Author's Note: The only things I own are the characters and bits of plot that you don't recognize.

Chapter 1 An Unexpected Surprise

Alexandria Ratcliff was sitting on her bed reading. Her grey eyes were moving fast as she read through her book. By her was a letter from her best friend Hermione Granger that read:

Dear Alex,

I just got your letter. My parents say its fine for me to spend some time at your house and I'll be there tomorrow at four. Can't wait and see you tomorrow.

Your friend,

Hermione Granger

Alex had asked her friends Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter to come over to her house for a few days. Ron was sick and Harry had not replied. In fact, he had not written all summer. Alex was a little upset about this and hoped everything was all right.

Alex looked at her bedside clock, pushing a strand of her thick black hair out of her tan face. It was three forty five; she still had time to get her room clean. Her Uncle Monty had put an extra bed in her room for Hermione so she could spend a couple nights. Even though they had plenty of room that Hermione could've had her own room, the girls decided it would be more fun to share a room. Alex rushed around picking up dirty clothes, school books, and her stuffed dragon Norwena that Hagrid, the school gamekeeper, had given to her when she was a baby. She fingered the worn tail on the dragon and chuckled softly as she remembered her experience with her first real dragon. Alex and Ron had ended up in the Hospital Wing after being bitten by the little bugger.

However, Alex barely remembered the motorcycle ride which Hagrid had taken her on almost twelve years ago, or anything about that night for that matter. All she knew was an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort had come to the house where her parents were staying and killed hers and Harry's parents. She and Harry, though, had managed to escape with only a scar on them, Harry's on his forehead and Alex's on her arm.

DING-DONG! Alex ran downstairs and opened the door. There stood Hermione and her parents. Alex showed them in and after the Granger's talked with Uncle Monty, they said good-bye to Hermione.

"We'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron in three days, all right Hermione?" said Mrs. Granger.

"Yes Mum."

After the Grangers had left, Alex lead Hermione to her room.

"So, what do you want to do?" asked Hermione.

"Let's go outside, I want to teach you how to skateboard," said Alex smiling mischievously.

It was obvious that Hermione was not a sports person. It took a good hour for her to learn how to stay up on the board. Finally, she and Alex were skating around the flat part of Alex's driveway. Suddenly, Hermione fell and her board went flying over the fence that separated Alex's house from the Malfoy Mansion.

"Are you okay?" asked Alex, skating over.

"Yeah, but I lost your board. It went over the fence."

"Wait here, I'll get it."

She climbed over the fence and jumped down. She walked through the thick forest of trees, looking for the lost board. She pushed a branch out of her way and let out a cry of surprise. There, lying in the grass, was a little creature with pointed ears. It had bruises and cuts all over its body and was wearing a very dirty outfit. Alex walked over cautiously and bent over it.

"Hello? Are you all right?" she asked gently.

The creature didn't move. Alex took its pulse. It was alive but must have been knocked out. Alex got up and ran back the way she came. She climbed back over the fence and ran into the house, Hermione calling after her. She went to the medicine cabinet and grabbed the first-aid kit. She then rushed by a very confused Hermione and back to the place where the little creature was. She started cleaning the wounds and putting bandages over the larger cuts. She saw there were scars all over its body. Finally, she took out a flask and forced the potion down its throat. It coughed and sat up, looking around.

"What? Where…Where is Dobby?" it said in a high-pitched voice.

"Um…well you're in a forest in the countryside near London. I don't know where your friend Dobby is," said Alex. "How are you feeling? You had some nasty wounds, but I managed to patch you up." It looked up at her then started to sob. "Oh no, don't cry, it's okay, you're going to be fine," said Alex, looking surprised at the elf-like creature's outburst of tears.

"Never in Dobby's life," said the elf through its bawling, "Has Dobby seen such kindness." Alex assumed the elf was Dobby and he talked in third person.

"Oh, um, thanks, I guess," said Alex, feeling uncomfortable, "I would have done it for anyone."

Dobby started to wail, "Kind girl, treating Dobby like everyone else."

"I take it you haven't met many nice people?" said Alex as Dobby blew his nose into his outfit.

"Yes, you are right," he said smiling.

Then Dobby covered his mouth. He grabbed the nearest thing, which was the skateboard Alex had been looking for, and began to hit himself over the head.

"Bad Dobby, very bad Dobby!" he cried as he hit himself.

