Chapter Text
In the dark Gryffindor dormitories, the air crackled with Magic as Harry, gasping for breath, hit the floor hard in a state of panic. His heart pounded in his chest nearly beating through his skin as cold beads of sweat tricked down his forehead. Wand tip nearly alight with spellfire as he backed into the corner of the window by his bed.
Emerald eyes darting about the room, frantically searching for a hidden threat. Scarlet and golden bed hangings seeming to writhe in the shadows, playing tricks on his imagination driven to overdrive in terror. Every flicker of fabric catching his attention causing his grip to tighten on his wand.
With each ragged breath, the room felt suffocating and claustrophobic, as if it were bearing down upon him, He could almost sense the presence of a snake, no not a snake, the Basilisk. Any second now he would see the baleful glare of its dark yellow eyes flecked with crimson.
But no eyes appeared, as the panic began to subside ragged breath beginning to even out slowly, but steadily, Harry with a trembling hand and wand still pointed at shadows reached out with the other for his glasses, grabbing them and clinging to them as if they were a lifeline reached and quickly pushed them on. The cool metal of the frames against his skin sent a rush of relief as the world came back into focus.
His eyes darted about the room, this time with a newfound sense of clarity. The shadows which before felt sinister, unyielding and encroaching were revealed to be nothing more than ordinary objects bathed in darkness and partially revealed in dim moonlight. The bedhanging's, once twisted and threatening, now seemed warmer and inviting.
Taking a deep breath, Harry realized that he’d been caught in the grip of a vivid and terrifying nightmare, again, his third in as many days– a haunting reminder of the basilisk and the terrifying events that had unfolded in the Chamber of Secrets. The aftereffects still clung to him like the foulness and blood he’d been coated in when he walked into Dumbledore’s office with a nearly catatonic Ginny, an overwhelmed Ron, and an unfortunately conscious Lockheart in tow.
The dormitory, bathed in the soft white glow of moonlight, felt like a sanctuary now. The familiar distant sounds of his dorm mates breathing softly in their sleep, A comforting reminder of his friends, slowly the sense of isolation and vulnerability began to ebb away.
Wand still in his hand he pushed himself off the cold floor, looking around the room pushing the scattered remnants of his latest nightmare from his mind, he saw the dorm room as it always was warm and comforting.
‘Harry?... are you okay?’ a soft voice spoke out of the darkness
Head whipping around to find the source of the sound, Harry saw he wasn’t the only one awake. His own Emerald eyes met the verdant green of Neville’s and saw the concern in their depths.
‘Neville? Oh merlin, I'm sorry did I wake you’ Harry mumbled, shoulders drooping and looking at the floor ashamedly, his nightmares were his to deal with, he shouldn’t be disturbing his friends sleep with his own problems, he thought as he slumped against his bed, exhausted from the adrenalin dump his nightmare had triggered.
A moment passed and he felt a cold glass being pressed against his hand, looking up to see Neville standing next to him in his pajamas Neville had brought him a glass of water without him asking for it.
‘Don’t worry about it harry, here drink this’ He said gently taking a seat on his own bed, neighboring Harry’s on the right, with a still deeply sleeping Ron on his left.
Feeling touched by Neville’s support, harry accepted the glass and took a few sips, the cool water washing away the final vestiges of fear and panic. The water feeling like an elixir soothing his parched throat and calming his nerves
As he placed the glass on the bedside stand, he found his gaze finally meeting his friend
‘Thanks, Neville,’ Harry spoke lightly the gratitude coming through his voice ‘I appreciate it, and again I'm sorry I woke you’
Neville shrugged his shoulders lightly shaking his head once ‘Don’t worry about it harry’ Neville replied before taking a breath before briefly breaking eye contact as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know if he should. A moment passed before he spoke, stuttering slightly as he did
‘You g-got caught u-up in something again d-didn't you, like last year’
‘Yeah Neville, I did’ Harry admitted, shoulders slumping again feeling the weight lay across him heavily
‘I’m sorry these things keep happening to you Harry’ Neville spoke with a confidence and assurance that Harry had never heard from him before.
