Chapter 265 We Are Friends, Right?
Dobby felt as if there was a burning flame in his chest, so hot and powerful that his thin body couldn't help but tremble.
He wanted to tell everyone loudly that he was free! He is no longer a slave of the Malfoy family!
"Dobby?"
A small voice came from behind.
Dobby turned around and saw Lucy, another house elf.
She also had injuries on her body, but compared to Dobby's miserable appearance, she looked much better.
Lucy asked softly: "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"
Dobby's big eyes were shining brightly, and he wanted to share his joy with Lucy at this moment. but……
The house elf bit his lip, hid the socks back, and said, "I'm fine... I'm going to carry out my master's mission."
After he finished speaking, without waiting for Lucy to answer, he disappeared from the place with a "pop".
The next second, Dobby arrived at the attic of Malfoy Manor. The place was dark and narrow, and the corners were filled with clutter.
Dobby sat casually on a dusty box, dug into his ears with his slender fingers, and pulled out a small roll of paper.
He unfolded the paper, took a very thin pencil, and wrote a sentence on it——
[Dobby: Dobby got the socks, Dobby is free! 】
Not long after, a line of flowing text appeared:
[Vade: Great! Congratulations, Dobby! 】
[Dobby: Thank you for your help, Mr. Grey. I don’t know how to thank you...】
Big tears fell on the parchment, and Dobby quickly wiped them away with his hands.
[Vide: I hope you can get the life you want. This is what you can give me - the best reward. 】
At this moment, the cold words seem to have the power to warm people's hearts.
Dobby almost burst into tears.
He covered his mouth hard and huddled on the attic floor, sobbing bitterly, looking lonely and sad.
Lucy originally planned to ask Dobby to apply medicine, but across the floor, she heard the muffled crying above. She stood silently for a while, and then quietly returned to the kitchen.
The rest of the house elves were preparing a sumptuous dinner when someone asked, "Lucy, how is Dobby?"
"Crying," Lucy said sympathetically.
The other house elves fell silent.
After a while, an older elf said: "Then Dobby may need to stay by himself for a while...don't disturb him until tomorrow morning."
"OK."
…
In fact, Dobby did not allow himself to be immersed in emotions.
The wind of freedom was blowing in his heart, and his tears were not because of sadness, but because of joy and emotion.
But Malfoy Manor was not a suitable place for him to vent his emotions.
After crying for a while, Dobby quickly got up and wiped away his nose and tears, then wiped his hands clean, carefully took out the sock, and then stuffed the remaining box and mirror into the corner of the attic.
The order from the master...the former master is——
"Put it away! Put it where I can't see it anymore!"
What Dobby understood was: "Put away the socks! Put the box where I can't see it anymore!"
——Of course, even if he didn't forcefully "translate" like this, Dobby would be free the moment he got the socks.
Because out of resentment towards his master, resistance to orders and yearning for freedom, the contract rooted in his bloodline has long been as fragile as a spider's thread. As long as the slightest opportunity to break the contract comes, he will break free and usher in free.
But Dobby didn't immediately run to Malfoy to make a declaration of freedom, nor did he show off to the other house elves.
On the one hand, in the process of communicating with Vader through the friend account, Dobby has gradually understood some truths.
For example, if he revealed the truth right away, Malfoy would understand that Vader was the one who brought him freedom, which would cause big trouble for those who helped him.
For another example, the other house elves in the Malfoy family are different from him. Although they will also suffer from the punishment of their masters, they do not want to leave the Malfoy family. They are still loyal to their masters and regard Dobby, who longs for freedom, as an alien.
——Wait a moment.
Dobby told himself.
——Be patient for a few more days.
The Malfoy family often holds large and small banquets. As long as he leaves when there are many guests, his former master will only doubt the guests present at the time, but not the Vader who was there many days ago.
Dobby was so excited that he was so smart that he knew that he might still get beaten if he stayed in Malfoy Manor, but being beaten for protecting his benefactor, even the pain would make him feel happy.
——Wait a few more days.
The parchment warmed slightly again.
[Vide: Penniless freedom is not freedom, it is just wandering. I prepared some money and clean clothes for you and left them at Remus' house. Remember to take them with you. 】
Dobby couldn't bear it anymore. He disappeared from the spot with a snap and reappeared in a forest. Then he threw himself on the ground and cried loudly.
…
There was no new reply on the paper, and Wade didn't care.
House elves are inherently emotionally sensitive and easily excited creatures. He guessed that Dobby was probably hiding somewhere and crying at the moment.
Vader did not repay the favor and took the opportunity to propose that Dobby accept his employment.
That was an elf who yearned for freedom, and had already suffered a lot for freedom.
If he had just left the Malfoy family and entered the Gray family, it would just be jumping from one cage into another.
——Even if the latter one was more spacious and more gorgeous, it was still not what Dobby wanted at the moment.
So...
Even if Wade actually hoped that Dobby could also be his helper, he would not make such a request now. Even if he knew that Dobby would not refuse but would happily agree, he would not do so.
Dobby wanted freedom, so give him freedom.
But freedom also has a price.
In the current magic world, although everyone wants a hardworking, loyal and capable "house elf", it is difficult to accept a "free elf".
The magic power of wizards is often not as good as that of elves. Without the guarantee of a magic contract, the latter may bite back at any time. How can employers rest assured?
So Dobby is destined to encounter obstacles everywhere, but this is also his dream.
Wade hopes that after having his own funding, at least for a period of time at the beginning, Dobby will be truly happy.
One day, two days, three days...
It was not until the weekend ten days later that Wade saw Dobby at Lupin's house.
He had left the Malfoys' house, wearing the clothes Wade gave him, with bandages wrapped around his body, but he was in good spirits and did not take any money.
"Dobby has to survive on his own!"
The elf said happily: "Dobby will go to different places and find a job that can pay me."
Wade smiled helplessly: "Okay... If you need help, you are welcome to come to me at any time, and I can also provide you with a job here."
"So great! So noble! Wade Grey not only freed Dobby, but also is willing to continue to help him!"
Dobby was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes again. He bent down deeply, and his nose almost touched the ground. Wade couldn't count how many times this was.
Everyone laughed.
Wade said, "We are friends, right, Dobby?"
"Of course, of course--" Dobby cried and said, "--We are friends."
About why the Malfoy family's elf was not hidden--
Original plot:
1. Dobby said that he heard at least five death threats every day--maybe the number is a bit exaggerated, but you can't scold someone you can't see.
2. After the diary incident, when Malfoy went to confront Dumbledore, he had a Dobby under his arm (original). During this process, Malfoy did not let Dobby do anything, but gave Harry the opportunity to free his own elf, so why did he bring Dobby with him?
We can only think that: the rules of the Malfoy family are different from those of other families. They like to let the elves often wander in front of them, and take them when they go out to show their wealth?
And, Kreacher often wanders around the house.