Dobby's Reward
For a moment there was silence as Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart stood in the doorway, covered in muck and slime and (in Harry and Ron's case) blood. Then there was a scream.
"Ginny!"
It was Mrs. Weasley, who had been sitting crying in front of the fire. She leapt to her feet, closely followed by Mr. Weasley, and both of them flung themselves on their daughter.
Harry, however, was looking past them. Professor Dumbledore was standing by the mantelpiece, beaming, next to Professor McGonagall, who was taking great, steadying gasps, clutching her chest. Fawkes went whooshing past Harry's ear and settled on Dumbledore's shoulder, just as Harry found himself and Ron being swept into Mrs. Weasley's tight embrace.
"You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it?"
"I think we'd all like to know that," said Professor McGonagall weakly.
Mrs. Weasley let go of the two, who hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the desk and laid upon it the Sorting Hat and what remained of Riddle's diary.
So they took in a deep breath and began telling them about figuring out the monster was a basilisk, polyjuice potion, Riddle's diary, Moaning Myrtle and Lockhart's fraud and attempt at wiping their memories.
They then reached the part about actually entering the chamber.
Harry artfully lied about the sword and dagger, instead telling them that they had stolen a rooster from Hagrid when they found out that the monster was a basilisk, and that they used the rooster's help, but the rooster had tragically died in the Chamber.
They avoided looking into Dumbledore's eyes.
No one, with the obvious exceptions of Hermione and Crystalline needed to know what had truly occurred.
They were glad that Ginny had been barely conscious and that Fawkes had been too busy with both the basilisk, and looking after Ginny to know.
"Well, that was certainly", McGonagall trailed off.
"You two will be awarded two hundred points apiece for what you have done for the school, along with Special Award for Services to the School each", Dumbledore smiled.
"I'm glad you both are safe.
And Professor Dumbledore said that the Mandrake draught is ready, so we don't need to worry about Crystal and Hermione either", Mrs Weasley beamed.
"That's a relief", Ron grinned.
"You know, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully to Professor McGonagall, "I think all this merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go and alert the kitchens?"
"Right," said Professor McGonagall crisply, also moving to the door.
"Certainly," said Dumbledore.
"Now, I suggest Ms Weasley goes to the Hospital Wing. Along with getting a cup of hot chocolate", Dumbledore said to Ginny, Mr and Mrs Weasley.
"Right, that sounds good. Come on Ginny."
"Er, Professor", Harry said.
"Yes, Harry"
"Well, Riddle said that we were alike, strange likenesses..."
"Oh did he."
"You're not like Riddle. You're only similar in circumstances and a few personality traits. Your choices are different!", Ron cut it.
"Precisely Mr Weasley. Your choices differ, and as long as they continue to do so, you and Tom will never be alike", Dumbledore said kindly.
"Thank you Professor, thanks Ron", Harry sighed.
"Now, how about you two head to the Hospital Wing", Dumbledore smiled at the protests they barely stopped themselves from verbalising.
They got up and crossed to the door.
Ron had just reached for the handle, however, when the door burst open so violently that it bounced back off the wall.
Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby.
"Good evening, Lucius," said Dumbledore pleasantly.
Mr. Malfoy almost knocked Harry over as he swept into the room.
Dobby went scurrying in after him, crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face.
The elf was carrying a stained rag with which he was attempting to finish cleaning Mr. Malfoys shoes.
Apparently Mr. Malfoy had set out in a great hurry, for not only were his shoes half-polished, but his usually sleek hair was disheveled.
Ignoring the elf bobbing apologetically around his ankles, he fixed his cold eyes upon Dumbledore.
"So!" he said "You've come back. The governors suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts."
"Well, you see, Lucius," said Dumbledore, smiling serenely, "the other eleven governors contacted me today.
It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth.
They'd heard that Arthur Weasleys daughter had been killed and wanted me back here at once.
They seemed to think I was the best man for the job after all.
Very strange tales they told me, too... Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place."
Mr. Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits of fury.
"So - have you stopped the attacks yet?" he sneered. "Have you caught the culprit?"
"We have," said Dumbledore, with a smile.
"Well?" said Mr. Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?"
"The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary."
He held up the small black book with the large hole through the centre, watching Mr. Malfoy closely. Harry, however, was watching Dobby.
The elf was doing something very odd. His great eyes fixed meaningfully on Harry, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr. Malfoy, and then hitting himself hard on the head with his fist.
"I see..." said Mr. Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.
"A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye.
"Because if Harry and Ronald here -" Mr. Malfoy shot the duo a swift, sharp look "hadn't discovered this book, why -- Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame.
