Elf Magic
June 19, 1993
Now that Harry wasn’t rushing to save his best friend's sister, or worried about facing the yellow eyes of a basilisk at the end of the tunnel, the tube down to the Chamber of Secrets was much more enjoyable.
It reminded Harry of the water slides he’d heard Dudley talk about visiting over the warmer months. Harry was never allowed to go with his cousin, of course; he’d be dropped off at Mrs. Figg’s house and subjected to an afternoon of stale cake and cats leaving little puncture marks in his thighs from their kneading. But Dudley would come home pink from the sun with ice cream remnants still on his face and brag about the water slides and many pools he had spent the day in.
There was no water in this tunnel, but the smooth stone walls allowed Harry to zip through the pipe-like structure easily. Gentle turns and dips made for a thrilling ride, and by the time Harry’s feet landed in the room far below the castle, he was grinning at the experience.
Glancing around at the initial chamber the pipe opened up into, Harry was amazed at the changes from his last visit. He remembered this room as being a dimly lit tunnel, with slime on the walls, and the ground littered with animal bones.
But Dobby had clearly worked his magic here already. The ground had been cleaned and swept, and despite the room surely being underneath the lake, the walls were free of any dampness. High up there were floating orbs of light, that were cheerfully bobbing along the ceiling. Other than the lights, nothing had been added to the room, no furniture or decorations, so Harry assumed wherever Dobby had set up for him to sleep must be further into the chamber.
Progressing further into the tunnel, moving towards the room where he had confronted the shade of Tom Riddle and the basilisk, Harry found more changes. The entire way was lit with more of the floating lights, and while the walls and floors were roughly hewn stone they were clean.
Where Harry remembered stumbling across a massive shed snake skin, there were neat boxes stacked against the tunnel wall, but no snakeskin in sight. Lifting one of the box tops off to peer inside, Harry finds the missing snake skin neatly folded and packed away. Wondering if snakeskin was worth something, and that was why Dobby had saved it, Harry continued on.
Despite Harry knowing there had been a cave-in just a few weeks ago, there was no evidence of it anymore, and Harry was able to proceed unhindered all the way to the wall with the carved serpents, still with no sign of Dobby.
The last time Harry stood here, he had been afraid of what he would find on the other side, and about seventy percent convinced he would be dying once he got past this wall. Now, Harry was excited. If Dobby had managed what seemed like a miracle on what he had seen of the chamber so far, he was sure that whatever he’d find on the other side would be much more welcoming than what he’d get in Privet Drive.
Focusing on the glittering eyes of the snakes on the wall, Harry hisses Open and stands back as the serpents separate from each other and the wall begins to slide open, granting him entry to the chamber within.
Harry spends a second wondering how Dobby got past this door without him here to say the parseltongue password, but maybe he had been able to pop over to the other side? Harry didn’t know how elf magic worked or how apparition worked, so he was doubly unsure of how Dobby got around.
He only has a moment to think about this though, as when the door opens all the way, Harry is once again struck by the difference between his memories of the chamber and what he sees now. Somehow, in the few weeks since he last stood here, Dobby managed to turn what was once a dark and cold cavernous room into something approaching downright cozy.
More bobbing lights floated around the room, banishing the dim light. Previously unseen fireplaces were lit, giving the room a much-needed warmth from the chill that was present from being so far underground.
The square pools of water on either side of the center walkway, previously thick with scum now looked refreshingly clear, and he could see they were about 12 meters deep. Astonishingly, about half of the pools had koi fish swimming in them, with lily pads and lotus flowers floating on top. One of the pools had an actual reclining pool chair next to it, and a little basket filled with what looked like pool towels. Was Dobby expecting him to go for a swim?
Even the massive statue of Salazar Slytherin, which had looked menacing in the previously dimly lit room, now seemed to gaze at him kindly. It was amazing what a deep cleaning and better light could do. The space now reminded him of some kind of serene garden or spa, that wealthy people might retreat to for an afternoon.
The basilisk carcass, which had stretched across the majority of the room last time he was here, was nowhere to be seen.
Some other furniture had been added in the room as well, what looked like a small outdoor furniture set - complete with a couch, two chairs, and a few small tables and lamps had been set up close to the entrance, facing one of the fireplaces, but the only other addition to the room was a small tent at the base of Slytherin’s statue.
