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 11: 1 September Hogwarts Express

Lady Longbottom arrived via the floo to Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Train Station. She greeted other families warmly while her grandson and ward stumbled through the floo behind her. After lessons with both boys about using the floo they convinced the formidable witch it would help them fit back into their customary personas to appear to still bumble through a few things.

"Very well, but I expect both of you to use proper manners!" she demanded. "And warn your acquaintance Ronald Weasley that the Head of House for Gryffindor and the new Deputy Headmaster will not tolerate gross table manners! Ever!"

"We'll warn him Gran, but I expect Ron will get detention the first night," Neville said. "Since his brother Percy is head boy this year, he'll crack down on Ron."

"Nope. Mrs Weasley will send Percy howlers if he picks on Ron."

Lady Longbottom smiled but didn't reveal what would happen with howlers this year. They headmistress would collect the howler, magnify the charm, and send it back to the sender.

Both boys carried their shrunken trunks in a pocket of their trousers and wore a light outer robe over comfortable high-end muggle clothes for travelling. She was proud of them and after watching them board the train, she heading to Hogwarts herself to verify the final preparations for the new welcoming feast.

Harry and Neville spoke to Luna Lovegood, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, and several other students from all four houses. Percival Weasley and Penelope Clearwater as head boy and head girl were busy talking to every student – especially the firsties from all backgrounds. And surprisingly, Headmistress Tonks was on the train, talking to every older student, handing them booklets titled 'Code of Conduct' they would be responsible to follow this year.

Finding a compartment and continuing to talk with their classmates, the two boys were caught off guard when they saw Hermione Granger enter through the portal to muggle London and struggle with her trunk. Both boys rushed out to help her, and when she allowed them to take the excessively heavy trunk, she didn't notice that Harry cast an elven feather light charm on the trunk and shrank it by 15% to make it easier to fit through the doors of the carriages.

Hermione was so busy talking about the changes at Hogwarts she never noticed her two housemates easily handling her trunk into the overhead. Likewise, she never noticed their trunks were missing.

After talking with all the girls in third year that she could find, Hermione returned to compartment to begin her inquisition of where Harry had spent his summer and how Neville dealt with all the changes his grandmother forced on the staff at Hogwarts.

"Forced?" asked Harry. "What are you going on about Hermione?"

"I don't believe the stories about Headmaster Dumbledore being cursed for ever. His magic is strong, and he'll throw off the curse, save Professor McGonagall, Madam Pince, and Matron Pomphrey. You watch, they'll be back before Christmas!"

"I don't think that's how curses work, Hermione," Neville said.

"I read about it in book last week where a strong wizard can throw off a curse!"

"But Dumbledore is over a hundred years old," Harry said. "Is he as powerful at 130 as he was at thirty years old?"

"Let's see if Headmistress Tonks can provide you with some information," Neville said before he stepped out into the hallway. Hermione doubted that the new headmistress was present on the train and huffed when Harry explained that there were a lot of changes.

"What kind of changes?"

"There are lots of new classes to take this year – it is mandatory to take the Magical Manners class for all muggle-raised and muggleborn students. And all pureblood students must take the Modern World Class. They're going to show the purebloods modern trains, aircraft, and food stores."

Weasley Arrival

With the time of departure approaching. the missing Weasley brothers appeared with their father on the platform. Hermione watched them before she observed, "I wonder where Mrs Weasley and Ginevra are?"

"Dunno," Harry replied as Neville returned with a formidable witch, dressed in mixture of expensive witch's robes and muggle business.

"Miss Granger, allow me to introduce the new headmistress for Hogwarts, Mrs Andromeda Tonks," Neville said. He turned to the headmistress and said, "Headmistress, allow me to introduce Miss Hermione Granger from New House Granger."

Andromeda bowed her head and when Hermione looked surprised, Harry prompted her, "Bow your head. She's the head of our school."

Glaring just a moment at Harry Potter, Hermione recovered to acknowledge the introduction. Then she began a barrage of questions including, "When did you graduate from Hogwarts? What are your credentials to hold this position? When will Headmaster Dumbledore return?"

Recognizing a kindred spirit hungry for knowledge, Mrs Tonks replied, "Miss Granger, I graduated in Hogwarts in the 1970s. My university degrees in history and law were awarded by Oxford. I have extensive experience in education administration of education establishments. And I'm sorry to tell you, I doubt that Mr Dumbledore will ever return to Hogwarts. If he were able to throw off the curse that Mother Magic placed on his magical core, he'll have a year or two of rehabilitation to be able to cast spells again."

In a small voice, Hermione tried to deny the witch's news, "What…years?"

"Yes," Andromeda replied. Then she asked, "Miss Granger, did Professor McGonagall or Headmaster Dumbledore ever suggest that you and your parents visit Gringotts and have an ancestry chart cast for you?"

Blinking furiously, Hermione admitted that Professor McGonagall counselled against such a step on her first visit to the Granger home. Headmistress Tonks frowned and explained, "Granger is an unusual name in Magical Britain today but in the 1800's the family of Dagworth-Granger were renowned scholars and originators of new potions. They created the pepper-up potions that every wizard and witch depend on today."

"I'll write to my parents with the request," Hermione said. "And are there books in the library that will talk about that family?"

