Severus left without another word. He needed to reign in his Slytherins. They would have to take their revenge subtly, not through open confrontations with Potter. Yes, Potter was only a Second year now but time would take care of that. The brat was third in his class academically and was showing signs of being potentially the most magically gifted student in several years no matter what he told the brat in class. The Prophecy said Potter would have the power to vanquish the Dark Lord. What could that be but magical power?
In any case, Potter was a danger to his students. The brat might be the key to eventually stopping the most evil wizard to ever exist but Potter was a danger to his students NOW. Somehow he would have to make the Headmaster see that.
....
2 September 1992
The small creature arrived at his destination. All summer he had tried his best to find the Great One, but the creature's best wasn't good enough. He deserved to be punished.
He stared down on the sleeping form of the Great One. So much goodness and power mixed into one being! Here was the One-That-Gave-Hope-To-All-Beings! The Great Harry Potter!
Oh how he hoped the Great One would accept his warning. The Dark Ones were moving again and they sought to extinguish the Great One! That couldn't be allowed to happen! Bad Family were part of this. (Dobby would have to iron his fingers later for that thought!) Bad Master wanted Great Harry Potter dead. Bad Master ordered Dobby not to tell anyone Bad Family business. So Dobby couldn't. But it wasn't Bad Family business if Great Harry Potter wasn't where Bad Family sets their trap! No, Dobby couldn't fail!
The Great Harry Potter's eyes suddenly opened and glowed with Power in the darkness. Dobby was so surprised he never thought to pop away. And then Great Harry Potter had him by the throat. But Dobby was used to that. Old Not-So-Bad Master did that too.
"Who are you?" Great Harry Potter demanded in a low whisper.
" I is Dobby, Harry Potter. Dobby the House-Elf ." Great Harry Potter loosened his grip.
"Why are you here?"
"Dobby is here to warn Harry Potter! Harry Potter must leave Hogwarts! There is great danger! Harry Potter must leave!"
"Is it Voldemort?"
Dobby clapped his hands over his ears as the name invoked visions of the horrible times. " Ah, speak not the name, sir! Speak not the name !"
Some muttering came from another bed. Great Harry Potter quickly rose from his bed and walked into the nearby loo. He closed the door behind him and set Dobby down on the counter.
"Sorry about that," Great Harry Potter murmured. "I know people don't like saying that name." Dobby felt the tears start to form. Great Harry Potter was apologizing to him!
Great Harry Potter sighed. "Dobby why are you crying?"
"Great Harry Potter apologized to Dobby! Wizards never apologize to house-elves!"
The Great Wizard grimaced uncomfortably. "Yah well, I'll just say I've been there too." He coughed. "Now what is this warning?"
"Dobby try to find you all summer but Harry Potter not with his family! Terrible things are planned for this year! Harry Potter is too important. He must stay safe !"
"What terrible things? Who is plotting them? Is it Vol- He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
" Not - not He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, sir - " Dobby answered with a particular nod. He hoped Great Harry Potter understood what he was trying to say.
"I can't leave Hogwarts, Dobby," the Great One answered. "I don't really have anywhere else to go until I am old enough to be on my own. My relatives don't want me."
"Harry Potter's family doesn't want him?" Dobby asked in disbelief.
"They hate magic," the Great One explained. "But I am told they are the only family I have left so I have to stay with them." Dobby felt his eyes start to tear again but this time in grief and anger. Great Harry Potter had no one! Dobby would find Harry Potter a family of his own! Then Great Harry Potter could leave Hogwarts and be safe!
"Don't worry, Harry Potter. Dobby will find you a family!" Dobby nodded his emphasis. "Stay safe, Harry Potter, until Dobby comes back!" With a pop he was gone. An elf on a mission.
....
15 October 1992
The Ravenclaws followed the Gryffindor students into the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Except for the very first class with the disaster with the pixies, Professor Lockhart simply lectured the class on events from his various books. Last week it was yetis and the week before was vampires.
Padma watched Harry as the students sat down. The students had been whispering about Harry since the writing on the wall and Mrs Norris was petrified. For some reason they ignored the fact Harry was with Hermione, Ron, and herself when the cat was discovered. Instead they just focused on Harry. It didn't make any sense to the logical Patil.
Harry just seemed to shrug it off- like it was all a big joke. However, Padma had learnt to read her closest male friend better than that. He was angry about the whispers but was keeping it inside. Thank Merlin that idiot Malfoy hadn't tried anything recently.
"Ah, welcome class to another wonderful session of Defence Against the Dark Arts!" Lockhart announced breezily as he waltzed into the room. "Are you all ready for another exciting glimpse into the world behind the veil that are the Dark Arts?"
Padma watched the man move into the room and start his lecture on werewolves. Padma was beginning to come about to Harry's position that the professor was a fraud of the first order. Listening to the man's descriptions matched little with the outside research Padma had done on the behaviour of feral werewolves. The werewolf the professor described seemed completely in control like it was under the influence of Wolfsbane Potion.
.....
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