Chapter Two
He'd managed to get the track set up and turned the train bright scarlet to match the Hogwarts Express when there was a knock on the door. The portrait of Walburga Black started screaming about blood traitors earning a silencing spell from Lily who was fed up of people shouting at her.
Harry jumped up and ran down the stairs. He threw his arms around Neville and Draco who hugged him back.
"Good to see ya Harry." Neville smiled.
"You too." Harry grinned.
Danica barged past them and hugged Alice's legs,
"Can I see the babas?" She asked standing on her tiptoes.
Alice laughed gently and nodded, "Let's go through to the sitting room and you can have a cuddle after I feed them."
Danica jumped up and down happily before running into the sitting room. She climbed up onto a big squishy arm chair and let Alice lower one of the babies into her arms.
"They smell funny." Danica giggled wrinkling her nose up, "Stinky baby."
"Danica. That's not nice." Snape told her, taking a seat.
Harry smiled and sat down on the big sofa with Draco and Neville. Kreacher busied about getting cups of tea for everyone with small cakes and biscuits.
"Did you have a good summer so far?" Draco asked helping himself to a custard cream.
Harry nodded, "Apart from the missing letters it's been pretty good. Hagrid took us out for a picnic and showed Danica her first unicorn. He was beautiful and Danica has added a unicorn to her list of pets she wants."
"That's amazing." Neville said, he looked over to where Danica was sitting with Hallie on her knee, telling her all about iguanas, "I wish we knew where all the letters went."
"Yeah me too." Draco nodded.
"How was your holiday Neville? I hear you're going away." Lily said.
Harry frowned at his mother, it was unlike her to change the subject so randomly.
"My holiday has been pretty good; we're going to Spain in a couple of weeks. It's been pretty quiet so far what with the twins." Neville said.
"Are you going to Hogwarts next year?" Lily asked Thomas, Neville's younger brother.
Thomas shook his pale blond hair out his eyes, "No, not next year but the year after though."
"I can't believe how big you've gotten already." Snape smiled, "How about you Draco? Have a good holiday?"
"Yeah it's been good. Apart from a visit early in the holidays from darling Aunt Bella who was acting even more strangely than normal it's been pretty good. I've got high hopes that I'll make the Quidditch team this year."
Narcissa shook her head, "Bella just had something on her mind I'm sure."
"Well I'm glad you've had a good time." Lily smiled and sat down with her daughter, taking the baby so Danica could go and play as the room continued with small talk and catching up.
Harry had a wonderful birthday and after a huge early dinner, a wonderful cake and yet more presents, even a quick visit from Lupin.
Harry even managed to pull his mother to the side at the end of the evening and ask her about the subject change.
"I'm just not sure we should be talking about the missing letters." Lily said awkwardly.
"Why? I don't understand." Harry said.
"We don't know who's taken them." Lily pointed out, "Sirius… it's been suggested that it might have been Dumbledore. We don't know though so please don't panic and we will absolutely tell you if anything is confirmed."
Harry smiled, "I'm not going to worry. It might just be that Hedwig has a boy friend after all."
Lily laughed, "Very true. Right off to bed you. Happy birthday Harry."
Harry dragged himself off to his room. It was still early but Harry needed a lie down and was looking forward to having a rest on his bed and reading one of his new books. Remus had gotten him a set on the life of werewolves which he was very interested in reading.
He stopped. His door was slightly open, he was sure he'd shut it. Danica knew not to go into his room but that didn't mean she always listened he told himself.
He walked in and gasped. Sitting on the bed, flapping his ears was Dobby.
"Dobby what are you doing here?" Harry asked trying not to sigh too loudly.
"Dobby is honoured to meet the amazing Harry Potter!" Dobby hopped off the bed and gave a low bow.
"Dobby we have met before." Harry said gently, wondering if he could call his mother without Dobby noticing,
"Not like this Master Harry Potter, not when Dobby can actually speak to you." Dobby played with his filthy pillowcase. He refused to wash or change it like the others did. Determined that he was protesting something but Harry wasn't sure what.
"Well why are you here?" Harry asked backing towards the door, he didn't think Dobby would hurt him but house elves are powerful and Lily always told him Dobby was 'a bit confused'. Dobby snapped his fingers and the door shut, Harry heard the lock click into place.
