Dobby peered around the corner of the Hogwarts corridor, a slight tremor emanating from him at the sight of Hogwarts' newest teacher: Rubeus Hagrid. Although the half-giant had worked at Hogwarts for several decades as the gamekeeper, Dobby had not been to the school until Harry Potter's second year at Hogwarts. On Dobby's way back from warning Harry Potter about the basilisk in the hospital wing, he had been scurrying through the corridors back to his nest on the third floor, where he slept each night during that year. It was on that fateful night when Dobby first laid eyes upon the enormous Hagrid.
Dobby walked quickly and quietly through Hogwarts' vast halls toward his nest. He was absolutely exhausted from following Harry Potter around day and night, and knew that he needed rest before he continued his surveillance.
"Harry Potter is a good wizard," Dobby murmured to himself. He let the speech he spoke drift to his heart and sink in, and just let the true words warm his chest. He stopped mid-stride to savor the feeling.
Suddenly, a loud voice boomed out from behind Dobby. He jumped and whirled around, crouching slightly as he did.
"Ar, Harry is a good wizar'," a tall, wide, bearded man said from his seat in a courtyard adjacent to the corridor Dobby was in. "So is Dumbeldore, ye know. I've always said it."
Dobby peered up at the great humanoid. "Ye-yes, he is indeed," he squeaked. Dobby's heart raced quicker than when the thought of Harry Potter, and he felt his entire body warm instead of just his chest.
"Yer Dobby, righ,?" The bearded man called.
" Yes, sir, I am, sir," Dobby said quietly. He felt butterflies in his stomach in response to the fact that this man knew his name. Him, a lowly house-elf!
"I'm Hagrid," he boomed. "Nice to meet yeh."
Dobby bowed deeply, then, in his haste to sort out his feelings and get away, he tripped on his raggedy pillowcase. Ass-up on the floor, he lay sprawled, unable to move or even think because he couldn't comprehend how badly he had just screwed up.
This year, however, Dobby was better prepared and wouldn't- couldn't- make a fool of himself. This year, he had clothes. Hopefully, he wouldn't need them with Hagrid.
