Well, no one knew what was about to happen, but it seemed Luna's little pep talk worked and Harry had somehow pulled a plan out of thin air and it involved three house elves who came to Harry because they felt he needed help. Hey, Harry got his spark back and admitted it wasn't over yet. That's all anyone cared about; all hope was not lost.
"So, you gonna tell us this big plan?" Blaise wondered.
"Dobby. You, Winky, and Kreacher take all the students back to Hogwarts." Harry commanded gently.
"I'm staying right here." Ron refused.
"Me too." Draco folded his arms.
"We started this together, that's how we're finishing it." Severus added as Sirius, Lucius, and Narcissa nodded.
Blaise, Pansy, and Theo linked with Winky. Neville, Vincent, and Gregory grabbed onto Kreacher. Then Xenophilius, Luna, and Olivander were with Dobby. "Dobby be back for his friend." The elf assured.
"Kreacher and Winky, take the students back to the school." Moments later, the students with the two elves were gone with a pop. "Dobby, take your three and go to-,"
"Shell Cottage." Ron jumped in. "Trust me, we have allies there."
"Go where Ron said to." Harry ordered as Dobby nodded and disappeared with his three people.
"Okay, now what?" Draco inquired.
"Ssh." Harry listened upstairs. "Dobby be saving his friend too." The elf promised.
"We have to get Hermione, and she's not likely alone…" Harry told him. "We'll meet you up there. Be ready when I call you, Dobby."
The elf nodded and disappeared with his extras. "Okay, what's the plan for getting us out then? You realize we could have just apparated up there with one of them?" Ron asked.
"Were you not the one to tell me to do something?" Harry muttered as Ron nodded. "Then calm down and let me do this. I've got a reason…"
"Alright, we trust you, Harry…What's your idea to get us out?" Lucius inquired.
"Back up and don't touch me for anything…" Harry warned before he closed his eyes and focused himself. Harry knelt down and set his hands to the floor and that's when everyone saw the white aura take over Harry's body and the room began to rumble and shake. Just as soon as Harry heard demands being shouted upstairs about what was causing the shaking, he stopped.
"Hide. Ron, with me." The two of them took their place on either side of the cell door while the rest hid behind pillars. Just seconds later, rapid steps were heard coming down the stairs. Ron and Harry looked at one another, nodding. Pettigrew came into the cell, not seeing anyone around as he looked confused.
"What the-!" Peter didn't even see Ron and Harry sneak up behind and shove him into the wall hard. There was a struggle but the rat managed to shove them off and point his wand at all of them. "Not another step!" He warned as the gate shut to keep them inside. "I may not be able to kill Potter, but I can the rest of you."
"You're not going to kill anyone, Peter," Harry stepped forward. "Because you're going to look the other way and let us walk right out of here."
"I most certainly will n-," Peter began.
"You will because you owe me your life, Pettigrew." Harry stated, surprising the rest. There was a swirl of magic that ripped Pettigrew's wand from his hand and into Harry's. "You've forgotten, haven't you?" Harry told the rat animagus. "In my third year at Hogwarts, when Sirius and Remus went to kill you, I stopped them. I spared your life, you owe me your own."
"I am calling in that owed debt, Peter…You will look the other way, and do nothing to stop us from opening the cell door and walking out. It's magically binding, Peter…If you refuse, you die. A life for a life. I saved your life, and if you refuse, you pay with the life I spared." Harry remarked.
"Oh, I hate you…" Peter spat. "Fine, go."
"Hate all you want, but let's see how long you last when Voldemort kills you for letting us go," Harry smirked. Peter paled as Harry used the wand to unlock the door, which disabled the lock on the room to use magic within. Harry used a body-bind on Pettigrew and they all escaped to get to the main level, locking Pettigrew inside.
