Harry Potter The Final Straw

Sirius stopped his pacing and turned to face his old friend with a smile before saying happily, "That's brilliant, Moony! I have them upstairs, we could charm a couple more mirrors so you and Hermione can have your own too."

"Great, I'll start on a list of a few spells and books that they should review. We can send a few books from the library here if we find any that could help him that aren't too dark in nature." Lupin called out to Sirius's retreating form.

After a couple of hours of searching through the library, Remus and Sirius had compiled a diverse list of spells and a small pile of books to send to Harry and Hermione to help with the tournament. Placing everything into a trunk Remus shrunk it and put the Marauder's password onto the small package. "I think that is everything Sirius. Now we just need a way to get this to Harry without it being intercepted." Remus said with a look of deep thought etched on his face.

There was a loud pop and then standing before them was the oddest dressed house elf that they had ever seen before. "Uh…, hello. What can I do for you?" Sirius said to the strange house elf.

Bowing slightly, Dobby said proudly, "I am Dobby, sir, Harry Potter's elf. Do you need a package delivered to the great Harry Potter, sir?" Dobby stared at Sirius intently and after a moment of inspection asked him, "Are you his dog father?"

Remus lost it at 'dog father' and started howling with laughter while Sirius stood there shocked and bemused at the same time. "Yes, I am his Godfather, Dobby. Are you the elf that Harry freed?"

"I am indeed! Harry Potter has spoken of me to you before?" Dobby asked with tears in his eyes.

Sirius sat on the floor so that he was eye level with the tiny elf, "He's told both of us about you. The laughing fool over there is Remus Lupin and I am Sirius Black. Would you be able to help us get this package to Harry? Only give it to him if he is alone or with Hermione Granger please."

"Dobby would be most happy to help out kind sirs. Just call if you have any more packages for Dobby to deliver for Harry Potter!" and with a small pop, the package and Dobby were gone from Grimmauld place.

Scratching his stubbly chin in wonder, Sirius mused, "You know, I think that was the strangest encounter with a house elf that I've ever had. I thought that only bound house elves knew that their master's needed something and would react accordingly?"

Remus looked up deep in thought before formulating his response, "I think that elf, Dobby, bonded with Harry when he set him free and I don't think that Harry is aware of it yet. Oh, I bet Hermione is going to have a fit over this one. You know how she can get about house elves."

At the curious look from Sirius, Remus went on to explain what he had overheard about Hermione's views on house-elf rights.

Ten minutes later, a much happier Sirius Black sat sitting on the sofa laughing at the predicament his godson was going to be in when Hermione found out about Dobby.

.....

Harry and Hermione were using the map exploring one of the towers when there was a small pop and a house-elf appeared in front of them. "Dobby! What are you doing here?" Harry asked.

"Dobby has a package for you from your dog father and the wolf." as he reached into his robes and pulled out a tiny package with a letter addressed to Harry.

"Thanks, Dobby." Harry laughed as he bent down to take the package. "How did you know that they needed to get a package to me?"

Dobby went a bit wide-eyed and he started to shuffle his feet before he answered, "Dobby is bound to Harry Potter, sir, I had hoped to work in your family home once you were out of school." Then in a mad rush, Dobby launched himself at the wall but before he could ram his head into the wall Harry caught him around the middle and held him still.

"Dobby, relax. You do not need to punish yourself. I'm giving you an order; never punish yourself. If you feel that you did something wrong, please come to me. You're my friend Dobby, why would you bond to me?" Harry asked in confusion.

"I apologize, sir. It was the best way to ensure that I would be able to help you and keep your secrets. And Dobby wanted very much to be Harry Potter's elf." Dobby said in a rush.

Hermione had been silent during the entire exchange between Harry and Dobby. She was upset that Dobby had bound himself to Harry but she was also proud of the way that Harry was dealing with the situation. She knelt down to Dobby's level and looked him in the eye and asked; "Dobby, are you happy being Harry's house-elf?"

"Oh, yes Ms. Mione! Dobby is the happiest elf alive!" Dobby said bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement.

"Dobby, we know another house-elf that was freed this summer, her name is Winky. Do you know her?" asked Hermione, while Harry chuckled in the background about her nickname.

Dobby looked sadly at his feet and replied, "Yes, Dobby knows Winky. She is most upset at not being a proper house-elf anymore. She is drinking lots of butterbeer and is pining for her old master. I try to look after her in the kitchens but she is very sad."

"Harry, we have to help her. Crouch was wrong to treat her that way and then giver her clothes. If what Dobby is saying is true, she must be really depressed." Hermione said, clearly exasperated with the situation.