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"Professor Anthony…" Coco whispered nervously, twisting his long, thin fingers together.
Anthony caught the fluttering Wraith Chicken in one arm and used his other hand—awkwardly—to shut the door behind him.
"Evening, Chicken," Anthony said. "Evening, Coco. You're not hurt, are you?"
"No, Professor Anthony." Coco shook his head violently, his bat-like ears flapping, his face full of guilt. "But Coco made the professor's pet angry! Almost caused a disaster…"
"Don't worry about it, they do that a lot." Anthony lifted his arm, bringing the Wraith Chicken up to eye level. "Right, Chicken?"
The chicken gave a sharp, precise peck to his nose.
"Ow!" Anthony pulled the chicken away from his face. "See? Like that. I make them angry too. As long as no one's hurt, it's fine—oh, almond cake. Thank you, Coco."
Coco's bulging eyes widened. "Really? Professor Anthony doesn't mind that his pet got angry? Doesn't mind that his office almost became a mess?"
Anthony glanced around at his pets. The Wraith Chicken was still on his arm. The cat lay on the floor, watching intently as the rat climbed a chair leg. All the furniture was exactly where it should be. Not even a cup was broken.
"It would be nice if they didn't get angry, but since it's chaotic either way, I suppose I'm used to it." Anthony pulled out a chair, scooped up the rat, and placed it on the desk. "On the other hand, I think this is about as tidy as this room ever gets."
Coco gasped. "Coco did not clean Professor Anthony's office properly! Coco left it dirty!" His eyes started to shimmer with tears.
"It's not dirty!" Anthony said quickly. "I asked you not to clean my office every day, remember? Don't be sad, Coco. You've already helped me so much."
"Coco is a lazy, careless, bad elf…" Coco said mournfully. "If Coco did better, Professor Anthony would want Coco to tidy his rooms…"
"Alright, alright," Anthony said. "Listen, Coco. I need you to do something for me."
Coco's self-pity vanished instantly. He looked up. "What, Professor Anthony?"
"Er…" Anthony looked around the room.
The shelves were neat. The drawers were all perfectly shut. No dust on the desk or floor. The blinds and curtains were neatly closed.
"Professor Anthony?" Coco asked, hopeful.
"Oh, right. Coco, do you remember Dobby? He should still be in the castle, right?"
Coco's face wrinkled up. "Coco remembers! Dobby is a bad elf!"
"I want to talk to him. Can you find him for me? Quietly. Without disturbing anyone else."
Coco bowed so fast his nose almost touched the floor, then vanished with a soft pop. Anthony waited a moment. No more cracks of apparition. He sat down and pulled the almond cake toward him. The Wraith Chicken hopped onto the table nearby, cocking its head at the dessert.
"You want some too, Chicken?" Anthony nudged the plate closer. "I really don't get why you lot fight… Can chickens eat almonds?"
The Wraith Chicken pecked a single almond slice from the cake. It tilted its head, watching the slice land on the wood. Then it extended a claw and batted the almond back and forth.
"You're not even eating," Anthony pointed out. He pulled the plate back and forked a bite into his mouth. "Oh, that's good." The cake was moist and spongy, perfectly light. The frosting and almond topping were just right—a simple, perfect dessert for a late night.
The rat peeked out from behind a teacup. Anthony picked off another almond slice and handed it over. The rat took the treat, sat down on the other side of the plate, and then—startled by a sharp CRACK—shot off the table and into Anthony's lap.
"Let go! Let Dobby go!" a voice shrieked.
Two house-elves appeared in front of Anthony's desk. Coco was on Dobby's back, his spindly limbs tangled around Dobby's even bonier arms and legs, his fingers clutching the ragged pillowcase Dobby wore. He panted, triumphant. "Coco brought Dobby, Professor Anthony!"
Anthony stood up quickly. "Merlin."
"Let Dobby go!" Dobby thrashed violently inside the pillowcase. Anthony worried it might tear.
"Thank you, Coco. That's a huge help. You can let him go now," Anthony said. "I'm so sorry, Dobby. I didn't mean to kidnap you."
