Chapter Four - Of year-ends and house elves

Train Rides

The school-aged Sins sat in relative silence on the train ride back to London, as none of them wanted to face the fact of their upcoming separation. However, that silence was broken by Sloth, who, oddly enough, turned to Envy and asked him what he was doing that summer.

At Sloth's question, all activities ceased. This includes the fierce Exploding Snap game going on between the Greeds, Gluttony, and Lust, and even the wizarding chess pieces laid out between Envy and Pride fell silent. As one, the rest of the Sins turned to look at Envy.

Envy, in response, glared back, before sighing loudly and responding. "I think I shall be traveling. Because despite what that senile Bumblebee wants to think about me returning to my horrid family, I wouldn't return if someone paid me. Why?"

Sloth shrugged, trying to remember why he'd asked. "Well," he responded slowly, "I was wondering if you'd like to come visit. Well, not just you but everybody."

As one, all the Sins nodded in understanding. With that simple question, though, the floodgates had been opened.

The Greeds answered next, talking about the pranks they had been planning to test out, but that they'd be sure to visit between test stages.

Lust mumbled something about Snornack hunting and crazy fathers, before declaring that she would be visiting.

Gluttony and Pride, however, made no promises. Gluttony because she knew her parents were taking her somewhere, and Pride because he had no idea what Lucius had planned for the summer.

Envy, of course, promises nothing either, merely saying he'd try, and that at the very least he'd be in contact through the communication mirrors Wrath had given them the night before they left Hogwarts.

Dobby

Dobby the house elf was very confused. Here he was on his self-proclaimed (and very against the rules) mission to protect the Great Harry Potter, but the Great Harry Potter was nowhere to be found. He wasn't with his family or any of his friends, or, in fact, anywhere in England. Dobby had thought he had felt the Great Harry Potter in the Magical Nation of Shang-ri-la in Tibet, and in the Magical Islands of Danu Talis, but when Dobby went to these places to warn the Great Harry Potter, the Great Harry Potter was no where to be seen.

In the end, Dobby never did find the Great Harry Potter, and was forced to wait for September first when he could be sure the he could stop the Great Harry Potter from going to Hogwarts.

Barriers

Dobby the house elf was no longer confused. No, now he was past confused, and if he spent the time to think about it he would have said that he was extremely bewildered. Not that he was currently sparing a thought for how he was feeling. No, right now he was wondering how the hell the Great Harry Potter was sitting in the Great Hall, right next to Little Master Malfoy who Dobby was supposed to be checking up on.

After all, Dobby had not seen the Great Harry Potter even attempt to get on the train, nor had he felt the Great Harry Potter be repulsed by the magik he had woven over the barrier to ensure that the Great Harry Potter's magical signature could not pass through.

Unbeknownst to Dobby, who was currently having a minor mental breakdown, Harry Potter had not gotten on the Hogwarts Express. Envy's saving grace which allowed him to get on the train is two-fold - his paranoia and his ability to shapeshift.

After the attention he had received last year (not all of it favorable), Envy had decided to get there very early. And in disguise. So, as Platform 9 and 3/4 opened at exactly 9 am Envy was on the train by 9:01. Luckily for him, his disguise, which consisted of becoming Pride's clone, not only changed his looks, but also his magical signature. (Which happened every time he changed his shape, not that he knew that.)

So, unaware of Dobby and his meltdown, Envy tucked into dinner. Unfortunately, he was also unaware of Dobby's renewed desire to protect the Great Harry Potter - that is, after Dobby finished having a meltdown.

AN: Do love Dobby. And yes we will be seeing more of him and his hero worship from his and Envy's point of view since I am following the books. However, the bludger incident will be different, since none of them play Quidditch.

Also, for everyone who asked, I did the omake for a reason. Yes, as it was it could have fit into the chapter. However, I'm still unsure of its place in the story's timeline, so it's omake status signals that. That doesn't make it any less a part of the "real" story timeline, because it is! Just be patient and all be explained. Continuing with that thought, anon, Grinwald is Father.

Anyway I hope every one likes this chapter, and please don't forget to review!

~Sayanora!