Twists of Fate: Entangled Threads || Sirius Black FF

Chapter 73: Protectiveness

N/A: Sorry for the late update (three days)! I usually try to update on Mondays, but, time got away from me. Hopefully you like this chapter enough to make up for it :)

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Sandy stared at him blankly, as memories rushed through her mind. 

Suddenly, she was no longer in her dorm, at Hogwarts, but rather, on a beach. Seagulls were emitting low piercing keow sounds as she sat on the wet sand, clutching her newly wounded arm, with the word 'Mudblood' bleeding into her sleeve. Her cousin, Hermione, had been the first to approach her, rushing to her side and carefully hugging her close. Ron was close behind too. The next to approach them was Harry, whom had Apparated further than them. "Sandy, are you're alright? We're safe. We're all safe." He kneeled by the other three on the ground, panting, as they all adjusted to finally being out of the Malfoy Manor. A fifth and sixth member, the goblin and Luna, stood, watching, unsure of what to do. They simply took in the fact that they were now free from captivity.

"Harry Potter." A quiet voice quivered, and they all turned to the source. It was Dobby, their friend. The reason they were alive and safe. He was standing a few feet away, clutching his abdomen, and pulling out a small dagger. His grey pillowcase immediately began turning crimson, as blood flowed out of his wound, tainting his clothes. 

Seeing the state of his friend, Harry rushed to his side, managing to catch him before he collapsed on the ground. "Hold on. Hold on, okay? Just hold on, okay? We'll fix it. Hermione, Sandy, do either of you have something in your bags? Hermione, Sandy? Girls? Come on... Help me!"

"Such a beautiful place... To be with friends." Breathing out his pain, he looked up at Harry with a small smile. "Dobby is a happy elf to be with his friend... Harry Potter..."  And with one last exhale, his head dropped, as did tears from his friends' eyes. 

Almost immediately, with two long strides, she grabbed Dobby and clutched him to her chest, breathing heavily as her lips quivered at the memory. "You're safe. You're here." She whispered to herself, although the elf heard her just fine. A stray tear fell from her eye, and onto the bald elf's head, at her despair and delight. She had seen him die in the other timeline, but in this one, he lived. Sandy decided then that he was one of the few reasons she preferred being in this timeline, despite being away from her family and friends.  

The house elf in question did not understand what was going on. Instead, he froze in place, until he realized he had seen something like this before, being done by other people. He was being hugged. Carefully, he returned the hug, raising his hands slowly to her back and patting slightly. "Sandy Reese hugs Dobby as if he were a friend. Sandy Reese is very kind." He spoke incredulously, still surprised that anyone would hug him, and a stranger at that. Only, he wasn't entirely certain they were truly strangers. Something in his rudimentary magic called out that she was familiar, and that she was good. 

When Sandy pulled away, she whipped her tears off and let out a wet laugh. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'm just so happy to see you."

That was yet another thing Dobby had never experienced. No one had directed such words of kindness towards him. A house elf's duty was to serve, and that was it. "You are?"