Entitled

Chapter 38*

Hospital wing

That night, unable to sleep, you make a decision against your better judgment. Turning yourself invisible, you slip through the corridors as stealthily as possible, determined to find answers. The dimly lit halls of Hogwarts are eerily quiet as you make your way to the hospital wing.

Inside, you find Harry in his bed, still recuperating. As you approach, you both hear the whispers again, making eye contact with each other in shared unease. 

Suddenly, a house-elf you recognize as none other than Lucius Malfoy's appears at the end of Harry's bed. He looks at you, and you can feel his intrusion into your mind. He says, "Say a word of my master, and I will tell him who the heir is."

You shut your mouth and walk closer, your heart pounding. Harry, noticing your presence, demands, "Dobby, what are you doing here?"

Dobby looks at Harry with wide, fearful eyes. "Harry Potter should have listened to Dobby. Harry Potter should have gone back home when he missed the train."

Harry's eyes widen in realization. "It was you. You stopped the barrier from letting Ron and me through."

Dobby nods, sitting on the end of the bed. "Indeed, yes, sir."

Harry's voice rises in anger. "You nearly got Ron and me expelled!"

Dobby's ears droop, and he looks genuinely distressed. "At least you would be away from here. Harry Potter must go home. Dobby thought his bludger would be enough to make Harry Potter see that—"

Harry interrupts, his voice incredulous. "Your bludger? You made that bludger chase after me?"

Dobby looks around nervously before nodding. "Yes, sir. Dobby had to protect Harry Potter. Hogwarts is no longer safe."

Dobby's face contorts with pain and guilt. "Dobby is most aggrieved, sir. Dobby had to iron his hands."

Harry, exasperated, says, "You better clear off before my bones come back, Dobby, or I might strangle you."

You quickly close the gap, trying to grab Dobby, but he is too wily, slipping through your fingers.

"Dobby is used to death threats, sir," he says mournfully. "Dobby gets them five times a day at home."

Harry's frustration gives way to confusion. "I don't suppose you could tell me why you're trying to kill me?"

"Not kill you, sir. Never kill you," Dobby says, his voice earnest and desperate. "Dobby remembers how it was before Harry Potter triumphed over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We house-elves were treated like vermin, sir. Of course, Dobby is still treated like vermin, sir."

Your heart breaks for Dobby in this moment, seeing his pain and suffering so visible as he cries and hits himself in the head with a bottle of Skele-Gro. His small frame shakes with the force of his emotions, and the sight tugs at your heartstrings.

"Please, Dobby," you say gently, trying to calm him. "We just want to understand. We want to help."

Dobby looks up at you, tears streaming down his face. "Dobby cannot say. Dobby must protect his master. But Dobby can warn... Harry Potter must not stay here now that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened once more."

Harry and you exchange a worried glance. "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" Harry asks.

Suddenly, the door to the hospital wing bursts open, and another student is brought in. Dobby disappears in an instant, and you scramble under the bed, transforming into a fox to make yourself smaller while Harry jumps back in bed and pretends to be asleep. You listen intently, your ears perked up.