It somewhat startled Harry a little, No one had ever really said something like that to him before. Not about the events of his first year with Quirrell and the Stone, Merlin he’d had nightmares about that for months. Suffocation by devil’s snare, watching Ron get hit with debris from his stone mount being crushed by the Queen’s poleaxe and seeing him bloody amongst the debris. Not even about his parents, they just say what an honor it is to meet him. For something he didn’t do, didn’t remember and for something that made him loose his mother and Father.
The Mirror chamber still gave him nightmares, The twisted manifestation of Voldemort on the back of Quirrell's head, and the worst was the feeling of Quirrell's face crumbling beneath his hands, and his screams of agony as he burned...
Harry had to learn to wake up terrified, but had to learn to do so silently, not wanting to draw the Dursley’s Wrath. Life at the Dursley’s had never been easy for harry. But after the unfortunate dinner party, and the reminder letter from the Ministry and warning informing the Dursleys that he couldn’t use magic outside of Hogwarts. Things had gotten much worse.
Harry gave Neville a weak smile as he earnestly said ‘Thank you Nev, I don’t think anyone’s ever said that to me before’ Harry felt something of a dam break inside him for a moment as he continued talking
‘These nightmares.... some of it’s the things I've seen, the rest is everyone else's attitudes to me, sometimes it’s like they don’t see me as a student, even if I can look after myself, hell I'd take looking after myself if I didn’t have to go where I go for the summer’
Unknown to Harry, Neville’s eyes spiked wider in shock at that statement.
‘Even about my parents, they always say how much I look like my dad, or that I have my mother’s eyes. Even the teachers do it when I do well in class, I spent days working on the damned first stage animate to inanimate transfiguration, and McGonagall just says how proud my dad would be, or how good my mother was at charms.’ Harry nearly whisper shouted, exhaustion briefly forgotten as he was about to stand and pace until a snort and snore from Ron’s bed quickly reminded him that others were sleeping.
Looking back to Neville, He noticed more than just empathy in his friend’s eyes; he saw a brief flash of something else – a flicker of understanding, perhaps even relatability. He’d heard Neville’s stories about his own childhood, of being dropped out of a window by his uncle or pushed off a pier in Blackpool. He knew Neville’s attitude and demeanor well by now, quiet, shy, almost closed off, never the first one to say something or start a conversation with someone, he recognized some of those traits, saw them in the mirror every morning.
It hit him like a bludger in the chest. Neville wasn’t so different from Harry. Taking another look at Neville, and seeing the earnestness of his friend, who would sit up with him in the early hours of the morning just to make sure he was alright after a nightmare, and to listen to his whispered ranting. Who, throughout the year even with the Heir of Slytherin nonsense after his parseltounge had slipped out in public, still believed Harry would have nothing to do with attacking the other students. Not even the whole of Gryffindor had believed him, but Neville did.
He didn’t even really know Neville that much, he knew that he lived with his grandmother, but he didn’t know why. Neville was practically a Herbology prodigy but struggled in the other classes. He didn’t even know what his hobbies were, who were his other friends, did he have other friends? He'd never seemed that close to anyone else. He sat with him and Hermione when Ron had gotten bored of revision and wandered off to do something that interested him more, like chess, or just staring out the window.
Looking out of the window he’d been crushed up against in his panic five minutes earlier, he looked out of the window and saw the Hogwarts grounds still cloaked in silent darkness, The Forbidden Forest looming in the distance its tree’s standing as sentinels on the border of Hogwarts proper. The Black Lake vast and Mirror still, reflecting the stars like shimmering gemstones. A minute passed in comfortable silence between Harry and Neville, and a subtle transformation began to take place, the dark canvas of the night sky slowly shifted revealing hints of deep blue as the first hints of dawn. The stars slowly began to surrender their hold of the sky, giving way to the golden light fast approaching the horizon.
