Chapter 26: The Great Hall Debacle
"Let him go guys" Harry instructed his elves, "now what's your name"
"Dobby sir, Dobby the house elf" Dobby replied with a bowed head, he was clearly nervous
"Don't worry" Harry reassured Dobby "I'm not going to hurt you, I understand you're the Malfoys house elf, why were you trying to force your way into my home?"
"Dobby has come to warn Potter about a great threat, Harry must not go to Hogwarts"
"Are you referring to the diary?" Harry asked, Dobby's golf ball eyes widened "judging by your reaction I'd say yes, don't worry I've dealt with that just this morning" Harry eyed the elf and saw his dirty pillow case and damaged hands
"Your masters punish you don't they? Harry asked, Dobby reluctantly nodded he picked up a rock and was about to hit himself over the head with it when the other elves snatched it away from him.
"Master Harry forbids elves punishing themselves" Stick explained to the confused elf
"Dobby" Harry continued "it was very brave of you to defy your masters to do what's right, how'd you like to become my house elf?" The elf burst into tears
"Dobby wishes sir" He sniffed "Dobby's family will never free him, they don't even let Dobby wash clothes
"You know Draco Malfoy?" Harry spoke with a mischievous grin "drop a sock on his head, when he throws it off catch it" Dobby's eyes dried and he smiled as wide as he possibly could. He popped away and returned a minute later while holding a white sock
"Master has given Dobby sock! Dobby is free!"
"Congratulations Dobby" Harry smiled "now how about it? Do you want to become one of my house elves or would you rather stay free?"
"Dobby has always wanted to be free but Dobby has also heard of Harry Potters greatness, Dobby wishes to become Mr. Potters house elf." After taking Dobby in Harry had made him the same offer he made the other elves, Dobby was the first elf to accept pay and event then he wanted less than Harry had offered. Harry had instructed him to assist Stink and work in the Hogwarts kitchens when he wasn't doing that or resting. Harry hoped that making him one of his personal elves would help Dobby.
Soon came the day where it was time to go to Hogwarts, Harry met up with the Weasley family then he and Ginny found a compartment on the train. Fred and George stopped by for a bit and Harry told them all about Padfoot and some of the pranks he played. Soon they left leaving Harry and Ginny alone, Ron didn't bother them this year, Draco however made his appearance.
"Potter!" He roared "I know you have something to do with that stupid house elf running away"
"What?" Ginny asked
"Oh yeah I was about to tell you" Harry ignored Malfoy "during the summer, one of their elves came to me and told me how he didn't want to serve his family enough. I gave him a way to become free, I told him to drop a sock on Draco's head then catch it when he threw it away" Ginny had a similar reaction to Sirius when he told the story, they both burst into giggles "I then offered him the chance to work with me and he took it in a heartbeat, I could hear Draco's dad blaming him about it all the way from my house"
"I knew you did it!" Draco shouted
"Maybe I did" Harry leaned back "the important thing is you can't prove I did and even if you could I broke no laws or rules, so hah"
"You had better watch your back Potter" Harry stood up and walked to Draco
"I'll do that He spoke in a low voice, Draco sneered and walked away, not noticing the 'kick me' sign Harry placed on his back. He and Ginny sat down when the final annoyance came in the form of Hermione standing outside their compartment.
"You shouldn't have put that sign on him" She started and continued despite the sighs coming from Harry and Ginny "that was inappropriate and childish"
"We're twelve and eleven" Ginny argued
"What did he want anyway?" Hermione asked
"Well he was angry that Harry had freed his elf" Ginny answered
"Really?!" Hermione clapped her hands in joy "I knew you'd listen to me"
"Don't hold out too much hope" Ginny giggled
"What does that mean?" Hermione eyed Harry
"When I met the elf he was upset over how they treated him" Harry explained "I told him how to free himself, then I offered him a position as my house elf and before you say anything I am paying him"
"Really?" Ginny raised her eyebrows "I offered him five galleons but he made me lower it to one"
"Well it's a start" Hermione smiled "now all you have to do is convince him to accept more. Now all you have to do is free your other elves or pay them"
"I'm not doing that" Harry shook his head in frustration "they don't want either and I'm not forcing it on them" Hermione argued some more before Harry shot her with a silencing charm and closed the door, he then placed a spell to keep it locked and closed the blinds.
"I don't why I didn't do that in the first place"
"I do" Ginny responded "you wanted to irritate and annoy Malfoy then you forgot to do it."
"That'd be it" Harry laughed "hey Ginny, I know we're still young and all but do you think we're old enough to date?"
"Too young to do much of anything but I don't see what's wrong with dating, why?"
"I don't know" Harry shrugged "I'd just rather start now then wait another year or so, I figure we can start with presents and being romantic and all that now"
The two talked for a while before the train ride stopped and they made their way to the great hall. Harry nodded to his four favorite teachers shortly before the sorting and announcement of Lockhart as the new defense against the dark arts professor. Harry had very descriptive words to describe his opinion of Lockhart teaching but decided to hold it back when he saw Snape and the others trying the same. He and Ginny gave them a sympathetic look which they returned. The girls in the hall apart from a select few which include Ginny were shouting in appreciation and enjoyment, both Harry and the teachers respect for the female population of the school plummeted.
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