur whispered desperately.

"Arthur Pendergast asks if he can help Dobby… Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but of your goodness, Dobby never knew…." The compliments made Arthur blush and look to the side.

"Please, I'm sure what you've are just exaggerations. I'm not even the top of my class…." He said, stopping as he thought of Chrys, which was painful for him.

"Arthur Pendergast is humble and modest." Dobby said with reverence, his eyes aglow. "Arthur Pendergast speaks not of his triumph over He Who Must Not Be Named."

"I honestly hate that is what defines me." Arthur groaned. Dobby then leaned towards him, eyes wide as headlamps.

"Dobby heard tell that Arthur Pendergast met the Dark Lord for a second time, just weeks ago… that Arthur Pendergast escaped yet again." He said hoarsely. Arthur nodded and Dobby's eyes now shone with tears.

"Ah, sir." He gasped, dabbing his face with a corner of his dirty and grubby pillowcase. "Arthur Pendergast is valiant and bold! He has braved so many dangers already! But Dobby has come to protect Arthur Pendergast, to warn him, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door later… Arthur Pendergast must not go back to Hogwarts."

The room was dead silent. All that could be heard was the sound of food being prepared downstairs.

"Excuse me? Look, despite loving my relatives, Hogwarts is my true home. I belong in your world, not among Muggles." Arthur argued against him.

"No, no, no." Dobby squeaked, shaking his head so much that his ears flapped, a lot like an elephant. "Arthur Pendergast must stay where he is safe. He is too great, too good, to lose. If Arthur Pendergast goes back to Hogwarts, he will be in mortal danger"

"Why?!" Arthur asked, surprised and angered.

"There is a plot, Arthur Pendergast. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year. Dobby has known it for months, sir. Arthur Pendergast must not put himself in peril. He is too important, sir!" Dobby whispered as he was trembling.

"What do you mean terrible things? Who's plotting them?" Arthur questioned.

Dobby, however, made an odd choking noise before banging his head against the wall.

"Okay!" Arthur cried out as he grabbed the elf's arm to stop him. "If you can't say, I understand. But why bother warning me?" That was when a thought crept into his head. "This doesn't have anything to do with You Know Who does it? Just shake or nod your head." Slowly, Dobby shook his head.

"Well, if that's the case, then I'm still going to Hogwarts. Besides I defeated him again weeks ago. If I can do that, then I'm more than capable of dealing with what's being plotted. Plus, Dumbledore is Headmaster and he's all knowing and powerful. You do know who he is, right?" This made Dobby bow his head.

"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 now dropped to an urgent whisper. "...there are powers Dumbledore doesn't… powers no decent wizard…."

Arthur was glad he had fast reflexes because he was able to stop Dobby from getting off the bed and reach for the desk lamp, no doubt planning to beat himself up again.

"Listen… I'm not scared of what this plot is. I have to go back to Hogwarts, I truly feel like myself there. It's also where I got actual friends." Arthur told the elf. Dobby was able to get out of his grip and stepped backwards.

"Friends who don't even write to Arthur Pendergast?" He asked slyly, which he regretted when Arthur frowned and glared at him with anger as he finally had the last clue needed to confirm his suspicions.

"Did you intercept my letters?" Arthur hissed.

"Arthur Pendergast mustn't be angry with Dobby, Dobby did it for the best…. Dobby has them here, sir." He pulled a thick wad of various envelopes from within the pillowcase he wore. Arthur was able to make out Chrys' neat and tidy writing, David's leaning scrawl and scribble, clearly from Hagrid.

Dobby blinked anxiously.

"Arthur Pendergast mustn't be angry… Dobby hoped… if Arthur Pendergast thought his friends had forgotten him… Arthur Pendergast might not want to go back to school, sir…."

Arthur didn't even listen, his emotions clouding his mind. He tried grabbing the letters but Dobby jumped out of reach.

"Arthur Pendergast will have them, sir, if he gives Dobby his word that he will not return to Hogwarts. Ah, sir, this is a danger you must not face! Say you won't go back, sir!"

"If you think this will make me not go, think again! Now give me my friends' letters!" Arthur snarled at him.

"Then Arthur Pendergast leaves Dobby no choice." The elf replied sadly before darting to the bedroom door, pulled it open and sprinted down the stairs.