In that fleeting moment of dawn, Harry knew he needed to be a better friend to Neville, he deserved that from him. Getting to his feet and stretching out his limbs sore from hitting the stone floor of his dorm room and the thrashing he must have been doing in his sleep.
‘I don’t think I'm going to be able to sleep after that honestly,’ Harry spoke breaking companionable silence once more ‘I’m going to change and head down to the common room for a bit and let you get some more sleep’ smiling softly as he whispered to Neville.
‘I’ll join you If you don’t mind’ Neville quickly responded ‘I honestly don’t need much sleep in the summer anyway, I'd be getting up in an hour or so any way’ Neville responded, shaking his head and smiling back when harry made to try and get Neville to go back to bed. ‘it’s a Herbologists nature to keep up with the sun’ Neville whispered with a grin as if he was sharing a secret with harry.
A surprised chuckle escaped Harry’s lips at Neville’s quip, “I think that’s the first joke I've ever heard you say” he thought to himself, amused by the unexpected humor from his usually reserved friend, it was a surprise, and good one too, to see another facet of the reserved boy’s personality.
As they both prepared to head down to the common room, Harry reached for his one set of casual robes- a simple dark blue outfit he’d manage to convince Mrs. Weasley to let him buy before the beginning of the school year. The robes while worn-in and showing signs of wear, with their self-cleaning and temperature regulation charms beginning to fade, were quite precious to him, they were the first clothes he’d bought for himself that weren't his school uniform, and more importantly they weren’t the wretched and ruined hand-me-downs the Dursley’s had forced him to wear.
As they descended the spiral staircase leading to the common room, harry couldn’t help but notice the slow transformation occurring around him, the enchanted portraits lining the common room beginning to stir from their slumber, some even offered a sleepy nod of greeting to the two of them as they passed.
The Gryffindor common room with its cozy fireside and comfortable armchairs exuded an inviting warmth, the fire was out, but the ashes had been cleaned out and logs stacked ready for use should there be a need for a crackling fire at any point during the day. It was the Scottish Highlands after all even if it was the third day of June. Just over three weeks until Hogwarts would be done for the year.
Harry and Neville sank into a set of deep armchairs near one of the tall arched windows with gorgeous views of the sunrise across the grounds of Hogwarts.
‘You know I always wondered what spell resets the fireplace every night’ harry said attempting to start a conversation with Neville about something to break the silence. Neville didn’t start conversations, but to be honest Harry didn’t either he had Ron and Hermione for that, perhaps he should try too a bit more.
Harry’s odd statement seemed to catch Neville by surprise as a look of bemusement crossed his round face
‘It’s not a spell, the Hogwarts house elves do it’ Neville replied with trying to hide a smile and a little confusion by looking out over the grounds before looking back at Harry's face which had morphed into one of shock, and thinking of Dobby a bit of horror
‘Hogwarts has house elves? You're telling me Hogwarts keeps slaves’ Harry said loudly voice tinged with a little anger
"No, no, no, they're not slaves," Neville quickly stuttered in response, taken aback by the intensity in Harry's voice. "House elves need to be bound to a location or family. It's more of a magical bond, and they find fulfillment in serving their masters. Elves can't really survive without the bond, it’s what allows them to access the magic without hurting themselves"
The anger in Harry's eyes softened slightly as he listened to Neville's explanation. "I met a house elf, well, technically at the beginning of the year," he began, recounting the encounter with Dobby. "He tried to stop me from going to Hogwarts by stealing my mail and even tried to set the Ministry on me."
Neville’s expression changed to one of surprise and confusion as he listened to Harry’s explain his encounters with Dobby. ‘He fought the bond to his family to try and protect you’ Neville asked, genuinely intrigued by the situation. “I've never heard of a house elf doing something like that before, his bond can't have been healthy to do something like that. House elves are supposed to be treated well, it's part of the bond, the nearly symbiotic link between the elven and family magic, what is he like, this elf?”
