Chapter Forty Seven – Patronus Secret

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. Me, I'm just a PR professional. I don't profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world. However, its her sandbox and she's left the gate unlatched so we can go in and play a bit. Which, I've done.

Chapter Forty Seven – Patronus Secret

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-==(oIo)==-

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The next morning, Harry and the other three visited the infirmary and were told the now-unpetrified victims would all be released to rejoin the student body for breakfast.

Madam Pomfrey shoo'ed the four friends out, so they waited just outside the doors for Daphne, Tracey and Hermione to exit.

Young Colin was first out and said, "Hi Harry, Hi Neville. Thanks for killing that big snake. See you later!" and ran off before any of the four could say anything back.

Neville snorted and said, "Hyperactive little sprog, isn't he?"

The others could only agree.

Next out was Finch-Fletchley. He exited the doors and saw them. Steeling himself, he walked over and said, "Mister Potter, I apologise for being one of the people who thought you were responsible for the attack on Filch's cat and young Colin."

"Alright, Mister Finch-Fletchley, apology accepted," replied Harry. "However, I hope you won't be jumping to any conclusions in future about me or my friends. All I ask is that you wait until you have proper evidence before casting aspersions, alright?"

Finch-Fletchley replied, "I will do that. Thank you." He gave a short bow and quickly left.

The three girls all came out together and were happy to find their four friends waiting for them. Together, they went down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Walking in, Harry was happy to note the noise from the students and staff didn't drop completely off as it did the previous morning. And the four went and sat at the Ravenclaw table where space was quickly made for them.

They had only just started eating breakfast when the Headmaster stood to make an announcement.

He waited until he had almost complete silence and said, "May I have your undivided attention, please."

The last few talkers shut up.

"As a rare treat; because we have all suffered greatly due to the fear that permeated this place for much of the year; with the exception of OWL and NEWT examinations; we have decided to cancel end of year exams for this year."

Uproar. Most students were excitedly cheering away. A few looked happy for those who's exams were cancelled but were either OWL or NEWT students, themselves. A very few, like Hermione and some of the Ravenclaws, looked unhappy at the news. Harry didn't mind one way or the other about exams, but was happy because it meant he would get more time to spend with his friends before everyone went home.

Dumbledore stood with his hands raised in a gesture of trying to settle everyone down. And most were quietening down.

"Now, as for..." he started before the doors banged open.

Lord Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby.

"Good Morning, Lucius," said Dumbledore pleasantly.

Lord Malfoy swept into the room and up between the tables to stand between the student tables and the head table.

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 Malfoys shoes. Apparently Malfoy senior had set out in a great hurry, for not only were his shoes half-polished, but his usually sleek hair was dishevelled. 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. "Many of the governors contacted me very late in the evening, two days ago. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They'd heard that Arthur Weasley's 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 you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place."

Malfoy paled, 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 Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?"

"The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But, this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. Someone he had in thrall."

"I see..." said Malfoy slowly.

"A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Malfoy in the eye. "Because, if Harry here..." and gestured to Harry, where he sat.

Malfoy spun and shot Harry a swift, sharp look.

"... and his friend, Neville, hadn't discovered what happened," the old man continued. "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."

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 pureblood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and killing muggleborns. However, that plan would have failed because the last students to be petrified, were, in fact, all very important heirs of some of our most important pureblood families."

Harry had a sudden idea. Surreptitiously, he lifted his foot under the table. Removed shoe and sock. And put his shoe back on.

He pulled the diary from his left pants pocket - where he'd had it, expecting Dumbledore to want it - folded the sock and placed it carefully just inside the back cover of the book. He stood and quietly moved to stand about five feet behind the older Malfoy.

"You already know how Miss Weasley got hold of the diary; don't you, Lord Malfoy?" said Harry.

Lucius Malfoy rounded on him.

"How should I know how the stupid little girl got hold of it?" he said.

"Of course you know, Lord Malfoy, you gave it to her," said Harry. "On the 19th of August, last year. Flourish & Blotts. Mister Weasley and yourself decided to engage in fisticuffs. At the end of the scuffle you picked up her old Transfiguration book and slipped the diary inside it, didn't you?"

He saw 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 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."

