IF FREEING DOBBY AND TAKING AWAY THE MALFOY'S house-elf wasn't enough to lift Harry's spirits after such a terrifying battle with the Slytherin beast and the young Voldemort, this feast did the job. He ended up having no idea what his favorite part was.

Maybe it was the way it started out when the hall doors burst open and there was Will who came running over to Harry and Freya as they stood up instantly.

"You solved it!" Will exclaimed as he went to Harry, hitting him on the shoulder in a congratulatory way.

"Hey, I sort of solved it too," Freya complained.

"I was getting to you," Will reassured, amused as he turned to her.

There was a pause as the two looked at each other, not seeming to know what to do, before Freya reached out and ruffled Will's hair, grinning from ear to ear. "Welcome back, William. It's been truly awful doing homework without you."

Then there was Justin coming from the Hufflepuff table, apologizing endlessly to Harry for suspecting him.

"No, really, it's okay Justin," said Harry embarrassed as the apologies continued over Freya who was nodding beside Harry importantly saying things like, "Yep, you better be sorry." and "You were so wrong." and "Remember to thank him for saving your life during the duel too" until Will hastily reached over and covered her mouth as Justin and Harry shared a laugh, solidifying they were good.

Then Hagrid came half-past three coming over crying as he patted Freya and Harry on the back, almost causing them to face-plant into their pudding if they weren't already used to Hagrid's shows of affection.

"For a moment when they came and told me ye both found the real culprit meaning I was let free, I swear I felt happy in the midst of all those Dementors!" Hagrid sobbed, wiping his eyes. "I swear it!"

"Ah, stop it, Hagrid," Freya said, who looked like she was close to laughing, "Of course, we got you out. Harry even fought a Basilisk to do it."

"He what?"

Oh, and he couldn't forget how great it was when Freya's and his four hundred points secured their house position for the house cup in the second year of the row.

"Yep, that's our sister!" Fred crowded the crowd.

"Mind you, we'll only admit that for today!" George added.

"So, make sure you forget it over the summer!" they said in unison, cackling as Freya shouted irritably over at them, rolling her eyes even as she laughed with the rest too.

There was also the nice sight when Harry happened to glance over at her of Colina seeming not to be alone anymore, seeming even too busy at the moment to greet him at a point like she usually did as she sat in midst of a bunch of talkative first years. He saw one of the petrified, a boy named Erwin, among them.

The exams being canceled were an excellent addition to the night, everyone but Percy and Will thought so of course, and then Lockhart's resignation got loud cheers even from the teachers.

"Are you disappointed?" Will questioned Freya when the cheering died down.

"Nah, he wasn't at all the hero they said he was in his books. But the books tend not to get it right with these 'famous figures'," Freya shrugged as she shoveled pudding into her mouth. "I mean they didn't get it right with Harry, did they?"

"What?" Harry asked amused, "I'm not the hero they say I am?"

"Nah, Harry," Freya grinned over at him, her eyes twinkling even as the words she spoke were serious. "You're more of one."

Harry and Will both looked at her in surprise as she straightened up, looking thoughtful.

"I'm more than they say I am in the books too, though."

"You're not mentioned in any books," Will noted, perplexed.

"Exactly, but I like how you say that with such confidence, William," she smirked, "Reading up on me, are you? That's cute, really."

Will opened his mouth before shutting it quickly, his face slightly red. "I don't even know how to respond to that."

"Great, now I'm leaving you speechless." Freya teased as Will turned a shade darker and she giggled, "But really, William, no need to be a fan. We'refriends,aren't we?"

Harry laughed as his friends began to bicker before him, replaying Freya's words in his head and feeling that maybe just being with his friends normally in the midst of all that was happening, was a best part he could decide on after all.

Malfoy was packing up in his dormitory alone while the feast was going on, not feeling like goingwith Dumbledore back after he knew his father had tried so hard to get the crazy man sacked (plus he knew the hall would be clad in Gryffindor colors) when there was a familiar cracking sound. Turning around, he frowned. "Dobs, what are you-"

He paused and tilted his head.

For hishouse-elf was wearing clothes.

"Dobs?"

"Draco," Dobby bowed his head, "Thanks to Harry Potter-" Draco's jaw clenched "-Dobby has no master anymore."

The House-Elf lifted his head and for a second Draco stared down at the house-elf that had been a constant in his house for years, the house-elf he had continuously ordered throughout the years to quit doing the stupid punishments his father would give, and the house elf that had been his before he closed his eyes and looked away.

"Then, what are you even doing here you stupid little rogue elf?" Draco spat; the words bitter on his tounge. "Leave."

"Draco, Dobby wanted to say goodbye," Dobby said sadly as he walked to Draco's other side to see his face, "Draco was a very kind master who Dobby will miss."

Draco swallowed.

"Dobby, I know I'm not your master anymore and I can't order you to do anything-"

"Dobby is a free elf! And if Dobby wants to listen to Draco, which he does, then Dobby will do it!"

"Good." Draco kneeled down to look at his- the free elf in the eyes as he said sternly, "If anybody asks you, I am a bad kid. I was a bad master. I am just like my father."

Dobby blinked and for a second it looked like he would argue before he bowed his head. "Okay, Draco."

"Thank you, and..." Draco paused before he bowed his head. "Stay safe, Dobs."

Draco stood up and turned to his bed to sort out his class assignments as he heard the crack behind him before he leaned heavily against his bed and sighed.

Alone again.

You should be grateful to Potter, in a way.A voice nagged him as Malfoy gritted his teeth at the words. You have been wanting the elf to be free from your fathers' orders, right?

Yeah, he had been.

But selfishly, he knew, he had always felt just a bit glad that there was somebody he had with him that was trapped even more then he was.

And now he was mad.

He was grateful.

He was jealous.

He was...

He was so many things that he didn't want to put into words as there were so many things that he wanted tosayto the stupid trio every time, going forward, he laid eyes on them.

Thank you for what you did.

Thank you for figuring it out.

I'm sorry about my father.

You took my elf from me.

You make me feel bad.

You make me feel lonely!

You-

Draco's onslaught of thoughts ceased for a moment as Potter lifted his gaze from the book he was reading to meet his and it was a rare moment where Draco had yet to make him angry as he realized that Potter's eyes weren't meadows in the dark but a bright emerald when the light didn't leave them.

Draco turned away from him quickly, his face burning with anger as he walked away, choosing silence as his show of gratitude (and a way to calm his hatred) for the rest of the year.

It was the cowardly route to go.

But it was the way he was most familiar with as it always tended to lead him home.