‘He was interesting’ Harry admitted, thinking back to Dobby’s attempts to keep him safe, misguided attempts, but heartfelt Harry thought. ‘His ideas on protection were, well weird, and straight up dangerous in some cases, He was the one behind the rogue bludger that fixated on me in the Slytherin game this year’ Neville’s eyes went wide at that ‘but I could tell he did genuinely care though’
A pang of anger gnawed at harry as he recalled how Draco Malfoy’s father treated Dobby in Dumbledore’s office a few days previously. ‘After seeing how Malfoy Senior treated him, I Felt bad for him’
Neville had a look of discomfort on his face hearing that ‘I’m not surprised he was a Malfoy elf then. I doubt Lucius Malfoy is even capable of treating an elf with indifference let alone respectfully. Poor thing’
‘it’s all sorted now though, I managed to trick the blond prick into freeing his own elf by accident’ Harry laughed out with a grin on his face
‘How’d you manage that?’ Neville asked, leaning forward in his chair, a laugh beginning to colour his features.
‘It was after the events of... Well... I'll tell you about that mess another time, but Malfoy stormed into Dumbledore’s office demanding to know why he was back in the school after he’d bribed or threatened the board of governors to force Dumbledore from the castle, he was furious. He was deeply involved in the whole Chamber of Secrets being re-opened, he’d snuck a really dark artefact, a diary, into the school in the hands of a unknowing student” Harry stopped short there, tempted to tell Neville everything, but thought better of it Neville didn’t need to know about the possession yet, not about Voldemort’s shade haunting the halls for the second year in a row.
‘He slipped It into someone's cauldron with the rest of their books when they were in Diagon doing their school shopping, it’s the only way I can think of it happening.’ keep Ginny out of it for now, harry thought trying to omit some of the details but still give Neville a bit of insight into what’s been going on all year.
Harry told Neville the rest of the story, He’d told this same story to Ron, and Hermione after she’d been woken up. Seeing Malfoy launched down the entrance hall by his own former servant, almost made up for the nasty curse Malfoy had tried to cast on him. Harry standing up and re-enacting Malfoy getting launched by throwing himself back in his chair, had Neville in stitches.
A quiet followed for a few minutes as the two sat and watched the grounds grow ever lighter, the sun had risen just above the horizon. The blazing orb breaching the horizon and bathing the grounds in glorious golden summer dawn.
‘So, what happened after you freed Dobby Harry?’ Neville broke the silence
‘I... I don’t know, he kind of just left, I hope he’s found somewhere nice. Maybe a new family, or just some fun, doubt he’s had much of that. Though he might be at Hogwarts since apparently Hogwarts has Elves here’ Harry Replied
Neville’s grew pensive for a moment before he quietly stated ‘Try calling him’ a look of confusion crossed Harry for a moment ‘No seriously, try reaching for him and call him’ Neville continued ‘I've got an idea’.
Feeling a little foolish, Harry called out Dobby’s name.
With a sharp crack, Harry felt a surprisingly strong pressure on one of his legs as the little creature appeared and immediately latched onto his leg.
‘The great Harry Potter calls dobby’ Dobby excitably announced, looking up at Harry with adoration. Something that made Harry feel a little uncomfortable.
‘Yous call Dobby Great Harry Potters sir, whats can dobby be doings for the great Harry Potter’ dobby babbled quickly still latched onto Harry’s leg.
He was still in a sorry state Harry thought as he looked over Dobby, a few less bandages, the bruising no longer fresh but now a mottled brown, purple and green against his pinkish grey skin.
‘Hello Dobby’ Harry said Smiling at the small being latched to his leg like a limpet.
‘I was just wondering how you were doing with your freedom; do you need anything?’