"Yes, many books have been returned to the library since Headmaster Dumbledore was admitted to Saint Mungo's. The headmaster had almost two thousand titles he'd forgotten to return to the library. There are three books about Mr Potter's family that I will ask Mr Free to reserve for him to read."

"Who is Mr Free?"

"The new librarian," the headmistress explained. "Now…"

Interrupting the headmistress, a familiar voice shouted, "Where the bloody Merlin have you been, Potter?"

Stomping into the compartment, dragging his trunk behind him, Ronald Weasley, didn't think twice about forcing the witch, Neville and Hermione to step away from the trunk as he swung it up to slide into the overhead.

"Ron, this is…"

"I don't bloody care who the witch is! Where have you been this summer? My Mum worried about you on top of worrying about Ginny and the…" Ron paused and then concluded, "I ain't supposed to talk about that other thing."

Andromeda turned to Harry and asked, "Mr Potter, would you make the introduction please?"

Hermione frowned that Harry had been asked but kept her opinion to herself and let Harry proceed, "Headmistress Tonks, allow me to introduce you to third year student, Ronald Weasley."

Ron's usual florid complexion turned white as Potter continued, "Ron, let me introduce you to Headmistress Andromeda Tonks (nee Black)."

Andromeda didn't smile or frown which concerned Ron and was noticed by Hermione. "Mr Weasley, I am pleased with your older brother Percival who is head boy this year at Hogwarts. I shall expect similar devotion to your studies that I found in reading his record. Will I find outstanding grades when I finally review the records for the third-year students?"

Ron remained silent until after the headmistress departed the compartment.

Welcoming Feast

There were no differences at Hogsmeade Station – the carriages waited to take the students to the castle and while Hagrid was present, a new wizard led the small boats across the lake with all the firsties on board as they caught their first glimpse of Hogwarts Castle.

At the entrance to the castle, Harry and his friends hurried inside in the crush of other students, with new adult faces everywhere. To provide some reassurance, Professor Sprout was stationed at the doors to the Great Hall, where she greeted everyone over and over again, a smile on her face. She did stop Neville for a moment to ask about plants, and she patted Harry on the shoulder but didn't speak to the young wizard.

Inside the great Hall, everyone was surprised to find the long tables divided with walkways between the tables at varying lengths. And the benches had been replaced by chairs that allowed everyone to sit and rise much easier than the old benches.

The enchanted ceiling was the same, the staff table was the same, and the students were the same. With all new staff but for Sprout, Harry realized the speeches would last longer but he hoped the firsties were sorted before the adults started talking.

Once he was seated at a table with Neville, Hermione, and Ron, Harry grinned when Dobby popped in and handed over three potion bottles.

"Evening Dobby," he greeted the elf.

"Mr Harry Potters drink his potions, eats good supper, and then talks with friends," the elf commanded.

"Yes, Dobby."

"Harry, what's that?"

Looking surprised for a moment, Harry replied, "Hermione, Dobby is a house elf. He works…he works here at Hogwarts and brought me my potions I have to take every night before supper."

Ron's only comment was, "Ginny's taking potions morning, noon and night to get over…the you-know-what."

"Hermione, don't call Dobby a 'that.' He's a person – different from me and you, but he's still a person," Harry argued.

"Of course, he's a person," Hermione agreed. Before she could begin a long discussion, a new book appeared in front of her about house elves and her attention was captured by new information.

Harry finished his potions before the new headmistress stood and welcomed everyone to a new year at Hogwarts. During the introduction to the new staff members – almost three times as many as the previous years – and the Boy-Who-Lived truly felt the new year would be better.

'I'll learn as much as I can this year,' he resolved. 'Dobby helped me have a decent summer, and I think the adults will be better this year.'

~~~~**~~~~ THE END

Appendix: Undetectable Basilisk Poisons

With permission from Wicked Jezebel, Dobby elf mixed various fluids from the basilisk with different mundane liquids to create vicious poisons that kill in different ways before completely fading away – like magic.

Basilisk Venom, Heart, and Blood blended with Sheep's Milk– Delivery via the mouth (Ingestion). This odourless, colourless liquid poisons within 45 seconds, burns up the digestive system, and then becomes neutral water.

Basilisk Venom and Blood blended with Goat's Milk – Delivery via Skin Contact. This poison dries instantly into a film that when touched, poisons the individual through their skin within 2 minutes. The film causes massive haemorrhaging of every organ in the body but when the individual dies, the poison vanishes and there is nothing left on the victim's skin or in their body.

Basilisk Venom and Blood blended with Cow's Milk – Delivery via Inhalation. This poison creates a fragrant gas that is sprayed into a confined area with the intended victim. The pleasant smell encourages the victim to breath in and then suffer a painful death. Again, when the individual dies, the gas dissipates quickly and leaves no residue behind.

Basilisk Venom and Blood blended with Fire Whiskey – Delivery via a muggle balloon. This poisonous mixture reacts with the magical core of the victim to instantly burn the victim away in a fast, hot flame that appears to be Spontaneous Combustion. The elves practiced delivery against dummies with temporary magical cores using potion bottles but the shards of the bottle that fell away from the victim remained as evidence of an attack. Using the balloons, left by a muggleborn student, allowed the elves to deliver the poisonous fluid in a vehicle that was totally consumed by the fire.