The tent looked a bit out of place, and Harry wasn’t sure why Dobby hadn’t just added a bed to a corner somewhere like he had the other furniture. But everything else looked so good, Harry wasn’t going to complain about Dobby’s choices now.
Harry meanders over to the tent, trailing his fingers across the couch as he passes, pleased to find that the fabric is soft and looks like the perfect couch for a mid-afternoon nap.
Reaching the tent, Harry raises an eyebrow. While the fabric itself looks to be good quality, and new, it’s not like a tent that Harry has ever seen before. There are actual windows on either side of the entrance, and Harry thinks he sees what might be a chimney on the top.
Ducking under the entrance flap, Harry stands back up and feels his jaw drop.
Instead of the small space he had been imagining, with a cot bed and maybe a folding chair, the tent had opened up into what looked like a two-story house.
The entrance opened up into a living space, where Harry spotted another fireplace, several couches and chairs, and even a stand for his broom against the wall. Past the living room was a dining room, complete with a table that must have been large enough to seat twelve and a china cabinet that Harry could tell all the way from the door was full of fancy dishes.
To the right of the dining room, there was a set of stairs that led to the upper level, which was open to the living room beneath it, a carved wooden railing along the stairs and hallway on the second floor. Harry could see several doors, which he assumed led to bedrooms and a bathroom.
Back on the first floor, on the other side of the stairs, Harry spotted a full kitchen and an open door where Harry could just barely glimpse a cauldron and racks of jars with potion ingredients.
Although all of the walls were the same beige canvas material that the outside of the tent was made up of, the inside was decorated in homey, warm tones. The furniture and cabinets were a deep cherry wood, and the living room furniture was upholstered in deep maroon with accents of ivory and gold. Hanging from the canvas walls were various tapestries and even a few paintings that showed beautiful landscapes. In general, it reminded Harry of a much more upscale version of Gryffindor tower.
Harry had just about finished staring around in awe and was ready to explore a bit more when there was a loud pop and Dobby appeared in front of him.
Now attired in a little suit of livery - also in burgundy and gold tones, Dobby smiled up at him.
“Master Harry has arrived! Is Master Harry pleased with what Dobby is being set up for him in the Room of Secrets?”
“It’s bloody amazing Dobby! I didn’t know tents like this existed! It’s a whole house in here!”
Dobby’s smile turned distinctly smug, as he reached up and took Harry’s hand. “Dobby be giving Master Harry a tour now.” Glancing at Harry’s trunk, which he had been dragging behind him this whole time, Dobby snaps once and it disappears.
Pulling Harry further into the tent by his hand, Dobby begins to take Harry through the tent in its entirety, and Harry discovers there’s even more to it than he first saw.
While he had seen most of the first floor from where he stood near the entrance, Dobby points out the fully stocked kitchen with its pantry and cold cellar (the latter of which required going downstairs to a cavernous room that was somehow underneath the tent, with shelves and shelves full of food), and the entrance to the “back garden” that was tucked behind the stairs, where Dobby said he had taken the liberty of planting some vegetables and common potions ingredients.
Harry didn’t even try and understand the magic that went into creating the little green space at the back of the tent. He recognized that he had to have still been inside the tent, as he couldn’t see the stone walls of the chamber, but somehow the tent had been enchanted to look like an actual garden, complete with a small stream running through it and sunny warmth beaming down on him. Dobby warned him that while the space was enlarged enough that he could fly there in theory, the space only extended upwards about 5 meters despite the illusion of a cloudless blue sky above them.
Pulling Harry back inside the tent proper, they finished their tour of the ground floor as Dobby showed him that it was a potions lab he spotted off the kitchen, and the elf proudly showed him the plentiful supplies that could rival Snape’s cupboard in the potions classroom. Dobby said some had been purchased, and some ingredients he had collected himself if they were readily available in the wild. There were also empty but labeled jars that Dobby pointed out for ingredients that were either being grown in Harry’s garden or were so expensive that Dobby didn’t want to purchase them without Harry’s pre-approval.
Considering Harry’s only experience with potions was the dark dungeon classroom with Snape leering at him, Harry was fascinated with this iteration of a potions lab. It was brightly lit, and so clean it reminded Harry of a scientific lab or hospital room. Every tool and ingredient had its assigned place, and Harry spotted a small bookshelf with potions books that Harry didn’t think he had ever seen before. Harry thought he might actually want to try and practice his potions this summer.
