Part 20 The Elf Situation

As the boys prepared to leave the room the next morning, Harry suddenly spoke to the room, "Is there anything else that you want us to know right now?"

Neville and Harry waited for something to appear, then started to laugh when nothing did.

Professor Binns, however, gave the boys an uncharacteristically stern look, that it took the boys a bit to register.

"Hey, yesterday we were all psyched to mail our mail, and then finally bring you to the Chamber, and when we ask for addresses we discovered that the Headmaster has been ignoring magical orphans of Wizards for who knows how long…"

"Professor, is there any way that could benefit him, really?" Neville asked. "It's not like he's helping muggleborns apply for voting rights, or educating them about the government. So he's really just decreasing the number of voters."

"The man who is the Headmaster today, is not the man I called friend. If there is reason and purpose to all these actions – hording the knowledge of the founders for fifty years, weakening the wards, stealing money from a child, leaving children in abusive homes… It is like playing chess on a set formed from sand, and expecting the pieces to endure past the next wave, nonsense. But could it be burning down the village, to cover one murder, or cutting down a tree to retrieve a kite?"

Harry shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Could he have intentionally set up Snape so I would fail at the Mind Arts – and maybe not have discovered that it is the key to wandless magic? Either way I failed to learn, Sirius died, and I was weaker. We can't let him find out anything, even if he doesn't intend to sabotage – he sabotages. So we go around him, and avoid him by using the rules and laws he was supposed to uphold in the public light he shrinks from."

"Yes, yes, don't be alone with any of them... Now if we're going let's go before my arms fall off."

Harry raised an eyebrow at the one bag that Neville carried, that had a featherlight charm on it.

Harry thought off the hourglasses, and with a bit of a tug at the doorway they were back to the Hogwarts evening they'd started a Room-year ago. Using the Marauder's Map, they'd confirmed Dobby was waiting on Harry down the hall from the Room, making using the invisibility cloak a moot point. Instead the boys headed straight to the Owlery, and proceeded to attach packages to owls. Hedwig got the letters to Harry's attorney and Madam Bones. (Professor Binns took the direct route to the Chamber, through the floors to wait in Myrtle's bathroom.) They grouped them by region and sent all the owls with letters, a few seconds before letting the owls with packages go. Quickly Harry performed the signal charm that told the remaining owls the Owlery was about to be cleaned, and with a few glares, the remaining owls left.

Dusk was the natural time for the owls to venture out, but the boys were a good half-hour before the time the owls would routinely be driven out by the elf assigned to clean the tower. While they'd debated sending everything in the morning, to arrive at a more natural time for muggles, it was far easier for them to be caught sending. Well, if anyone was paying attention to the Owlery. Wandlessly the boys performed the charms the elves would have, hesitantly at first, but more strongly as they noted their spells did work as practiced.

Then Neville took Harry's wand and removed their magical signatures from coming to the room, and checked off the elf log for the nightly cleaning.

However, they still had the problem of Dobby, who they confirmed with a quick check of the map, was waiting for them at the base of the stairs to the Owlery. The boys headed to the kitchen, keeping the map out as if looking for teachers, but really checking to see if their tail stayed stuck.

"Is Dobby here?" Harry asked the first elf they encountered.

Neville bit back a laugh at seeing the elf in question's eyes go huge from behind them – in the reflection of a pot.

Dobby quickly popped in front of Harry. "Harry Potter asked for Dobby?" The elf looked nervous but expectant, the multitude of hats he wore wobbling.

"Dobby, are you happy working for Dumbledore?"

The elf looked down at the question, scuffing the floor with his feet. "Dobby thought he felt… Dobby thought Harry Potter might ask a different question of Dobby." The elf looked up hopefully.

"Dobby, I would like to have you work for me, if that would make you happy." The elf lunged forward to hug Harry's legs. "I need you to tell me what you need and want though."

"Master Harry Potter is the best of wizards," came the muffled reply.

Neville lost it and started silently laughing, Harry glared at him, before patting Dobby on the shoulder. "Okay, Dobby? I need you to tell me what you need."

The elf pulled back wiping tears of joy. "Master Harry Potter is so great he cares what lowly Dobby needs."

"Yes, Dobby, I need you to tell me what you need or want. I still don't know much about being a wizard – I need your help. Like how much you want to be paid, and…"

The elf started bouncing, "Dobby no wanting pay. Dobby wanting to be bound to Master Harry Potter. Dobby needs to be able to hold his master's secrets."

"But, Dobby… You were so happy at being free…"

"A free elf is strong, but not as strong like with good wizard. Dobby would know what is needed, and what not safe. Dobby could not tell secrets Master wants kept even with potion."

"But will you be happy?"

The elf nodded solemnly. "Dobby hoping Harry Potter need elves. Dobby staying at Hogwarts hoping Harry Potter would ask Dobby."

Harry nodded slowly, "I'm sorry I didn't ask earlier, Dobby. I thought you could tell me anything."

