Being His Daughter

The Free Elf

  I tried not to laugh as Lockhart rambled on about how he didn't know what was going on. Harry was walking with me to make sure I stayed up while Ron tried to comfort Ginny as she sobbed heavily about getting expelled. "Shut it, will you?" Ron snapped at Lockhart and he stopped talking but continued to look around, fascinated. I suppressed a giggle as we arrived at Dumbledore's office.

Harry pushed the door open and we stood in the doorway, dripping in slime and blood. There were several gasps and a woman with bright red hair shot forward and grabbed Ginny, smothering her in a tight hug. Tears were running down her face as she squealed about her being alright.

"Ms. Riddle!" McGonagall spluttered. "Ms. Weasley! Potter- Weasley- how on Earth!"

Dumbledore was smiling like crazy and I looked over to all of his painting who were all saying how glad they were that I was alright. I smiled at them.

"Well Ms. Riddle and Ms. Weasley must go to the Hospital Wing of course. Don't worry, Ginny. No permanent harm has come to anyone," Dumbledore said. Ginny, her parents, and I all turned to leave for the Hospital Wing but Dumbledore called after me.

"Yes, Professor?" I asked slowly.

"I'm so glad you're alright, but if I may ask, what happened? Why did the beast take you?" he asked. McGonagall, Harry, and Ron watched intently while Lockhart played with the objects on Dumbledore's desk.

"I came across Ginny while she was writing a message on the wall and then from then, I can't really remember anything," I lied easily. Dumbledore placed a hand on my shoulder, making me flinch. He looked into my eyes, and even though I was still a bit weak from fathers spell, I allowed him to see me watching Ginny writing the message before blocking him. He smiled sadly at me. "Well again, I'm glad you're alright. Go on to the Hospital Wing, dear."

I nodded before leaving the office quickly. I didn't want to go to the Hospital Wing since I was okay, but I knew I had to or Dumbledore would say something. I began to hear someone stomping as they came closer to where I was. "Wait until I get to him," the mumbled angrily. I recognized the voice but couldn't place it before I rammed right into them.

"Watch where you're- Sierra? Sierra!" Lucius scooped me up and hugged me to him tightly, making it hard for me to breathe for a second. "Thank Merlin!" he said happily. My feet were dangling off the ground as he continued to hold me to him. "I didn't know why on Earth the beast had taken you! Surely you being his daughter and a Parselmouth!"

He set me down and held me at arms length. I giggled and his jaw slacked. "What is it?"

"It wasn't real," I whispered. "I was just hanging out in the chamber with father."

Lucius cleared his throat before he straightened up. "Yes, of course, I knew that."

A little head peeked out from behind his legs and my eyes brightened. "Dobby!" I said happily, dropping to my knees and hugging him.

"I'm so happy you're okay, Master Sierra- I mean Sierra," he said when I released him. His eyes were watery as usual as he looked up at me in admiration. I smiled widely down at him before standing back up. Dobby glanced at Lucius nervously and he scowled at him.

"Well let's go," Lucius said, his angry aura returning. "I heard Dumbledore's come back."

Dobby and I jogged to keep up with his long strides as he marched back to Dumbledore's office. Lucius slammed his door open and stomped in, looking livid. Dumbledore simply smiled at him. "Ah, Lucius, hello. I see you've brought Sierra." Harry was there too, but not the other three.

Lucius clutched me to his side. "Don't try to avoid this conversation!" he snapped, sweeping into the room with me by his side and Dobby behind us, looking fearful. "So! You've come back!"

"Well, you see Lucius," Dumbledore said. "The other eleven governors called me back immediately when they found out that Arthur Weasley and your daughter- I know she's not but close enough- had been killed. They seemed to think I was best for the job. Funny things they told me though. They said you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't suspend me in the first place." Dumbledore grinned as Lucius's cheeks flushed. I looked up at him with raised eyebrows.

What. An. Idiot.

"Have you caught the person who was behind it all, then?" Lucius asked finally. "Who put my dear Sierra through this?" He clutched me to his side harder.

"Yes we have," Dumbledore said simply.

"Sierra, go wait outside," Lucius said without looking at me. I furrowed my brow up at him.

"Why do I-"

"Please, go wait outside," he said quickly. I huffed before exiting the office.

___

I had been pacing around, bored for a few minutes when the door swung open and Dobby came flying out. I rushed to catch him and set him down before scowling at Lucius as he exited the office, still looking irritated. "Don't kick him," I growled. He ignored me and I rolled my eyes as Dobby and I followed behind him, Dobby whimpering slightly.

"Mr. Malfoy! Mr. Malfoy!"

We turned around to see Harry running up to us. He had a book in his hand. He chucked it at Lucius. "I think this is yours." Lucius caught it and I recognized it as fathers diary. Lucius scowled and thrust it into Dobby's small hands. "You'll meet the same end as your parents one day, Potter," Lucius said lowly before turning on his heel and walking away.

"Dobby, come on," he ordered without turning around. I stared down at Dobby wide eyed as he pulled a sock out of the diary. "Dobby, I said come!"

"Master has presented Dobby with clothes!" Dobby said in awe, holding up the sock as if it were a prize. It sort of was for him.

"What-" Lucius turned around quickly and stared open mouthed at the sock in Dobby's hand.

"Master gave the sock to Dobby!" Dobby clutched the sock to his chest. "Dobby is free!"

I looked over at Harry as he pulled up his pants slightly, showing one bare ankle. I grinned widely as Lucius glared at Harry. "You cost me my servant, boy!" He pulled out his wand and pointed it at him but Dobby jumped in front of him.

"You shall not harm Harry Potter!"

Lucius went sailing backward and landed on the ground with a thud. I gasped. He got up slowly and then glared at the two of them. "Come, Sierra. We must get you to the Hospital Wing." He turned on his heel and walked off. I bent down to Dobby and hugged him again.

"Congratulations!" I said happily. "You're free!" He laughed heartily and I stood and became eye level with Harry. "That was really nice," I said and his face lit up.

"Thanks," he said sheepishly.

I looked back down at Dobby. "Well I guess you're no longer mine," I said. He grinned up at me.

"I'll always be there for you, Ms. Sierra. All you have to do is call me." He wrapped his little arms around me and hugged me tightly. I patted his back.

"Sierra!" Lucius shouted.

"I'm coming!" I hollered back. "Bye Dobby! Bye Harry!" I called as I ran down the corridor toward Lucius.