Silver Hourglass

A Vain Shopping List (2nd year) Chapter 12

Harry wondered what the Dursleys did was legal. They bared his doors and locked his room, only letting him out for chores and to use the bathroom, three times a day. His Hogwarts supplies and magical possessions were all locked in his old room under the stairs. Hedwig, was locked in her cage, and hated it. She kept chirping and making noises, which made Uncle Vernon angry. Harry was bored in his room, so when he did his chores and finished cleaning Dudley's room, he swiped some comics from Dudley's massive pile of junk. A series that Harry liked, and seldom heard of, was the American comic series called Batman. Being a quick reader, Harry read through most of the series that Dudley had, following the Cape Crusader and his adventures with his partner Robin, named Jason Todd. Harry liked Jason, he reminded Harry of Draco a bit.

Draco... Harry hasn't received any letters from him, nor any of his friends. The recently turned twelve year old was worried, and nervous about that. His family was having guests to dinner, and Harry was sitting in his room, waiting for them to end so he could clean. He was reading one of the comics he was able to swipe.

Suddenly there was a crackling sound and Harry jumped away as a creature appeared on his bed. He had large, bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls. "Err Hello?" Harry said.

"Harry Potter!" said the creature in a high-pitched voice. "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir...Such an honor it is. ..."

"Th-thank you." Harry said, edging against the wall and sinking into his desk chair, next to Hedwig, who was asleep in her large cage. "Who are you?" he asked.

"Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby is the house-elf," the creature said.

"Oh—really?" Harry said, "Er—well 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, fake laugh sounded from the living room. The elf hung his head. "Not that I'm not grateful you're here Dobby... err but is there any particular reason you came?"

"Yes!" squeaked the elf, "Dobby has come to warn Harry Potter! Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, for he will be in mortal danger."

"What? Not go back to Hogwarts? But I have to go back, my friends are there." Harry said.

"Friends who don't write Harry Potter letters?" Dobby asked.

"What—but how did you know?" Harry asked, "How did you know I didn't get any letters from them?"

"Harry Potter mustn't get angry with Dobby. Dobby did if for the best—"

"Have you been stooping my letters!?"

"Dobby has them here, sir," said the elf. Stepping nimbly out of Harry's reach, he pulled a thick wad of envelopes from the inside of the pillowcase he was wearing. Harry could easily make out Draco's elegant writing, Hermione's neat writing, Ron's untidy scrawl, and even a scribble that looked as though it was from Hagrid. Dobby blinked anxiously up at Harry.

"Harry Potter mustn't be angry... Dobby hoped... if Harry Potter might not want to go back to school, sir. ..."

Harry wasn't listening. He made a grab for the letters, but Dobby jumped out of reach.

"Harry Potter will have them, sir, if he gives Dobby his word that he will not return to Hogwarts. Ah, sir, this is a danger you must not face! Say you won't go back, sir!"

"No," Harry said angrily, "Give me my friend's letters!" He launched at the elf again, and was able to grab the elf's large ears. He pulled, and the elf fell to the ground, causing a ruckus. He grabbed the letters out of Dobby's little hands.