Dobby apparated into a small, but tidy bedroom. It was unlike any he had ever seen before. A wooden wardrobe stood by the door, next to the window was a corkboard, covered in pictures of the Potter boy and his friends, and under that was a bed. It wasn't a large bed, but it was a bed. There were Gryffindor hangings posted over the walls, with a Gryffindor scarf. An owl cage sat on top of a chest of drawers, and the snowy owl sat inside just stared at the creature, unsure of what to do. Dobby looked at the desk under the window, where a photo album sat. He braved a quick peek inside and saw photos of James and Lily Potter; the last two people the Dark Lord saw before he disappeared, and the Potter boy defeated him. Not that anyone knew how. That was why he was still such a celebrity. The bed to the right of him looked inviting; not to sleep on, oh no. Dobby had something much more fun (and disobedient) in mind. He climbed up onto the mattress and tested it very gently, the springs not making a sound. This was going to be fun. Up into the air he went, feeling the freedom on his face as he fell back on to the mattress. Red and gold streaked before him, as he bounced in front of the Gryffindor scarf and wall hangings. As he was mid-bounce, a feeling suddenly washed over him. A feeling that he was being watched and not just by the owl. He turned around and nearly fell off of the bed.
"Harry Potter," he squeaked. "Such an honour it is to meet you." He jumped off the bed, landing on the floor as delicately as a cat, and bowed so low, that his nose touched his toes.
"Er - hello," said Potter, nervously.
"So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir." The elf smiled, almost expecting a smile in return, but instead was met with a look of confusion.
"Th-thankyou. But who are you?"
"Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the house elf."
"Um, not to be rude or anything, but this isn't exactly the best time for me to have a house elf in my room." Potter looked nervous still, and they could both hear a fake tinkling laugh coming from downstairs. "Not that I'm not pleased to met you, but is there any reason in particular that you are here tonight?" Potter asked quickly.
"Oh yes, sir," Dobby nodded his head earnestly, his bat-like ears flapping about. "Dobby has come to tell you sir... it is difficult, sir... Dobby wonders where to begin."
"Why don't you sit down?"
"Si... sit down, sir? Never, never ever......" the house elf wailed, causing the owl to squawk loudly. The noises from downstairs stopped abruptly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."
"Offend Dobby?" Dobby hiccoughed. "Never has Dobby been asked to sit down by a wizard, like an equal." His eyes were still watering a little.
"You can't have met many decent wizards then," Potter said, smiling.
"No, I haven't. That was an awful thing to say," Dobby suddenly realised, headbutting the chest of drawers screaming "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"
"Dobby sshhhh," said Potter, sounding half agitated, half calming. "What are you doing?" he asked wildly.
"Dobby had to punish himself sir, Dobby almost spoke ill of his family."
"Your family?"
"The wizard family Dobby serves sir. Dobby is bound to one family for the rest of his life."
"Do they know you're here?"
Dobby shuddered.
"No sir. If they ever knew... Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for coming to see you."
