Dobby had a plan, set and ready in his mind. He hoped it would work as well as the plan he made to keep Harry Potter out of school last year.
Making sure his towering pile of hats was straight, and that his Harry Potter socks were wedged on tight, he strode out confidently toward Hagrid's cabin. Along the way, he slipped and fell several times, tumbling several feet before regaining his footing. He lost several hats and socks every time he fell. Nevertheless, he continued his march until he was at the wide oak-paneled door of Hagrid's cabin. The trees beside the cabin joined Dobby as he shivered and swayed anxiously.
Dobby tried to draw up the courage to knock, but was saved the fear that would cause him by Hagrid's door swinging wide open.
And Hagrid stood there, frowning down at the little elf, who had just realized he was covered in patches of dirt and only had a single hat on.
"Dobby..." Hagrid paused. "I saw yeh fall all the way here."
Dobby twitched his fingers, which were clenched behind his back. "Dobby was just so desperate to see you, sir," and he bowed. The pull of gravity was too much for the last hat Dobby wore, and it fell off with a wet smack on the dry grass at his feet.
"Come in, come in, we'll have a cup o' dandelion tea and fix you up," Hagrid said concernedly.
Without waiting for an invitation, Dobby scurried in past Hagrid and threw himself at the large, bouncy couches that were placed around the cabin efficiently.
"EEHHEE," Dobby cried as he bounced. "OOHOOO!"
Hagrid looked a little taken aback at this, but proceeded to close the door behind him and busied himself at preparing the tea.
"How's things, Dobby?" Hagrid asked over his broad shoulder.
Dobby paused in his bouncing and shrieking to reply, "Oh, very well, sir, as Dobby is a free elf!"
"Tha's good, Dobby," Hagrid said.
"Yes! Dobby was freed by Harry Potter!" Dobby resumed his jumping as Hagrid thunked down two cups of dandelion tea on his broad table. The delicious aroma slipped inside of Dobby's waiting nostrils, and he promptly sat and chugged a cup as big as his head.
"Sorry I couldn' find yeh a smaller cup," Hagrid said as he sat down across from Dobby.
Dobby placed his mug down and gasped for air. When he had finally regained speech, he said, "It's alright, sir. Dobby can take it."
Hagrid glanced at Dobby's small form dubiously. "All righ'," he said, standing up. "I've got a class to teach now." He strode over and opened the door.
Dobby glanced at the door, then at Hagrid.
Hagrid sighed. "Yeh've got to go now," he said gently.
"Fine, sir!" Dobby tossed his cup over his head, ignoring Hagrid's wince as it shattered behind him. He ran out and around to the back of the cabin, and waited for Hagrid to stomp away, which he did.
Dobby then cringed in embarrassment. His plan had worked, but at what cost?
