Chapter 2
"Okay," Bruce said, "before we start the next chapter, there is something that has been bothering me. There have been several instances throughout the last book, and the first chapter of this book, that made me angry, and upset. However, I haven't felt even an inkling of the other guy trying to make an appearance. Why?"
Shadow Lightning appeared, and explained, "That would be my doing. I had the kitchen staff put calming draught in all of your food and drinks. Not enough that you would all be forced to remain calm, as that would just cause you all to panic, but just enough that you wouldn't get as mad as you would have otherwise. For you Dr. Banner, the calming potion is more powerful than for everyone else. I didn't think that you would want to risk Big Green making an appearance."
The hall was silent as everyone thought this over. Bruce was the first one to speak up, "Thank you."
With that, the rest of the hall followed suit.
Chapter Two: Dobby's Warning
"Why would Dobby be at Potter's house?" Malfoy muttered under his breath.
Harry managed not to shout out, but it was a close thing. The little creature on the bed had large, bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls. Harry knew instantly that this was what had been watching him out of the garden hedge that morning.
As they stared at each other, Harry heard Dudley's voice from the hall.
"May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?"
...
"Harry Potter!" said the creature in a high-pitched voice Harry was sure would carry down the stairs. "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir... Such an honor it is...."
"Potter, why is Dobby at your house?!" Malfoy shouted across the hall.
"I don't know!" Harry said, "Who is this Dobby anyway?"
"Dobby is a house-elf, in the service of the Malfoys." Snape explained, only to stop those two from screaming across the entire hall.
"Th-thank you," said Harry, edging along the wall and sinking into his desk chair, next to Hedwig, who was asleep in her large cage. He wanted to ask, "What are you?" but thought it would sound too rude, so instead he said, "Who are you?"
"Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the house-elf," said the creature.
"Oh - really?" said Harry. "Er - I don't want to be rude or anything, but - this isn't a great time for me to have a house-elf in my bedroom."
Aunt Petunia's high, false laugh sounded from the living room. The elf hung his head.
"Not that I'm not pleased to meet you," said Harry quickly, "but er, is there any particular reason you're here?"
"Oh, yes, sir," said Dobby earnestly. "Dobby has come to tell you, sir... it is difficult, sir... Dobby wonders where to begin...."
"Why don't you sit down," said Harry politely, pointing at the bed.
To his horror, the elf burst into tears - very noisy tears.
"S-sit down!" he wailed. "Never ... never ever..."
Harry thought he heard the voices downstairs falter.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I didn't mean to offend you or anything -"
"Offend Dobby!" choked the elf. "Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard - like an equal -"
Several heads turned to look at Malfoy.