No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will..."
Mr. Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike.
"And imagine," Dumbledore went on, "what might have happened then... The Weasleys are one of our most prominent pure-blood families.
Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and - killing Muggle-borns...
Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from it.
Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise..."
Mr. Malfoy forced himself to speak.
"Very fortunate," he said stiffly.
And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then punching himself in the head.
And Harry suddenly understood. He nodded at Dobby, and Dobby backed into a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment.
"Don't you want to know how Ginny got hold of that diary, Mr. Malfoy?" said Harry.
Lucius Malfoy rounded on him.
"How should I know how the stupid little girl got hold of it?" he said.
"Because you gave it to her," said Harry. "In Flourish and Blotts. You picked up her old Transfiguration book and slipped the diary inside it, didn't you?"
"WHAT!", fury was etched on Ron's face and only Harry's glare stopped him from punching Malfoy.
He saw Mr. Malfoy's white hands clench and unclench.
"Prove it," he hissed.
"Oh, no one will be able to do that," said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry.
"Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book.
On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any more of Lord Voldemort's old school things.
If any more of them find their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you..."
Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and Harry distinctly saw his right hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand.
Instead, he turned to his house-elf. "We're going, Dobby!"
He wrenched open the door and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him right through it.
They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the way along the corridor. Harry stood for a moment, thinking hard. Then it came to him--
"Professor Dumbledore," he said hurriedly. "Can I give that diary back to Mr. Malfoy, please?"
"Certainly, Harry," said Dumbledore calmly. "But hurry.
The feast, remember... Harry grabbed the diary and dashed out of the office.
He could hear Dobby's squeals of pain receding around the corner.
"Don't tell me you're", Ron trailed off, a wicked grin on his face.
Quickly, wondering if this plan could possibly work, Harry took off one of his shoes, pulled off his slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it.
Then he ran down the dark corridor.
He caught up with them at the top of the stairs.
"Mr. Malfoy," he gasped, skidding to a halt, "I've got something for you--"
And he forced the smelly sock into Lucius Malfoy's hand.
"What the -?"
Mr. Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously from the ruined book to Harry.
"You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter," he said softly. "They were meddlesome fools, too."
He turned to go.
"Come, Dobby. I said, come."
But Dobby didn't move. He was holding up Harry's disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure.
"Master has given a sock," said the elf in wonderment. "Master gave it to Dobby."
"What's that?" spat Mr. Malfoy. "What did you say?"
"Got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby - Dobby is free."
Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf then he pointed his wand at Harry and said "Avada Kedav"
But Dobby shouted, "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"
There was a loud bang, and Mr. Malfoy was thrown backward.
He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below.
"GO DOBBY", Ron yelled, laughing.
"You shall go now," he said fiercely, pointing down at Mr. Malfoy. "You shall not touch Harry Potter. You shall go now."
Lucius Malfoy had no choice. With a last, incensed stare at them, he swung his cloak around him and hurried out of sight.
"Harry Potter freed Dobby!" said the elf shrilly, gazing up at Harry, moonlight from the nearest window reflected in his orb-like eyes.
"Harry Potter set Dobby free!"
"HE DID. DID YOU SEE MALFOY'S FACE", Ron whooped.
The elf's ugly brown face split suddenly into a wide, toothy smile.
"I've just got one question, Dobby," said Harry as Dobby pulled on Harry's sock with shaking hands.
"You told me all this had nothing to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, remember? Well--"
"It was a clue, sir," said Dobby, his eyes widening, as though this was obvious.
"Was giving you a clue. The Dark Lord, before he changed his name, could be freely named, you see?"
"Right," said Harry weakly. "Well, I'd better go. There's a feast, and my friends Hermione Crysta should be awake by now..."
"You rock Dobby", Ron grinned.
To their surprise, Dobby hugged them, and said "Farewell!"
And with a final loud crack, Dobby disappeared.
***
Amongst all the feasts they had attended, this was by far the oddest.
All the students were in their pyjamas. In the middle of the feast, Hermione and Crystalline appeared, and they shared a big hug and a little while later, Hagrid came and gave all of them cuffs on their backs.
The exams were cancelled, ("Oh no!", Hermione had exclaimed).
They got disapproving looks from their housemates, but they ignored them.
***
Finally, after a year full of excitement and adventure, it was time to go.
Ron and Crystalline to the Burrow, Hermione back to the Grangers (for a few weeks) and Harry back to the Dursleys (for a few weeks).
But it's not the end. Just a new beginning.