Chapter 5: The Ball Rolling

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Harry and Sirius went to Harry's room and sat in the chairs that flanked the fireplace. Regulus's old room was one of the few rooms that had one. Kreacher had brought the chairs in at Harry's request. He felt he was going to be entertaining more and more in his room, so he added them there.

"So, who's this Waters bloke?" Sirius asked as they settled down. He looked around the room and liked what he saw. It was quite homey now that all the green was gone. Harry had added a few personal touches, like pictures of his friends and Sirius on the walls. It made it look lived in. Much more homelike than it had been when Regulus lived here.

"He's your solicitor," Harry answered as he got comfy in his chair. He too was happy with the room now. He liked it much better than his room at the Dursley's. That room had never been his, it was just a place where he slept and waited until he went back to Hogwarts. This room however felt like home.

"I have a solicitor?" the dogman asked getting excited. It was a dream come true. He thought about hiring one, but didn't think any would take his case.

"Yup, I got my parents will read and in it, it named Pettigrew as the Secret Keeper and showed that he is still alive. We sent a missive off to Director Bones to let her know. Hopefully, you'll be free by the end of the week. I talked to the man, and among other things, he says you will be exonerated if he has anything to do with it," his godson explained, bouncing in his seat with sheer happiness.

He was very hopeful this was true, then he wouldn't have to go back to the Dursley's. Not that he would have anyway, but this way it would be legal. Of course, he could become emancipated, but that would be a whole other circus. He didn't want to jump those hoops just yet. He will if he has too, but only if he must.

"Brilliant," Sirius said, dumbfounded. He just sat there in shock. He had no idea what to do with this news. He could use a stiff drink. "I need a drink," he said, shaking his head to clear it.

"Kreacher," Harry called to the air. When the elf appeared he said, "Bring Sirius a firewhiskey, please. The whole bottle." He didn't care if the man needed something to fortify himself. He knew if he was old enough, he probably would have one himself. Then again, maybe not. He liked a clear head.

"Yes, young master," the old elf said and popped away, only to return moments later with the crystal decanter filled with the amber liquid and a glass. He bowed to the young man and set it down next to his hated master. The two sneered at each other, but then ignored each other. There was still no love lost between them.

"Thanks, Kreacher, you can return to what you were doing," Harry said, grinning at the elf. He loved to watch the two of them, it was entertaining. It was like watching two kids. They didn't bicker anymore, but the tension was there.

"Of course, young master," the happy old elf said, bowing to the boy who made his existence worth living. If the boy hadn't come along the necklace would still be here haunting him. Now he didn't have the burden, and he could think clearly, and his magic wasn't sore. That necklace was hurting him more than he knew.

"You've really turned his life around," Sirius commented, pouring himself a drink. "He's been cleaning all day. Not that it's done much good. I don't think he can keep this whole house by himself." He still hated the creature, but he didn't want to see him work himself to death. It was a futile task trying to clean this house all alone. Then again, the Weasleys were still trying to clean it too, maybe that would contribute. Probably not, since the kids really weren't into it and couldn't use magic.

"I can help with that. Dobby!" Harry called, chuckling a bit. He would be happy to see his little friend, and he knew the little guy needed the work. At least he thought as much.

In popped a little elf dressed in young boy's clothing. He was wearing a jumper with trains that were running the tracks along the front of it, puffs of smoke were coming from the engine. "What can Dobby be doing for the Great Harry Potter?" Dobby asked, bouncing up and down on his multicolored sock clad feet. He was so excited to be called by the greatest wizard in all the world.

"Hello, Dobby, how is freedom going for you?" Harry asked, smiling at his little friend.

"Dobby is doing greatly. But he is not finding works to be doing. No one is wanting to pays Dobby," the elf confessed, looking forlorn. He had been to every wizarding household that he thought would hire him and had had no luck. Hogwarts hired him on, but he didn't really want to work for them, even if it did get him close to Harry Potter. So, he told a little fib to his friend.

"I have a job for you, Dobby. It will be a long one," Harry offered, waving his hand around his head. "This house is old, and the elf here needs help. He's a grouchy old bastard, but he does need help. Will you be willing to work for Sirius here?" he asked, pointing to his godfather.

"Dobby wills be more than willing to help yous's dogfather," Dobby exclaimed, bouncing even higher. To work for the Great Harry Potter was a dream come true for him. Harry was just making everyone's dreams fulfilled today.

"Great, let's talk pay," Harry said, rubbing his hands together.

"Dobby is being wanting five knuts a week," the elf said proudly.

"Nope, five sickles a week," Harry said, beaming at the elf.

"Dobby is thinking that Harry Potter is not knowing how this is being working," Dobby said, narrowing his eyes at the Boy-Who-Lived.