"What are you doing?" said Alex, looking frantic, "Stop, you're going to hurt yourself even more. STOP!" she cried.

Dobby stopped, swaying slightly. Alex grabbed the skateboard and put it out of Dobby's reach, looking worried.

"What were you doing? You're going to kill yourself if you keep doing that!" she said.

"Dobby had to do that, Miss. Dobby almost spoke ill of his master."

"Your master?" said Alex, looking perplexed, "Are you a slave or something?"

"No Miss, Dobby is a house elf."

"A what?" said Alex.

"A house elf, bound to serve one family until Dobby dies. Dobby must get back," he said suddenly, getting up, but fell over.

"Whoa there, Dobby," said Alex, "You're not going anywhere. You've got some nasty bruises and lost a lot of blood. You need to rest."

"Dobby can't rest, Dobby must get back to his master. If they found out where Dobby has been…" he drifted off and shuddered violently.

"Where have you been anyway? You look terrible with all those scars," said Alex looking at a particularly peculiar scar on Dobby's hand.

"Dobby gets these scars from when he punishes himself," said the elf simply.

Alex gaped. "You to this to yourself?" she asked outraged.

"Not all, Miss," said Dobby, seeing her horrified face. "Some is from when his master punishes Dobby, when Dobby is especially bad."

"Why don't you run away Dobby? They're hurting you!"

"Ah, Miss," said Dobby tears brimming, "Dobby cannot run away, he must be set free. The only way a house elf can be freed is to be given clothes by his master."

"Oh." She was silent but then said, "How far is your master's home? You don't have to say where," she added seeing Dobby reach for a large stick, "Just about where."

"Well," he seemed to be choosing his words carefully, "This is they're forest."

"You…You work for the Malfoy's?" said Alex surprised. Dobby nodded. Alex stood up and helped the little elf too. "I'll help you to the door. Try to rest as much as you can, all right?"

They slowly made there way to the front door. As they walked, Dobby spoke.

"If Miss would be so kind to tell Dobby, what is Miss' name?"

"I'm Alex Radcliff, I live with my uncle in the house next door," she said as the elf leaned on her.

"How did you know of my masters?" he asked, wincing slightly as they walked.

"I go to school with your master's son," she said bitterly, remembering how terrible he was.

"You are not in the same house as him, are you?" Dobby asked surprised.

"No way!" cried Alex, "I'm in Gryffindor."

"That means…do you know Harry Potter?" gasped the little elf.

"Yeah, he's one of my friends, though I haven't heard from him in a while," she added in an undertone.

"You must tell him, he will not listen to Dobby, you must warn him not to go to Hogwarts this year," said Dobby frantically. "Terrible things are being planned and Harry Potter must stay away!"

"What terrible things Dobby?" said Alex, stopping.

"Dobby cannot say Miss, though Dobby wants to. Things are about to happen that Harry Potter must not be near," he said.

It took Alex a few minutes to calm the little elf down so he could walk. As they continued through the dense forest, Alex thought about what Dobby had said. Terrible things at Hogwarts, what were they and why mustn't Harry be around them? What could possibly happen with Dumbledore around?

Well, thought Alex grimly, reflecting on her last year at Hogwarts, Four first years were able to find out about the Sorcerer's Stone, go through all the obstacles, and get the Stone. Don't forget the fact that Voldemort was on the back of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher's head!

The forest started thinning out and Alex was able to see the Malfoy Mansion. It looked a lot like Alex's house, a large stone building with many windows and two huge wooden doors. There was one big difference, this house was falling apart. The windows were cracked, the paint was peeling off the shutters, and the tiles from the roof were missing. If Alex didn't know any better, she would have thought no one lived there. However, as soon as she took another step forward and out of the forest, the house changed before her eyes. The chipped paint became bright, the tiles looked brand-new, and the windows were clean and whole.

"It was a spell," she whispered in awe at the transformation, "To keep the Muggles from wondering who lived in there. That's bloody brilliant!"

"This is where Dobby and Miss go their separate ways," said Dobby, looking at the house and shuddering, "Dobby does not want Master to see Miss and make her stay. It was an honor to meet you and thank you for caring to the wounds of a miserable house elf."

"Dobby, don't say that about yourself!" admonished Alex and then smiled as she said, "It was wonderful to meet you and I hope to see more of you soon since we're neighbors."

Instead of cheering up the elf, which was what Alex was trying to do, Dobby started to cry.