"If Master wants Dobby to tell Master Harry Potter what Dobby needs, Dobby will."

"Dobby, I need more than that. I need to know what you think, what you want. I need you to still be a friend. I need you to be happy, and to be able to call me Harry if you want."

"Master Harry Potter is so kind, so wise. Dobby was right. Dobby knew Harry Potter would be best wizard ever."

Neville cleared his throat.

"Yeah. Dobby, how do we do this binding you talked about?"

The elf popped out and back with a large book and set it on the table. With a gesture, it was opened to the section on bindings. Harry read the section and was pleasantly surprised to find it was far less restrictive than what the books in the Room of Requirement suggested. "There's one problem here, Dobby, I'm not at home. Can you be made to tell my secrets until I can go home?"

What looked to be the head kitchen elf came forward. "Heir, the two who have been employed have been forced to do things Hogwarts elves never would. Dobby needs to take you home – or have you bind him to Hogwarts."

"What about Winky?"

The elves looked down, and Dobby responded after a short while, "Winky was enslaved."

"What?"

Dobby began tearing up and so the head elf answered, "Winky was bound to be forced to serve."

"Who?"

"Professor Dumbledore enslaved Winky to Professor Snape, Heir."

Harry shook his head, "Why?"

Dobby blurted out, "Winky was pregnant, sir. But when she was bound he didn't give her permission…"

Harry laid a comforting hand on Dobby's shoulder, and asked the head elf, "What's your name?"

"I am Gryffie, Heir."

"Gryffie, is there anything you need me to do?"

"Not now, Heir. The Founders gave us many protections and advantages by binding us to the Castle not the wizards."

Harry nodded and Gryffie popped away.

"Dobby, do you need me to see if Wonky could be freed?"

"Dobby need to bind first."

"Do you know where the Potter ancestral home is?"

Dobby nodded.

Harry picked up the book, "Can you take us there, then?"

Dobby grabbed Harry and Neville's hands and popped.

The next instant they were in front of imposing iron gates that were attached to fieldstone walls. But remarkable thing was that the sun was only about to set. Harry and Neville exchanged a glance, "Dobby?"

"Harry Potter must touch his blood to the crest for us to enter."

Harry turned his attention to the gates, sensing Dobby wouldn't answer on how they happened to move back in time. The crest was simple, a down-thrust sword in front of a shield, in the same matte black as the rest of the gates. Harry touched his middle finger to the point of the sword, and touched the resultant blood to the shield. The crest gave off a blue glow, and the gates opened.

Harry took in the grounds with awe. Where he had expected overgrown, untended lawns were manicured gardens, clipped hedges, and whimsical topiaries. A look at Neville's face told Harry his friend was cataloging all the plants. There was no haze to the landscape, so it couldn't have been a stasis spell, especially since the flowers that were blooming were in the correct season. His wonderings were answered when the main doors of the manor house were opened by a taller than average house elf.

"Master Harry, let me be the first to welcome you home." The elf gave a flourished bow, waving them inside.

Harry blinked in surprise, for even Gryffie had displayed some of the same hyper physical mannerisms as Dobby. This elf, however, was wearing a black suit with tie, and was most like a human butler in a movie. "Thank you. And you are?"

"I am Worth, sir. I have been Head Elf of Potter Mansion for forty years." Worth closed the door behind them and began to walk, when he looked back and saw he wasn't being followed added, "Please follow me to the study, sir. I'm sure you would be most comfortable there."

Harry didn't take the time to admire his surroundings, "Worth, have any wizards been here since my parents died?"

Worth stopped in front of a set of mahogany double doors, and opened them. "I am afraid, sir, that we allowed Albus Dumbledore entry November 2, 1981. He left with more than the usual lot of books and none of the food we had prepared. While your mother was a fine cook, Master James was not, and we would prepare meals for his turns in the kitchen. Mistress Lily allowed him to think she was deceived, because she loved Emme's lemon curd tart. Of course, we immediately checked the family tapestry, only to discover it had been recently vandalized."

The boys moved into the study, sitting down on the two red couches in the center of the room. Worth snapped his fingers and a tray with what looked to be a lemon tart and tea appeared on the coffee table between the couches. "We then conferred with your grandparents' portrait, and ordered the Prophet. Upon learning of your parents' deaths we sealed the properties, and awaited you."

"Why didn't you come get me? Or…" Harry trailed off, knowing there was no way house elves would ever be entrusted to raise any orphan.

Worth bowed his head, "Even with the address we couldn't get near enough to the house to touch you. Only when you were left outside could we come near. But the squib saw us, and then we couldn't even get within sight."

Dobby interrupted, "But that dark. Dumbledore not to use magic like nasty Malfoys."

