ON MY WAY {HP X SHADOWHUNTERS} [DISCONTINUED]

DOBBY'S WARNING

Hayley 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. Hayley knew instantly that this was what had been watching her out of the garden hedge that morning. As they stared at each other, Hayley heard Dudley's voice from the hall. "May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?" The creature slipped off the bed and bowed so low that the end of its long, thin nose touched the carpet. Hayley noticed that it was wearing what looked like an old pillowcase, with rips for arm- and leg-holes. "Er — hello," said Hayley nervously. "Hayley Potter!" said the creature in a high-pitched voice Hayley was sure would carry down the stairs. "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, ma'am . . . Such an honor it is. . ."

"Wait, isn't that you elf, Cissa" Regulus asked, frowning.

"Yes, it is" Narcissa answered, confused. 

"Malfoy, what is your elf doing at a Mudblood's place" Bellatrix screeched, disgusted. 

"Mrs. Lestrange, use of foul language and words won't be tolerated in Hogwarts, and you'll do well to remember it" McGonagall snapped at Bellatrix, who glowered at her but didn't responded. 

"Th-thank you," said Hayley, edging along the wall and sinking into her desk chair, next to Hedwig, who was asleep in her large cage. "Who are you?" Hayley asked slowly. "Dobby, ma'am. Just Dobby. Dobby the house-elf," said the creature. "Oh — really?" Hayley stuttered. "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 Hayley quickly, "but, er, is there any particular reason you're here?" she asked, trying to sound polite. "Oh, yes, ma'am," said Dobby earnestly. "Dobby has come to tell you, ma'am . . . it is difficult, ma'am . . . Dobby wonders where to begin. . . ." Dobby said, nervously. "Sit down," said Hayley politely, pointing at the bed. To her horror, the elf burst into tears — very noisy tears. "S-sit down!" he wailed. "Never . . . never ever . . ." Hayley thought she heard the voices downstairs falter. "I'm sorry," she 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 witch or a wizard — like an equal —" Hayley, trying to say "Shh!" and look comforting at the same time, ushered 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 great eyes fixed on Hayley in an expression of watery adoration. "You can't have met many decent wizards and witches," said Hayley, trying to cheer him up. Dobby shook his head. Then, without warning, he leapt up and started banging his head furiously on the window, shouting, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!" Hayley gasped loudly. "Don't — what are you doing?" Hayley 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, Ma'am," said the elf, who had gone slightly cross-eyed. "Dobby almost spoke ill of his family, ma'am. . . ." Dobby informed "Your family?" Hayley frowned. 

"Oh, I just hope he doesn't get's Lia in trouble" Lily said, nervously. 

"Don't worry, that's just his way of saving me" Hayley chuckled, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes, but she held them back. 

"The wizard family Dobby serves, ma'am. . . . Dobby is a house-elf —bound to serve one house and one family forever. . . ." Dobby told Hayley. "Do they know you're here?" asked Hayley curiously. Dobby shuddered. "Oh, no, ma'am, no . . . Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to see you, ma'am. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for this. If they ever knew, ma'am —" Dobby shuddered violently. "But won't they notice if you shut your ears in the oven door?" Hayley said, gulping. "Dobby doubts it, ma'am. Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, ma'am. They lets Dobby get on with it, ma'am. Sometimes they reminds me to do extra punishments. . . ." Dobby said, looking frightened. "But why don't you leave? Escape?" Hayley asked, curiously. "A house-elf must be set free, ma'am. And the family will never set Dobby free . . . Dobby will serve the family until he dies, ma'am. . . ." Hayley stared. "And I thought I had it bad staying here for another four weeks," she said. "This makes the Dursleys sound almost human. Can't anyone help you? Can't I?" Almost at once, Hayley wished she hadn't spoken. Dobby dissolved again into wails of gratitude. "Please," Hayley whispered frantically, "please be quiet. If the Dursleys hear anything, if they know you're here —"