"Master Harry Potter cannot leave! I have to help!" Dobby pleaded, "Dobby must put his ears in the oven for even coming here!"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Dobby...you've never had to do that, even during the war you didn't have to hurt yourself for just going around."
Dobby bunched up his pillowcase and frowned, "Well Dobby feels like he has to and it's not the point!"
Harry took slow steps to the bed and sat down next to Dobby, patting his head gently, "Dobby do you want to go home? See your mum?"
Dobby shook his head, "I have to worn Harry Potter of the danger!"
Harry froze, "What danger?"
"There is a plot. A plot to make most terrible things happen! The book, it talks! Harry Potter must not go back to school this year." Dobby clutched hold of the front of Harry's top.
"Dobby I have to go back to school; I have lessons and exams and I want to see my friends." Harry tried to explain.
"Friends who don't even write to Harry Potter." Dobby said crossing his arms over his chest.
Harry took a few deep calming breaths to stop himself from hitting the house elf, "Dobby, do you have my letters? I know they've been writing to me."
Dobby looked very awkward for a moment before pulling out a stack of letters, tied together with a scrap of ribbon that had seen much better days. Harry took the letters and flicked though them, he recognised the hand writing of his friends and sighed. He tucked the letters under his pillowcase and turned back to Dobby.
"Dobby. Thank you for giving me back my letters but you shouldn't have taken them, it was very bad. Can you tell me any more about this big threat?" Harry asked gently.
"No I am not allowed. They swore Dobby to keep quiet!"
"I don't think Draco's parents would mind if you told me." Harry suggested.
Dobby froze and began to smack his head off the window still shouting loudly that he was a bad Dobby.
Harry grabbed hold of him and forced him to sit back on the bed, "It's OK, you don't have to tell me. Can you tell Mum?" Harry said rubbing his back soothingly.
"Harry Potter must promise not to go back to school!" Dobby begged, sniffling through tears.
"Dobby I'm sorry I can't do that but I promise I will-" Harry felt like he was folded up and pushed through a very small tube. There was a loud ringing in his ears as he struggled to find his balance.
As he looked around he could see he wasn't in his room any more; he was in a very neat and polished hallway. Harry thought he might be in a show room for a moment before he recognise the magnolia wall paper on one side and the brown and green flowery wall paper on the other.
"Dobby!" Harry whispered frantically, "What are we doing at the Dursley's?!"
"Harry Potter must promise. I must make Harry Potter safe!" Dobby said stomping his feet.
Harry pressed against the wall and began to panic. Grimmauld place was miles and miles away from 4 Privit Drive there was no way he could get home. He didn't even know the way. He could hear voices and forced laughter coming from the formal lounge, Petunia's pride and joy that Harry had never even been allowed to step foot in before in case he made it dirty.
Dobby walked forward towards the door and looked round. The lounge was attached to a small kitchen. Dobby pointed up at a huge pavlova, with mountains of cream that was sitting on the kitchen counter.
"Dobby what are you doing?" Harry whispered, he could see two strangers sitting with their backs to him.
"Dobby we have to go. Uncle Vernon has a big meeting tonight those people are important." Harry pleaded with him.
Dobby nodded, "Dobby knows that. Promise you wont go back to school Harry potter."
"Dobby I'm starting to get angry." Harry said as forcefully as he could when really he was just feeling rather panicked, "Now take me home."
"Dobby must do this. For Harry Potter's own good. One last chance Harry Potter. Promise!" Dobby said loudly.
Aunt Petunia gave a small tinkly laugh and made some excuse about Dudley leaving his TV on in his rush to get down to greet the Masons.
"I will, I wont go back." Harry said rolling his eyes, "I'll tell Mum I'm in danger and I wont go back. are you happy?"
Dobby shook his head, "You can't tell your mother and I don't believes you Harry Potter. You is lying. Oh Harry Potter...Dobby is sorry."
Harry watched in horror as Dobby clicked his fingers and the large pavlova floated into the air and towards the purple suited lady who, from Petunia's calls to Lily, Harry guessed was Mrs Mason. Harry watched helplessly as the pavlova that must have taken his aunt ages floated above their guests head.
All three of the Dursleys looked over and saw Harry's face looking round the door. Their faces fell as Dobby clicked his fingers again and what ever magic was holding up the pavlova left and it crashed in a pile of cream, strawberries and meringue on Mrs Mason's head.