"I am sorry Miss," choked Dobby, "But Dobby is overwhelmed by your kindness. How can Dobby ever repay you?"

"Er…it's okay Dobby, I was just trying to help," said Alex, blushing slightly.

Dobby bowed low to the ground and snapped his fingers. With a loud CRACK, he was gone.

Alex stared at the place where the funny little creature had disappeared and went back through the forest. She found her skateboard and climbed over the fence. She saw Hermione waiting on the back steps, looking worried.

"Alex!" she cried and ran over to her, "I was getting worried. Where were you? What happened?"

Alex told Hermione everything that happened. Hermione listened and after the story, frowned.

"He just disappeared, he couldn't have done that before?" she asked.

"He was too weak I guess, he was pretty battered up," said Alex, shrugging her shoulders.

"And what he said about Harry, that's pretty strange too," said Hermione.

"Have you heard from him lately?" asked Alex.

"No and neither has Ron. I'm starting to worry, Ron mentioned something about if he didn't write back soon, he was going to go and get him," said Hermione.

"I have an idea!" she said after a while, "He lives with his aunt and uncle right? They're Muggles, so they have a telephone. Let's look them up and call him!"

"I don't know Alex," said Hermione looking skeptical, "They don't seem like the type to let Harry talk to his wizard friends on their telephone."

"It can't hurt to try," said Alex, proud of her idea and not letting anything spoil it.

…

"Found it!" cried Uncle Monty.

The girls gathered around him, looking at where his finger was. They were looking in the phone book for the telephone number of Harry's aunt and uncle.

"Thanks Uncle Monty," said Alex and she took the book to her room, followed by Hermione. She dialed the number and waited patiently.

"Hello?" came a man's voice from the other end.

"Is this the Dursley residence?" said Alex, mimicking Professor McGonagall's stern voice.

"Who is this? We're not interested in anything you are selling," said the man rudely.

"This is Professor Minerva McGonagall, I wish to speak to Harry Potter. Is he available?" Alex asked, Hermione giving a look of horror.

The man sputtered and Alex waited for his response. To speed things up she added, "It is about disciplinary matters, I must talk to him about when he is to make up all of his detentions."

It worked, the man stopped sputtering. "I'll get him immediately," he said and Alex couldn't see him, but she could tell he was grinning by his tone. Alex looked at Hermione's still horrified face and gave her a thumbs-up.

"I can't believe you!" she whispered angrily, "If anyone finds out about this…"

"They won't," she said simply and Hermione let out an annoyed sigh.

Alex heard someone shout, "Boy, get down here!" and footsteps. There were a few words spoken and the sound of someone picking up the phone.

"H-Hello Professor," said Harry. Alex almost laughed out loud.

"Mr. Potter," she said in her impersonation of the Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration teacher, "Can you go somewhere where we cannot be disturbed? We have much to discuss."

"Yes Professor, hold on one minute please," he said. He sounded so frightened! There was silence and Harry's voice called distantly to hang up the phone. "All right Professor," he said as though he was going to the gallows.

"Are we not going to be overheard?" Alex asked.

"No, my aunt and uncle are downstairs and my cousin is over at a friend's house," he said.

"Hold on Harry, let me put you on speaker," said Alex, resuming her own voice. She pressed a button and laid the phone on her bed.

"Hi Harry!" the two girls said together.

There was silence on the other end.

"Harry, are you there?" asked Hermione confused.

"Yes, I'm here. Is that Alex and Hermione?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"You bet!" said Alex, "I told you it would work Hermione. We didn't mean to get you all scared Harry," she added, "I knew your aunt and uncle wouldn't want you talking to your friends because they seem pretty bad. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, just a little freaked out," he said, laughing.

"Where have you been Harry?" said Hermione, using her motherly voice, "We've been worried sick about you! We've written you tons of letters and haven't heard from you at all!"

"I haven't gotten any letters all summer," said Harry, he sounded upset, "I've written letters to you, but you haven't written back. I thought…" He paused. "You forgot about me."

"Forgot about you?" cried Alex, "Harry, how in Merlin's name could we forget about you, after all we did last year? You don't make that easy."

Harry laughed and Alex could tell he was feeling better.

"Where's Ron? How's he doing?" he asked.

"He's sick, I invited you three to come over for a couple days, but only Hermione could go," said Alex.

"My aunt and uncle wouldn't have let me go anyway," said Harry.

