The Lost Boy
"Dobby where are all the other kids my age?" Draco asked for the millionth time.
Dobby sighed, "Draco knows that he is special. They are at home with their families, just like you are at home with me your family."
"Yes, I know all this Dobby, but I want friends. would it be the end of the world to meet anyone else or go anywhere else?" Malfoy sighed.
The little cabin that seemed on the edge of the world was home as far as Draco knew. Dobby had been a wonderful parent to him, always bringing books and teaching him new things. He spoke three languages, but he had only ever had Dobby to talk to. Draco had started to believe they were the only two people on the planet.
But Draco had seen movies and knew others had to be out there. Dobby had warned him that it was for his own safety that they were so far away, but Draco dreamed of adventure like the movies. He even thought of how nice it would be to talk to a girl the way he had seen Tom Hanks talk to Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail.”
Draco spent a great deal of time reading. He loved practical books about how to build and garden. It fascinated him how he could create things from simple materials. He could spend hours alone reading and tinkering away, sometimes falling asleep on his creations. Once Dobby came home to him lying on his journals that he filled with stories, drawings, and a few poems.
Dobby was very secretive about where he went and why they were there. Dobby would tell him to remain inside and just “pop” right in and out of existence. Draco had begged him to teach him how to do the things Dobby could. Dobby would just tell him that not everyone has the gift and that if Draco did not it was okay and if he did, they would worry about it as it manifested.
"f-o-x!" Draco spelled out.
Dobby smiled at his favorite person on the whole planet. Then went back to stirring his famous mushroom ravioli's that had become Draco’s favorite.
Just then a “smack” sounded at the door. Dobby rushed to the door, and checked the small peephole that was three feet high. Nothing was there. Dobby rushed to the submarine like sneak scope over the kitchen table and peered through. Nothing out of the normal, an owl perched on a branch. It was a little early in the day for owls but still normal enough. Dobby went back to the door. Draco watched wide eyed in his green overalls from the floor in front of the TV with his books and journals stacked next to him. Dobby opened a crack and there on the porch was the thing dobby had been dreading for fifteen years. A letter with a wax sealed H addressed to Draco.
Dobby had burned the letter and told Draco it was for the best. Draco wanted to argue but he knew better than to argue with Dobby, he would just pop away and ignore him saying it was for his own good.
Later that night Draco lay in bed thinking about the letter. Could it be from his family? He knew he had Dobby, but he did not look like Dobby, so he imagined he had other family that looked like him out there. Draco thought it must be just like "You’ve Got Mail." Where Tom hanks sends messages to Meg Ryan, but they do not know where or who each other are.
They must not know where he is, but they have some kind of email address for him. What could the letter be trying to tell him? Was his family out there? Looking for him? He felt all warm thinking about the idea of having others around like him. He imagined they were kind and doting. They would certainly be proud of all of Draco’s hard-won knowledge. There were so many things he wanted to tell them and ask them. Did they read? Could they speak French with him...Where have they been for the last fifteen years? He felt shameful for this. Certainly, anyone who was related to him would have good reason for not being around. He knew he would have good reasons.
As he pondered this, he started to imagine the letter was floating above him. He could almost see its blurry outline. Then suddenly as if he were in a dream he reached up and grabbed it. The letter was in His hands. Shocked, he read the front.
"To: Draco Malfoy." He turned it over and saw the wax seal with a great H on it. Draco thought he was dreaming. He rushed to break the seal before he woke up, and opened it. Inside was a letter that read:
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster
Draco read the second page.
The following items are required for first years please ensure to bring them:
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
*Robes will be provided
Draco was confused by the letter. He knew what wizards were, but he thought it was some kind of mistake. He was not a wizard and who was Mr. Malfoy. Since he thought he was dreaming he closed his eyes to think further about the letter and fell asleep with the letter pressed to his chest. He dreamed of flying that night. Soaring on an endless sky of clouds with only joy as his companion.
The next morning Draco awoke with no letter. “Just a dream.” He figured as much. A fantastic dream, but no more than that. He smelled bacon and headed down to the kitchen where Dobby was working diligently to prepare a delicious breakfast. “Good morning Dobs. “Draco said cheerily.
Dobby turned but there was no joy in his eyes. “Good morning.” He said preoccupied.
Draco was immediately concerned Dobby was always cheery. “Is…everything alright?”
Dobby served Draco some bacon, eggs, and golden hashbrowns. “Dobby is upset because he found the letter Draco.”