"Oh my!" Petunia cried as Mrs Mason picked bits of cream and meringue off her suit and out of her hair.
"What is this?" Mr Mason bellowed wiping cream off his suit arm. Mrs Mason screamed loudly as an owl swooped in though the open window and perched in the kitchen.
"Is this some sort of joke?!" Mr Mason shouted, standing up and dragging his hysterical wife to his side, "My wife is terrified of birds and this? Dropping dessert on her head? Is this some sort of joke?" he demanded.
Vernon stood up and shook his head, "I'm so sorry, this is my nephew, I didn't realise he would be here."
"He's what 11? 12? And he just magically appeared? Don't play games with me!" Mrs Mason shrieked.
"He runs away from home." Petunia bluffed, "He's...special is what his mother says."
"I have never been so insulted! We're leaving! Keep your tall tales to yourself!" Mr Mason said angrily dragging his wife from the house. Dobby who was still there shaking his ears seemed completely invisible to them all.
"I'm sorry Harry Potter but it's for the best." Dobby clicked his fingers and vanished from the hallway before Harry could say anything else.
"Dobby! How am I meant to get home?!" Harry shouted at thin air.
Petunia and Vernon stared at Harry who realised he was being stared at and awkwardly tried to wave goodbye to the Masons as they pushed past him.
"Get in here." Petunia hissed.
Harry shuffled forward, "I can explain."
"Thought you'd have a little game? Didn't like me take attention from you when I dared to ring my sister?" Petunia said, her voice deadly quiet.
"It's not like that-" Harry protested.
"I can't see any other reason for it." Vernon snarled, "For ruining my meeting, my deal! You have cost me thousands boy. Where is your mother?" he spat the words out.
Harry shook his head, it was pointless trying to argue, "She's not here."
Vernon jumped up from his seat with more speed than Harry thought was physically possible for such a big man and grabbed him by the scruff of his top. Vernon dragged him out into the hallway and pulled open the cupboard under the stairs.
"Dudley!" he shouted, Dudley waddled through from the lounge standing wide eyes and looking rather stupid.
"Y...yeah dad?"
"Clear all this junk out of here." Vernon ordered pointing with his free hand to the cupboard, "Quickly!"
Dudley hurried over and dragged out a shelf, broken vacuum cleaner, a working vacuum cleaner and several boxes of broken or old toys he no longer played with. Vernon roughly shoved Harry roughly into the now nearly empty cupboard. He managed to get his hands in front of him and brake his fall before he hit his head.
Vernon slammed the door shut, making dust fall into Harry's hair, and locked it. Harry couldn't see very much around him, he felt around and found a light switch. At least now he could see though that made the situation seem worse not better.
"Clear this stuff upstairs." Vernon told Dudley, "Stick it in your spare bedroom."
"But I don't want to." Dudley huffed, "I've done loads tonight and it's my room and it's not my fault that Harry messed everything up and it's not fair and-"
"Enough!" Vernon shouted, "I've also had a very difficult evening. My job is at risk now! I've lost a huge deal! Just get this stuff out of my way while I deal with the criminal we've got here."
"We should call the police." Petunia put in, "He broke into the house." she pointed out.
"And tell them what?" Vernon asked with a snort, "That we've had a wizard break in and ruin everything? Dropping pavlova on people's heads?"
There was a loud squawk from the little brown owl that was still sitting in the kitchen waiting to deliver the letter. Vernon glared at it and then ignored it and grabbed the phone.
He punched in a phone number and it rang a few times. Snape picked up on the other end and answered politely.
"Hello this is the Snape and Black residence, how may I help you?"
"Your son is here!" Vernon spat.
"What?!" Severus shouted on the other end, Vernon's face twisted into a cruel smile.
"Petunia are you there?" Lily said taking the phone, "Why is Harry there? Is he OK?"
"It's me, not your sister and your brat is fine for now." Vernon spat.
"How did he get there, Vernon what's going on?" Lily begged, "Look I'm on my way."
She hung up the phone much to Vernon's annoyance. He slammed the phone back down in it's holder and stomped into the sitting room.
When Lily arrived a few moments later, Severus holding tightly to her hand, Petunia was angrily cleaning the cream off her expensive carpet and sofa, muttering about the fabric being ruined.
"You shouldn't be in here, you're making the place dirty." Petunia spat.
Vernon came into the room like an angry bull hitting the door so hard it wobbled on it's hinges.
