Chapter 2: A Conversation with Dobby

Harry woke with a groan around 10 hours later. His body felt stiff and sore, his eyes were crusted with sleep, and he smelled horrible. He had fallen asleep in his filthy robes still covered in his blood, the basilisk's blood, the slime and filth from the pipe that led to the Chamber, and the ink from the diary. He slowly rolled out of bed and stretched his sore muscles.

'A shower is definitely needed.'

40 minutes later Harry was sitting on the lid to his trunk at the foot of his bed. He had scrubbed his hair and body three times, it took a long time to get the ink stains off his skin. It took an extra scrub just to feel clean again. His filthy, torn robes were in a small pile in front of his trunk. He had put on a baggy old t-shirt of Dudley's and some jeans.

"Dobby," he said quietly. He wasn't sure how just saying Dobby's name would call the elf to him, but he wanted to give it a try. Besides, he knew his bed needed to be changed at this point and he wanted to have a proper conversation with his new house elf.

With a small POP Dobby appeared next to him, "Master Harry has called for Dobby?" The elf had cleaned the pillow case he wore as clothes and looked to be far healthier than had even last night.

'He looks like a different elf.'

"Yeah, how does that work anyway?" Harry asked the elf.

"When Master calls for Dobby, Dobby can hear the call through the bond," the little elf said proudly.

"So, no matter where you are, or where I am, will you be able to come to me?" Harry inquired, he was starting to understand that this could be very useful in the future.

"If Master calls, Dobby must answer," was all Dobby said in reply.

'Ok, that just added to my questions instead of answering one.'

"So let me get this straight," Harry started slowly, thinking hard, "the way you make it sound, your highest priority is to serve your 'master' as you put it?" Dobby nodded enthusiastically at Harry's understanding. "So, if someone were to put you somewhere you could not normally get out of," Harry paused, "Speaking of which, what do you call what you do to appear to me like that?" Harry changed direction of his question because he wanted to get Dobby to understand his question better.

"We elves call it 'Popping', Master Harry."

"Right, so if you were somewhere where you couldn't normally 'pop' but I called you anyway, would you be able to 'pop'?" Harry asked. He was beginning to think that whatever magic house elves had control over didn't follow the laws of wizarding magic, and if he was correct then the wishes of an elf's 'Master' would trump most other forms of magic. This must include some wards which Hermione had explained in depth during a discussion about the protections the castle provided. This conversation had happened shortly after the troll attack in first year. She had explained that the troll should not have been able to get past the wards without someone making a hole in them.

"Yes, Master Harry. Normally, wizards cannot 'pop' inside of Hogwarts, but elves can if they be answering their Master."

Harry nodded his understanding then asked Dobby, "So besides being able to show up where I need you, what else can you do?" Dobby looked affronted by the question and Harry quickly explained, "You see I've never had a house elf, and you are the first and only one I have ever met. I wasn't sure how to ask that without seeming insensitive but I was hoping you could help me understand."

Dobby's expression immediately changed to one of delight as he started rambling off the various tasks he could perform. Everything from cooking and cleaning, to buying things for him at wizarding shops. He even mentioned something to do with acting as a third party to vows, something Harry knew nothing about but now that he knew they existed he was going to look into them.

Harry glanced down at the pillowcase Dobby was wearing, "Dobby, I understand that giving you clothes would free you, but does that count if I gave you something better to wear instead of that pillowcase?"

"Master Harry cannot be giving it to Dobby, but if Master Harry gives Dobby permission, Dobby can be making himself something to wear," Dobby answered, he had a hopeful gleam in his eyes for a second before it disappeared and his face crumpled, "Dobby's old family wasn't letting Dobby wear anything better than a pillowcase. They once had Dobby wear an old potato sack until it fell apart. They only let Dobby have the pillowcase because Mistress said it would last longer and it was ruined anyway. Dobby was able to make himself this with what was left."

Harry felt his heart break for the poor elf. He understood what it felt like to be treated like that. After all, he had never owned any clothes that were his own prior to Hogwarts. All of his muggle clothes were many sizes too big for him and were all cast offs from his whale of a cousin Dudley.

"Very well," Harry said, trying to sound official. He wasn't sure how to give proper orders to a house elf but he figured sounding authoritative wouldn't be a bad start, "I want you to make yourself a proper set of clothes. I don't like wearing the rags I wear so I don't want you to have to wear rags either."

