The Mystery of the Chamber of Secrets

Chapter 1: Dobby's warning

It was breakfast time at Number 12 Sauropod Row. The sun was shining brightly into the kitchen on a hot day in the middle of August. The family dining table was a little more crowded than usual. As well as Harry Potter, his younger sister Etta and his foster parents, Mr and Mrs Green, there were two friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

Harry, Ron and Hermione all attended Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, a boarding school for young witches and wizards. Etta was due to start in September. Today, everyone (except Mr Green, who had to got to work,) were going to travel by train to London to buy uniforms and equipment for the new term at Hogwarts. They would buy everything they needed in Diagon Alley, a street in London that only people with magic could enter. This was where all students at Hogwarts bought what they needed for school. 

As they left the house that day, Harry saw a flash of two large green circles in the hedge. He blinked and looked more closely but they had disappeared. Harry didn't mention it to the others because he assumed it was just a trick of the light. As they lived in a Muggle area, it was unlikely to be anything magical or dangerous. Harry and the others really enjoyed their trip to Diagon Alley and he thought no more about it.

Etta was very excited to be getting her own wand at last. The wand that chose Etta was made of ash, 12 inches, flexible, with a dragon-heart string core. Mrs Green had also agreed to buy an animal, which Etta could take to Hogwarts with her. Etta already knew which animal she wanted, a cat. She chose a large, handsome tom cat, with reddish brown fur and blue eyes. He drew admiring glances from the other customers in the shop, as she carried him outside in a smart wicker cat basket. They stopped at the Leakey Cauldron, the inn at the entrance to Diagon Alley, to get some refreshments and a rest, before their journey home.

When Harry went up to his room that night, he had an unexpected visitor. Sitting on his bed, was a small creature, with large bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls. Harry knew instantly that the flash of green he had seen that morning had been this creature watching him from the hedge. The creature slipped off the bed and bowed so low that the end of its long thin nose touched the carpet. Harry noticed that it was wearing what looked like an old pillowcase, with rips for arms and leg holes.

"Hello," said Harry nervously.

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

"Thank you," said Harry, "who are you?"

"Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the House-Elf," said the creature.

"Do you mind if I go and get my sister? She would love to meet you," Harry asked excitedly.

"It would be an honour to meet Harry Potter's sister," said Dobby politely.

Harry left the room, closing the door quietly and walked across to his sister's room. He knocked quietly on the door and received a 'come in', from Etta. She was reading one of her dinosaur books before going to bed.

"You won't believe what has appeared in my room!" Harry said excitedly.

"What is it?" Etta asked putting her book down a little reluctantly.

"Come and see!" he replied and hurried back to his room, Etta trailing behind curiously.

As she saw the creature sitting on the bed, she gave a gasp of surprise and shot a questioning look at Harry.

This is Dobby. He's a House-Elf," said Harry, grinning, like he had just pulled a rabbit out of a hat, "Dobby, this is my younger sister Etta."

"It is an honour to meet you Miss Etta," Dobby said politely, while making a slight bow in her direction.