Dobby tightened his hold on Harry’s leg and begun wailing, the little house-elf was overwhelmed with gratitude and sorrow, and his words tumbled out in halting sobs
‘Such a kind great wizard dobby has ever met’ he cried tears streaming down his sallow cheeks ‘first he frees poor Dobby, then he asks if he can helps dobby more. Dobby does not deserve the Great Harry Potters kindness, not after dobby’s bluddger, ohhh dobby knows he’d done right when turning on the bad, bad dark wizards malf..’ Dobby froze a moment there feverishly looking around the room and letting go of Harry’s leg and made to throw himself at the solid grey stone wall for the insult to his old family.
Harry acted swiftly with the reflexes of his two years of quidditch and a lifetime at the Dursleys quickly grabbed onto the back of the dirty partly torn pillowcase Dobby used as clothes, stopping him from hurting himself.
‘Stop it dobby’ harry firmly spoke ‘They are not your family anymore; you don’t have to keep hurting yourself for them’
Dobby’s eyes flickered wide with disbelief, as if he couldn’t quite comprehend what Harry was saying. He’d spent so long, bound to the Malfoys and the cruel treatment, that the idea of freedom and kindness was utterly foreign to him. He stopped pulling against Harry and trembling slightly turned away from the wall towards Harry.
‘Would you like to sit down with us’ Neville spoke out softly
Dobby’s eyes frantically switched back and forth from Harry to Neville, it seemed like he’d only just noticed the young wizard sitting the
‘This is my friend Neville Longbottom, Dobby, and please sit with us for a moment’ Harry said, as he indicated to another comfortable deep red leather armchair next to his own.
‘Yous must also be a great and kind wizard, Mister Longbottoms sir’ Dobby stuttered out nearly overwhelmed yet again by kindness from not just his great Harry Potter, but now another wizard who is his Great Harry Potter’s friend Dobby thought happily to himself.
Still looking between the two young wizards both smiling at him he tentatively and shakily lifted himself into the armchair, being dwarfed by the luxurious and comfortable leather chair. He sat for a moment still fighting the occasional sob.
Neville spoke first before Harry could talk ‘How is your magic coping with being free Dobby?’ he questioned softly
Dobby with still glistening eyes and tear tracked cheeks looked at Neville and quietly responded ‘Dobbys is being alright for nows Great mister Longbottom, is not dangerous yet, Hoggywarts be good for elves even without a bond, lots of good magic from all the young ones soaked into the stones’
Harry flinched slightly when Dobby mentioned it wasn’t dangerous yet. Harry’s mind was stuck on the “yet” part of the diminutive creatures' words, his thoughts weighing heavily on the fact that his friend? Yes friend, would be in danger soon.
‘What do you mean by its not dangerous yet dobby’ Harry questioned gently
‘Elveses are meant to be bounded Great Harry Potter’ Dobby replied ‘we’ses can't be unbound for long when we’s older, we’s can’t be drawing on the magic of the world unfiltered, it’s not right magic for elves, it be unkind to elveses, hurts us and unravellers us if left too longs’ Dobby finished with a shudder and a dark look in his eyes.
A spike of concern and a little fear ran down Harry’s spine at Dobby’s words, but that flash of terror in Dobby’s eyes as he spoke about unraveling hit him like a stinging hex to the neck, he’d seen fear in those eyes before, when Dobby tried to give him information about what was going on at school this year and was fearful of the Malfoys. But this was different, what he saw in that flash was sheer terror.
A surge of determination filled Harry, he had an idea, but he was unsure how Dobby would react to it. But if he could help, he would.
‘Dobby, I want to help you’ Harry said softly looking directly into the elf’s eyes ‘if you don’t want to, I completely understand, but maybe, if you want to, would you like to bond with me? I.. I don’t have any family so it would just be me, and I won’t have much work for you but...’ Harry choked on his words a little, as Dobby lunched himself from the armchair he was sitting in and was once again wrapped around his leg sobbing.