Imagine if I come back from break suddenly great at potions. Snape would lose his shit.
“Upstairs now Master Harry!” Dobby said cheerfully and pulled Harry out of the potions lab while he was still lost in imagining Snape’s face if he had to give Harry something other than a failing grade.
The upper level was just as incredible as the first.
There were three guest bedrooms, and Harry was particularly touched when Dobby said he chose this tent in particular due to the number of guest rooms. Dobby knew how close “Master Harry was to his Wheezes and his Grangies” and with this tent, Harry could host both of his friends and still have a remaining guest room.
There were two bathrooms upstairs, as well as a room that Dobby called “Master Harry’s private study” that contained a desk and a few chairs, with a series of bookcases around the exterior of the room. With light filtering in from windows positioned between the bookshelves (and somehow the windows looked out on the same backyard space they had visited earlier, even though Harry knew they were on opposite sides of the tent) Harry thought it looked like the perfect spot to complete his summer homework. Maybe he’d even be able to study ahead, now that his books and school things weren’t going to be locked up all summer.
Finally, Dobby showed him the primary suite, which was done up in calming blues and had a truly enormous bed that Harry was looking forward to sprawling out in. To the left of the bed, there was a door that led to a walk-in closet. Harry thought he could fit all of his clothes, plus all three of the Dursley’s wardrobes, and still have leftover space it was so large. Absent-mindedly, Harry notices his trunk tucked away in the corner, ready to be unpacked.
Continuing through the closet, Harry was surprised to find another bathroom, complete with both a shower and a tub. Harry had assumed he’d be using one of the other two bathrooms upstairs, but apparently, those were just for any guests he might have.
Going back into the main bedroom, on the other side of the bed a double glass door opened up onto a small balcony that looked out over the back garden. There was even a perch for Hedwig, with little food and water dishes that floated near it.
From this height, Harry thought he could spot the limit of the backyard enchantment. He still couldn’t see the chamber, but if he stared hard enough there was a slight shimmer in the image of the fields and trees that surrounded the space. Considering it was only noticeable when he was trying to spot it and stared at one place for a few minutes, Harry thought the enchantments were top-notch.
Harry wanders back into his bedroom, where Dobby is waiting for him. Plopping down on the bed, just stares around in amazement as it fully hits him that this is his place, and where he’ll be living this summer - and every summer after if he has his way.
“Does Master Harry like what Dobby has done?” Dobby asks apprehensively as the silence stretches on.
“Dobby…” Words seem to fail Harry for a moment. He had been hoping for a cot and a couple of picnic baskets of preserved food. He wasn’t expecting Dobby to give him a home. A home that was way bigger, way fancier, and way more comfortable than any other house he had ever been in.
But as Dobby’s eyes get bigger and bigger in his face, and his hands begin to wring, Harry found the words to say quickly “It’s incredible Dobby. Better than I ever could have imagined. I…honestly I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave this place. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to imagine the perfect place to live before, but if I had it would look like this.
The nervous expression Dobby had started to display disappeared in an instant, replaced with another smile, and the elf begins bouncing slightly on his feet.
“Dobby is being so happy that Master Harry is pleased! Dobby be working very hard over the last few weeks to make sure this is a home worthy of the Great Master Harry Potter and would have been so sad if Master Harry was disappointed.”
“I’m definitely not disappointed, Dobby. You’re incredible!” Although a stray thought occurred to Harry, and he winced a bit at what he feared the answer would be, “Um, Dobby, I do have to ask…er. How much did all of this cost?”
“Lots of galleons Master Harry! Dobby was sure to only buy the best for the Great Master Harry Potter.” Harry winces at the thought of what this did to his Gringott’s vault, before Dobby continues, “But Dobby was careful to only withdraw two years' worth of deposits from Master Harry’s trust account. So you is still having all the money that was deposited from other years, and you’ll be getting this year's deposit on your thirteenth birthday. Potter account goblin told Dobby that when Master Harry turns thirteen, the deposit amount increases, and again on your fifteenth birthday. Then when Master Harry turns seventeen, you is having full access to all Potter vaults. So Master Harry still be having lots, and lots of gold in Gringotts, even after Dobby’s recent purchases.”
A bit overwhelmed with all the information Dobby had shared, Harry confirms, “Wait I have annual deposits on my birthday? And you bought all of this with just two annual deposits? So I have another ten times whatever this cost, and I’m about to get more?”
