Dreams of Home Chapter 76 (Patreon)

Chapter 76MALFOY MANOR BURNSGood morning Wizarding Britain,Sometime early this morning Aurors responded to an emergency floo call from a wizarding family in Wiltshire reporting that there was a great fire seen in the distance from their home. On-duty first responders arrived and began surveying the area and were quickly able to determine that a large manor-style home was up in flames.It took nearly a dozen Aurors and three hours of arduous work to subdue the massive fire, and in the aftermath, it was determined that cursed flames had set the area ablaze. Ministry officials were able to confirm that the home in question belonged to none other than Lord Lucius Malfoy, and his retired father, Abraxus. Malfoy Manor, has reportedly been in the family for several generations, and as one of Britain's oldest magical families, the concern for the Lord Malfoy is paramount. Friends of Lord Malfoy have attempted to contact the man today, but none have been successful so far. Initial investigations by the Aurors do not indicate whether any were killed by the cursed flames, but the lack of contact from Lord Malfoy and his father paints a bleak image.Causes and speculation are rampant here at the Daily Prophet, but in order to respect one of our families belonging to the Sacred 28, we will do our utmost to stick with the facts until more can turn up in the investigation conducted by the Aurors. Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation should contact the Ministry at once.See more on page 13.As Harry’s eyes scanned the Daily Prophet morning edition at breakfast, he felt numb to what his father, and godfather had done the night before. There was no doubt in the teens' minds that they had struck a great dent in Voldemort’s political and financial power last night, but he hardly slept a wink as the screams of Lucius Malfoy echoed in his ears. There was no remorse for what he had done last night, but nonetheless, he wished there had been alternatives.Harry knew this was how he should have attacked the Dark Lord's followers since he arrived in this time. Still, seeing the aftermath of what they had done the night before did set him off his breakfast, as did the narrowed eyes of James as he looked over his own edition of the Daily Prophet. Trying not to tip James off to his own discomfort Harry glanced at Dorea, who was making breakfast with Iris and Lily. Usually, Mipsy would take care of all that, but the little elf was with Charlus in the basement. With the help of the Potter family elf, they would be containing Dobby until Harry had a chance to speak with him, something that had Harry’s stomach turning more than anything he had done last night.Explaining his relationship with Dobby in the future had been complicated when they returned the evening before. Charlus had not been happy being dismissed from the fight the way he had, and Arcturus thought Harry had taken leave of his senses when he discovered the teen had rescued the little elf. Regardless of their thoughts, Harry knew he had done the right thing. When questioned about how Harry was going to contain the little elf, Harry had immediately contacted Mipsy for assistance.Mipsy was staring at Harry with the widest eyes he had ever seen on the female elf as he explained his complicated past with Dobby, “He saved my life, Mipsy. I couldn’t leave him in the place we were. Is there anything you can do to keep him in this room until I can explain everything to him? If he runs off beforehand he could cause our family a lot of trouble.”As Harry spoke, Mipsy just continued to glance between Harry and Dobby, “Dobby is Master Harry’s friend?”“Yes, Mipsy. He was. We met when I was 12, but he isn’t going to remember that. He isn’t going to know me, or what he did for me. I will explain everything I can to him, but he may not understand. I don’t want him to run away and hurt our family.” Harry explained carefully, feeling the eyes of Arcturus and Charlus bore into his back.Taking a final glance between Harry and Dobby, Mipsy finally nodded her head, her ears downcast, looking sad, “I can keep baby Dobby here. This is my home, where I am strongest, I can keep him from apparating away. Master Harry must understand, house elves don’t usually use their magic against one another, it will make Mipsy a very bad house elf.”“You will be protecting our family, and Dobby, Mipsy. That makes you a good house elf.” Harry comforted placing a hand on her little shoulder.“I hope you are right, Master Harry.” Mipsy spoke with a graver tone than he had ever heard her speak in.The conversation with Mipsy in the early hours of the morning had weighed heavily on Harry’s mind. At the end, Charlus had simply told Harry “I hope you know what you are doing.”Harry had said nothing to his father’s final words to him this morning, but as he glanced around the room, he attempted to distract his mind with something else as Lily set a plate of food down in front of him with a smile.Having Lily at Potter Manor was something Harry hoped to get to enjoy more in the coming days. After the attack on her family in her childhood home she had been quiet. Yesterday Harry had been the one that was reserved, as he had prepared for what he had to do at Malfoy Manor, but now the girl was turning her attention to James who was clenching the Daily Prophet much harder than necessary.“What is it, James?” Lily asked.