"Harry, that was brilliant!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Hey, calm down…We're not done escaping yet." Harry rolled his eyes. "We still have a room of Death Eaters to handle, and grab Hermione. Watch for the killing curse, use shields to block everything else." He warned. "And do it wandlessly, obviously, until we get yours back. Summon your wands as fast as you can."
Reaching the top of the stairs, they moved silently. Hermione was laying on the floor, but she was alive. Bellatrix was interrogating Griphook, demanding he tell her who broke into her vault and that was all the confirmation Harry needed to know she was obviously hiding something within it that she feared had been taken out. Griphook assured the last time he was at the bank, the sword had been in her vault, and there was no place safer than Gringotts. Bellatrix cut his face, then went over to Hermione, preparing to kill her.
"The same can't be said for this one. She's useless," Bellatrix raised her wand.
"Like hell…" Ron charged out and dodged just about everything without a shield to shove Bellatrix aside and get to Hermione. Harry and the rest were out next, ready to fight and most were calling forth their wands.
Ron took care of his and Hermione's, trying to hold her protectively. Harry was guarding them and a full fight had broken out. It was going well, until Bellatrix backhanded Harry and grabbed him up, holding him on his knees with a dagger to his neck.
"Enough!" Bellatrix screeched. "Drop your wands…" She ordered.
They all obeyed seeing Harry with the blade to his neck. "Dobby…Now." Harry whispered quietly.
"Hush up, you…" Bellatrix threatened. "I can't kill you, but a quick message to the dark lord should do the trick. Call him…" She demanded.
Just as Rodolphus Lestrange was about to put his hand over the mark, everyone ended up looking towards the ceiling, where Dobby was on top of the chandelier, unscrewing it. Harry gave his group a look as they slowly grabbed their wands from the floor and waited. Dobby let the light fixture fall as Harry shoved away from Bellatrix and landed in Severus's arms. Dobby appeared with his friends and Griphook had wandered towards them in the madness.
"Stupid elf, you could have killed me." Bellatrix glared, raising her wand.
Dobby snapped his fingers as her wand flew from her hand and into his own, the other wands of Death Eaters ended up ripped from their hands too, but going everywhere. "Dobby never meant to kill, only maim…Or seriously injure."
"How dare you defy your masters!" Bellatrix snapped.
"Dobby was never your elf. Dobby served the Malfoy's and was set free by his friend. Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save his friends and Harry Potter!" Dobby announced as everyone grabbed on and linked up. The apparition started as Bellatrix threw her dagger.
. . .
All of them landed on a sandy beach, waves crashing to shore and a light breeze. Harry struggled to regain his vision and push upwards.
"Is everyone alright?" Narcissa asked while Lucius helped her up. Sirius was getting help from Draco and Severus managed himself.
"Think so…" Ron said. "Hermione?" The girl still seemed shaken, her bare arm reading Mudblood, carved there by Bellatrix's torture and still bleeding. However, she seemed better in Ron's arms even if they hadn't moved yet.
"We saw the land." Came Bill Weasley's voice as the group looked over and he was coming out with his wife, Fleur. "Anyone injured?"
"Ha-Harry Potter…" Dobby's voice hit Harry's ears as the teenager looked for his friend. Dobby stood paces away, the dagger Bellatrix threw embedded in his stomach.
"Dobby…" Harry raced to catch Dobby, who was losing his ability to stand. Harry slid in to let the elf fall into his arms. "Dobby!" No. No, Harry couldn't lose Dobby. "It's alright, Dobby. You're going to be fine." He looked around at the others. "Help him. Someone, anyone…"
"Harry…Our magic doesn't work on the elves," Draco told him. "There's…Nothing we can do."
"Harry Potter must not cry over Dobby," The elf told him as Harry pulled the blade out and tossed it away in the sand somewhere. "Dobby…Doesn't mind. Dobby…Got to save his friends. Dobby…Did his job."
"Dobby, no…Y-You promised, remember. You said you'd never do it again…" Harry whimpered.