“Yes, Master Harry. Ten times what this cost, minus what you’ve taken out for other expenses.” Dobby eyes him with a strange expression - it reminds Harry of when Hermione looks at him like she thinks he’s a bit of an idiot, but she loves him too much to say so to his face.
“Dobby placed all account statements in Master Harry’s study for his review. Potter account goblin requested that Master Harry visit Gingotts at his earliest convenience for ‘discussions of great importance.’”
“Huh, I didn’t even know I had an ‘account goblin’ that was assigned to my family's vaults.”
That expression returns to Dobby’s face, and Harry thinks this time he detects just a hint of pity. Before any embarrassment can sink in, Dobby claps his hands and changes the subject.
“Master Harry must be very hungry. Dobby was watching and Master barely ate any breakfast. Dobby will go begin lunch while Master Harry settles in.”
With a pop Dobby disappears, and Harry throws himself back to lie across the bed. As he stares up at the draped canvas ceiling he can’t help it as a smile slowly stretches across his face.
He has a house. A house all to himself, where he doesn’t have to carefully walk the line of being obedient but not too deferential or he might be accused of being up to something. No part of his new home was off-limits to him, he could get food whenever he wanted, and there was no possibility he’d be locked up in any of the rooms as punishment. A house that was cozy, comfortable, and welcoming.
In other words, the exact opposite of Privet Drive.
Harry thought he even liked it better than the Burrow. While the Weasley’s home had been the first wizarding home he had visited, and it would always hold a special place in his heart, it wasn’t his. And although he loved the Weasleys, the chaos of that many people in one house - a chaos that was tripled just by nature of the twins - had been difficult for Harry to get used to.
Harry had owned so few things in his life that weren’t first owned by someone else, it was so weird to think that he now owned a home - complete with furniture, and food, and a bloody garden, and he knew it would take him a while to get used to, but he relished in the idea.
No one could tell him what to do in his own house. As Vernon was fond of saying “my house, my rules.”
Well, Harry made the rules now. He thought he’d be better at it than Vernon.
*
About thirty minutes later, Harry wanders back downstairs. He had spent his time settling in unpacking his trunk and had taken particular joy in hanging up his clothing in the closet and unloading his books in the study. He had never really bothered to unpack in his room at the Dursleys. Even when Petunia had ‘graciously’ allowed him to call it his room, it had always still felt like Dudley’s second bedroom. He had kept his meager possessions in a single drawer and had made no attempt to claim the room with decorations.
But now, he contentedly spread his belongings around his new home, sure that he’d be staying here for some time.
When he opened the drawers of the desk in the study, Harry saw the files from Gringotts that Dobby mentioned, and set those aside for now as he carefully placed his school supplies in the drawers and cubby holes on the desk.
Setting his list of assigned summer homework on the top of the desk, Harry swore to himself that he’d do his coursework early and thoroughly. He wanted to prove to his teachers and himself that he was a good student. His summer homework last year was poor because he didn’t have the opportunity to do it, and over the school year - well it was hard to focus on schoolwork when first he was solving the mystery of the philosopher’s stone and then this last year had to figure out what was targeting the muggle-borns.
But third year would be different, Harry could already tell. He’d start the year off having done all the homework and studied ahead, and he wouldn’t let himself get distracted by another mystery. He was going to do his damndest to improve his grades now that he had all summer to revise.
Downstairs, Dobby had lunch waiting for him. On the dining room table there was a few different salads and sandwich things, and Harry swore he could smell treacle tart coming from the kitchen.
Harry sat down at the table, and, noticing it was only set for one, called out “Dobby. Will you join me for lunch?”
At the pop Harry turned to find Dobby at his side, staring up at him with wide eyes. “The Great Master Harry Potter wants Dobby to join him for his luncheon?’
“Of course Dobby. You’re my friend, I’d love to have lunch with you. And besides, you made it all. If anyone deserves to enjoy it, you do.”
Dobby blinked tremulously a few times, and Harry had the feeling he was blinking back tears, before he snapped his fingers and another set of china flew from the cabinet and landed in front of the chair next to Harry’s. Climbing up to perch on the seat, Dobby sent Harry a wide grin before reaching out to begin serving both of them.
