Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter Fifty-Two

Allison's Point of View.

"Dobby, sir! It is Dobby!" the house-elf squeals happily. I couldn't help smiling as Dobby practically bounced in front of Harry. 

Seeing him like this, excited, free, genuinely happy, made something warm settle in my chest. Considering everything he had gone through with the Malfoys, he deserved happiness more than most people.

"Dobby has been hoping to see Harry Potter, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!" Dobby tells him joyfully. Harry laughs softly. "Dobby, what are you doing here?"

Ron, Hermione and I stayed back slightly, watching the reunion with amused smiles while Dobby nearly vibrated with excitement. "Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!" Dobby announces proudly. "Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs!"

Hermione immediately perked up beside me. "Winky? She's here, too?" I ask in surprise. Dobby's large eyes brighten even more. "Yes, Miss Allison!"

Before any of us could say anything else, Dobby suddenly grabbed Harry's wrist with one hand and mine with the other and began tugging us through the bustling kitchens.

House-elves hurried everywhere carrying trays piled high with food while enormous pots bubbled over magical fires. 

With my heightened hearing, I could still hear Ron and Hermione following close behind us while muttering about nearly being trampled.

"Winky, Miss! Winky!" Dobby calls excitedly. We finally stopped beside one of the large brick fireplaces tucked away near the back of the kitchens. Curled up on a stool beside it sat Winky.

Unlike Dobby, she wore proper clothing that actually matched, though the fabric was stained and singed in places as if she had stopped caring for it properly. Her eyes looked swollen from crying.

"Hi, Winky," Harry greets gently. The moment she looked up and saw us, her lower lip trembled violently before she burst into loud sobs. Hermione immediately rushed forward.

"Oh dear, Winky, please don't cry!" Hermione pleads desperately. Unfortunately, that only made Winky cry harder.

Meanwhile, Dobby didn't seem remotely bothered by the crying. He simply beamed proudly up at Harry and me.

Back in second year, after Dobby had tampered with the Bludger during Quidditch, I had snuck down to visit Harry in the hospital wing under Harry's invisibility cloak.

That had been the first time I properly met Dobby. At first, I had been furious with him for nearly getting Harry killed, but once I understood why he had done it and what his life with the Malfoys had been like, it became impossible not to feel sorry for him.

"Would Harry Potter and Allison Weasley like tea?" Dobby asks eagerly. The second the words leave his mouth, six house-elves appear seemingly out of nowhere, carrying silver trays loaded with teacups, biscuits and steaming teapots.

"Good service," Ron says approvingly. Hermione and I both frowned at him automatically, though the elves themselves looked absolutely delighted by the compliment.

They bowed several times before hurrying away again. "How long have you been here, Dobby?" I ask while taking one of the teacups he offered.

"Only a week, Allison Weasley, Miss!" Dobby replies brightly. "Dobby came to see Professor Dumbledore. You see, it is very hard for a house-elf who has been dismissed to find work. Very difficult indeed."

At those words, Winky's sobs somehow became even louder. "Dobby travelled for two whole years trying to find work," Dobby continues proudly. "But Dobby did not find work because Dobby wants paying now!"