‘Yes, Great Master Harry, yes, dobby wants to be part of Great master's Family’ Dobby bawled between words, the any fear long gone, replaced with elation. It took nearly half an hour to get Dobby to calm down, reassuring words from both Harry and Neville, that yes, Harry really did want to bond to him, and that he would definitely be happy with any work that he would want to do for him, after this, Dobby calmed down a little, not a great deal mind but a little, and enough to properly tell Harry that he would love nothing more than to be his Great Master Harry Potter’s own house elf.
‘So how do we do this’ Harry asked both Neville and Dobby having everyone sat back down in their comfortable armchairs by the window.
‘we’s need to be outside, Elf bonding is old magic, is part of wild magic, now is auspicious times too, dawn be very good for elf bond’ dobby babbled excitedly.
In the soft glow of the early morning, Harry, Neville and Dobby made their way out of the portrait and int the castle. The Castle was quiet, the only sound being the faint rustle of their robes and the soft padding of their leather soles on stone. As they descended, the enchanted portraits seemed to stir from their slumber, occasionally painted eyes followed the unlikely trio with curiosity and intrigue.
As they made their way out of the entrance hall and onto the grounds of Hogwarts, the world was bathed in the soft hues of dawn, The air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly dewed grass and blooming flowers. The forbidden Forest loomed in the distance, a mysterious presence on the borders of the fields of grass of the grounds. The Black Lake lay still and serene, mirroring the pink and golden streaks of the fresh morning sky.
The three of them made their way to a secluded spot near the shores of the lake, near the forest. Dobby’s excitement was palpable. ‘Okay, what do we need to do now’ harry spoke looking at Dobby how was excitably bouncing on the tips of his toes.
‘First dobby must be drawings the old runes at the point where the sun rises, sets, then in-betweens them’ dobby excitably chattering as he moved in a circular manner carving into the dark earth of the lakeshore. The runes were odd, even to Harry and Neville, they seemed strange. ‘These be the old runes, Master Harry, thems at the ministry and the families be using different ones but they be different and dobby not knows them, all elves knows these ones.
Both Neville and Harry watched Dobby carve the runes into the soft earth of the lake shore, the runes were inexplicable, they had an aura of ancientness and significance, almost having their own slow thrumming pulse of power.
The first symbol Dobby drew, facing the rising sun, was an intricate spiral, almost labyrinthine, its design seemed to radiate energy, a symbol of the eternal cycle of life, birth and rebirth, it had an ethereal sense of timelessness, as if the symbol had existed since the dawn of time itself. It represented the east, where the sun rose with the promise of new beginnings and opportunities.
The second rune, facing the setting sun, was a symmetrical pattern of interlocking triangles and circles. It appeared almost geometrically perfect, yet there was an otherworldly quality to it. This rune symbolized the west, where the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, signifying the end of each day and a journey into the unknown night. Its complexity seemed to hint at the mysteries hidden in the darkness, a testament to the profound wisdom and ancient knowledge that lurks in the edge of the shadows of time.
The third positioned between the rising and setting sun, was a graceful curve that resembled a wave. Its fluid lines conveyed a sense of movement and constant change symbolizing the north where the sun reached its zenith, and the world basked in the warmth of midday. This rune seemed to embody the ever-shifting nature of existence, reminding them of all the ebb and flow of life, like the tides of the Black Lake that mirrored its gentle form.
The fourth and final rune facing the south depicted an intricate interweaving of vines and leaves, forming a delicate and complex pattern. It exuded an aura of strength and stability, rooted in the earth and the passage of time. This rune represented the very Earth itself- the foundation on which all life thrived.
