Chapter 654: Dobby's Vagabond Journey (I)
Chapter 654: Dobby's Vagabond Journey (I)
Dobby was free! Harry Potter had liberated Dobby from the Malfoy family.
At this moment, the house-elf, Dobby, stood outside Malfoy Manor, gazing at the distant, magically veiled estate, feeling as if it were all a dream.
Free! Dobby was free! It all started a few days ago...
That day, Dobby encountered a peculiarly dressed house-elf.
The reason this house-elf caught Dobby's attention was because it was wearing clothes.
A free house-elf. That was Dobby's first reaction, as house-elves were not entitled to wear clothes.
And yet, this one was clothed.
At least, that was how it appeared to Dobby.
However, Dobby was astonished to learn that this house-elf was not free but was currently serving a wizarding family.
"My master thinks that Winky should be presentable, and this is not really clothing," the house-elf named Winky replied to Dobby's confusion.
Winky.
That was the name of the house-elf, and as for her master, she didn't say, only mentioning that she served an extremely noble wizarding family.
What surprised Dobby even more was that Winky passed on a password to him. Winky told Dobby that if he wanted to escape the Malfoy family, an opportunity would present itself soon.
The famous savior, Harry Potter, was trying to free Dobby from the Malfoys' control and grant him his freedom.
This news shocked Dobby to his core.
Harry Potter hadn't forgotten about him and was even trying to help him gain his liberty.
As for the Malfoy family, Dobby didn't have much attachment to them.
He couldn't help but envy Winky, who clearly served a very noble wizarding family and had a rather kind wizard master.
If one had a good family, what house-elf wouldn't yearn for freedom?
Dobby was no exception.
The opportunity that Winky spoke of arrived sooner than expected.
The next day, Dobby's master received a parcel from Harry Potter. After reading the letter and opening the package, Lucius Malfoy angrily threw the contents onto the floor.
Following Winky's instructions, Dobby immediately caught the parcel and pulled out a disgustingly filthy sock, thus completing the house-elf banishing ritual: a master presenting them with clothing.
The abruptness of his newfound freedom left Dobby stunned! His master had thrown the "clothing" to him, and he had caught it, so Dobby was free! Undoubtedly, Dobby was liberated.
The rage on Lucius Malfoy's face froze, and as he stared at the excited house-elf holding the filthy sock, his mind went blank.
Lucius Malfoy soon realized that the culprit behind his mysterious loss of a servant was none other than the sender of the parcel, Harry Potter.
He had been outmaneuvered by the boy! It was unforgivable.
The contorted expression on Lucius Malfoy's face was firmly imprinted in Dobby's mind as he fled that place, for he was now a free house-elf, no longer bound by magical contracts! All thanks to Harry Potter, who had emancipated him and bestowed upon him this freedom!
Dobby took one last glance at Malfoy Manor before disappearing with a pop, using his Disapparating magic.
In the days following his liberation, Dobby did not fare well.
He had nothing to do and often went hungry, quickly falling into confusion and uncertainty about his newfound freedom.
"I should find myself a job!" Dobby told himself.
Dobby cherished his freedom, but he also loved working! However, no wizard would pay a house-elf for their labor.
Dobby was still willing to try, so he went to the Leaky Cauldron, figuring that they might need an extra hand, and perhaps he could find employment there.
The situation was not optimistic, as the pub owner, Tom, informed Dobby, "That's not the sort of job for a house-elf."
Of course, if Dobby wanted to stay and help out, he would be welcome, but he wouldn't be paid a single knut for it.
As Dobby prepared to leave the Leaky Cauldron in disappointment, Tom called out to him again.
He told Dobby that if he couldn't find a job and was going hungry, he could help out during the pub's busiest times, and he would be willing to temporarily take Dobby in, providing him with food and a temporary place to stay until he found a job or wanted to leave.
There was an added benefit to this arrangement—it would prevent Dobby from being caught and questioned by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Dobby agreed! Even though he wouldn't earn a knut, he knew he could keep himself occupied and fill his stomach. Besides, he could leave whenever he wanted.
During Dobby's stay at the Leaky Cauldron, he didn't give up on his search for a paying job, but he couldn't find a single wizard willing to compensate a house-elf for their work.
Well, forget about payment.
It was already challenging for a dismissed house-elf to find new employment.
Even more so for one who expected wages.
Dobby had experienced this firsthand.
He had visited numerous shops in Diagon Alley, only to be turned away politely or rudely on several occasions.
"That's not the sort of job for a house-elf."
This was the phrase Dobby had heard the most in recent days.
Just as the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, Tom, had told him, most wizards didn't want a house-elf who expected payment for their services.
In reality, Dobby could see that Tom wanted him to stay, but he wasn't willing to pay a salary.
Dobby didn't hold it against him; he was grateful to Tom. Most wizards would be wary of a dismissed house-elf, let alone one who wanted to wear clothes and receive wages.
Dobby had knocked on every door to no avail.
Whenever he brought up the subject of wanting wages, most people would respond, "That's not the sort of job for a house-elf," and then slam the door shut in his face! Gazing at the closed door before him, Dobby lowered his head and walked away, dejected.
"Is it truly so difficult to find a paying job just because I, Dobby, now want wages?"
Of course, Dobby knew that house-elves weren't supposed to receive remuneration for their work.
But he was now a free house-elf.
Perhaps, Winky's master would be willing to pay him.
Dobby had never met such a unique wizard, but he wanted to believe that there were exceptions. Still, that family already had a house-elf, so they didn't need him.
Maybe, just maybe, he could find another wizard who needed his services and was willing to pay him.
Dobby believed that he would undoubtedly find a suitable job.
(End of Chapter)
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