"Dobby…Is sorry, Harry Potter. Dobby asks forgiveness, but Dobby couldn't leave his friend when he needed him most." Dobby leaned into Harry. "Such a beautiful place, to be with friends. Dobby is happy to be with his friend, Harry Potter." It was the last breath Dobby took, with a smile on his face. Dobby died in Harry's arms. Harry held Dobby's body, rocking him gently with his own head down and crying.
"Severus…" Sirius told the potions master.
"I know, Sirius…Just, give him a little bit." Severus sighed.
Hermione had turned into Ron's chest, crying lightly. Even Ron was trying to fight tears. They had more memories with Dobby than anyone. And now, Dobby was gone. Finally, after about ten minutes, Harry stopped and moved, adjusting to close Dobby's eyes as Severus and Sirius approached.
"I want to bury him properly…No magic." Harry said.
"Of course, Harry…Whatever you want," Severus said lightly. "We'll all help lay him to rest, pay our respects to his sacrifice."
It took a little time, but they all worked together. Narcissa and Lucius tended to Hermione, healing her wound from Bellatrix and making sure there was no scarring. Fleur brought out a blanket to wrap Dobby, but Sirius and Severus first changed Dobby into new clean clothes and worked on the wound to wipe away blood and close it. Harry and Bill dug the grave, a little dune where the water got close but never touched. Finally, everyone came together to have Harry lay Dobby inside, and then bow their heads to say goodbyes.
The hole was covered, then Harry had carved on a rock as the headstone. Here Lies Dobby. A Free Elf. When the funeral was over, everyone went inside the house. Bill and Fleur helped everyone get settled for a bit, and fed them. They announced the place was Shell Cottage, so Griphook, Xenophilius, and Ollivander were all there too, recovering from their ordeals as extended prisoners in Riddle manor.
Harry never ate dinner, he had asked to be alone and everyone granted him that. It was around 10:30 pm when Severus assured everyone as they were heading to their stay rooms that he would make sure Harry was alright.
Yes, Dumbledore's death hurt Harry, and Scrimgeour's death had been a small moving point where Harry was surprised at the fact the man died to keep him hidden from Voldemort. But Dobby had been a faithful servant and friend to Harry for several years, and helped him out all the time even though he was a free elf with no master.
Dobby chose to serve Harry for his kindness. When Severus got to the room he and Harry were going to share for while they stayed; the teenager was sitting in the bed, knees up and staring out the window overlooking Dobby's grave.
Silent tears falling down his husband's cheeks. Severus never said a word, but he kicked off his shoes, used magic to change, and then sat next to Harry, lightly pulling the teenager into a loving embrace.
"I've been trying to call him for hours…" Harry admitted, which pained Severus. "He always did, you know…" He added. "I wasn't even his bonded master. I set him free so he wouldn't have one, but he always came when I called. With a smile, happy to serve…"
Harry's tone began to crack, Severus felt his husband's trembling. "I made him promise me in second year, when we met, after I freed him from the Malfoys…I made him promise that he would never try to save my life again."
"Because when he'd tried all that year, it ended with me getting hurt…Dobby promised me he wouldn't. But he did…He came to save us. To save me and he died because of it. Even though he was dying, he asked my forgiveness…I didn't get to thank him for what he did. I didn't get to say goodbye…" Harry finally caved. "Dobby…" He said, expecting the elf to appear. "Dobby?" He tried again. Severus held Harry tighter. "Dobby!"
The entire house heard Harry yell Dobby's name in anguish. No one had been sleeping, and no one had expected the cry from Harry. It hurt. It was hard to hear, and it hurt. No one more than Harry, though. Harry sobbed, broken-heartedly, against his husband. Gripping the man tightly, crying out Dobby's name like it would bring him back if he said it enough but painful because Harry knew that it wouldn't happen. "It's alright…It's going to be okay, Harry. I promise. I know it hurts now, but it'll get better…Ssh. I'm right here. I've got you…We're going to get through this."