As Dobby finished the last rune and stepped back, the runes seemed to glow faintly in the early morning light. The air was charged with a subtle, magical energy and a sense of reverence settled over Harry; he’d never felt magic like this before. He didn’t know that magic could feel like this, it danced across his skin invisibly leaving a tingling sensation that was both exhilarating and humbling. The morning sunlight took on an otherworldly quality, casting a gentle glow upon the runes. Harry’s hair lightly fluttered as if caressed by an unseen breeze.
Dobby’s eyes shone with pride as he looked upon the completed runes. He turned to Harry bouncing on the balls of his feet. ‘The circle be ready, when yous be ready we step inside and make the promises that be forming's the bond.’ Harry stood there for a moment wondering what his vows should be he didn’t realize that he’d have to make anything up, to be honest he thought this would be a simpler affair, but he was excited, eyes alight with curiosity, this was magic, unlike any he’d seen before, he’d had no idea that runes were anything like this, it was fascinating.
Neville walked over to Harry as he was figuring out his promises and handed him a piece of parchment. ‘I think these are the traditional vows, for taking an elf into service, I reworded them a little’ Neville spoke softly with a small smile. Harry read them over and stepped into the circle.
The moment his foot crossed the boundary as he and Dobby stepped across from opposite sides, Harry felt a surge of magic course through him, It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before- powerful yet gentle, ancient and timeless. It was as if the very essence of magic itself was flowing into him, intertwining with his being. The Sensation was humbling and empowering.
Looking at Dobby standing a short distance away from him inside the circle, he felt something. Traces of hope, parts of adoration, but mostly the absolute sincere desire and will to help Harry with anything he would ask. The feelings brought up his own, the desire to save dobby from the terror he saw in his eyes when he talked about the Unravelling, to ensure that he would never again be hurt by cruelty, and his he sent his gratitude that dobby risked so much to help him and still wanted to.
‘I Harry of the House Potter, do so swear to take you Dobby, into my service. I will give you shelter from the world, A place to rest your head, to heal your wounds’ the words came to Harry unbidden now, ‘I ask for your help in all ways you would give me, until such time you would wish to leave my service’ with this final word he reached out his hands to dobby who quicky took them in his own bandaged ones.
‘I Dobby, accepts this vow, do Takeses the offer of shelter, and does so promise to serve you as my master to the bests of dobby’s abilities’ Dobby excitedly replied as a pulse of magic echoed in the air, as a soft golden glow surrounded both Harry and Dobby tying their oaths into their cores.
A brief moment of applause came from Neville who was sitting on a log nearby and watching the ritual with a massive grin on his face. ‘That was brilliant’ he said as he got to his feet rushing towards Harry and Dobby. ‘I've read about wizards taking elves into service before, but I don’t think those rituals are quite that intense or worded that way’ he said to Harry who was standing feeling a little stunned. The magical bond he felt reinvigorated him, maybe it was the runes that caused it, He’d definitely have to talk to Professor McGonagall later, he’d heard Hermione talking about runes before, but he’d brushed it off listening to Ron about taking an easy class. What else had he overlooked, brushing it off to focus on chess, or Quidditch. Dobby stood next to him trembling slightly and looking a little faint.
‘Dobby are you okay, Merlin, did I mess the ritual up’ he asked with concern filled with concern as he dropped to a knee next to Dobby and placed a hand on the shaking elf’s shoulder.
‘No great master Harry Potter, yous be doing fantastic, Dobby is yous elf now, Dobby be feeling the bond, is be strong, Dobby be realizing that Great Master Harry Potter be a truly powerful wizard, all the old nasty spells that bad Malfoys be casting on Dobby be gone’ His bleary eyes widening for a moment looking around as if he was waiting for the urge to hurt himself, fear passing quickly when he didn’t feel the need to at all.
‘Bonding be tiring for elves, Great Master Harry Potter sirs, more powerful the wizard the quicker the old spells wear off, old injuries heal, and new bond to settle, Dobby wills be fine in a few weekses, Great Master’ he said with a smile while fighting a Yawn threatening to take over.