"No, I just think you're not charging enough. So, either you go higher, or I do," Harry stated, folding his arms in defiance.

"Fine, Dobby is wanting one galleon a week," the elf said shrewdly, thinking he was outsmarting the teenager. He stood with his hands on his hips and glared at Harry like he was going to protest if Harry went higher than that.

"Done," Harry said, quickly, grabbing Dobby's hand and shaking it.

"Oh, Harry Potter is being sneaky-sneaky," Dobby said, shaking his head. He took his hand back and looked at it. It was a done deal, and he was not happy about it. What was he going to do with a galleon a week? He didn't need money. Maybe he could spend it on Harry Potter and buy things for his sweetie, when he found a sweetie, like that Winky elf. If he got her to quit drinking butterbeer. Maybe he should talk to Harry Potter about her. Later. He didn't want to ask favors of someone who just hired him.

"It's okay, Dobby, I can afford it. Besides, Sirius is the one who is going to be paying half of it," Harry said, looking to his confused godfather.

"I am?" Sirius asked, looking bemused. He had never heard of paying a house elf before and was beyond confused. He was happy there was going to be another elf helping around the house, but to pay them and a galleon a week, that was unheard of.

"That's right, and since Dobby is a free elf, you can't order him around like you do Kreacher," Harry said, nodding his head firmly. He'd talk more to Sirius about this later. He needed to understand the rules. That and there was Winky to talk about. He knew all about her, thanks to the grey space. Now wasn't the time though.

"That is being correct, Harry Potter. Dobby is a free elf," Dobby said, glaring at Sirius for effect, which cause the dogman to cringe. He had never been looked at like that by an elf. Well, Kreacher had but it was different from a free elf. He couldn't punish Dobby.

"Oh, okay," the still confused man stated, looking between the other two like he was going to lose his mind if they didn't explain.

"Dobby saved my life, so I freed him from the Malfoys," Harry said in a short explanation.

"Oh, well that explains it all," Sirius said, thinking that it didn't explain enough, but it would have to do. Anything that got one over on Lucius was good enough for him. Malfoy was bad news, and he loved to see him brought down a peg or two. He was going to have to get that story from Harry soon.

"Good, now that we have that settled, Dobby, you can start anytime," Harry said, smiling at the elf.

"Dobby will start right now," Dobby said, popping away.

"Wait," Harry said, holding out a hand, then he called Kreacher and waited for the older elf. When Kreacher popped in he said, "Kreacher, this is Dobby. He's going to be helping you around the house. He's a free elf and I don't want you to give him any guff. Do you hear me? Just go about your business and let him go about his. If you must split the chores down the middle, or whatever." He wasn't going to have fighting among the help. There was enough among the guests.

"Yes, young master," the old elf stated, though his mind was whirling over the implications that there was a free elf in the house. His mistress would be turning in her grave over this. However, the young master had spoken, and he would do anything for him.

"You two can go," Harry said, kindly.

Once the elves left, Sirius downed a glass of firewhiskey and sighed. "Things are never boring around you, Harry."

"No, they never are," Harry agreed with a sigh. Things just happened around him. It wasn't his fault. Well, now it was, but before it just happened. "Sirius, why are the Weasleys here?"

"Albus says they are targets," the other man answered, like it was obvious.

"No, I mean why are they still here? I mean, Mrs. Weasley has violated many guests' rights, why haven't you kicked them out?" he reiterated. That had been bugging him since the grey space.

"Oh, well Albus asked me not too and I find it funny as hell. It gives me something to do to break up the monotony. It gets quite boring around here with nothing to do but read," Sirius said, twirling his drink around his glass and then taking a sip. "Molly is harmless, and she is quite entertaining."

"Oh, well as long as you aren't insulted, I guess it's your house," Harry stated, not sure if he'd put up with that harpy.

"I am going to put my foot down about you though," Sirius said, looking at Harry with such compassion.

"Nah, don't bother. I can handle myself," Harry said, waving that away. If it entertained the bored man, he could deal with Molly Weasley.

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Meanwhile back in the dining room while Harry and Sirius were talking, so were the rest of the group. "Did you hear the way he talked to me?" Molly Weasley wailed as she cleared the dinner dishes. "Why didn't the rest of you stand up for me? I have never been spoken to in such a way. When I get my hands on that boy…" she said, ranting for all she was worth. The plates were flying around the table and slamming on one another with force as she stacked them into a haphazard pile.

"Mum, you would do well to keep a politer tongue in your mouth," Fred said, trying to convey that they were guests in this house. He was getting tired of the fighting. It was getting ridiculous. He was shocked they were still there. If it were his house, he'd have booted them ages ago.

"Watch your mouth, George," she snapped, stopping her gathering of the dishes so she could whirl on her son.

