Chapter 334: Convincing Dobby
Chapter 334: Convincing Dobby
In the quaint village of St. Kachel, an old-fashioned, deep green car wobbled to a stop outside a modest dwelling.
Emerging from the vehicle were Kyle and the Weasley clan, one by one.
"We're home, kids. Don't forget to bring your luggage inside," Mr. Weasley called out from the driver's seat, with no intention of exiting the car himself.
His old Ford, which had gone missing in the Forbidden Forest ever since Ron drove it to Hogwarts, was temporarily replaced by this borrowed car from the Ministry, soon to be returned.
The thought of his lost car pained Mr. Weasley; it had taken him much effort to enchant that ordinary Ford with invisibility, flight, and self-navigation capabilities, among other modifications.
"Maybe I should find an excuse to give Ron a good beating," Mr. Weasley mused to himself as he drove back to the Ministry.
"At least his grades were decent..."
...
Meanwhile, as the group alighted from the car, Mrs. Weasley rushed out of the house, a water kettle at her waist and a brand-new, large brush in hand.
"Thank goodness you're finally on vacation!" She exclaimed, making a beeline for Kyle.
"Kyle, you..."
At that moment, Ron's eyes lit up as he spotted the house-elf trailing behind Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, you must be Dobby... or no, I think it's Dobby!" Ron exclaimed.
"Yes, sir. That is correct, Mr. Weasley," Dobby replied respectfully.
"He calls me 'sir'!" Ron looked thrilled.
"If you like, we could address you the same way," Fred offered with a smirk.
"Mr. Ron Weasley, would you kindly bring your luggage to your room now?" George chuckled.
Ron's face turned crimson.
Just as he prepared to lift his luggage, Dobby had already stacked the trunks and carried them into the house.
"How convenient," Ginny remarked.
"Yeah..."
Ron, forgetting Fred and George's earlier teasing, began to fantasize about a life of leisure, with his meals and needs provided for.
"Convenient? I don't think so," Mrs. Weasley muttered under her breath, out of earshot of the others.
She pulled Kyle aside, ensuring they were out of Dobby's hearing range, and asked eagerly, "Dear, I know it's unfair to ask, but can you truly send Dobby away? I'd be forever grateful."
"Of course, Mrs. Weasley," Kyle assured her with a nod. "But it's late today. I'll take him away tomorrow."
Mrs. Weasley heaved a sigh of relief. "That's wonderful. Please try not to hurt him if you can. Dobby is a good elf, but... "
She paused, sighing again. "Lately, Arthur's appetite has diminished. I know he misses my cooking."
"I've tried talking to Dobby, but each time, he gets flustered and thinks he's not doing enough. He even bangs his head against the table," she added.
"I understand, Mrs. Weasley..." Kyle nodded. "Leave it to me."
As the two conversed, the others had made their way into the house.
Dobby had prepared an abundance of cookies and treats, suggesting they fill their stomachs before dinner.
The table was laden with enough cookies to pass for a full meal.
At this rate, the Weasley family's grocery expenses would undoubtedly surge...
Kyle found Dobby bustling about in the kitchen, preparing ingredients for dinner and desserts like pudding.
"Sir!"
Upon seeing Kyle, Dobby immediately halted his tasks. "Thank you, sir, for helping Dobby find new employment. Dobby enjoys it here."
"I'm glad to hear that," Kyle said. "As it happens, I have something to discuss with you. Would you like to come visit my home as a guest?"
Kyle then led Dobby back to his home.
"Some good news."
Seeing Dobby eagerly about to start scrubbing the floor, Kyle quickly added, "You've passed your trial period."
"Trial... period?"
Dobby looked bewildered, clearly not understanding what that meant.
"In simple terms, the previous family wasn't your actual place of employment."
Kyle presented the excuse he had prepared beforehand, ensuring he spoke before Dobby could start banging his head on the floor.
"You need to work for another family, but the master there is very particular. Only the best house-elves will earn their recognition."
It seemed that a keyword had been triggered...
"Dobby can... Dobby is the best house-elf there is!"
Fortunately, the floor was spared.
"Of course, Mrs. Weasley has already spoken to me about it." Kyle nodded and continued, "You've passed her test, and you're qualified to work there."
...
With Kyle's clever persuasion, Dobby soon believed his words.
However, the elf insisted on finishing tonight's dinner before leaving the Weasley household, or else he would refuse to be the "best house-elf."
Kyle had no reason to refuse, as they wouldn't be leaving until tomorrow anyway.
Mrs. Weasley readily agreed as well.
After settling Dobby's matter, Mr. Weasley returned just in time, accompanied by Chris and Diana.
The reunion after a year apart was not as heartwarming as one might imagine...
The moment Diana laid eyes on Kyle, she immediately scowled and began scolding him for tampering with time and not sending a letter home as soon as he realized she had traveled back with him.
"Even if I didn't receive your letter, you could have told your father... He would've always found a way to reach me..."
Diana narrowed her eyes, "If not for Dumbledore, I wouldn't have even known about your exciting school life..."
"Have all the teachers at school died that you had to deal with the Chamber of Secrets..."
Chris kept his head down, pretending not to hear a thing, and quietly slipped out the door to hide in his room at the Burrow.
The lecture lasted for over half an hour, only ending after Kyle repeatedly assured her that Salazar Slytherin had agreed to help erase the consequences of their time travel.
As a Slytherin graduate, Diana held an inexplicable admiration and trust for the founder.
It was similar to the blind worship that students like Lockhart's admirers displayed at the start of the school year, believing every word he said.
...
Finally, evening arrived.
The Weasley family, invited by Mr. Weasley, made their way to the Burrow.
Dobby had used up all the ingredients, transforming them into a sumptuous feast.
Mr. Weasley had no choice but to magically produce a larger dining table to accommodate all the dishes.
Due to the abundance of food, the dinner lasted for nearly two hours. Ron sat slumped in his chair, his belly full, unwilling to move.
This meal was almost as grand as the feasts they had at school.
To enjoy a feast in the comfort of home... This was something Ron could never have imagined, and it was no wonder so many people wanted a house-elf.
"This is the life..." Ron thought to himself.
Fred and George were also delighted because, with a house-elf, Mrs. Weasley wouldn't need to clean their room anymore and wouldn't discover the things they had hidden under their beds.
As for Percy... House-elves were known for their quiet and discreet nature while doing chores, so he wouldn't be disturbed.
...
(End of Chapter)
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