Chapter Text
Dobby is a smart elf.
He was born in Malfoy manor but he wasn’t treated very kindly by his previous masters. That all changed when Mistress Narcissa took over and took Dobby into her care. She was kinder than all the previous masters and Mistresses that he had had before. She was a bit more patient but would still tell him when he did a bad job.
There was a war going on and Mistress made a lot of potions for her husband, Master Malfoy and Dobby actually got to help. He was good at potions and good at listening to the instructions that Mistress gave her. It made Dobby extremely proud to have Mistress be so happy with him.
When Mistress got pregnant again, during the height of the war, both Mistress, Master and Dobby were nervous for her. But with each passing week, it seemed like the baby would stick and Dobby was so excited to maybe have a baby boy that was as kind as Mistress in the family.
When Mistress gave birth, there were complications and she almost died. Dobby had been strong during the birth and when the little baby boy named Draco was born, he was elated. That night he sobbed for his mistress as she had heard that she would not be able to have any more babies or she would die. He knew how sad she was for that prospect; he knew how close she was with her sisters; or rather was. One sister was being used by a bad man and the other sister had chosen love instead of her family. Mistress had wanted to have many children and make sure that they would all love one another unconditionally.
Every evening, while Mistress and Master were asleep, Dobby would stand next to the crib of Little Master and make sure that he was healthy; as this was the only heir that Mistress would get. This was the only child that she would birth. Little Master was important.
As Little Master got older, Dobby realised he was perfect. He was kind to Dobby and would laugh and giggle whenever it was just the two of them. When Mistress was in the room, little master had a smile on his face as well and it was clear to see that Mistress loved her little Master.
When Little Master was thirteen, Mistress took Dobby aside and told him that she was extremely happy with his service and wanted him to bond with Little Master so that Little Master would have someone to always watch out for him. Dobby had cried in happiness in front of Mistress, but when he was in his room later that evening he cried in sadness that he would have to miss Mistress.
That was until he was officially bonded with Master and he realised that Little Master had the same kind of magic as his mother, but there was more magic in there than just love. Dobby realised why, when a year later Master took home a friend, Miss Walker. Whenever she was around, the magic in Little Master calmed down. Dobby knew that they were soulmates and it made Dobby so happy to see Little Master be so happy with Miss Walker.
Miss Walker quickly changed to Miss Lestrange and to make it even more amazing for Dobby, Miss Lestrange would become Lady Malfoy soon. Dobby liked that for many reasons. One of them being that Miss Lestrange was very kind to Dobby, in the same way that Mistress Cissy had been. Secondly, he saw how happy Little Master was to be with her and thirdly because of the promises that he made Little Master.
After the first night, Master took Dobby aside and gave him some orders that he would have to follow. Dobby loved orders that were as amazing as Little Master had given. Dobby loved Masters orders. They were simple:
- Watch over Miss Lestrange while she was at their house.
- Make sure that Miss Lestrange was happy and well taken care of.
- If Miss Lestrange was hurt, Dobby had to take care of her afterwards.
- Follow all of Miss Lestrange’s orders, if they did not contradict with the orders that Little Master gave.
- If any of these rules need to be broken to protect Miss Lestrange’s health or life, they would be allowed, under the condition that when the time was right, Dobby would help protect Miss Lestrange when the time was right.
- Never risk your own life for our pain, but take care of us.
Little Master didn’t give Dobby a lot of orders when he became his, but the orders that he gave were all to make sure that Miss Lestrange was happy and safe. Little master loved Miss Lestrange. Little Master would do anything for Miss Lestrange. Little Master’s whole magical core and being revolved around Miss Lestrange, which in return meant that Dobby’s whole magical core revolved around Miss Lestrange. Dobby’s world revolved around Little Master. Little Master’s world revolved around Miss Lestrange.
It was difficult though, the years after that. Only months after making those oaths, was Miss Lestrange taken from her time at Hoggywarts and tortured day in, day out. But Dobby did what was needed- he made the potions with Mistress Cissy and helped Miss Lestrange whenever The Weird Lord was finished with torturing her. It was difficult for Dobby.