“Dobby be watching Master Harry’s eating habits since we being bonded. Dobby learned Master Harry’s favorites but also realizing that Master Harry doesn’t eat a balanced diet. Dobby be fixing this so Master Harry be healthy.”
As he said this, Dobby heaped a pile of green salad and some fruit on his plate, followed by half of a ham sandwich, and then poured him a tall glass of water.
“If Master Harry be cleaning his plate, then he be getting his favorite pudding for afters.” Dobby promises.
It was Harry’s turn to blink silently, which Dobby ignored as he put things on his own plate.
Looking down at the meal he was served, Harry took a moment to think over what he usually ate. He couldn’t disagree with Dobby. Harry figured that after leaving the Dursleys he always tended to grab things that he thought would fill him up more. Meat, potatoes, heavy pastries, and the like.
Even long after the school year had started, when Harry had spent months eating at school and was approaching a more “normal” weight, he still ate the same, as it was just what he was used to.
And anyways, during both first year and second year, by the time he thought he had gained enough weight to not be such a “skinny freak” like Dudley called him, it was nearly time to return to Privet Drive. Harry rather imagined himself to be a bear, trying to pack on the weight before going into hibernation and being cut off from most food sources.
Harry supposed that wouldn’t be an issue going forward, and he could make more of an effort to eat a well-balanced diet.
Stabbing a bite of the salad with his fork, Harry is pleasantly surprised to find it tastes good. Nothing like the rabbit food that Uncle Vernon would always scoff at and refuse to let into his house. Dobby had mixed in some other vegetables and cheese that gave bursts of flavor, and the dressing was full of seasonings.
If all salads tasted like this, Harry would be happy to eat more of them.
Choosing to break another of Vernon’s rules over lunch, Harry decided he wouldn’t be eating in silence, even if his only available partner for conversation was a bit odd at times.
Turning to Dobby and asking him about how the cleaning of the Chamber of Secrets went, the two of them passed a pleasant lunch chatting about both of their activities over the last few weeks. Dobby was particularly interested in Professor Burbage’s series of lectures on famous muggle tourist spots and was disappointed that Harry hadn’t visited any personally to tell him what they were like.
“My relatives never really took me anywhere, Dobby. I’d like to go to the Lake District eventually, the photos Professor Burbage shared were really pretty, but it’ll probably have to wait until I’m older. Wait - you should go!” Harry exclaims
“Dobby should go?” Dobby’s ears began flapping in confusion as he watched Harry nervously
“Yes, you should go! I know we bonded but you’re basically free now, and I’m definitely not going be a demanding git like Malfoy probably was. You can go for a couple days. Or even longer, you definitely gave me enough food I’ll be good by myself for a while. You should go explore. See some of these places you’ve only heard about!”
“Dobby should go exploring? And visit muggle places?” Despite Dobby’s confused tone, Harry thought he heard a bit of interest hidden in his expression.
“Or wizarding places. Where ever you want to go! You could even go out of the country! An around-the-world trip!” Harry’s excitement was growing at the thought. Even if Harry couldn’t go, he still thought it would be cool if Dobby did. And Dobby would probably bring back stories that he could tell Harry about far-off places that Harry might visit himself one day.
“Dobby shouldn’t be leaving Master Harry on his own. Dobby wouldn’t even know what to do with himself when traveling.”
“Well…I don’t really know what you do when traveling either. Just go and look at things I think. And eat the food they make there that’s different than food you can get at home. But as for me, really Dobby I’ll be okay by myself.” Harry promised, “I’ve been cooking and cleaning on my own for years now! And you already made the Chamber super safe for me, and I’ll mostly be hanging out in the tent anyways.”
Harry spends the next few minutes swearing to Dobby that he’d be perfectly fine without him, before finally convincing the elf to go on a little trip to see if he even liked traveling. After repeated reassurances that Dobby would be able to hear Harry calling him from “anywhere in the world Master Harry, you just being calling for me and I be back in a second to help you” Dobby finally gives in.
With one more snap of his fingers to clear the food and dishes from the table, Dobby told Harry that there was a bag of coins from Gringotts in the drawer of his bedside table just in case, the potions lab was pre-stocked with healing potions purchased in Diagon Alley, and that he was to eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, Dobby popped away.
Setting back against the dining room chair, Harry looked around his empty tent.
Well, he thought, I’ve got all summer and a massive tent all to myself. Now what?