50 Dobby

Like almost all Slytherins and other Hogwarts' students, Draco chose to spend his Yule holidays at home. He found that, surprisingly, he missed his parents a little bit.

The first few days at home were spent getting used to the relaxing environment. Over the past two months, Draco lived with next to no breaks in his daily schedule, and this kind of holiday was what he definitely needed.

"Draco, you are still too young to participate in tournaments," Narcissa said worriedly when they were sitting at the breakfast table on the day before the Dueling Competition was supposed to take place. "Maybe you should just go and watch it? All other participants in the Juniors Championship are at least a few years older than you – you will get hurt."

"Mother, I know what I am doing," Draco gently said. "I've been preparing for this for a very long time – do you want to say that I spent it for nothing?"

Lucius also agreed, "Cissy, leave him alone. When have you ever seen our son take on a challenge which he couldn't complete perfectly?"

The worry in Narcissa's eyes eased only by a bit – she wasn't happy with the father-and-son pair ganging up on her. However, as a lady of a Noble House, she didn't continue to pester them and instead changed the topic:

"You will be missing the Ministry banquet – the Minister of Magic will also be there. It would've been a good opportunity for you to meet him and his wife, Marianne Fudge. They are very interested in you, as are many others."

"It's a shame to miss the event then," replied Draco nonchalantly.

Truthfully, he felt like he avoided a calamity – he had been listening to Arcturus' tales about politics whenever he came to visit the Black Manor and the conclusion he came to: 'I would rather spend my time scrubbing all of Severus' dirty cauldrons with a toothbrush, than be in the company of those people.'

It wasn't that Draco hated politics - in fact, he rather enjoyed playing with other people's minds, trying to get an upper hand. However, that was when he knew that others would view him with respect. For example, in the Slytherin common room, no one dared to look down on him.

But would that be the case at Ministry function? Would an eleven-year-old child be taken seriously by the Minister?

Stop joking!

It would already be very good if he didn't have to endure old women cooing over him as though he was a slightly retarded baby!

Before his mother could once again comment on the topic of the banquet, a loud 'POP' sounded, indicating an elf's arrival.

Generally, house-elves never disturbed their masters when they were eating – it was considered as family bonding time because afterwards everyone would leave to attend to their private duties. As such, all three Malfoys slightly frowned and turned their heads in the elf's direction when they heard the disturbance.

Draco almost gasped when his eyes landed upon the house-elf.

The creature was dressed in a slightly old and dirty pillowcase – completely unlike other house-elves in the Malfoy Manor. Its huge eyes were staring at the humans with wariness and even a bit of hate. And its large ears made the house-elf look both, comical and pitiful.

The blond boy was suddenly reminded of the elf, which was supposed to serve their family and betray them for Harry Potter in the books.

"Masters, Dobby is sorry for disturbing yous," the house-elf said as he anxiously wrung the bottom of his dirty pillowcase with his hands. "Dobby is cleaning the attic and I's doesn't know what to do with bad things!"

Narcissa turned her head to look at her husband. She stared at him with the gaze that clearly conveyed 'You deal with him' message.

Lucius' frown deepened. He opened his mouth to administer punishment because the elf didn't know the rules and didn't even go to senior elves for instructions – choosing to disturb the masters instead. However, before he could say anything, Draco intervened:

"Dobby, right?" he asked with a smile, trying not to spook the little creature.

Dobby unconsciously nodded, however, instead of looking more at ease, the elf looked even warier and more afraid.

Draco felt like choking when he saw Dobby's reaction. 'I'm trying to be friendly, alright?' he wanted to shout but couldn't because of his parents' presence.

"You don't have to be scared," the blond boy continued, deciding to ignore the skeptical gaze thrown his way. "Go to Missy for instructions or find another elf. Don't disturb us during mealtime in the future."

Dobby suddenly had a look of realization. He quickly nodded, and with another loud 'POP' disappeared.

Narcissa sighed and looked at Lucius.

"No wonder Lord Lestrange wanted to get rid of this elf – he doesn't have any common sense. I swear, these creatures are getting stupider the more they breed," she said with lamentation.

"Lord Lestrange sold it to us?" Draco asked curiously. At first, he had wondered why Malfoy family didn't have Dobby, however, now it seemed that the mystery was solved – the famous house-elf was acquired only recently.

"Lord Lestrange lost to me while playing Poker with self-shuffling cards," Lucius said with a hint of embarrassment. "I admit, I wondered, why he insisted on betting this elf, however, now I am aware… I tried to invite him for a round of Poker again, however, he's always saying that he's busy nowadays."

Draco unconsciously frowned. He didn't like how his parents talked about the small and helpful creatures as though they were things, instead of living beings that could think for themselves.

"Draco, you don't have to pity the elf," suddenly said Narcissa, seeing her son's unpleasant expression. She knew that Draco was very partial to his own elf and tended to treat her nicely – he must have been unhappy with herself and Lucius for saying such things about Dobby. She continued:

"Over the last few weeks, he managed to burn down all of the food that the kitchen prepared, even though he wasn't even on kitchen duty. Then he went to tend to the garden and, as you can see, all of the peacocks are now bald." Draco's mother gestured to the window with her hands. Draco turned to look, however, he couldn't see any bald birds.

"You don't have to actually look – they would've frozen in this weather if they were outside, so we put them somewhere else," said Narcissa and carried on listing the elf's mistakes:

"Afterwards, I instructed for Dobby to be on the washing duty, yet he managed to somehow change the color of my favorite robes to that of a flashing rainbow! Even Dumbledore wouldn't wear such garish thing – I can't uncharm the clothes no matter what I do! Fortunately, we finally discovered some talent in him – he is good at cleaning."

Draco's eyebrow rose more and more as his mother vented her frustrations. It seemed that she had no one to talk to about this issue before.

"Cissy, I promise I will look for someone else to take the elf in," Lucius tried to appease his wife.

However, Narcissa just waived her hand:

"The elf just needs more discipline – after a few more punishments, it will learn."

Draco speechlessly stared at his mother – wasn't she on the verge of either crying or shouting just then? How come she was acting so nonchalantly now?

The blond boy had to accept the fact that even a hundred years later, he would be no closer to understanding women than he was now.

"Alright, then," his father replied, also seeming to be a bit speechless.

The subject would have come to an end, however, Draco suddenly had a thought. The more he considered it - the more he liked it.

"Father, mother, why don't we give Dobby to grandfather? He would surely train the elf well!" he suggested.

Abraxas was unlikely to mistreat the elf - it may even amuse him. And Draco wanted to remove this variable out of the way - if Dobby stayed in the Malfoy Manor, who knows when would he choose to betray the family to someone else later on? After all, Draco already knew that Dobby was unreliable.

Narcissa's eyes brightened, however, seconds later they once again turned dim.

"I can't do such a thing to my father-in-law," she said with resignation, however, her expression was saying: 'What a pity'.

"In fact, I think it's a great idea. Father is a bit lonely back in France - having an excitable creature would liven him up. His other elves are too proper – Dobby may even learn something from them," Lucius said thoughtfully. His expression looked scheming – if Draco was a teacher and Lucius was a student, Draco would have thought that the later was up to some mischief.

"Alright, it's decided then!" Narcissa clapped her hands happily. "Dobby is going to France."

Draco was once again speechless at his mother's sudden turn of mood.

Can you, please, decide on your stance in conversation and stick to it until the end?