"But we're not needing to prove it in a court of law, Headmaster," said Harry. "We only need to prove it in the court of public opinion. And I, for one, will be more than willing to show the memory of the events in Flourish & Blotts that day; and the memory of the events in the Chamber where, when I destroyed the diary, it also destroyed the resurrection of Tom Riddle, also known as Voldemort. The public won't have a problem putting it together."

Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and Harry distinctly saw his right hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand.

"I return to you, sir, your property," said Harry, as he calmly lobbed the book at Malfoy's chest. The taller man instinctively caught it with his right hand.

Thrusting the book at the house elf to free his hands again. Dobby took it.

"We're going, Dobby!"

Harry moved to block his path and said, "Just before you do, Lord Malfoy. There is one more small thing."

"And what is that?" the man snarled.

"I really don't like people who abuse others," said Harry. "Even beings such as house elves. When I see such an injustice - when I can - I act."

He turned to the elf and said, "Dobby. Have a look in the book just inside the back cover."

Dobby quickly opened the book and saw Harry's sock. He almost reverently removed it and held it in his hand. "Master has given a sock" said the elf. "Master gave it to Dobby."

"What's that?" spat Malfoy, spinning to glare at the elf. "What did you say?"

"Got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master gave it to Dobby - Dobby is freeeee!"

Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf.

Rounding back on Harry, he snarled, "You've lost me my servant, boy!"

Then he lunged at Harry. Harry quickly sidestepped and shot a fist straight into the taller man's solar plexus.

Dobby shouted, "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"

There was a loud bang, and Malfoy was sent flying down the Hall before crashing onto the floor. He got up, his face livid, and pulled out his wand, but Dobby raised a long, threatening finger.

"You shall go now," he said fiercely, pointing at Malfoy.

"Really, Lord Malfoy," sneered Harry. "You would pull a wand on an unarmed boy in front of all these hundreds of people?"

"You shall not touch Harry Potter," said Dobby. "You shall go now."

Lucius Malfoy had no choice. With a last, incensed stare at the pair of them, he swung his cloak around him and hurried out the doors.

The Hall had been quiet, watching the whole byplay play out before them. With Malfoy senior gone they all chatted excitedly among themselves. Draco Malfoy quickly rose and hurried out the door after his father.

"Harry Potter freed Dobby!" said the elf shrilly. "Harry Potter set Dobby free!"

"The least I could do, Dobby," said Harry, grinning. "But I know how poorly this will reflect on you. I know this will harm you. However, I promise I'll have an answer for you and get you a family that will treat you with kindness and respect. Just wait for me to call you, alright?"

The elf's ugly brown face split suddenly into a wide, toothy smile. He threw his arms around Harry's middle and hugged him. "Harry Potter is greater, by far, than Dobby knew!" he sobbed.

And with a final crack, Dobby disappeared.

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-==(oIo)==-

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Like everyone else in the castle, who did not need to stay for exams, The Seven were thinking of all heading home early; even Hermione.

So, with permission of their Heads of Houses, the Seven floo'ed home with promises of getting in contact with each other as soon as they were settled.

Hermione, because her parents were at work and weren't expecting her home for another two and a half weeks, followed Daphne and Harry through to Greengrass Estate. She floo'ed home to the newly christened Dagworth-Granger Manor when she expected her parents to be arriving home from work.

As expected, the story about the Battle of the Chamber of Secrets, as it was called in the Daily Prophet, broke a day later. Harry immediately floo called Longbottom Hall to let Gran and Neville know, in case they didn't receive the paper. Harry knew Neville didn't subscribe but he discovered Gran did.

The adults then said the two kids would not be allowed to go out in public without at least one adult escort. In support of their friends, the other five said they'd try and visit as often as possible.

Hermione's parents were working the following Saturday, all day, so Hermione floo'ed back to Greengrass Estate for the day. There, she wouldn't be home alone, and she could also practice magic. She was determined for Harry to show her the Patronus Charm.

Daphne, also wanting to learn, quickly floo called the others and they made a day of it on the Saturday. Even Cygnus and Isabel joined in while Harry taught.

Cygnus only needed a couple more one-on-one sessions before he 'got' it. And his great eagle soared around the back of the property. He was also immediately able to use it to send messages.

Isabel was next to grasp the concept and her peregrine falcon joined Cygnus's eagle in flight.

With Neville now more confident in his own abilities since the battle, he was next with a lion patronus. On seeing it, Hannah exclaimed, "How apt!"

Daphne's swan patronus soared over the grounds not much later, and she was the first of the girls.

