"Lucius, you can't. He said to wait."
"Narcissa, I have to. It could be years before he comes back. If I do this, we will be doing everyone a favour. Not they will realise it at first, of course."
Draco stopped outside his father's study, trying to eavesdrop, but he must have made a noise, because his parents stopped talking and his father opened the door.
"Draco, go and feed the peacocks, I'm sure they're hungry," Lucius snapped.
"Yes father," he replied, slinking off. Lucius shut the door and turned back to his wife.
"Besides," he hissed, "if any Aurors come knocking, and they discover it, what's that going to look like. We are respected members of this community and the only reason we aren't in Azkaban right now, is because we convinced them we had been enchanted."
"I know," sighed Narcissa. "But do you even know what it is? How it works, I mean?" Lucius shook his head and sank into the leather chair behind his desk.
"No, but this will work. I know it will."
"Ok," sighed Narcissa. "Okay, just do what you need to do." With that, she left the room, leaving Lucius to wonder if he was ever going to pull this off. She never saw the house elf drawing back into the shadows, as she swept past.
The hot July sun was shining down brightly on the Manor that day. Dobby had a brief moment of pure pleasure, just walking down to the stables, in the sun on his face, a mild breeze in the air. But it wasn't to last long, Draco was there too, filling up the basket, ready to feed the peacocks. He gave the elf a disgusted look, as though it was Dobby's fault for even existing. Dobby was used to it, in fact this was a pretty good morning so far for Dobby. No-one had reminded him to give himself extra punishments - so far - and the most he had been hit was being kicked down the steps for not washing the clothes fast enough. Later that afternoon, Dobby overheard his masters talking secretly again. They were holding a black book and talking about the Potter boy. Harry Potter. He strained to listen a little more.
"..... open the Chamber of Secrets again," said Lucius.
"But how does it work?" Narcissa asked.
"I don't know, the Dark Lord gave it to me just before the whole Potter incident." He virtually spat the word Potter, as though it were some kind of poison. "He said to keep it safe, guard it with my life, but then he disappeared. If I do this, then maybe that blood-traitor Arthur Weasley will fall with it."
"You'd better speak to Draco then, let him know to keep his head down." Dobby quickly withdrew from the door and hid, as he heard footsteps coming his way. He had try and warn Harry Potter somehow, but how? he wondered. He must find out more. He followed Lucius to the South wing, where Draco's bedroom was. Pressing his large ear to the door, he listened intently.
"I can't give you all the information," Lucius was saying, "but I will tell you to keep your head down this year."
"Why, Father?"
"Because we shall finally be able to get rid of Arthur Weasley, and hopefully some more mudbloods."
Draco grinned. "And how will you do that?"
"Don't you worry about that, just remember this. The last time the Chamber opened, a mudblood actually died. So keep your head down, you don't know anything."
"Ok Father."
Lucius left the room, leaving Draco looking bemused. He heard it, rather than saw.
"DOBBY," he shouted. Dobby apparated back to his master, looking guilty. "Were you listening to our conversation?"
"Yes Master Malfoy," said Dobby, not looking at Lucius.
"You are forbidden to tell anyone about this," growled the wizard, storming off down the corridor.
"Yes Master Malfoy," bowed Dobby, and he disapparated back to the kitchens.
He had to do something, he had to warn Harry Potter somehow. It took him all afternoon, but he finally worked out what he was going to do. That evening, when the Malfoy's were settled and eating supper, he took himself to a quiet corner of the kitchen, and disapparated.