Draco was confused. “He found the letter from my dream?” he thought. Oh no, it was not a dream he had wished so hard to know what was in the letter he had brought it to him. “I did not mean to Dobby, please do not be upset, I do not even know how I got it. You remember you burned it. I thought it was a dream.” Draco apologized.
“Dobby is not upset with Draco. Dobby must tell Draco…the truth.” Dobby said sadly.
Draco had not heard Dobby this serious since he tried to set up a campsite like the book “My Side of the Mountain” and had accidentally started a carpet fire.
“Dobby is not Draco’s real father.” Dobby said solemnly.
Draco sat shocked; Did Dobby think he did not know he was not his father? Puzzled he tried to say, “I…Know that, Dobby. I suspected as we look different, though I appreciate you caring for me like a father I…” Draco almost started cracking up right there.
Dobby started crying profusely. Clapping his small hands to his eyes. I am so sorry I had to lie…” He whaled. “It was for Draco’s safety, always for his safety, he wanted you to be happy.” Dobby was crying so hard now.
It seemed to Draco he must do something. Draco reached out for Dobby’s small body and gave him an awkward hug. These emotions seemed so out of character for the usually wise and astute Dobby that Draco tried to find the words, “There, there Dobs everything is all right. I am sure you had good reason.”
Dobby gathered himself and began to try to speak again. Draco guided him to the great green couch in the cabin’s living room abandoning his bacon. Dobby sat, Draco sat, and Dobby began.
“Your real name is Draco Malfoy. You come from an extensive line of pure blood wizards. Your grandfather on your dad’s side was named Abraxas Malfoy and he died of dragon pox. Not much is known of your grandmother on your dad’s side as she was a very private woman, but her name was Morticia Malfoy. Your mother’s parents were Cygnus Black III and Druella Black. They all come from exceptionally long lines of pure blood wizards.”
Draco listened intensely, “Why do you keep emphasizing pure blood? What does that mean Dobs?”
“It means different things to different people but to your family it meant everything Draco. Your parents Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were an important wizarding family with a great deal of connections. One of those connections was with a wizard…who…who.” Dobby stumbled over the words. “He was a wizard who we no longer speak his name. He believed pure blood wizards should rule the world. Your parents Draco tried to help him. But they passed away.”
Draco thought for a moment, he was not surprised they were dead, but he had hopes they had just not been able to contact him for fifteen years “How…Howd they die?”
Dobby paused and took a deep breath. “Master Malfoy and Misses Malfoy were good parents and they loved you very much. Dobby does not want to diminish the love they had when it came to family.” He took another deep breath. “The year you were born was tumultuous, many people were disappearing.”
“So, they disappeared?” Draco’s hopes were rising that they may have been alive.
“To the greater wizarding world, the entire Malfoy family disappeared, but you are the sole survivor of their legacy Draco.” Dobby gave a pained smile and continued, “Not everyone agreed with them about their… running things. They thought they meant to exterminate all who opposed him.”
Draco’s mouth went dry. Exterminate. Like bugs? “They thought my parents and this…wizard wanted to hurt them?”
“Yes, it was not just your parents Draco. There were a great deal of witches and wizards who believed they should rule. Not just over wizards and witches but also over people without magic.” Dobby said.
This gave Draco pause. He knew what it felt like to not have power. Every time Dobby left him there in the cabin isolated, he wanted to follow. But what if Dobby used his power to force Draco to do things, forced him to go places. This gave him an awful stomachache.
Dobby continued,” Dobby does not want to scare Draco, but Dobby was there the night they died.” Dobby now had tears in his eyes. “Dobby was to take care of Draco that was the last order Master Malfoy gave to Dobby.”
“Order? Master?” Again Dobby had referred to his parents this way and Draco thought it was strange.
“Yes, Draco Dobby is…a slave…and by birthright Dobby now belongs to you.” Dobby said looking down.
Draco felt mortified. “Dob.I..am..no…Not-you…you’re not my slave. What…do…er you mean.” He strained to find words this was absurd. He knew Dobby was not his father, but Dobby had raised him. He was the only father he ever knew. The only family he ever knew.
“Dobby is what the wizarding world refers to as a house elf. We are inherited by wizarding families and forced to serve for life unless we are set free by our masters.” Dobby said this, looking up finally at Draco with a smile. “It is okay Master Draco; Dobby would give his life for you to keep you safe…happily.”
