Violet Potter and the Basilisk Plague (Year Two)

Chapter Nineteen: A Friend In Need

As the remainder of that winter passed and all snow and ice had melted into another spring, Violet and Harry Potter and all other Hogwarts students were preparing for their end-of-year exams. Some students had more studying to do than others, but one thing remained the same. Despite the numerous mysterious attacks leaving muggle-born students petrified throughout that school year, the exams were scheduled to go on as usual. Although many were outraged that there would be any examinations given the emergency circumstances at Hogwarts, and Seamus Finnegan was one of the most vocal in expressing his outrage.

"I cannot believe that we are still having to sit and write exams at all with everything in this state, with muggle-borns getting petrified and no one even appears to be doing anything about it! It's so obvious that these attacks are all coming from the Slytherins! Nothing has happened to any of them yet, well I say we should investigate them, it would be better than pretending as if it's all buisness as usual!" Seamus cried during one Transfiguration lesson, and several Gryffindor boys had apparently agreed with him.

"Mr. Finnegan, MR. FINNEGAN! BOYS!
I EXPECT CALM AND COMPOSED BEHAVIOUR TO BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES FROM MY STUDENTS!" Professor McGonagall had bellowed, sick and tired of hearing any more of it.
"In other words, all of you idiots need to sit down and SHUT IT!" Parvati Patil added, glaring over at Seamus and his friends. "Some of us actually care about making it into our third year when we are supposed to!"

"That will do quite well enough, Miss Patil. I cannot stress enough the importance of at least striving toward showing a minimum of inter-house unity! Do not forget that Miss Potter and Miss Maynard are from the very same house you are foolishly ranting against. Mark my words Mr. Finnegan, they have already done a great deal more to help prepare the antidote than you have evidently studied all year on how to properly transfigure a porcupine into a pincushion! End of year examinations are therefore a necessity to determine how much you have learned and if you are indeed prepared to advance into your next year of study at Hogwarts! And Merlin knows, the majority of you are no Hermione Granger or Percy Weasley. Now, the sooner you will all settle down and pay attention, the sooner we may carry on with today's lesson on transfiguring rats into water goblets as we are meant to be doing!"

After Professor McGonagall said all of this, the second-year class settled rather glumly into the day's Transfiguration lesson. But no one was as gloomy about the entire prospect as Ron.

"Can you imagine me passing any exams with this?" He held up his broken wand in front of Harry, just as it began randomly emitting green and purple bubbles.

***

Violet and Victoria were walking around the Hogwarts grounds for some fresh air after their final class that day when they were made to jump back in surprise to find that two house-elves, one who was a male, wearing a tattered and dirty old sackcloth, had apparated in that curious way all house-elves did, and he was not alone. He was carrying a smaller, (female) and much more familiar elf, who was completely unresponsive, and was wearing a toddler-sized dress which was brown and orange and hideous. It was horrifying, not least because neither girls had wanted any harm to come to Tiny.

"Who are you and what have you done to Tiny?" Violet immediately asked the other elf, who squeaked, "Dobby means no harm! Dobby must find help, it was most terrible---MacNair---Dobby must find help for his friend Tiny, Dobby has tried everything he knows to revive her and didn't know where else to go, so Dobby came to Hogwarts to find the Potters and their friends. Please help Tiny!"

Tori checked the unconscious house elf for a pulse. "She's still alive, but we must find Professors Kettleburn and Grubbly-Plank! They teach the Care of Magical Creatures classes at Hogwarts. I'm sure they'll know what to do!" (Both of these Hogwarts professors lived in their own cabins, preferring those smaller and homier spaces to residing in the castle.

Unfortunately, when they had gotten there, neither professors were inside their cabins. So they all hurried to the front entrance of Hagrid's hut and banged on the door. "Hagrid! HAGRID! It's Violet and Tori, we need your help, we have two house-elves with us, one of them is unconscious and fighting for her life! Please answer!" Violet cried. And after a few seconds, Hagrid opened the door. "It's bin' a spell since I last bin' seein' the two of yeh, but with the state o' things, can't say as I blame either of yeh. So there's a house-elf in need of aid? Well bring 'er in an' I'll see what's what."

Once they were all safely inside of Hagrid's hut, Dobby explained what had happened. "Dobby was the only one able to bring Tiny here Mr. Gamekeeper Sir. Dobby is Tiny's only real friend as far as we elves go Sir, and Dobby had managed to apparate himself away from his place of shelter Sir, once again to visit with Tiny, who is very lonely, like Dobby himself is Sir.

Only this time, Tiny's master came home earlier than expected and found out about Dobby's visits to Tiny. Dobby will no doubt be punished by his master for saving Tiny and bringing her here, but Tiny was dismissed, MacNair gave her clothes which he forced on her. And not even Tiny's family want anything to do with Tiny anymore. Before Dobby could stop Tiny...she snuck a small vial out of a dark purple liquid and said that no one wanted Tiny and that she was disgraced with nowhere left to go...and Tiny drank it before Dobby could stop her. Tiny has been Dobby's only friend for many years Sir. Please don't let it be too late!"

Hagrid examined the now emptied vial for any trace of the substance Tiny had consumed. "Jus' as I suspected, it is black of nightshade that Tiny has ingested. Luckily for the both of yeh and especially for yer little friend, I have the antidote. Essence of amaranth, I jus' administered a dosage, so now, we wait, and pray it isn't too late, such a tiny wee elf..."