Harry yelled out through his tears and Severus just tried anything to console him. Rocking lightly, rubbing his back, light kisses on the temple, top of his head, or even the forehead. It did nothing. Harry cried until he fell asleep and Severus had to carefully lay them down, and cover them up.
Severus never let Harry go, and the potions master fell asleep holding his husband close, praying to god that the pain would ease for Harry because it hurt to see his husband in this state, hurting so much, and he couldn't do anything to take it away.
. . .
Three days had passed and Harry didn't leave the room. Severus was bringing him food, and thankfully, the teenager was eating. But Harry was miserable about Dobby's death, and expected as such. Not only was the elf a good friend of Harry's, but had died in the teen's arms on top of it all. That first night had been hard, random fits of crying and near inconsolable after nightmares.
Everyone was trying to give Harry his time, but they were lost on what to do without him. Harry already lost his faith once, when they were prisoners and it had been Luna who got through to him. Still no one had summoned Dobby, and he probably only would have come at Harry's call.
It had been strange that Kreacher and Winky came too, despite their reasoning, again, no one called them. So how did they know to show up? The elves just said they knew Harry was in trouble and were able to get right to him because of their links to him. Kreacher could come to Harry because Harry was Black Heir.
Winky could do it because her master was Severus, but Harry was his husband and their bond extended for Winky to serve Harry too. Dobby was a given, even being a free elf, he swore himself to Harry in thanks for being kind and freeing him from the Malfoy family. Still without being summoned, all three showed up and Dobby had said that they knew Harry Potter needed help.
However, as the last three days had gone by, everyone wanted to know what the next move would be. Harry had been the one making all the plans and putting together pieces of information, but no one wanted to bother him.
"Uncle Sev, we know he's mourning Dobby…But we need him." Draco informed. "We managed to escape capture because of that elf, I think we owe it to his sacrifice to finish the mission."
"Draco's right." Sirius agreed. "It would do Harry some good to get back to the task, pay the ultimate respect to Dobby's sacrifice for us and him."
Severus didn't have the energy to argue with them; he hadn't been able to get Harry out of that room, so he didn't see what they could do better, but if they wanted to try, so be it. Severus got up and motioned for them to follow.
Xenophilius had already gone home to repair his house, but Ollivander and Griphook were still at the cottage to recover from the ordeal. Severus got to the door, and knocked lightly before opening it. Harry was still sitting upright on the bed, staring out that window to the water but mostly where Dobby's grave was.
"Harry?" Severus said calmly.
Harry sighed, lowering his head. "You want me to come out of the room, don't you?" He asked.
"On your own time, yes…But I'm not going to make you." Severus stated. "So I brought everyone to you instead." He added, walking into the room and then the other seven did. But also Bill and Fleur.
Once everyone got inside and found a place to sit, or stand, Harry looked at them. "I know what you all want. What are we doing next."
"We've been following your leads right along, Harry…You're the one putting the pieces together, remembering things you learned about Tom. We need you, mate," Ron informed, but gently.
"Come on, pup…You must have an idea." Sirius tried.
Harry looked back out the window. "My answer hasn't changed, we need to get into Bellatrix's vault." He told them. "Us being captured only confirmed for me by Bellatrix herself that she's hiding something in there that she thought we got access to and took."
"That's what she was torturing me for…" Hermione mentioned in a light tone. "Wanting to know how we got into her vault and what we took."
"She got uppity about the sword," Draco reminded.
"And questioned Griphook about it, who said the last time he was there; the sword was in her vault." Harry added. "Then let's talk to him. He obviously has to know when the sword was there, but it ended up with us in the Forest of Dean."
"Griphook is staying in the room just down the hall. I'll take you to it." Bill offered.
Harry forced himself off the bed and walked next to the elder Weasley, then the rest followed. Hopefully, Griphook would be some help to them in figuring out why the sword was in Bellatrix's vault, and maybe, if they were lucky; the goblin could help them figure out a way into Gringotts.
