Dobby's Friend
DISCLAIMER! This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy. Looking forward to the next movie!
When he is freed by Harry Potter, Dobby becomes the house elf of the boy-who-lived. With permission and assistance from the grateful Hogwarts house elves, the determined Dobby takes steps to ensure his wizard is safe and able to recover from years of neglect by every adult in his life. And the adults have to pay the price for abuse and neglect.
CHAPTER 04: 3 July Speechless
Harry was amazed at how calm he appeared in his memory of the battle with the basilisk. He hadn't cried or acted terrified – like he'd felt. After the memory ended with Fawkes carrying Harry and the others out of the chamber, Mr Tonks declared, "Order of Merlin First Class! This young wizard deserves a first-class award! And that book was a horcrux!"
Sharptooth was silent and pacing back and forth behind his desk, spitting against the wall occasionally but not releasing the lock on his door.
Harry asked about using the loo and the goblin waved one hand to reveal a door on the opposite wall that led to a human sized loo. Mr Tonks used the fast forward feature in the memory stone to examine the interactions with the memory of young Tom Riddle from the 1940's.
Sharptooth returned to his desk, summoned the rock and ended the playback of the memory. Mr Tonks returned to his chair as they waited for Harry to return to the office. The goblin touched several runes and looked satisfied that Tonks was startled when a table with a full English tea appeared between the chairs for the two humans.
Harry returned and paused before returning to his seat – the goblin smiled without revealing his teeth and said, "Mr Potter, I offer refreshments for my favourite client as we begin negotiations to make a great deal of gold for you, me, and Gringotts."
The wizard sat silently as the boy stared at the tea for a moment. Then Harry asked, "Can I fix your cup Sharptooth?"
"No, I don't drink human tea or eat your foods," the goblin replied. "You should fix your cup and plate first, then Mr Tonks can fix himself a cup and plate of sandwiches or biscuits."
While enjoying the tea and foods, Harry asked, "Sharptooth, can I ask what goblins eat and drink?"
The goblin grinned and displayed his fangs this time, appearing dangerous. Tonks interrupted to add, "Truth. Tell Mr Potter only the truth. He is looking for people to trust and trust is built on truth."
Sharptooth hissed and explained, "Mr Potter, many wizards don't believe that goblins are persons. We are among the many magical creatures that wizards consider 'tools that talk and walk.' We resent the being characterised as a tool because goblins were building our civilization under the earth centuries before men began scratching the dirt to grow grain so they could build their mud huts."
"I heard a professor deny the house elves were people. He called them tools," Harry replied. "But why do wizards and you think people live in mud huts?"
"The first houses and walls built by men were built of sundried mud bricks. They lasted a few years before rain washed them away. That's why goblins say men live in mud. The wizards adopted our thinking, but we know they still live in mud huts too. Their brick houses are made from mud and the cement is just more mud. And when humans use stone, they can't fit the pieces together properly, so they use more mud to hold the stones in place for a few hundred years."
"And goblins know how to do things differently?"
"There was one time we taught humans how to carve stones to fit perfectly so the Egyptians could build their pyramids. But they forgot how to do the work afterwards."
"Do goblins live underground by choice?"
"We do. The sunlight above the surface is poisonous to us…we return to our original state if we're exposed to the sun for more than six hours."
Tonks coughed, "Enough."
"No, you insisted," Sharptooth replied. "Mr Potter, goblins are creatures of stone. When goblins want to have snaffling, two or more of us gather around a small boulder and we hold it for ten days. When we feel the snaffling stirring in the stone, we roll it back and forth between us until it unrolls into a snaffling – a goblin child. After ten days, we are almost stone again ourselves, but we feed the child our food and drink. In about four years as humans count time, the snaffling begins his formal education and at ten years, he begins working while still learning."
"Wow! That sounds easy," Harry said. "I mean you really want a snaffling when you have one."
The goblin bowed his head but didn't say anything. Mr Tonks asked, "About the basilisk? How do we get to it?"
"Dumbledore would never allow a team of goblins into Hogwarts. 'His' castle is not open to just anyone," said Sharptooth.
"Except his pet Death Eater."
"Who is a Death Eater?" asked Harry who immediately realised who was the Death Eater. The young wizard growled, "Snape."
"If Dumbledore were a wise man, he'd hire Gringotts to harvest and manage the sale of the basilisk. The proceeds of the sale should be substantial and build up impressive amounts of gold in Mr Potter's personal vault."
Tonks said, "If Dumbledore were a truly honest man, that's what he'd do."
"I doubt he'll think about the basilisk until he needs galleons to pay for some robes or bribes for someone in the government."
"Not Umbridge – no one will be stupid enough to attempt to deal with that harpy."
Sharptooth muttered about stupid humans before he turned to Harry and asked, "Would you be able to slip into Hogwarts and reach the Chamber of Secrets without being seen?
"Sure," replied Harry thinking about his dad's invisibility cloak. "But how can that help?"