Dobby started wailing and thanking Harry over and over again for being 'The Best Master'. Harry's face burned in embarrassment but he was pleased that Dobby seemed so happy about his first, real order to the elf. The elf popped away but was back in seconds wearing a clean white toga with a scarlet belt that had a golden buckle. The look brought pictures of the Ancient Romans to Harry's mind's eye.

"That looks really good, Dobby," Harry commented.

"Dobby is happy to wear something fitting for a Master of Master Harry's standing," Dobby said, as if that was all one had to say on the matter.

'Oh Merlin, now I have standing?'

After a few seconds of silence, Harry carefully asked, "Now that you don't work for the Malfoy family, can you tell me some of the things that they did to you? I have my own issues with the Malfoy's but I can't imagine working for them was pleasant."

Dobby took a long while to speak, it looked as if he wanted to make for the bedside table and grab the lamp but caught himself.

'He must have remembered that I banned self punishment last night.'

Finally Dobby spoke, "The Malfoy's were bad, bad wizards. I must keep their secrets, even after being freed, but Dobby can say they are very bad. Mistress never hurt poor Dobby, but Dobby thinks that is because she acted like Dobby wasn't there. House elves are not supposed to be seen, 'tis a mark of a good elf to be able to do work without being seen or heard. But, Mistress never called for Dobby. Dobby only heard her speak once when she told Dobby about the pillowcase. Young Mister Malfoy was mean. He tested Magic on poor Dobby. Spells, potions, and other bad things. Master Malfoy was in charge of Dobby's punishments. Master usually kicked Dobby if he made a mistake. If Master wasn't around, Dobby was told to punish himself instead."

Harry felt his blood boiling the more the elf spoke. 'So, Draco liked to try out spells on Dobby. Maybe he would make a good test subject in the future then. A little payback for Dobby's sake.'

"I am very sorry that you had to put up with them, Dobby," Harry replied. "I promise I will be a much nicer Master for you going forward."

"You already have, Master Harry," Dobby said, embarrassed. "Dobby is just happy to be serving Master Harry now."

"One thing you said doesn't make sense to me though," Harry said. "How are you supposed to work without being seen?"

"Dobby does most of his work while Master and Mistress is sleeping. If Dobby is asked to do work while they is being awake, Dobby can make himself invisible. Wizards call is Dislusionmint I think," Dobby responded.

"Wait, you can make yourself invisible?" Harry said, shocked.

Dobby clicked his fingers and he disappeared. Harry didn't hear a POP though so he was sure Dobby was still there. Then Dobby spoke, "Can Master see Dobby?"

"No, you are very much invisible," Harry chuckled. This made plans for the summer far easier for him. He had been worried that the second the Dursleys spotted Dobby they would either kill him, kick him out, or beat him and Harry for their 'freakishness'.

Harry had never told anyone else about how the Dursleys had treated him, but after hearing Dobby explain his life with the Malfoys and thinking about how the summer was going to go had the words kind of just tumbling out, "The relatives I live with in the summers treat me much the same as the Malfoys treated you. My uncle hits me when I do something 'freakish'. My cousin and his gang like to chase me around and beat me up. My aunt makes me do all the housework for them. If I don't do these things fast enough, or to their standards, I am denied food and locked into my room," Harry said bitterly.

"Dobby doesn't understand," Dobby said with tears in his eyes, "why would Master Harry's family treat the Great Harry Potter like a house elf?"

"They think I am a burden and hate anything Magic. You remember the pudding you dropped in the kitchen this summer?" Dobby looked sheepish but nodded, "Well, after that I was locked in my room for days. Vernon put prison bars on my window so I couldn't use the window to escape. They fed me cold soup through a flap in the door. I was only allowed out once a day to use the bathroom and only for a couple of minutes. Before the pudding, they weren't entirely aware that I wasn't allowed to use magic at home during the holidays. But, after that levitation charm, I was given an official warning from the Ministry of Magic right in front of them. That gave them all the reason they needed not to be scared of me or the magic I could use against them anymore."

"Dobby did a very bad thing," Dobby whined after Harry finished.

"What do you mean, Dobby?" Harry asked. He had already forgiven the elf for causing the disaster that Vernon's dinner party had turned into.

"The Ministry doesn't pay attention to house elf magic," Dobby answered in a whisper. He was cringing away from Harry, waiting for Harry to start shouting or hitting him. "Dobby faked your wand's Trace in order to get you in trouble so you wouldn't come back to Hogwarts."