"First off, I'm Fred, and second off, we can be kicked out at any moment. Do you want to be sent back to the Burrow? Where we will be sitting ducks for the Death Eaters? I thought the whole point of us being here was to be protected," Fred asserted, standing up to his mother.

"Don't talk to Mum like that," Ginny stated, glaring at her brother, though she didn't want to be kicked out either.

"You shush, adults are talking," George said, tutting at the girl. He too was tired of the fighting. It is why they interfered with Harry this morning. That and they hadn't wanted to see their mum hurt.

"Don't shush me, George Weasley. I'll hex you," Ginny stated, brandishing her wand. She knew some spells that would harm him for a short while.

"You will do no such thing, young lady," Molly said, twirling on her youngest. She couldn't believe her little girl would try such a thing in front of her. She knew the law.

"But, Mum, did you hear what he said?" Ginny protested, lowering her wand and pouting.

"No underage magic," was the comeback.

"Molly, the boys have a point," Arthur stated, helping her with the dishes by lifting them with a hovering charm and guiding them to a pile, which was then guided to the sink. His voice was soft and calm. He was trying to get her to see reason. She was the main reason most of the fights started and he didn't want to return home to have to fight off the enemy. Then again, Bill could ward their home. That was something to think about.

"Not you too, Arthur," Molly whinged, putting her hands on her hips. She was getting tired of her family turning on her.

"No, hear me out. If you continue to argue with Harry and Sirius, we can be kicked out. Do you want that?" Mr. Weasley asked, starting the dishes to wash with a spell.

"Of course not, but I will not be spoken to in that manner by a teenager," Mrs. Weasley stated, glaring at her kids.

"He's not one of ours. You cannot continue to treat him as if he was. Stop asking him about his affairs, and he will stop treating you so poorly," the henpecked man stated, trying to console her.

Just then Dobby popped in and started cleaning the kitchen. "Oh, Dobby is going to love working here," the elf exclaimed. He took in the dirt crusted counters and the cobwebbed ceiling and loved that there was going to be much cleaning that needed to be done. He could see that attempts had been made, but there was still much that needed to be done.

"Dobby," Hermione said in greeting.

"You know this elf?" Remus asked, having been silent as he watched the Weasley family squabble. It was not his place to interfere. He would just tell Albus what was happening in the house like the good little werewolf he was.

Tonks had also been silent, but she was mostly watching the others' reactions to the family fighting. She wanted to know what sides they were taking on the whole Harry issue. She was confused and upset about her reaction to the boy, and wanted to see how others were on the issue. Maybe she could get some insight into the boy. She didn't know much about him, only rumors, and those were proving false.

"He's a friend of Harry's," Hermione answered, not seeing the problem of saying that. Everyone knew it anyway, or at least she thought they did.

"Yeah, one more thing that Potter has brought to the house. Probably going to spy on the rest of us for him," Ron said, narrowing his eyes at the elf. He liked Dobby well enough, but what was the elf doing here?

"Dobby is not being a spy," Dobby said, affronted at the very idea. "What is a spy?" he asked Hermione. He knew she was Harry Potter's friend and would not lie to him. He also knew she was very smart.

"A spy is someone who watches and reports on someone else," she said succinctly. She was so happy to see him here. She knew that Harry was paying the little guy. Harry would never bind an elf, she was sure of it.

"Oh, well then, just because yous bes saying that, Dobby wills bes watching yous," Dobby said, giving Ron the stink-eye. He thought this was Harry Potter's friend too, but if he was disparaging Harry Potter, he'd better keep an eye on him.

"Great," Ron said, slouching in his chair.

"Dobby, how much is Harry paying you?" Hermione asked, excited to find out.

"Don't be ridiculous, house elves don't get paid," Ginny said, laughing at her.

"Dobby is getting paid one galleon a week," the elf said proudly. Then his ears drooped and he said, "Dobby is not being sure what he is going to be doing with all that moneys."

"Well, you can save it and be the first elf to buy a house," Hermione suggested, smiling at the elf kindly, just throwing the first thing that came to her mind out.

The rest of the people in the dining room were shocked that the elf was being paid. It was unheard of. The twins, Ginny and Ron were happy for the elf, but the rest were torn. It just wasn't done. This could change too many things. First this then what? Who knew. Harry was taking things too far.

"That's it," Molly said, going to the door. "I'm going to speak to that boy. Paying a house elf. That's just wrong," she stated, only to be held back by her husband.

"It is not your place," Arthur stated, standing in front of her with folded arms. He was not going to let her do this. It was too far. She wasn't going to get them kicked out on an issue that was not hers to deal with.

The twins flanked their father. Tonks got up and stood by their side, along with Hermione. The rest stayed seated.

"How dare you," Molly screeched, hands on hips.