“Then I set you free, I do not want you to be my slave, Dobby. You…I love you.” Draco was now angry why would his only friend and family in this entire world feel beholden to him. Is this why he raised him? Did Dobby have another family? So many thoughts rushed through him.
“Master Draco is kind, but a gift would need to be made of clothing to set Dobby free and this is unheard of where we come from.” Dobby tried to continue but Draco was reacting poorly to this news and interrupted by stripping his shirt off.
“Then here Dobs take it. I have no use for a slave. I want you to be happy…if that means leaving me then…” He trailed off now. Draco felt a tear roll down his cheek and he could hardly breathe.
Dobby hesitated, looking at the shirt then at Draco. He sighed and took the shirt gently from Draco’s shaking hand. Dobby had known Draco his whole life and arguing with him was futile. Dobby spoke with a rasp choked in emotion,” Dobby has been set free…just like that.” He paused, taking in the shirt. “Dobby has served the Malfoys for over one hundred years.” Dobby’s tears fell gently on the shirt.
Draco now had tears falling steadily down his face. He felt like he might lose his only family but also knew it was not right to hold him here against his will. “I am sorry Dobs If I had known, I would have.” He lost his words, what can you really say. To be enslaved is cruelty like Draco could not understood. He had read about people being enslaved before and was sick then. How could anyone feel entitled to another’s freedom?
“Where will you go Dobb’s?” He assumed he would go as soon as they finished speaking. An order to protect him, did he have to do this until he was told not to. “You don’t need to protect me anymore, I...” He was now thinking he hoped Dobby would show him where anything outside his cabin was or he would be in a dire situation.
At this Dobby looked at Draco and started laughing. Laughing. Draco was utterly confused. “Dobby will not leave Draco just because Dobby is free. Dobby is a free elf, but Dobby also loves Draco very much. No Dobby will help make sure mas... Draco is safe.”
Draco looked quizzingly at him.
Dobby continued, “Dobby has not felt imprisoned while with Draco. One of the happiest days of Dobby’s life was the day Draco was born. Dobby may not be a slave to house Malfoy anymore but Draco is Dobby’s family and Dobby will stay as long as Draco needs him.”
Draco was relieved to hear it. Despite his independence he was only fifteen. He had more questions but thought better of it. If he was enslaved who know what he went through, he thought it might be cruel to ask him questions about it. Draco also did not want to know more about how his ancestors may have treated Dobby. So, he changed the subject,” Dobby how did my parents die?”
Dobby was relieved to change the subject. He was always a what people called a willful house elf and disobeyed orders frequently. But despite his stolen moments of freedom, he was distressed about his people’s fate. Dobby really did not want to have to explain any details about what his enslavement had meant not to Draco, a person he believed saw him as his equal and who he loved.
“You were only a few months old at the time. Draco required round the clock care.” He said with a pointed finger for emphasis. “Dobby tended to your needs when misses Malfoy was busy. One day she was in the loft reading while Dobby was singing to you...”
Draco interrupted, “the ballad of the three brothers!”
“Yes, yes.” He said lovingly. “Misses Malfoy rushed down the stairs and told me she was going out. Her face was read, and she looked very distraught. So, Dobby put down Draco in his crib and waited for her return.” Dobby looked pained and turned from Draco to investigate the fireplace. A small pop of one of the logs seemed to remind him he was saying something. “Master Malfoy came in late that night. He was furious, he was searching for something in the manner. Rushing about he was. Dobby tried to ask Master if he required assistance, but he told him no, but then he looked at me in a way Master never looked at Dobby and said very clearly, “You will take Draco and care for him Dobby. Care for him like Narcissa would. Keep him safe. Go to the Headmaster at Hogwarts he will tell you where to go. And never tell anyone else who he is. You will know when the time is right to tell him. Tell him he is Malfoy, and Malfoy’s fight for their family to the end.””
Dobby looked at Draco and continued, “Dobby was startled by this and began to go to Draco to obey when a loud crack broke through the manor. All Dobby heard was the killing curse. Dobby did not turn back and ran grabbing Draco and Apparated to Hogwarts.”
Draco was stunned silent.
“Dobby with Draco bundled in my arms went to the headmaster Albus Dumbledore. I told him we needed protection, that it was my master’s final order to keep Draco safe. The headmaster sent us here. And we have been here ever since.” Dobby looked relieved. “And now Draco knows.”