Susan and Hannah quickly followed suit with a German shepherd for Susan, first; and a retriever for Hannah. Watching the two 'Puffs with amusement, Harry said, "Are you two sure you're not secretly twins, or something?"

A very frustrated Hermione didn't manage hers until Harry took her aside for special one-on-one time. She had not been using a suitable memory; as the one she was using was full of happiness, but not love. Getting her to switch to a memory that was both happy and loving had Hermione release an otter patronus not long afterwards.

When he asked if she wouldn't mind telling him what her memory was, she blushed and said, "It's the feeling of love I get when my father hugs me. Especially when I've done something that makes him really happy."

"A patronus always reflects the inner 'you'," said Harry, to the wider group. "You can tell a lot about a person by the form their patronus takes. For example, mine is a stag. My father was a stag animagus; and, according to Sirius, it looks pretty much exactly like him.

"Deer are family, herd, oriented. Stags are the alpha-personalities within the herd, they're prideful, but also defenders of the weak.

"Susan's Alsatian is the chief breed of police and military dogs in the muggle world. They're extremely loyal, very intelligent and very obedient to a command influence. They're also trained as guard dogs, protectors. Of course, in the wild, they're predators who hunt in organised packs and who work together to bring down prey."

The next day, Susan brought Aunt Amelia back with her. "Auntie wants you to teach her the Patronus Charm, Harry!" she happily exclaimed.

"Mister Potter - Harry - I find myself astounded my niece, who is not yet thirteen years old, has learned to cast a Patronus; when I, and many of my aurors, are unable to do the same. How in Merlin's name did you manage it?" the older witch asked.

"I figured out the secret to it," replied Harry. "Once I had that, it wasn't hard to get the rest."

"I need you to teach me - right now!" she firmly, eagerly, said.

Thinking a bit, Harry said, "Alright; I can do that. But it's going to take you to trust me; to tell me some quite personal things. Do you think you can do that?"

"I will if I must," she firmly replied. "Until now, the best I've managed is a shield."

So Harry took her aside out on the back patio and started talking about how he'd figured out it was more about love, than happiness, that powered the Charm. Together, they talked about some of her happiest and love-filled memories.

Eventually, they settled on the memory of her wedding day, when her father first saw her in her wedding gown, and told her how beautiful she looked while he had tears in his eyes.

Having her hold the memory in her mind, he had her draw on her magic, incant and cast. Immediately, a large snow leopard leapt from her wand. The older witch had tears in her eyes as she stood there, frozen, with her wand arm extended.

After a good ten seconds, she released the Charm and allowed the leopard to fade away.

Knowing how much it can take out of you, emotionally, Isabel led her back into the house and had the house elves serve her tea. They then talked between them about their experience with their own patronuses.

Later, she performed the Charm twice more; with the last being a message she sent to her office.

"Some time over your break, Harry," she said to him, just before she left. "I'm going to want to see you in my office. I want you to do with those on my staff who are unable to cast the Patronus Charm, what you've just done for me. I believe you'll have them performing corporeal patronuses as quickly as you've done for me, today."

"Alright," he said. "But you know there's going to be those who won't like being taught by a child not yet even a teenager, right?"

"They'll obey orders," she replied. "And they'll be there."

"I don't doubt that," he said. "However, they're going to need to trust me, and trust that I can teach them."

"I don't expect you to work, miracles, Harry," she gently replied with a smile. "There will be those who won't, or can't, learn the Charm. However, even if you manage to teach only one, that's one more than I have right now who'll be able to cast it when you're done."

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The following Sunday, prearranged, the Greengrasses floo'ed to the Grangers house.

Both households gathered in the lounge room and enjoyed morning tea together. At the right moment Harry cleared his throat and said, "Wendell, Monica, Hermione. As Cygnus has told you this home you have here..." and gestured around, "... is now considered a wizarding home, rather than a muggle home. That means you are allowed to have 'more' of the magical world within your home.

"However, you still receive muggle visitors. And, that means you are still limited to what you can have out in the open, as the Statute of Secrecy still applies. For example, you cannot have wizarding photographs displayed on your mantelpiece. Or wizarding portraits hanging on your walls.

"But, there is something you can have that will also help you in ensuring you don't break the Statute. And it's something you should have as Hermione is now the Head of a Noble and Ancient House, and this is the House Manor.

