Day Twelve
“I am so bloody sick of this house,” Ron groans, flopping on the bed between Hermione and Harry.
After their little escapade yesterday, Harry had fully intended to rush through dinner and come back up to snog his partners some more, but it seemed that Molly had had enough of their hiding. She poked and prodded and guilted them into hanging around after dinner. Harry was exhausted by the end; his body was still healing, and he had used all his energy on Hermione that afternoon, so he crashed when they finally returned to their room.
He thought they might have time this morning, but after breakfast, Ron was dragged into a chore, and Hermione got swept up in her book, so he played chess with Luna in the living room. Except that Hermione sat on the couch behind him, playing with his hair or brushing her cold fingers against his neck teasingly. She even leaned down to kiss him when Luna left for a moment. She was teasing him now, and he could see why they both complained when he did it.
He thinks he’s the only one annoyed, so he doesn’t say a word, which is why Ron’s outburst is so surprising.
“I think your mum is onto us,” Hermione huffs. “Or something! It feels like last summer all over again,”
Harry grimaces, remembering the many chores Molly had inflicted upon them in hopes they couldn’t plan their Horcrux hunt. “We could- never mind,”
“We could what?” Ron asks.
“Never mind, it’s dumb,” Harry mutters.
Hermione tuts. “Come on, love, tell us,”
He picks at a thread on his shirt, hesitant. “We could… we could move out,” His partners are silent, and he immediately regrets it. “Or not! Forget I said it, it’s fine, I know-”
Ron cuts him off with a kiss. “It’s brilliant love,”
“It is?”
“Of course it is,” Hermione laughs. “I mean, it was coming eventually. You didn’t really think we’d live up here forever, did you?”
“I- no, I guess not,”
“As long as you feel ready for it?”
“Me?” Harry gapes at her. “What about Ron? It’s his family!”
Ron shrugs. “I don’t mind. Sleeping in a different house and coming around for meals sometimes isn’t much different than sleeping up here. Plus, we’d have more privacy,”
“Harry?”
“I- why wouldn’t I be ready?”
“We’re in a bubble up here,” she explains. “Once we leave… we’ll have to start dealing with the big things, Harry. The ministry, Sirius’s estate, I mean, have you ever even gone over your parent’s estate?”
Oh.
“Not to mention just life,” she adds. “The normal things like grocery shopping and cooking,”
He sucks in a sharp breath. “I- I hadn’t thought about that,”
“Easy love,” Ron murmurs, sensing the rising panic. “We’ll work it out, but we certainly don’t have to until you’re ready,”
He nods frantically, trying to reign in the tightening of his chest. He takes a deep breath and then lets it out, fighting to stay present. “I- I think I want that, but maybe we just take it slow,”
“We can do that,” Hermione says gently, brushing her cool fingers across his forehead. “As slow as you want,”
“Where do we even start?” he asks.
“Well, where do we want to live?” she says simply. “I mean, quite frankly, I know you hate me saying this, Harry, but I don’t think money will be an issue,”
“No?” Ron asks, surprised.
“I’ve done some digging,” Hermione admits sheepishly. “Financial records, old news clippings, and things. At least what's public. And if Harry’s parents left him half of what I think they did… we’d be very comfortable. Not to mention whatever Sirius has left him,”
“How come Harry doesn’t have a house?”
“Well, there’s Grimmauld-”
“NO!” they both shout, and Harry recoils.
“Not until we can fix it up,” Hermione adds quickly. “And by we, I mean hiring the best team of curse breaks and interior designers the wizarding world has for hire,”
Harry laughs. “Okay, I just meant I own that one,”
“I meant a Potter home, though,” Ron explains.
“Godric’s Hollow?”
“That was a cottage from what you’ve told me. I’m talking like a manor,”
Harry frowns. “There might be, for all we know,”
“We could talk to Bill?” Ron offers. “Or Fleur, they both know Gringotts things. Hell, even Percy could probably help,”
“You did practically hire him to be your secretary,” Hermione giggles.
“Let’s start there, then,” Harry says, suddenly determined. “Let’s talk to Percy. I can’t go in public till I deal with the ministry anyways,”
“That’s true,”
“When?”
“Now? If he’s free… I’m feeling brave, and a bit fuck it all, might as well use it,”
“I’ll go tell him,” Ron grins. “Be right back,”
“You sure about this, Harry?” Hermione asks as the door clicks shut behind Ron.