Coco released his grip, slid off Dobby, and bowed again. "Coco was happy to help, Professor Anthony!" Pop. He was gone.
Dobby scrambled to his feet, looking Anthony up and down.
"Henry Anthony… apologizes to Dobby…" he said tremulously, rocking back and forth. "Says 'sorry' to Dobby…"
"Yes, I just wanted to have a chat, so if I scared you—"
Dobby seemed to ignore his words completely. "Dobby told Harry Potter that Anthony was a very wicked dark wizard. But Harry Potter said Anthony was a proper, good wizard… Dobby has never met a dark wizard who apologizes to Dobby. Especially…" His words cut off. He leapt up and threw himself at the desk leg, banging his head against it. "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"
The rat vanished into Anthony's pocket. The Wraith Chicken took flight in alarm. The cat paused its grooming, head turned to watch Dobby.
"Hey, hey, stop!" Anthony moved around the desk, blocking Dobby's path. "Are you alright?"
Dobby gasped for air, his eyes swimming with tears. He stared at Anthony with those watery eyes, then suddenly announced with joyful fervor, "Professor Anthony is as good as Harry Potter said! Oh, Dobby knew it! Harry Potter is a kind and great wizard! The friends and professors he likes must be kind too!"
"Not the words I'd use for myself, but thanks." Anthony sat down on the floor opposite the excitable elf and conjured a small stool for him. "I know Minerva's already spoken with you, but a private chat might be more helpful. See, I've always been a bit curious. Why did you think I would hurt Mr. Potter?"
Dobby's eyes went wide. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Dobby cannot say, sir." The moment the words left his mouth, he made a choked, sobbing sound and lunged for the desk leg again.
Anthony grabbed his arm, holding him back. "Alright, alright. It's fine. Let's talk about something else. Hmm… Did you know the cauldron you dropped contained the Draught of Living Death?"
Dobby sniffled and shook his head.
"Dobby does not know what Draught of Living Death is. Dobby was helping the other elves clean classrooms and lavatories. There are many old rooms in Hogwarts Castle that have not been cleaned. Dobby took control of the nearest cauldron. Dobby only wanted to keep Harry Potter away from danger."
Anthony frowned. "Away from… me?" He remembered clearly that the day the cauldron fell was Valentine's Day—a very memorable one—and he hadn't even seen Harry.
"No, sir, no!" Dobby cried. "After Harry Potter told Dobby you were a good man, Dobby has been watching! Dobby has seen many things! Professor Anthony is a dark wizard, but he does not wish to harm Harry Potter!"
"But you said 'away from danger'…"
"It was the woman! The wicked woman! Dobby thought Harry Potter would be safe at school, with his friends… so brave, so happy… But that woman came!"
"Umbridge?" Anthony asked, surprised. "You mean Madam Umbridge?"
Dobby pressed his lips tightly together. He rocked back and forth for a moment, then gave a sharp nod. "Yes."
"She's a dark wizard too?" Anthony asked, confused.
Dobby shook his head. Then nodded rapidly. Then he bit his own bony fingers hard, staring at Anthony with wide, hopeful eyes, as if willing him to understand.
"She's a dark creature?"
Dobby's ears drooped a little. He shook his head.
"A Death Eater?"
Shake.
"She… she's not You-Know-Who again, is she?"
Dobby trembled violently, shrieking, "Do not say the name! Do not—do not—do not—say the name!" He clapped his hands over his ears, shrinking into himself.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop guessing," Anthony said. "Anyway, the danger to Hogwarts isn't me anymore, right?"
Dobby shook his head. "No, sir. Not you."
"Good to know I'm in the clear," Anthony said. "I'll keep an eye on Madam Umbridge. But, Dobby—"
Dobby suddenly jumped to his feet.
"Master Draco is awake," he said. "Dobby must return. Master Draco may call for Dobby soon."
"I hope he's not calling you to help him wander the halls at night," Anthony said. "Regardless, thank you for talking with me, Dobby. Until next time."
"Dobby is happy to answer Professor Anthony's questions!" Dobby squeaked. "If Professor Anthony wishes to know anything else, Dobby will be happy to tell him!"
He snapped his fingers. Gone.
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