"If you accept the gift I'm about to give you, you help me keep a promise, you save a life, you will have a very magical and special protector, and it'll make your lives incredibly easier. It is also expected for Houses of our stature within wizarding society to have at least one."

Wendell sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Is this a magical dog, or something, you're trying to foist off on us?" he asked.

Harry grinned and said, "No. May I call for your gift?"

"We'll see it first," he said. "Before we accept."

"Ha!" said Cygnus. "Spoken like a Slytherin!"

"Uncle Cygnus!" scolded Hermione. "I assure you, Daddy would be a Gryffindor. Honestly!"

"Of course, I understand you'd want to know what my gift was first. We ready?" asked Harry, getting things back on track.

"Go on, then," gestured Wendell.

Harry turned slightly in his chair and called, "Dobby!"

And the little elf appeared with a slight pop. Since the last time she'd seen the little being, Hermione could see he looked far healthier, was much happier and lively, and was eager to please. But, still looked quite reduced in size.

He was also not dressed in a dirty pillowcase, or was covered in bandages. Instead, he was dressed in a black blazer with the Dagworth-Granger crest on the pocket, a white shirt underneath, grey slacks, and wide black shoes with mismatched socks.

"Wendell, Monica, this is Dobby," introduced Harry. "Dobby is a house elf. I recently managed to trick his very abusive ex-Master into freeing him. However, a house elf's long life and magic is a product of a symbiotic relationship with witches and wizards.

"Now that Dobby is free, he is in the initial stages of a long, slow and painful death. And, as he was freed by a Master, he is - looked down upon - by his own kind. So he will receive no help there. Dobby needs to bond very soon with another wizarding family in order to live.

"House elves are self-sufficient in taking care of their own needs. On top of that, and in return for the bond and sharing of magic that results, in return - well - Dobby, why don't you tell the Grangers what you are happy to do for them?"

"Dobby loves to cook, clean, wash, polish, iron, tidy up, make the beds, wash the dishes, help raise the little ones, make snacks, take care of the gardens and lawns, and repair broken things," the little elf rapidly and excitedly said. "Dobby will keep master and mistresses' secrets, take care of shopping and banking, carry messages, and protect master and mistresses with elf magic."

"Dobby is in need of a home; a wizarding home," said Harry. "If you accept his service he will be the Head Elf for Dagworth-Granger House. The fact he will be the only elf, currently, of Dagworth-Granger is irrelevant. The title of Head Elf of a Noble and Ancient House will restore his standing among his own kind.

"You have met some of the house elves for Greengrass House. And Potter House has eight; four here, two in France and two in Australia. This is normal."

With a sigh, Wendell asked, "How much do we pay him?"

"Dobby not be paid," the elf sternly said. "Dobby is a good elf. Dobby receive magic from Dagworth-Granger House and that being enough."

"He's a slave?" asked Monica, alarmed.

"Definitely not," said Harry. "His previous master treated him like one, which is why I tricked the - So-and-so - into freeing him. As I explained earlier, it's a symbiotic relationship between wizard and elf. Both believe they get the better deal out of the relationship. The physical relationship you have with him will be entirely up to you. The Greengrasses and I treat our elves with respect and as valued members of our households."

"I read up on them, Daddy, when I found out about them," said Hermione. "It would be a kindness to him and we benefit from it."

"What if someone sees him?" asked Monica.

"Dobby not be seen when master and mistresses have muggle guests," said Dobby. "The great and kind Harry Potter made sure Dobby knows this."

With another sigh, Wendell threw his hands in the air and said, "Why the hell not. It's fine by me."

Monica nodded in acceptance.

"Hermione, as the only one with magic, it falls to you to form the bond," said Harry, who then reached in to a pocket and withdrew a small sheet of parchment. "You place your right hand on his forehead and recite this. He will then recite his own oath back to you. Magic then forms the bond."

"Alright, Harry," she said.

With a squeal of glee Dobby moved to stand in front of Hermione as if he'd teleported there. He was almost vibrating up and down in happiness.

Hermione accepted the parchment off Harry and read through it. She then reached out and placed her right hand on Dobby's head as he bowed it forward into her hand. She read, "I, Hermione Jean Granger, Head of the Noble and Ancient House of Dagworth-Granger, accept Dobby in service as Head Elf for my House. My magic is your magic. Your magic is my magic."