“Malfoy Manor was burnt down last night.” James said with furrowed eyes as if he was trying to think of something elusive, “Think it was the Dark Tosser?”Sirius, who was to his left at the table, shook his head, taking the paper from James and scanning through it, “I would bet my inheritance that the Malfoys were knee-deep in the Pureblood movement.”Dorea pursed her lips and avoided glancing at her son, “The Malfoy’s had no shortage of enemies. International and domestic. They have also been known to have the occasional wild party. I would not be surprised to learn that both Lucius and Abraxas are abroad and are completely unaware of what has happened to their home.”Sirius shook his head, “I have been to Malfoy Manor a few times growing up with my dad. Their wards are world-class. It would’ve taken an army to breach them.”Jonathon Evans sat at the end of the table closest to Lily asked, “These wards you speak of, they are the same thing that protect this property?”James nodded in confirmation, “Yes, but ours are actually the best. Each generation of Potter has added to them, and they have become immensely powerful. The Potters have been on these lands for nearly seven hundred years. Next to Hogwarts and Gringotts, I doubt there is a better-protected place in Britain, maybe even the world.”Harry frowned at his cousin's words. What James said was theoretically true, but at the same time, he knew from Fleamont that Augustus and Voldemort had burnt Potter Manor to the ground in his time. If they were so invincible, how did they do it?“Even if they weren’t, all of us here are more than a match for any that would dare attack us.” Harry added, “Voldemort himself could show up at these gates, and Charlus and I could hold him off. You’ve seen what your daughter is capable of as well. Put James at her back and I wouldn’t bet on many to beat them.”James and Lily offered small smiles to each other at the compliment. Harry observed a frown on Iris’ face however and he offered further comfort, “In my time, James and Lily both defended themselves against Voldemort three times. I don’t know the circumstances exactly, but the fact that they escaped with their lives is something very few are capable of. Everyday that passes, they become better and better. With Lily studying under Professor Flitwick and James going into the Auror Academy, their formidable skills will just become elite. Add on to the fact that they have Charlus and I training them means that I think we will be okay.”Iris looked slightly more comforted by his words and James glanced around the room as if just realizing something was missing. Turning towards Dorea James asked, “Auntie, where is Charlus?”Not wanting Dorea to have to lie to James, Harry answered for her, “Probably having a lie in. We were having drinks late with Arcturus last night.”James glanced at Harry with suspicion in his eyes, “Why didn’t you invite Sirius and I?”Thinking fast, Harry shrugged, and faked an eye roll, “They wanted to question me about Elaina’s absence. Think they wanted you guys to miss out on the interrogation.”Dorea visibly twitched at the corner of Harry’s eyes, and Lily’s eyes shot up to Harry. She had been the most curious, as Elaina’s closest friend. Harry had refused to answer any questions to any of the group. All the lies just sounded worse in his head as he prepared to tell them. Lily asked softly, “Did she reach out to you on your birthday? I meant to ask, but with everything going on, it slipped my mind.”Swallowing hard at the question, Harry nodded, “She wrote me a brief letter.”Dorea’s eyes were now on him, and he twisted uncomfortably in his chair, “It wasn’t much. She was just letting me know that she was okay. She didn’t tell me where she was going, where she was, or anything like that.”It wasn’t a lie and Harry knew that Dorea would recognize that. More questions he didn’t want to answer would likely follow, but there was no way around the truth without his mother finding out. Lily for her part merely sighed, "Well, I am glad she is okay.”Harry just nodded and rose to his feet, “Me too. Now I am going to go get ready for morning training. See you guys on the grounds in a little bit?”He had hardly touched his food, but he didn’t want to answer any more questions about Elaina, and he quickly made his escape as he caught passing agreements on their morning plans.Making his way across the house, Harry took a deep breath as he entered the  door that would lead him down to the basement. There wasn’t much in the low ceiling area, mostly just storage, but as he came around the staircase his eyes immediately fell upon Charlus who stared at the unconscious elf as if he expected him to wake up on his own at any minute. Charlus didn’t even glance behind him as he said, “The elf hasn’t moved. I hope you are planning on talking to him now. I have all the faith in the world in Mipsy, but this is something different, something I’ve never even heard of. Containing a house elf the way we are, it is likely unprecedented.”“There is a lot of that going around.” Harry mumbled as he approached the little elf that was lying down on a conjured bed. Dobby was as skinny as he had been in Harry’s time, and his choice of outfits was the same rags he had been wearing that day they met on Privet Drive. The only difference he could tell was that Dobby’s skin appeared softer, perhaps a sign of youth, Harry pondered briefly. Summoning his wand, Harry swallowed hard as he remembered Dobby throwing Lucius Malfoy across the halls of Hogwarts when he had attempted to curse Harry. He could only hope he wasn’t going to receive similar treatment when the little elf woke up, “Enervate.”The spell seemed to have a delayed effect as the little elf's eyes slowly opened and closed a few times. It took a few seconds, but soon Dobby’s eyes were wide open, and a look of panic was crossing his features as he sat up quickly, “Where is Dobby?”