"Wait," Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing, "what is the Trace?"

"It is a charm that is put on all wands that will not be removed until you are of age." Dobby was still cringing away waiting for the hammer to fall.

"So, does that mean that you can do magic around me during the summers and it won't get me in trouble?" Harry was starting to see a whole multitude of uses for this information.

"Yes, Master Harry," Dobby said. He started relaxing a little when he noticed that Harry wasn't getting mad.

"Relax Dobby, I am not mad, I forgive you for what you did this summer," at which Dobby fully relaxed and started smiling. "Can you take people with you when you 'pop'?"

Dobby nodded and explained, "Yes, Master Harry. Dobby can take you just about anywhere by 'popping'. There are a few places, like Gringotts vaults, that even Dobby cannot get into, but Dobby can tell if a place can't be 'popped' to."

Harry now fully understood how different his life was about to be. He didn't have to stay at his Aunt and Uncle's house anymore. He could go anywhere he wanted, whenever he wanted. If Vernon decided to get violent with him, Dobby could just blast him away like he had done to Lucius Malfoy last night. "That's brilliant, Dobby!"

"Does Master Harry have any more questions, or perhaps some work for Dobby?" Dobby asked hopefully.

'Seems the little guy really does like working.'

"Well, if it isn't too much trouble, would it be possible to clean the bedding? I barely made it to my bed before falling asleep and my robes are still filthy. I'm sure the bedding is ruined by now."

Dobby snapped his fingers and the bedding was instantly and magically cleaned and the bed was made properly. "Is there anything else Master Harry needs from Dobby?"

Harry, who couldn't believe what he had just witnessed with the bedding, was staring at the elf with his mouth agape, "That was wicked!"

Dobby blushed and looked down in embarrassment, "Dobby only be doing what Master Harry asked of Dobby," he muttered.

"Well, you did an excellent job then Dobby," Harry told him. At the praise, Dobby started tearing up and beaming at Harry, "Do you know what time it is?" Harry asked him.

"It being close to 6 in the evening, Master Harry. Dinner is just about being over."

Harry groaned, he was famished and his stomach was starting to hurt from hunger. He hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday after all. "Would it be possible for you to bring me some food since I probably won't make it to dinner?"

"Yes, Master Harry, Dobby will be right back!" With another soft POP Dobby disappeared again. Harry looked around the room and saw that Ron's bed was empty, along with everyone else's.

'Probably at dinner.'

A few seconds later Dobby popped back in next to Harry's bed. What he saw on his bed left him speechless. Dobby was looking anxious, and on the bed were four large platters. On one platter was nothing but treacle tart, and lots of it. Another platter carried a bowl of mashed potatoes and a serving tureen of gravy. The third platter had a dish of french onion soup that looked big enough to feed the entire dorm. The last platter had a large stack of bread on it that was lightly toasted and buttered.

"Dobby, what is all of this?" Harry asked after he found his voice.

"Dobby is asking the Hogwarts elves what Master Harry's favorites are. They is telling Dobby and Dobby is making them for Master Harry," Dobby answered nervously.

"Wow, thank you Dobby. They were right, those are my favorites, but it looks like there is enough here to feed the whole dorm."

"Whatever Master Harry doesn't eat will be returned to the kitchens," Dobby said matter of factly.

"Well, thanks again Dobby. Do you want to eat some of this with me?" Harry asked. As soon as he finished speaking he knew he had, once again, said something that the elf wasn't expecting. Dobby burst into tears and sank down to the floor weeping. Harry hurried around the bed and put a comforting hand on the elf's shoulder and waited for him to finish.

"Master Harry is such a kind Master, elves are never asked to eat with their Masters. It is unbecoming of a house elf to eat while Master is eating," Dobby choked around his sobs.

"I would prefer if you ate with me, Dobby," Harry said, "I'm not sure when you normally would eat if not with me, but as I said before, you are more than my house elf, you are my friend."

Dobby beamed at him and for the next few minutes they ate in companionable silence. Harry enjoyed his meal immensely and thanked Dobby profusely for supplying it. Dobby waved off his thanks and popped away with the empty dishes and remaining food. Harry also noticed his small pile of filthy robes had disappeared with the elf as well.

'I could get very spoiled by that little guy.'