Dobby intoned back, "I, Dobby, accept service with the Noble and Ancient House of Dagworth-Granger. Your magic is my magic. My magic is your magic."

A golden aura surrounded both Hermione and Dobby for a few moments before it faded away. Her parents looked amazed by what they saw; as they, too, saw the glow.

When she removed her hand from Dobby's head, the little elf physically looked stronger.

"Yi-hoo!" the little elf said with a little fist pump and jump in the air, before he dived forward and hugged Hermione around her legs. "Thank you, Mistress!" he exclaimed, before he went and took Monica's right hand, holding it in both his own and touched it to his forehead with fingers palm out. he moved on to Wendell and did the same.

"What was that?" asked Wendell.

"He was recognising you as members of the Dagworth-Granger household," said Daphne. "Harry's elves did the same to me when he introduced me as his betrothed."

"We'll have to find you a place to sleep," said Monica, suddenly.

"Dobby find, Mistress," he replied. "You not need to worry."

"Dobby," said Harry. "Why don't you show your new family what it is you can do for them?"

Dobby turned to Hermione and asked, "May I, Mistress?"

With an initial look of surprise at Dobby referring to her wishes, she replied, "Yes, please, Dobby."

With Dobby's form almost blurring in speed, the tea setting was refreshed, the cushions and throw rugs on couches and armchairs were straightened, a loose curtain was retied, and he was gone.

Monica and Wendell sat forward in surprise. "What on earth...?" said Wendell.

"He'll already be moving through the rest of the house now," said Cygnus with a smile. "They really enjoy their work."

He then reached into his jacket and removed a small book. "This is all about house elves in general and the bond of a house elf to a House. It explains it in detail. Then goes on to tell you a lot of what they can do for you. It also tells you how you break a bond if you feel it necessary.

"But, in a nutshell, never hand a house elf an item of clothing. Ever. That's how Harry tricked Dobby's previous master to release him."

"I put a sock inside a book," said Harry. "Then I gave the book to the abusive master and engineered it so that the master handed the book to Dobby. In that way, the master gave Dobby an item of clothing. And Dobby was freed."

"Clever," snorted Wendell. "And thanks for telling us."

"But how is Dobby now wearing clothing?" asked Hermione.

"I told him how I wanted him dressed," said Harry. "He took care of the rest. That way I didn't offer him clothing."

"Again, clever," said Wendell.

"So you need to develop the habit of not offering him an item of clothing in any form," said Cygnus. "If you pick up an item of clothing, hand it to him and ask him to put it away for you, you've just offered him clothing, and the bond is broken.

"However, if you point to an item of clothing and ask him to put it away for you, then you haven't offered it. That's similar to Harry telling Dobby what he wanted him to wear, rather than giving him the clothes to wear."

"Secondly, anyone else can offer him clothing and the bond won't be broken," said Harry. "Say you have a wizarding visitor. The visitor arrives, Dobby will pop in and accept the wizard's cloak to be put away until they're ready to leave again. That's not considered as being offered clothing. This is why I had to get the abusive master to give Dobby the sock, instead of giving it to him myself."

Dobby popped back in and said, "Dobby found a place to sleep in attic. Dobby will be very happy there. Does mistresses and master have a choice for dinner?"

He then looked right at Monica and waited a moment or two.

Monica looked like she was going to say something before Dobby said, "Dobby knows now. Dobby will cook." And he popped away again.

A moment later Cygnus guffawed, "Cheeky little ratbag."

"What just happened?" asked Monica.

"He asked you what you were thinking of to cook for dinner," said Cygnus. "This made you immediately think of it and he read your mind. He now knows what you were thinking of cooking or preparing and he's going to do it for you - as a good house elf should.

"House elves pride themselves on anticipating the needs of their house," he further explained. "Therefore, they use a special form of Legilimency - mind reading - to find out what you want pretty much before you, yourself, know what you want or need.

"In this way, they can do what they need to do without having to keep coming to you and asking. However, he's only allowed to do it for you three, as you three are of this house; and any of your guests you have with you at the time."

"This is going to take some getting used to," said Monica.

"Your biggest problem is going to be boredom," said Isabel. "Because Dobby will now be taking care of all the chores, the time you dedicated to doing those things yourself will now be done by him in moments; silently and efficiently.

"I suggest taking on a hobby," she smiled.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

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