"Where's Harry?" Lily asked.
"We've got him contained." Vernon sniffed.
The owl gave yet another angry hoot. Snape moved past Vernon and took the letter. He pulled open the seal and glanced over it's contents.
"Read it out loud." Vernon told him.
Snape ignored him but Vernon snatched the letter, "Are you listening Potter?" he called out. Harry pressed his ear against the door and listened as best as he could.
Vernon coughed dramatically to clear his throat,
"Dear Mr Potter,
We have received intelligence that a 'Hover Charm' was used at a muggle family members place of residence this evening at twelve minutes past nine.
As you know, under-age wizards are not permitted to preform spells outside school, even if they are from magical families, and further spellwork on your part may lead to expulsion from said school (Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Under-age Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C).
We would also ask you to remember that any magical activity which risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious offence, under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy. A similar letter will be sent to your parents to explain your actions.
Enjoy your holidays!
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Vernon laughed nastily, "Well well well, getting kicked out of school are we? A little justice at least!"
"He's not being expelled yet and while he might not be able to use magic I can! Now where is my son?" Lily snapped standing toe to toe with Vernon.
His nostrils flared for a second before he took a step back and stomped into the hall. He unlocked the cupboard causing Harry to topple into the hallway. Harry straightened his glasses and felt his mother wrap her arms around him.
"Are you OK?" Lily asked looking him over.
"I'm fine Mum."
"You locked him in a cupboard?" Lily shouted at Petunia and Vernon. Dudley took one look at the angry witch and ran upstairs.
"He had to be contained." Petunia shouted back, "He was using magic, he dumped my pavlova, which took me hours, on our guests heads! Why did he even come here if it wasn't malicious?" she spat.
"I think it would be best if we got out of here." Severus said taking Lily's hand, "Thank you for allowing us to collect our son."
Lily and Snape didn't wait for a response before turning on the spot. Yet again Harry felt like he was being squashed though a tube and landed with a pop in the hallway of Grimmauld place. Sirius came through from the living room holding an identical looking letter to the one Harry had gotten at his aunts.
"What the hell is all this?" He asked, "What hell happened?"
"Sitting room now." Lily ordered them.
Harry shuffled into the room and sat down trying to think straight.
"Harry what happened? How did you even get to Petunia's?" Lily asked pacing back and forth. Danica woke up and began to cry upstairs.
"I'll go." Sirius offered, he stood up and left the room being shouted at by his mother portrait for being up so late.
"It wasn't me Mum I swear." Harry said
"I know. There's no way you could have gotten to your Aunt's alone. The only possible way is Floo powder and the fireplace is down here and theirs isn't connected to the network." Lily told him, "But the question remains; how did you get there and why on earth would you drop a pudding on someone's head?"
"It was Dobby." Harry said, "He was in my room. He took me to Aunt Petunia's and he destroyed her pavlova. It wasn't me, I never would."
"Why?" Snape asked, sitting opposite Harry, "Why would he do that?"
Harry thought for a few moments about telling his parents, "He said there was danger; but he was going on about having to hurt himself as well and other stuff he wasn't making any sense."
Lily sighed and sat down, "I'll write to Narcissa tonight and ask her to keep an eye on Dobby. The poor boy has always had some issues." she rubbed her head, "This is a huge issue though. Using magic outside of school can be very dangerous and what if someone had seen? I think it's best you go to bed right now Harry. Don't worry; I'm not cross at you. I believe that you had little to do with this but I think it would be best if we were seen to punish you. Does that make sense?"
Harry nodded, "I don't think it would go down well if someone was to report me again."
Lily nodded, "Just stay in for a week or two."
"We'll put your wand in the safe." Severus added, "That way you can't be accused of using it."
Harry nodded, Lily crossed her arms over her chest and took a few deep breath to try and calm down before sitting down.
"Mum are you OK?" Harry asked.
She nodded, "Yes, I just don't like the idea of you being without your wand."
He shrugged, "It's only been sitting in my trunk all summer apart from attaching the quill to my ribbon. I don't carry it around anyway."
Lily nodded and smiled slightly, "Off to bed with you now. Get something from the kitchen if you need to. Happy Birthday."
Harry smiled and nodded, getting some warm milk before heading up the stairs and falling quickly asleep, Dobby's warning of an evil plot dismissed as the imaginings of Dobby's mind.