After dinner on the day the final sock had arrived Harry had sequestered a moment by himself before he was to show everyone some memories to remember Dobby. His heart pattered faster every single time he remembered someone who had passed in the events of the past few years. He had held Dobby in his arms as he passed which couldn't be said for most of those whom Harry had loved and died. He walked over to the wardrobe in his and Ron's room and grabbed the pensieve that Severus had left him. Using his wand he drew the memories one by one of Dobby that he was now able to laugh at. With the pensieve filled with the swirling mist of his past he went to let the others know he was ready.
He found everyone in the living room, each absorbed in eah others lively conversations, likely due to the latest research projects at WWW, as he came to the last stair. He found Ginny immediately, which was just part of habit now. He was met with a smile which now reflected his own. He nodded and Ginny was the first to stand, heading his way.
"I'll go bring the pensieve down then?" He said, leaving it as a statement.
"Whenever you're ready Harry my dear." Mrs. Weasley cooed, continuing to knit in her recliner.
Hand in hand Ginny and Harry went back up to the room together. As they walked through the door, Ginny stopped and tugged on Harry's hand, making him turn to face her. Her eyes radiated comfort and love through him, and there they stood together gathering strength and ending with a gentle kiss.
"I'm ready." He said, letting go of her hand to grab the fragile pensieve with both hands. "Let's go."
With Ginny leading the way, Harry got down to the living space where everyone of the Weasleys and Hermione were gathered. He placed the ornate and delicate chalice on the center table. "Alright, I put some memories of Dobby together for us. I just thought it might be nice to remember the good.." He tapered off quietly. Everyone got up and came to the table, instinctively Ron and Hermione were side by side next to Harry and Ginny.
"Here we go then." Ginny said with a small smile and the group leaned forward together in Harry's memories.
They each saw a very young looking Harry walking into his jail of a bedroom at the Dursley's. A slight growl came from Mrs. Weasley as she saw the bars on Harry's window. Harry and Mrs. Weasley made eye contact but there was nothing but love in her eyes. They laughed as they saw Dobby snap and drop the cake on his relative's head, and even more so when they saw the horrified look on Harry's face. They watched on smiling as they saw Ron and Harry run cart first into the Platform at King's Cross when Dobby had tried to keep them from Hogwarts. The scene dissolved into the Infirmary at night where Harry was restlessly tossing back and forth after being hit with the wonky bludger during his Quidditch match. They laughed as little Harry threatened to strangle the elf for interfereing, Hermione giving him a reproachful look.
"If you liked that one 'Mione you'll love the next." Harry chuckled as the next memory came across. It was the middle of the night or so the group thought seeing the darkness outside the dormitory windows. A bit older Harry came walking down the spiral staircase into the commons of Gryffindor tower where he saw Dobby. Everyone smiled as they saw the memory Harry smile fondly at the elf.
"Dobby! What are you doing in here?" Harry asked.
"Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is here to clean Gryffindor tower sir!" He said as he picked up remaining tea cups.
"Have you always cleaned these quaters Dobby?" Harry asked curiously, honestly never putting much thought into who kept the commons so clean.
"Oh no sir, but the other house elves refuse to come here! Two of them were set free when they accidentaly picked up socks that someone had left for them! They were most upset sir! Now all the other elves are 'fraid!"
"Ughn." Harry groaned, knowing exactly who was to blame.
Meanwhile, Hermione squeaked and covered her mouth as she realized what had happened. "That was the point though right? To set them free?" She asked, looking from George to Ginny, to her best friends.
"Umm just wait for it." Harry said cautiously, motioning for them all to look back to the memory.
"So you have to go around and clean the entire tower alone?" Harry asked, slowly sinking into his favorite armchair.
"Harry Potter is kind to ask after Dobby. But no matter, Dobby takes all the left behind socks so that other elves will come back to clean."
"So you're the one taking all the socks?" Harry asked, his voice slightly high at the realization.
"Yes, Dobby takes them."
As Harry was sitting in his chair he covered his face with one hand in slight exasperation but then began to laugh. Hard. Dobby stopped what he was doing and looked over at Harry peculiarly.
"Is Harry Potter alright?" He asked, taking a step closer.
Harry kept laughing until he was all laughed out, hunched over in his chair holding his stomach. He looked up and smiled at Dobby, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. "Thank you Dobby. I'm doing much better now. Is there anything I can help you with before I head back up?" He asked the elf whose eyes went wide and then smiled.
"Thank you very much. Go sleep now Harry Potter!"
"Goodnight Dobby." He called down the stairs he was already slowly climbing, with a smile on his face.
"Harry Potter!" Hermione roared as she went straight for him and slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "You let me go on believing that S.P.E.W. was setting house elves free left and right?! How come you never told me it was all just Dobby!"
"Dobby and I thought it best not to tell you." He replied quietly, still hand in hand with Ginny. "I saw how much your organization meant to you and I hated the thought of you losing such a passion you had."
The group was silent, waiting for the reaction they thought they knew was coming. Hermione didn't say a thing, she just stepped right up to him and hugged him. They stood for a moment and broke apart as the last of the few memories started to play on.
"This last one is my favorite, and I think most important. The way we should always remember Dobby." Harry introduced the memory with a ghost of a smile.
"Let us hope that Harry Potter will always be around to save the day." They heard the low and ferocious remark growled out from Lucius Malfoy who was as close to Harry's face as possible without touching it. As he turned to leave the group of on-lookers were surprised to hear what came next from little Harry, "Don't worry, I will be."
"Harry my boy! You had a death wish even at the spry age of 12 didn't you?" George asked, amusement sparkling in his eyes. Everyone smiled.
"He was asking for it." Harry simply replied, a smile creeping up on his face too.
Harry walked back into Professor Dumbledore's office and asked him to keep the diary. They saw the twinkle in the Professor's eyes that they all had missed for some time now. Harry was then running down the hallway to keep up with Lucius. They saw Harry hand him the diary and then Lucius handing it to Dobby.
"Open it!" Harry whispered urgently to Dobby as his master started walking away.
Everyone watching the memory had unshed tears in their eyes, besides Hermione who was fully shedding tears now.
'Master has presented Dobby with clothing. Dobby is freeee!"
"Preposterous! I did no such-" He looked down as Harry picked up his pant leg. "You lost me my servant!"
There was a collective gasp as everyone watched Lucius Malfoy draw his wand on an unarmed second year. "Harry!" A couple exclaimed unsure of what would happen next.
"Dobby will NOT let harm come to Harry Potter. Dobby is free!" The elf snapped his fingers and Lucius was sent flying almost completely down the corridor. The memory dissolved on the final image of Harry and Dobby smiling together.
Harry looked around at everyone standing side-by-side in their circle. Each and every person looked up at him and sent a gratifying nod or smile.
"Thanks Harry. Those were all wonderful memories." Ginny said, giving his hand a squeeze. Mrs. Weasley was already on her way over to give Harry a short but firm hug. Ron clapped him on the back and everyone took their spots again. It was quiet for a few minutes but things became lively again when questions were asked or others' memories were told. All in all, everyone went to bed that night with a smile on their face and a fond memory on their mind.