Neville and Harry shared a look, and Neville gestured to his wrist. With an apologetic look to Worth, Harry avoided that topic, "Worth, Dobby here wishes to be bound as my elf. Is there a special room or ritual that the Potters use?"

oOOOo

Dobby was installed at Potter Mansion and was soon sleeping in the elves' quarters, as the magic from the ritual had begun to transform the elf's body. Worth had ushered the boys back to Hogwarts, after a tour of the house that didn't approach any portraits, as Worth noted there were too many portraits that had counterparts in Hogwarts that were only family friends. The boys were informed when they were dropped off in the kitchens, that it was only five minutes had past since they departed.

As they discussed while on the brief tour, Harry and Neville separated as soon as they got back. The flaxen-haired boy going to Myrtle's bathroom, with Harry's wand in his pocket, as Harry went somewhere far more dangerous under the cover of his invisibility cloak.

oOOOo

The dungeon hallways were far too cool for comfort, which meant the corridors on the way to the potion master's offices were devoid of life. Harry removed his cloak, around the corner from the door, stuffing it into the deepest part of his bag, before using his wandless magic to shrink the bag so it would fit into his pocket.

Moving quickly, Harry rapped firmly on the door. The Potion Master opened the door some minutes later, opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again just as swiftly, ushering in the student instead. Harry pointedly looked at the gargoyles in the room. Snape's eyes widened, but he quickly led Harry into a study with no paintings or carvings and cast several locking and silencing charms. Harry grabbed his sleeve, hoping the professor would think his wand was thus concealed and added a scrambling charm.

"So Mr. Potter, you have finally learned how the Headmaster knows everything."

"Sir, I apologize. I am late for a prior appointment, and I am neither a Slytherin nor have a desire to enter politics. Blunt and to the point, do you know that Winky the house elf was bound to you?"

Snape's eyebrows raised fractionally, "The headmaster had asked me, and I had agreed to…"

"Sir, I hate to ask such a personal question, but do you live here year-round?"

"No."

"Winky, while previously having a weakness for butterbeer was pregnant to another free elf. She was bound forcibly to you by the Headmaster, here. With no permission to continue the pregnancy, she has probably already lost it."

Snape paled a bit, but said, "And what do you wish to do about it now, Potter."

"I suggest and request that you free her so she may take service where her mate has fled."

"Dobby. The elf you freed from the Malfoys, Dobby, has fled the castle?" Snape demanded.

"He was quite distraught at the loss, sir."

"Damn it boy! Tell me has he sought shelter from you, or shall my next summons be my last?"

Harry continued on in the same even tone, "Sir, there is no danger of that. I just want to get them back together, unless I'm wrong and you knew."

Snape exploded, "It is repugnant to even suggest I might be that cruel. Not to mention all the healing potions since he did this are now poison. Winky!" Snape snapped his fingers.

Winky looked worse than Harry had ever seen her, though she was silent and not weeping. Snape looked at the elf, "I give you permission, and I wish to free you to seek your mate."

The elf began to silently cry, but accepted the cloth Snape offered her.

Harry snapped his fingers, "Worth." When the elf appeared, Harry had to hide his surprise. "Worth, Professor Snape had given his permission and offered Winky freedom. Help her and Dobby all you can. If you need me, come get me."

The larger elf embraced the smaller and they disappeared.

"Damn Dumbledore."

"Sir?"

"If I had finished this batch of potions and sent them on, I could be facing charges, Potter."

"Sir, this lies completely on him. He didn't ask Winky, he didn't ask you, he never asks." Harry shook his head, "Sir, before I go… What did the Headmaster tell you about me for occulmency lessons?"

"That you needed to learn to block visions from your curse scar." Snape's face gave no hint of his thoughts.

"Sir, is there any way my total failure could help the.. Old Crowd?"

Snape pinned Harry with a calculating glare, "No. It's fortunate that when you were possessed the Dark Lord had the Headmaster as a distraction. He could have killed you, taken all your knowledge, or turned you into a drooling idiot."

"Then the prophecy must be false, or Dumbledore is completely mental. Not that it matters much, since Voldemort believes it to be true…" Harry muttered.

"Do not speak his name!" hissed Snape.

"Why, sir?"

"What?"

"Why, shouldn't I say his name around you? Does it cause you pain?"

"No. It signals him. The mark is also used to request audience, and raising his attention so recklessly is foolhardy."

"Why do you work with Dumbledore, sir?" With him saying the name all the time, at Headquarters… Assigning you to teach me when I couldn't keep him out… He's endangering.." Harry stopped, and stood up straighter, "I'm sorry, sir. That's none of my business. I originally was going to ask you for recommendations for summer reading. If you could tell me some books that might help me, sir, I would be grateful." Harry felt a niggling bit of fear that Snape would think he was mocking him, with all the sirs he'd been using.

Snape silently studied Harry for a bit before giving a curt nod. "See me before the leaving feast, Potter. If you are truly starting to see the real world, I must endeavor to help you with this enterprise."

Harry nodded in acceptance, "Thank you, sir."

Thank you for reading. And, yes, I do feel Dumbledore has made a mockery of being a Headmaster. If he was at a public school, they'd be sued so fast it's not funny.