“I want a life with you,” he assures her. “And Ron’s right, we need privacy. I need privacy. I need space to learn how to be a normal person again without anyone watching me,”
“I’m very proud of you,” she smiles.
“Thanks, Mi,” he blushes.
Ron bursts back in with a giant grin. “You’d think I’d told him Christmas came early! He says we can use his room. Merlin knows it's more of an office than a bedroom,”
“Okay,” Harry says shakily yet determined. “Let’s figure this out,”
Figuring it out, of course, was much easier said than done. Harry stares dumbstruck at the piles of parchment in Percy’s room. Hermione looks on eagerly, while Ron looks equally overwhelmed.
“All of that is for me?” he asks in disbelief. “Merlin’s pants, Percy, I owe you big time,”
“Most of it is nonsense,” Percy explains, waving him off. “Mostly thanks, a few weird fangirl letters. I set aside anything that I felt would actually mean something to you. These stacks,” he gestures to a few smaller but still substantial piles, “are the ones we need to worry about,”
“What are those?” he asks, waving his hand at the piles.
“Kingsley, Hogwarts updates, appearance requests, job offers, a few miscellaneous,”
“Job offers?” Harry asks in shock, staring at the tallest pile.
“A plethora of job offers,”
“Why the hell would I-”
“Maybe we should start with Kingsley’s letters?” Hermione offers.
“Excellent choice,” Percy says excitedly. “Now this one is about…”
It takes nearly an hour for them to work through Kingsley’s letters. Most are just updates, a courtesy Harry appreciates but doesn’t know how to feel about. One is a list of death eaters they’ve caught and are searching for, asking if there is anyone else the three of them can think of. Hermione offers to deal with that one. Another is inviting Harry to accept his chair in the Wizgemont. Apparently, he is the rightful owner of an empty Potter and Black chair. He puts that one off; not sure how to handle it.
The last is the one that finally stirs him to action.
“I want to testify on behalf of Draco and Narcissa,” he says firmly after reading a letter asking him to stand as a witness at a multitude of trials. “They don’t deserve what Lucius does,”
“Are you sure, Harry?” Ron asks.
“Narcissa lied to Voldemort. Draco was his pawn, just like I was Dumbledore’s. Just a kid thrust into something he didn’t deserve,” he says firmly. “I’m sure,”
“Alright then,” Percy says, his voice only slightly clipped with surprise. “I will let them know,”
“What’s next? Hogwarts?”
This pile goes much quicker. It’s mostly updates from Neville and McGonagall about how it’s coming along, with the final being an invitation to see the progress whenever he’s ready.
He doesn’t even humor the appearance requests.
Or the job offers.
“What's in the miscellaneous pile?” he asks, staring at the three letters lined in a neat pile.
“Ah, best for last,” Percy says. “Two of them are letters from Gringotts, offering you an appointment to organize your affairs, both for the Potter and Black accounts. They’ve been trying to get you in since Sirius died, but apparently there was an… interference,”
“Well, I was on the run,” Harry scoffs.
“No, longer than that, human interference. Someone was stopping them from contacting you,”
Harry’s stomach drops. There was only one person who would meddle in his affairs like that. “Dumbledore?”
“Dumbledore,” Precy grimaces.
“Are they asking for compensation for the, uh… incident?” he winces.
“Surprisingly, no,” Percy laughs. “They mentioned it but stated that they could overlook it, seeing as a ‘precious artifact’ was returned to them,”
Hermione and Ron roll their eyes.
“The third?”
“The third,” Percy says with a small laugh. “Is from a house elf,”
“What, Kreacher?”
“No, a house elf by the name of Dizzy,” Percy explains. “Supposedly, she is the Potter family elf,”
“What?” Hermione asks, and Harry can sense her rising horror.
“What- how- where has she been this whole time?” Harry asks in wonder. Percy just hands him the letter. The thing is written in tight, scribbly letters.
Hello, Master Harry sirs
Dizzy is sorry she is writing but Dizzy is scared. Dizzy has been at Hogwarts since Master Harry was a tiny baby. Misters Dumbledore kept Dizzy from seeing Master Harry. Dizzy does not know how. But now Master Harry is free and so is Dizzy. Dizzy does not know if Master Harry wants Dizzy because his Mione does not like him keeping Dizzy. If you calls for Dizzy, Dizzy will come.