"If you take an anchor for port keys down into the chamber, Gringotts can send workers into the chamber to retrieve the basilisk."
"How about an elf?" asked Harry, not interested in taking the chance of being seen by anyone from Hogwarts this summer.
"An elf?" asked Sharptooth.
"Is there an elf that would help you?" asked Tonks.
Harry frowned and said, "Just a minute."
He popped away leaving the man and goblin speechless. In his room in the Leaky Cauldron again, Harry had to sooth Hedwig's feathers because he'd startled her. Then he called Dobby and the little elf appeared and hugged his friend.
After they greeted each other, the elf listened as his wizard explained about the need to harvest the basilisk.
Dobby pulled on his ears for a minute before Harry hugged him once again and asked, "What's up, Dobby?"
"Dobby not know nothing about up or down."
"No, no, I mean, what's is the problem that's got you concerned?
"Dobby and elves at Hoggiewarts has been cleaning the Chamber of Secretses. It be very dirty after a thousand years of snake skins and darkness."
"That's great!" exclaimed Harry.
"And elveses been carving up basilisk into giant jars so it not rot and stink up Chambers of Secrets and Hoggiewarts."
"That sounds like a good idea," agreed Harry. "Rotten meat stinks to high heaven."
"Is be heaven high?" asked the elf. Harry grinned and nodded.
Dobby cleared his throat and continued, "Mr Harry Potters, sir, Dobby and elves…No, Dobby using the strongest venoms for some things…if that be okay."
Harry replied, "Sure. I trust you, Dobby. You're my friend and know what you're about."
The elf stood taller, again determined to save his Mr Harry Potter from all his enemies.
"Can you pop with me back to the bank to meet my account manager and some wizard who've been talking with me about stuff this morning? The goblin wants to send goblins to the chamber of secrets to harvest the basilisk."
"No, Mr Harry Potters," Dobby replied immediately. "We must not let goblins into Chamber of Secrets. Once they land in chambers, they never leave and turn it into goblin lair. There'd be goblins underneath Hoggiewarts from then on and they not best friends with wizards or elves."
"Then how do we get the basilisk out?"
"Dobby and Hoggiewarts elves bring big glass jars to Goblin Gringotts for goblins to sell," the elf explained. "But we's keep out stuffies for Mr Harry Potters to use."
"What stuff do you think we should keep out?" asked Harry, pleasing the elf by saying 'we' again.
"Some of venoms, skin, fangs, and eyes. Eyes and venom make powerful wands for Mr Harry Potters and his children some days. Skin make wonderful tough boots to kick muggle cousins in teeth someday too."
Harry grimaced, "I hope I never see Dudley again."
Dobby smiled and didn't say anything.
"Let's get back to the bank," Harry declared, taking Dobby's hand and snapping his fingers.
The boy and an elf appeared back in Sharptooth's office, startling the wizard and goblin alike. Mr Tonks asked, "How in Merlin's truth did you do that, Mr Potter?"
Harry frowned, glanced at Dobby who winked at him, and then answered, "Magic?"
The goblin roared in laughter while the wizard's frown grew darker before he shook his head and took a deep breath. "You would be wise to keep your secrets, Mr Potter. Don't use this magic in front of other people again if you can help it."
Sharptooth was very disappointed that he couldn't see the Chamber of Secrets – it would have become a Gringotts colony in short order once he got portkeys placed among the stones underneath Hogwarts. But the elf proved powerful enough to bring the first jars of basilisk potion ingredients into his office (or other elves brought them invisibly).
Edward Tonks asked, "Mr Potter, may I speak with your elf for a moment?"
Noticing Dobby's nervous jerk when he heard the question, Harry remembered what Sharptooth had required, he said, "So long as you talk in front of me and don't try to cast any spells on my friend."
"No spells, just a couple questions," Tonks replied.
"Elf, Mr Potter has had a rough childhood and many injuries. I see that in the last couple weeks, someone has been feeding him the right potions to heal his chronic injuries, release his full potential, and protect his mind and magic."
The elf frowned and explained, "The healing lady at Hoggiewarts didn't do magic or spells to help Mr Harry Potters many times…Dobby not know if she blind, stupid, or made to ignore. Even glasses on Mr Harry Potters nose not right and that be easy fix for witch with magic spells."
"My Mr Harry Potters be healed and healthy before Septembers ride back to Hoggiewarts," insisted Dobby.
"Do you have all the potions you need for Mr Harry… for Mr Potter?"
"Dobby know to buy at Bristol Brewing, not any shop in Diagon Alley."
"That is the best potion brewer in Britain," Mr Tonks agreed. "Only the purebloods can afford their prices."
"Mr Potter will have sufficient galleons for all the potions he needs this summer," Sharptooth said after examining the first basilisk ingredients. "This is highest quality basilisk blood, meat…I can't wait to examine some of the venom."
"Mr Harry Potters keeping much venoms, skins, fangs, and eyes for future."