"Mum, they're right. It isn't your place. Harry has a right to do what he wants with his money," Ginny said timidly.

"Not you too," Mrs. Weasley said, twirling on her heel to her youngest.

"Think about it, if you spent money on a hat, how would you feel if Harry came and chastised you?" the girl stated, looking at her with pleading eyes. "You would hate it. Because it's not his place to tell you how to spend your money. He's not part of your family, and you're not part of his."

"This is different, he's breaking tradition. That's far different than a simple hat," Molly protested.

"What is going on here?" Dumbledore asked from the doorway. He could see that there was a fight going on and it upset him to see the Weasley family divided over something, and he was sure it had to do with Harry Potter.

"Harry hired Dobby and Molly is going to put him in his place," Remus reported, like it was a normal day.

"Whyever for? I hired Dobby the other day. I find him a breath of fresh air," Albus stated, moving the defending group aside with sheer will. They moved and let him by so that he could confront Molly.

"You did, Albus? But why? Hiring a house elf is unheard of," the pushy housewife asked, flabbergasted that the headmaster would do such a thing.

Dobby went about cleaning the kitchen, seeing that the fight was now over. Not that he cared. He knew that Harry Potter would stand up for him, and that he'd win in a fight with the overbearing woman. That and Dobby would be there if the woman had left the kitchen. No one hurt Harry Potter while Dobby was around.

"There is nothing stating that one cannot hire a free elf," the old man said, taking a seat at the head of the table. Everyone sat back down at the empty table. They all listened to the old man talk, like they were in a classroom receiving a lecture. "House elves are useful creatures that thrive of being useful. They will die if they do not find work. They do not need to bond, but they do need to work in a magically rich environment. Hence, me hiring Dobby and Winky at Hogwarts. Now Dobby is a free elf and can work for whomever he pleases. I am sad to see that he prefers to work here instead of there," Albus stated, running a hand down his beard.

"I'm sure he just wants to be near Harry," Hermione said, with a wink at the elf who was pretending he wasn't listening to everything being said while cleaning the kitchen.

"Yes, I am sure that is it," Dumbledore stated, though he was thinking that he could use the elf to keep an eye on the boy. Elves were so gullible. He was sure he could convince the elf that it was for Harry's own good.

The talk went on for quite a while, but they finally convinced Molly to drop it. Then they went on to their rooms for the night. No one found out why Dumbledore was there that night.

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Amelia Bones was sitting at home rereading the missive she had received that day. This was going to put the kneazle among the snitches. Sirius Black was innocent. Patrick Waters had already been in contact with her and Black would be exonerated by the end of the week. They just had to get Cornelius Fudge to see reason. That was going to be a hard task. If the man didn't see reason, he'd be booted. Waters would see to that.

"Susan, come here," she called to her niece that she could see walking by her study.

"Yes, Auntie," Susan said, coming into the room and taking a seat in front of the desk. It was not unusual for them to have nightly talks. Her aunt liked to talk about Susan's day before she went to bed.

"Tell me about Harry Potter," she demanded kindly.

"That tosspot," the teenage girl scoffed, flinging her auburn hair over her shoulder. "Why do you want to know about him?" she asked, looking at her aunt queerly.

"Why do you call him that?"

"Well, he's always in trouble of some sort. He only hangs around Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. No one else is allowed to get to know him, according to Ron. He seems to think he's the king of the school, just because he saved it once or twice, according to rumor," Susan stated, wrinkling her nose, like she didn't believe the gossip.

"Tell me about the rumors," Bones said, leaning forward. She wanted to know about what was going on in the school and there usually was truth in gossip.

So, Susan told her about what went on in her second, third and fourth year. She didn't know what happened in her first year, only that Harry got hurt really bad. "But these are only rumors, Auntie, they can't be true," she stated at the end. "Harry Potter is a weak wizard. He's scrawny and he wears ugly clothes," she said, like that made a difference.

"I need to talk to the boy to find out the truth," Amelia said, tapping her finger on her desk. If half of this was true, then the boy was much more than he appeared, and Albus was hiding things from her. Not that that was different, he was always hiding things from her.

"Can I go now? I have my beauty regiment to get to," Susan said, looking at her aunt.

"Yes, you may go. Good night, Susan," Amelia stated, smiling at her beloved niece.

"Good night, Auntie," Susan said, going around the desk and kissing her aunt on the cheek.

Amelia took the kiss and thought how glad she was that she had Susan in her life, if not for the reason. Her brother's death had been a blow to her heart, but she was thankful that Susan was spared. Now though, she had to concentrate on getting Black freed. She'll work on Fudge tomorrow and do something about that toad of an undersecretary of his. She was going to be a problem. Tomorrow though.

Tonight, she was going to write to Harry Potter and invite him for a talk. She wanted to know more about the Boy-Who-Lived.