Harry reads the letter twice over just to be sure. “Percy, is this real?”
“It didn’t come by owl,” he explains. “It just showed up on my desk,”
He passes it to Hermione and Ron so they can read it. Hermione’s face turns from anger to embarrassment, while Ron is just in awe.
“What do I do?” he asks simply.
To his surprise, it’s Hermione who speaks first. “You can’t abandon her,”
“Of course not,” Percy scoffs. “House elves quite literally need wizards to survive. Without Dumbledore to keep her at Hogwarts, it’s quite unsafe for her to be on her own,”
“What?” Hermione asks in wonder. “They literally need them?”
“Quite,” Percy nods. “Honestly, Hermione, I’m surprised you don’t know this since you’re so passionate about them,”
“I-I was a bit preoccupied with the indentured servant part,” she mutters.
“Don’t get me wrong, they deserve better treatment. They’re meant to be family companions,” Percy smiles at her. “But the bonding part is quite crucial to their magic,”
“Interesting,” she mutters.
“So I just- call her?” Harry asks. “And then what? She stays here?”
“Well, that does bring us to the other issue,” Hermione sighs. “The real reason we decided to face all this,”
“Ready to move out?” Percy asks. “Not surprising,”
“How’d you-”
“Living with your mum after living on your own is never quite right, no matter the circumstances,” Percy snorts. “Ask Charlie. Why do you think he can only stay for a few days at a time? It’s a nightmare,”
“What do you suggest?” Harry asks.
“If you’re comfortable with it, I’ll be your liaison. I’ll set up the appointments and all that,” Percy explains.
“I couldn’t ask you to do that, Percy,”
“Trust me, Harry,” he sighs. “You’d be doing me a favor. Doing all this has been… it makes me feel like I’m helping, doing something good for once,”
“Oh, Perce,” Ron sighs, reaching out and clasping his brother on the arm.
“You’ll still have to be involved heavily, but at the very least, I can get things started,”
“That would be great. Do I need to sign something or-”
“Here,”
Harry scribbles his signature down and sighs, the burden on his shoulders definitely lifted. “Still doesn’t solve the elf issue,”
“I don’t recommend leaving her alone until you’re out of here,” Percy sighs. “We don’t know how long it will take,”
“You have to summon her, Harry,” Hermione sighs. “Think of how sad she must have been unable to talk to you all these years?”
He sucks in a shaky breath. “Alright, damn the logistics, let’s save a house elf. Um… okay, Dizzy? I’m calling for you?”
There’s a familiar crack and a sob, and then there’s a tiny house elf on the floor, crying her eyes out. There’s a pang in his chest, sharp and deep. “Um, Dizzy?” he says gently. “Hello, Dizzy,”
The tiny elf lifts her head, and they all gasp at the bright green eyes staring at them. A perfect copy of another tiny house elf. “Hello, Master Harry,” she sobs. “Dizzy is so sorrys, Master Harry,”
He can’t help himself. He scoots off the edge of the bed and onto the floor, getting on her level. “For what, Dizzy?” he says gently, knowing you can’t argue with an elf who thinks they’re in trouble.
“Dizzy could not care for Master Harry,” she sniffs. “Dizzy was stuck,”
“Why were you stuck?” he asks.
“Mister Dumbledore told Dizzy that she could not go after Master Harry, and she got stuck,” she cries. “Dizzy could watch, clean, and listen, but Dizzy could not speak. Dizzy did try. Dizzy washed Master Harry’s socks,”
“Then it’s not your fault,” he says kindly but firmly. “There’s nothing to be sorry for,”
“There is not?” Dizzy sniffs.
“No, Dizzy,” he smiles. “And thank you for the socks. I wondered why they never ran out,”
“Can- can Dizzy hug Master Harry? Mistress Lily always gave Dizzy hugs,”
Harry feels like the wind’s been knocked out of him. “I would love that,”
The tiny elf crashes into Harry with a surprising amount of force, drenching his jumper with her tears. “Master Harry is not going to free Dizzy?” she asks.
“Do you want to be?” he asks gently, and she pulls away, horrified.
