Everlasting (H.P x fem.reader) YEARS 1-4

Year Two: Chapter Two

Harry's POV

I 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. I knew instantly that this was what had been watching me out of the garden hedge that morning.

As we stared at each other, I heard Dudley's voice from the hall.

"May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?"

The creature slipped off of the bed and bowed so low that the end of its long, thin nose touched the carpet. I noticed that it was wearing what looked like an old pillow case, with rips for arm-holes and leg-holes.

"Er — hello?" I said nervously.

"Harry Potter!" said the creature in a high-pitched voice I was sure would carry down the stairs. "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir.....such a honor it is...."

"Th-thank you," I said, edging along with wall and sinking into my desk chair, next to Hedwig, who was asleep in her large cage.

I wanted to ask, "What are you?" but thought it would sound too rude, so instead I said, "Who are you?"

"Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the house-elf," said the creature.

"Oh — really?" I said. "Er— I don't want to sound 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 its head.

"Not that I'm not pleased to meet you," I said 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......"

"Sit down," I said politely, pointing at the bed.

To my horror, the elf burst into tears — very noisy tears.

"S-sit down!" he wailed. "Never....never ever...."

I thought I heard the voices downstairs falter.

"I'm sorry," I 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 — "

While trying to say "Shhh!" and look comforting at the same time, I rushed Dobby back onto the bed where he sat hiccoughing, looking like a large and very ugly doll.

At last he managed to control himself, and sat with his green eyes fixed on me in an expression of watery adoration.

"You can't have met many decent wizards," I said, trying to cheer him up.

Dobby shook his head. Then, without warning, he leapt up and started banging his head on the window, shouting, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

"Don't — what are you doing?" I hissed, springing up and pulling Dobby back onto the bed — Hedwig had woken up with a particularly loud screech and was beating her wings wildly against the bars of her cage.

"Dobby had to punish himself, sir," said the elf, who had gone slightly crossed-eyed. "Dobby almost spoke ill of his family, sir...."

"Your family?"

"The wizard family Dobby serves, sir....Dobby is a House-elf — bound to serve one house and one family forever....."

"Do they know you're here?" I asked curiously.