Harry, still on his knees, felt palpably relieved that he hadn’t messed up ‘Okay Dobby, my first ever order to you will be this, call me Harry, not Master Harry, or Great Master Harry for the love of merlin please.’ He said politely to the tired elf, who jerked to alertness at the sound of an order. ‘No no cans be doing, you is my Master and heir to House Potter, Dobby cans be feeling it, it is only be right.’ Dobby stated with utmost confidence and height, which was only 3’6”
Harry was a little taken back by the firmness in the diminutive elf’s tone and the Heir to House Potter business. ‘Alright alright, what would you like to call me that’s not Great Master Harry Potter then Dobby’ Harry replied, surprised at the negotiation but kind of enjoying it.
‘Hows about Dobby be calling yous, Young Master Harry? At leasts for in front of other wizardses’ Dobby said keeping his firm tone
‘Are you sure you won’t just call me Harry?’ he replied, feeling a little exasperated ‘fine, how about you just call me Master Harry then, at least drop the young bit’
Dobby beamed triumphantly, ‘Dobby be goings to rest for a whiles now Master Harry, but I be comings if yous calls’ Dobby happily stated before disapperating with a sharp crack that split the early morning silence.
‘You know Harry, I think Dobby might have swindled you a little there’ Neville said failing to hide a smile and falling in step next to Harry easily.
‘He was always going to insist on calling me Master wasn’t he’ said Harry shaking his head from side to side.
With a small grin Neville nodded his head and said ‘It's still a little early, but main hall? Breakfast should be in half an hour or so’ Harry nodded his head and began to walk slowly up the pathway.
As the two of them walked the early morning air felt cool and refreshing. The sun had risen higher in the sky, casting a soft golden glow over the ground of Hogwarts, Dew glistened on the grass mingled with the sweet scent of summer flowers, the occasional owl swooped overhead towards the castle a letter tied to their leg. The soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet echoed in the quiet morning, mingling with the sound of bird song from the distant forest.
It was not long before they crossed the entrance, Its grand oak doors tall and wide stretched open to greet them, its towering ceilings and soft grey stone welcoming them inside, soft torchlight flickering on the walls not yet overcome by the daylight.
Finally, they reached the main hall, it was bathed in the soft morning light, sunlight streaming through the high windows casting long beams across the polished wooden floors. The hall’s enchanted ceiling mirroring the perfect cloudless pale cerulean sky Harry and Neville were just wandering under. The atmosphere was peaceful and still, with only a handful of early risers dotted amongst the hall, occasionally breaking the silence with a yawn, or light conversation. The wooden tables and benches were polished to a shine, even if they bore the marks used by countless generations of students. Professor Flitwick sat at the high table, resting back against the expertly carved dark wood Charms master’s throne, idly taking in the calmness of the early morning, smiling and giving a small nod to the two as they took a seat in the middle of the Gryffindor table.
As the early morning light slowly brightened, the main hall saw a trickle of students begin to languidly wander in and find their tables and friends. The hall filled with hushed voices as breakfast began to appear on large silver serving plates on the tables Infront of barely awake students. The smell of sizzling bacon, buttery toast, freshly brewed tea and coffee swiftly mingled in the air, creating a mouthwatering symphony of scents that greeted the early risers to coax them from drowsyness.
Harry started to fix a plate, aware of how ravenous the morning had already made him, between the nightmare and the ritual. Grabbing a few rashers of crispy bacon, a few sausages and freshly scrambled eggs, he began to tuck in. Filling a mug full of tea, he took a sip, and a thought came back to him, and he asked ‘Neville, what did Dobby mean by Heir to the House of Potter it was just my mum and dad right?’
He didn’t get an immediate answer as Neville’s eyebrows shot up in surprise and he promptly dropped his mug of tea sending peppermint tea cascading down the table as he shouted ‘What?....’ bringing the hall to a stop for just a moment.