“Dizzy does not! Dizzy loves being Master Harry’s elf. Dizzy remembers Master Harry’s first steps,” she says insistently. “Dizzy’s family has been Potter elves for generations. Even Dizzy’s brother Dobby, who got lost,”
“I- what?” he asks in shock. “Dobby was-”
“Dobby was stolen when Dobby was a baby,” Dizzy says solemnly. “Dizzy is most grateful Master Harry saved him. Dobby loved Master Harry,”
“I- I’m sorry, Dizzy,” Harry chokes out. “Dobby is- he’s,”
“Dizzy knows,”
He hugs the house elf again, a little tighter.
“Well then,” Percy says with a big breath. “This has been quite the surprise,”
“What now?” Hermione asks.
“Dizzy, we’re living at the burrow right now until we can get my affairs in order and find somewhere to live. Would you like to stay, or would you like to go back to Hogwarts?”
‘Dizzy does NOT want to go back to Hogwarts,” she huffs, stamping her tiny foot. “Er, if that is alright with Master Harry,”
“Perfectly fine,” he laughs.
“What does Dizzy do here at the burrows?” she asks. Harry looks at Percy, who shrugs.
“That is a good question. What would you like to do? There’s a lot of people who live here right now,”
“Dizzy knows,” she nods. “Dizzy has washed Wheezy’s socks at Hogwarts, lots and lots of Wheezy socks,”
For a brief moment, Harry wonders if a sock obsession is a family trait.
“Dizzy knows that Molly Wheezy does not like help. Dizzy does not want to be in the way,” she says a little forlornly.
“Wait, Dizzy- have you been, you know, watching?” Hermione asks. “Around the burrow,”
The elf looks nervous. “Dizzy has been at the burrows since Master Harry came back to the burrows. Dizzy has been sleeping in the shed,”
“Oh dear,” Hermione murmurs. “What else do you know?”
“Till knows what Master Harry tolds Wheezys in the garden. Dizzy knows Master Harry is still sick. Dizzy knows Master Harry’s secrets and Wheezy secrets and-”
“Secrets? What secrets?” Ron blurts out.
“We can talk about those later-” Harry says hurriedly, giving Ron an annoyed look. “Maybe we should talk to Molly,”
“Dizzy will goes!” she exclaims and disappears with a pop. There’s a scream from downstairs.
“Shit,” Ron curses, helping Harry off the floor, and they all race down the stairs. They round the corner into the kitchen to see Dizzy huddled under the table, hiding from a still shrieking Molly.
“Mum! MUM!” Ron shouts, taking his mother by the arms. “It’s alright, she’s Harry’s,”
“Wha- she’s- what?” Molly exclaims, hand to heart. Arthur comes racing in from the garden, Charlie and George hot on his heels. Ginny and Luna come stamping down the stairs. Harry bends down to coax a shaking Dizzy out from under the table.
“What is going on?” Arthur asks in a panic. “Is someone hurt?”
“Dizzy is sorrys!” she shrieks, refusing to move from where she’s clutching the table leg. “Dizzy did not means to scare Molly Wheezy!”
“Everyone just needs to calm down,” Hermione explains, ever the steady hand. “Everything’s fine. We’ll explain,”
“Come on out, Dizzy,” he says, bending over and reaching out. “You’re okay,”
The little elf takes his hand, though whether it's because it was taken an order or she wants to is unclear. Once out from under the table, she clings to Harry’s leg like a lifeline.
“Will somebody please tell me why there’s a house elf in my kitchen?” Molly seethes.
“This is Dizzy,” Harry explains. “She’s the Potter family house elf,”
“How did you not know about her before?” Arthur asks.
Harry briefly explains Dizzy’s history. All the while, she clings to his leg. Oddly enough, Harry doesn’t mind it. It’s sort of nice to have someone to take care of again.
“She just wants to be helpful,” Harry explains. “I meant to bring her down myself, but she got a bit excited,”
“Oh,” Molly sighs. “Well, I- I don’t know,”
“Dizzy will not cook!” she squeaks. “Dizzy knows that Molly Wheezy cooks,”
“Uh, Wheezy?” she asks, looking at Harry curiously. He shrugs. Molly takes in the elf for a moment and seems to soften. “Well, Dizzy, I think we can find a place for you. Heaven knows we’ve squeezed everyone else in every nook of this house. What’s a house elf?”
“Dizzy can stays?” she asks excitedly.
“Yes, Dizzy can stays-uh stay,”