"Are they really that bad?" asked Hermione.

"Let me put it to you this way," said Harry grimly, "My day today consisted of making them breakfast, Dudley eats about ten pounds of bacon each morning, then cleaning the toilets, and afterwards I got rid of all the weeds in the garden. I made them lunch, Dudley eats about three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a day, and after I get off with you, I have to wash the car."

"That's horrible!" said Hermione, "That's child abuse!"

"Yeah," said Alex, "Your cousin must be huge!"

Harry and Hermione laughed.

"He's weighs about the size of a baby killer whale, no kidding," he said.

"How much longer are you going to be boy?" came a loud voice from Harry's end.

"Tell him you discussing whether or not to go into next year's summer," whispered Alex.

Harry told the man what Alex had said and he laughed maliciously. "They can keep you forever if they have to," he said and there was the sound of a door closing.

"Well…that was lovely," said Alex.

They spent the rest of the time talking about Hogwarts next year and Alex told Harry about the elf.

"He sounds mental," Harry said, sounding appalled, "You heard what my uncle said, I can't live here forever now that I know about the Wizarding World. Hogwarts is my home."

Finally, Uncle Monty called the girls down for dinner. Alex and Hermione didn't want to let Harry get off the phone.

"Go ahead you two," he said, "I'll be fine now that I know you tried to talk to me. Say hi to Ron for me, okay?"

"We will Harry, we promise," said Hermione.

"Maybe we'll try to call you again," said Alex, hopefully.

"Sure, but if not, see you on the train," he said.

They said good-bye and hung up. After sitting on Alex's bed staring at the phone for a few minutes, they went down to eat.

…

After talking to Harry, Alex sent a letter to Ron explaining Harry never got their letters and they never got his. It was mysterious, but Alex was having too much fun to dwell heavily on the matter.

Everyday, Alex had dance lessons so Hermione would come along to watch. Alex was happy that her friends at dance got along well with Hermione. They would even try to show Hermione some of the dance routine. Alex, Hermione, and Erin, Alex's best friend from dance, were walking home after one lesson and were doing just that.

"One, two, three, and four…" counted Erin.

She was showing Hermione the new dance moves they had learned. Hermione was a better dancer than an athlete. She was able to grasp what Erin was teaching her fairly quickly for never taking a dance lesson before.

"When do you go back to school?" Erin asked.

"Well, we need to be there on September 1st, but we should get our school supplies soon," said Alex, "Have you gotten a list yet Hermione?"

"No, not yet, but they usually come around now," said Hermione.

After saying good-bye to Erin, they went to Alex's house. When they arrived, there was a letter on Alex's bed along with a very tired owl.

"Oh you poor thing!" cried Hermione as she picked up the sleeping owl and put it in Monty's empty cage. Monty was on Alex's bed, watching the scene with humor.

Alex picked up the letter and recognized Ron's handwriting. She read the letter aloud.

Dear Alex and Hermione (if she's still there),

I just got your letter Alex, and I'm going to go and get Harry out of that terrible house. I know that Hermione will not approve (sorry Hermione), but he obviously is not having a good summer and no kid deserves that. Well, except for Malfoy but there are always exceptions to rules. Hopefully the next time I write to you Harry will be here as well. If I don't see you in Diagon Alley, see you on the train.

Your friend,

Ron Weasley

"Well," said Alex after a long pause, "I guess he's feeling better."

"I can't believe him!" cried Hermione, "How does he expect to get to Harry's house and take him home with him?"

Alex didn't answer but put the letter aside. She looked over at the old owl, which she recognized as Errol, the Weasley's family owl. She wrote a response as did Hermione, which was longer and angrier that Alex's, and sent the letter with Monty while Errol stayed in the cage.

"That bird needs to rest before making any more deliveries," said Alex.

Author's Note: What an interesting summer Alex is having! Quick note for you all: if you haven't figured it out yet, all this happened before Dobby went to Harry's house. There will be a mention of that later on, but I just wanted to make sure that was clear.

So what did you think of my first two chapters? Good, bad, so-so?

I know I said I would update before the New Year but life got in the way. Sorry everyone! If you don't want to answer my previous questions, you could tell me what your New Year's Resolution is. Mine is to survive senior year and to not fall ill with senior-itus, as well as continue to regularly update my story of course! ;) Please leave me a review for the New Year and Happy 2011 everyone!