Arthur followed after him silently, not wanting to draw attention from the Dentleys. He even jumped down the last six or seven stairs, landing like a cat on the hall carpet and saw Dobby by the doorframe leading into the kitchen. He heard the Dentleys in the living room as the food must be cooking and they're waiting for it to finish.

But when he got a proper look into the kitchen and felt his heart sink. Various plates and bowls all hovered in mid air.

"No… don't you dare." Arthur whispered, sounding desperate.

"Arthur Pendergast must say he's not going back to school-"

"Please…."

"Say it, sir…."

"No!" This made Dobby give the boy a tragic look.

"Then Dobby must do it, sir, for Arthur Pendergast's own good." With a crack like a whip, Dobby vanished and all of the plates and bowls all fell and shattered, creating so much noise that the Dentleys all shouted in shock.

"What the-"

"Oh, no!"

"Aagh!"

The three all entered the kitchen and all looked in horror at the aftermath of Dobby's actions. Nicholas then noticed Arthur in the doorframe.

"Arthur! Why did you do this?!" He demanded an explanation, for the first time, looking furious, which scared Arthur a lot.

"It… it wasn't me. I swear…." Arthur said, dazed in fear of his uncle's temper. And before Nicholas or Patty could say anything, a large barn owl swooped in through the kitchen window and landed on the worktop, dropped a letter and swooped back out.

Arthur instantly grabbed the letter and read it aloud:

Dear Mr Pendergast

We have received intelligence that a Hover Charm was used at your place of residence this evening at twelve minutes past nine.

As you know, underage wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school, and further spellwork on your part may lead to expulsion from said school (Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C).

We would also ask you to remember that any magical activity which risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious offence, under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy.

Enjoy your holidays!

Yours Sincerely,

Mafilda Hopkirk

Improper Use of Magic Office

Ministry of Magic

He looked back at his relatives, who demanded an explanation.

"I swear it wasn't me. It was a creature called a house elf named Dobby…" Arthur started explaining as they cleaned up the mess and prepared tea. What Dobby was, why he visited him and that he intercepted his letters to his friends and used magic to try and keep him away from Hogwarts or even get expelled.

Nicholas and Patty were silent while Deacon asked questions about what a house elf was, eventually stopping when his father cut him off.

"So this house elf decided to warn you that something is about to happen at Hogwarts that will be dangerous and tried to ensure you wouldn't go back to school?" Nicholas asked to make sense of what Arthur told him. Arthur nodded, he had no reason to lie and never had lied before to his relative in his life.

"Why wouldn't say what he's trying to 'save' you from?" Patty asked, confused and concerned.

"I don't know, it's as though he was going against orders or something." Arthur replied.

"Maybe there isn't really any danger and this was all just some prank from Draco as revenge, hoping to get you expelled." Deacon suggested. Arthur never considered that, actually.

"True… he'd be willing to go this far, having done something similar early on in the school year." Arthur replied.

"Well, if that's the case, there's nothing to worry about. And you're not in trouble, just so you know. Now let's not make this ruin your birthday. Let's eat." Patty said before they all dug into the delicious food.

Three days have passed since Dobby visited Arthur on his birthday and he found himself feeling a bit depressed. This was because he got into trouble with the Ministry over something that he didn't do and he can't even talk with his friends. Sending letters by owl was his only way of communicating with them and since Dobby was able to intercept the letters, Arthur can't do anything.

The Dentleys tried cheering him up but they had no luck. If Arthur isn't able to communicate with his friends, how is he gonna be able to get his school supplies and even go to Hogwarts without Dobby interfering.

He barely left his room, only coming out when he needed the toilet or his relatives had to take him somewhere. He also laid in bed most of the time when not looking out the window and letting Athena fly.

He was given a pizza for tea before he decided to go to bed early, long before the day grew dark.

Arthur had a dream where he was placed in an exhibit in a museum, being a showcase of being an underage wizard, with various people, especially Hogwarts students, laughing at him. The worst of it was Draco and Snape, mocking him, saying he was where he deserved. This enraged him in his dream, shouting back that they deserve to be made an exhibit.

But then the dream ended when a blinding light beamed down at him and Arthur's eyes opened wide. His room was lit up much more than it should be at night. He looked towards the window and was surprised to see someone's face on the other side of the window: a silver haired, electric blue eyed someone. David Merlon.

Here we go, the next chapter will be where we finally get to see the Merlon family home and meet David's dad. And the reference to Weasley in Philosopher's Stone will be paid off as well.