It got even more complicated when Little Master came back from Hoggywarts. He sat down Dobby after two days and told him an extra couple of rules;
7. Whenever Miss Lestrange or Little Master showed doubt in Weird Lord and they were alone, Dobby could speak of the secrets that they discovered.
8. Never speak to anyone, of the secrets that they discussed, unless it was Mistress Cissy, Little Master or Miss Lestrange when they said a code word to Dobby.
9. Listen in on meetings of Weird Lord whenever he could and if anything regarding their safety would be compromised, tell Miss Cissy whenever she was alone, after saying the codeword.
10. Whenever Mistress Lestrange would be with Weird Lord, during the holidays, and it was clear that the spell that she was put upon would weaken, heighten it.
It were difficult rules, but Dobby understood and he had saved Miss Lestrange after a while. He watched how Miss Cissy, Miss Sister, Little Master and Miss Lestrange sat down and were crying as they explained something along the lines of ‘Pet’ and what it would mean. He watched how they magically dealt with both Little Master and Miss Lestrange- he was told to never mention anything they saw or spoke of, unless the codeword was mentioned.
Mister Nutty was part of the group later that summer and was put into the secrets codeword group too. Dobby liked Mister Nutty. Ever since Mister Nutty was a little baby, he was close friends with Little Master, they were almost brothers. Mister Nutty loved Miss Lestrange and Dobby loved to see the two of them laughing.
The morning after the wedding of Miss Lestrange and Little Master, they sat Dobby down once again and explained that Mister Nutty and Little Master would come up with a plan with Dobby and Miss Cissy; a plan that Miss Lestrange would never be able to hear about. It was another codeword. It was complicated but it made sense.
When Dobby heard of said plan and the reason behind it, Dobby let out a small sob and hugged Little Master. When he went to bed that evening for his rest, he sobbed until his eyes hurt. Dobby hoped that Little Master and Mister Nutty never had to actually use said plan.
But a year and a half later, Dobby was cleaning up the closet of Mistress Cissy and she told him that the plan would be implemented and that in a week, Little Master and Mister Nutty would come by for the last part of the plan. Dobby, obviously, fell asleep once again with his eyes hurting from his crying.
A week later, Dobby was sitting in Mistress Cissy’s closet in anxiety. He was holding two backpacks that Mistress Cissy had given him and told him to wait until Little Master and Mister Nutty came to him. When the two walked in, both looking anxious- he could also feel the pure sadness and heartbreak that Little Master felt through the bond.
Little Master sat down on one knee and Dobby didn’t stop his crying as Little Master told him some extra rules.
10. Any time that Mistress Lyra would feel sad or feel like she was slipping in thoughts that were part of the codeword thoughts, remind her of said codeword.
11. The moment that she comes to the house for the first time and she seems like herself, bond himself to Lyra.
12. Never, ever, mention the plan that Mister Nutty and Little Master implemented to anyone.
13. If Dobby ever felt Mister Nutty or Little Masters presence, do not show it.
Afterwards Little Master gave Dobby a hug and told him that within now and four hours, he would feel the bond breaking- but not to worry. It would be a ritual and not actual death. Dobby was told that he was a great house elf and a great friend. Little Master and Mister Nutty grabbed the backpacks, then went towards the closet are of Mistress Cissy and grabbed a chain and the two vanished.
Dobby watched them go and wiped the tears from his face; he had to pretend he had no idea what had happened yet. He popped over towards Mistress Cissy and handed her her tea, while giving her the smallest nod; she was not alone as Lord Lucy was sitting with her.
Dobby upheld all the rules, all those years afterwards. He saw how Mistress Lyra changed, because without Little Master and Mister Nutty by her side, she was not the same person.
Whenever Miss Lyra felt sad and felt like breaking, he reminded her of the code word. He watched as she closed her eyes and when she opened them up again, forgot about anything that she had felt or thought beforehand.
When a couple of years later, he felt Mister Nutty’s presence by her side, Dobby never showed that he recognised him.
When years after that, he saw Little Master walking into the new house Dobby lived in, he didn’t show anyone, not even in private, that he knew that the man with dark hair was Little Master.
Dobby was a good elf.
Dobby was a proud elf.
Dobby did his duty.