"What about the heart? It makes powerful wands!" the goblin insisted. "Wandmakers will pay plenty of gold for a basilisk heart."
"Basilisk heart work in wands for evil wizards and witches," growled Dobby. "They likes to turn people to stone and kill with wands that have basilisk hearts."
"Dobby don't bottle up the heart then," Harry said. "Do whatever you want with it but make certain it doesn't get used for any wands."
Sharptooth hissed at the galleons being ground into dust that would blow away. Edward Tonks frowned – for a moment he'd wanted to ask for the heart to study. But the Department of Mysteries had proven to have been infiltrated by evil wizards during the Death Eater insurrection – Rookwood lingered in Azkaban even now.
Edward Tonks shuddered imaging Bellatrix Lestrange with wand that included heart strings from a basilisk.
Sharptooth produced a contract for the young wizard to sign for the division of proceeds from the sale of the basilisk – 50% for Harry Potter and 25% for Gringotts, and 25% for Sharptooth. Dobby laughed and accused the goblin of having a sense of humour, a terrible insult for the account manager.
"What do you mean, Dobby?" asked Potter.
"Sharpsteeth is comedian…should be 95% for Mr Harry Potter and Sharpteeth fights with Gringotts champion for 1% from 5% for goblins."
Edward watched and remained out of the negotiations. He'd been prepared to intervene – the young wizard knew nothing about negotiations the goblins. But the elf seemed experienced in such dealings.
Thwarted for a second time in one day, Sharptooth hissed and said, "Now I recognize you, elf. Your old master wasn't as good at this stage of the game as you were, but he never listened to you, did he?"
Harry frowned and said, "I set Dobby free from his old master by a prank. It made the man furious, but Dobby protected me then and I'll protect him now. Do not tell anyone!"
The goblin frowned, nodded and returned to the negotiations. Bolstered by the defence by Mr Harry Potters, Dobby enthusiastically argued with the goblin until they reached the agreement of 90% for Potter and Gringotts getting 10%.
"How does Sharptooth get paid from that 10%?" Harry asked, curiously.
"Dobby knows not," the elf replied. "Be's goblin business."
When Harry looked at Mr Tonks, the wizard shook his head too. After a moment's thought, Harry said, "I want to reward Sharptooth for his faithful service for all the years I wasn't aware of anything about this Potter estate. He's protected it from anyone trying to access the funds."
He turned to Sharptooth and asked, "Did my grandfather ever give you a bonus?"
"He did not," Sharptooth growled.
Harry frowned and said, "Then I'll start a new tradition. Sharptooth, I want you to receive 2% of my share as a bonus and incentive to make certain we get every pound…galleon possible from these basilisk parts."
So, the contract was finalized with Harry Potter getting 88%, Gringotts receiving 10%, and Sharptooth receiving 2% directly into his vault.
After Harry and Sharptooth signed, Edward Tonks signed as the witness and the goblin handed Harry a new key to a new vault. Harry immediately handed the key to Dobby.
"Does your elf have the key to your trust vault?" asked Sharptooth.
"No…I think Dumbledore or Mrs Weasley has it."
"Elf, sometime tonight, find and retrieve the key to your wizard's trust vault," Mr Tonks said. He glanced at Harry and Sharptooth and added, "Perhaps you should ask for an audit, Mr Potter."
The goblin nodded so Harry asked for an audit.
"That concludes our business for today," Sharptooth said. "While we've talked, there have been deliveries of many jars of basilisk parts, so I must create and publish a catalogue of basilisk parts this afternoon. Parts will be for sale before sunset this afternoon and the catalogue will appear on every potion master's desk tomorrow morning.
"Can you not send one to Severus Snape?" asked Harry. "I hate that man."
"To single him out will draw attention to you and Hogwarts, Mr Potter. When he learned about the catalogue later, he'd ask lots of questions."
"Alright, but he'll yell and try to read my mind again," Harry said.
Sharptooth said, "Gringotts can't help you with that problem. Perhaps Mr Tonks can provide you with some item that will help with that problem."
The older wizard asked, "And when will the curse breakers examine Mr Potter's scar?"
"In two days," Sharptooth replied, consulting runes on his desk.
"Do reports just appear on your desk…inside the top of the desk?" asked Harry. "That's ingenious!"
Dobby popped away, pleased to have helped his wizard. Harry thanked his account manager and the wizard. Mr Tonks walked out of the bank with Harry and discussed a time for the young wizard to come to the ministry to discuss things with some wizards in his department.
"Can we talk somewhere away from the ministry? I don't want to take the chance of seeing one of my professors or the headmaster."
Edward Tonks considered the request and decided to pay attention to the young man's concerns. Umbridge was running wild after just a few days in office, throwing around decrees that alienated members of the Wizengamot and threatened to stir up trouble with the goblins, vampires, centaurs, and other sentient magical creatures. She'd be removed from office before many more days.
But he'd not take a chance on anything happening to Mr Potter.
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