“You are safe, Dobby.” Harry said soothingly, holding up his now empty hands. He hadn’t wanted Dobby to see his wand and go into a blind panic and attack him. He knew the elf was a gentle soul, and would unlikely go after him unprovoked.Dobby, however, didn’t seem at ease as his eyes darted around to the sterned face Charlus. Dobby closed his eyes for a moment, and they opened up again even wider than before, “Dobby can’t leave. Dobby is trapped.”A soft pop was heard behind Harry and Mipsy appeared looking more nervous than he had ever seen the elf, “That is Mipsy’s doing. Master has a lot to explain to little Dobby, and little Dobby would do well to listen.”Nodding his thanks to Mipsy, Harry turned back to the little elf, “Mipsy is right, Dobby. I do have a lot to explain to you, and some of it is going to be hard to believe. Can I get you something to eat? Do you need water? I can make you anything you like.”Dobby looked surprised at the questions, and stared up at Harry with a familiar look of awe, “You would make food for Dobby?”“I would.” Harry agreed, “Like Mipsy said, I am your friend Dobby. I know it is going to be hard to believe, but Dobby, I am from the future. In that future, you saved my life. You saved two of my friends from your former master as well.”Dobby’s eyes traveled from Harry, to the nodding Mipsy, to the stern-faced Charlus, before settling back on Harry as he whispered, “Dobby no longer feels the magic of his master.”“You are free, Dobby.” Harry said with a small smile, “Your old masters can no longer hurt you.”Dobby’s eyes widened and looked panicked for a moment, and Harry shook his head, “It’s okay Dobby, I know how they treated you. You told me. Dobby, in my time, I helped free you. I tricked the Malfoys into giving you a sock after you saved my life the first time. You were happy then, and I hope you are happy now?”Dobby was silent for a long time. In this time Harry began to feel his stomach turn now more than ever. Was he wrong? Had Dobby’s mistreatment started after Abraxas had died? What if the little elf hadn’t been with the family for very long? He had never exactly asked how old the elf was. Dobby had only ever said that he was treated like vermin.Harry’s fears were assuaged after the little elf burst out into tears. Charlus looked alarmed, but Harry grinned, “They can’t ever hurt you again, Dobby. You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to as well. My family will protect you.”“Dobby has never known such a great wizard! Please, sir, what is your name?” The elf asked with big eyes.Harry offered his hand to the little elf, “Harry, Harry Potter.”Dobby looked at the hand and tears nearly started again, before Dobby lunged forward in a hug, crying once again. Harry fought the smile that was forming on his lips as he embraced the little elf. His eyes went to Charlus, who appeared more surprised than anything else. Deciding to ignore the man a little longer, Harry separated from the elf and said, “Dobby, I know I said you were free, but I have a lot of enemies out there. Enemies that would hurt you to discover me, and-”“Dobby would never tell the location of the Great Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter, freed Dobby!” The elf exclaimed.“I know you wouldn’t Dobby.” Harry admitted, “But, some would recognize you as the old Malfoy family house elf, and that could lead back to some questions we can’t answer just yet. You would really help me out Dobby if you would stay here or go to Hogwarts. I won’t keep you prisoner, but you would really help keep my family safe by staying in one of those two places.”“You would offer Dobby a home with you, Harry Potter, sir?” The elf asked in surprise.“We are friends, Dobby.” Harry said with a grin, causing the sobs to restart.It was agreed that Dobby would remain at Potter Manor for the time being, and insisted he would help Mipsy with anything around the house. Mipsy admitted that with all the guests staying in Potter Manor currently she wouldn’t refuse the help, and the two struck up a conversation as Harry walked over to Charlus, “I couldn’t leave him there.”“He is quite the character.” Charlus admitted, “Very emotional.”“That he is.” Harry agreed with a grin.“What are you going to tell the others?” Charlus asked.“I will tell them a version of the truth. That I freed him, because he helped me in the future. I will ask Dobby not to give away too many details. He can be trusted.” Harry said confidently.“It was a dangerous gamble.” Charlus said with a sigh, “You put the whole mission in jeopardy last night, for a house elf.”“Every person we kill that I suspect is a Death Eater is a dangerous gamble.” Harry countered, “If they are all the same, and the Death Eaters are still Death Eaters, then good people are still good people. Or good elves in this case.”Taking another deep breath, Charlus asked, “Are there any more friends of yours hiding in Death Eaters' homes that I should know about?”Harry knew the man was more than a little irritated with him, but chose not to rise to it, “None that I can think of.”Grunting Charlus nodded, and began walking back up the stairs to the main common areas of Potter Manor with Harry following right behind him. Before they separated Harry spoke again, “Charlus.”His father stopped and turned to face him, and Harry swallowed hard, saying, “I am sorry about last night. I wasn’t expecting to find him there. I had no concept of how old he was in my time. It was as much of a surprise to me as it was to you. Nothing like this will happen again. You just have no idea how much that elf did for me in my time. I would never have survived without him.”Charlus stared at his son for a long moment, before finally nodding in acceptance, “I understand what it is like to be in the debt of another. It is just a reminder that not all plans are meant to be perfect. You adapted and overcame every obstacle in our path last night, and regardless of how we got through it, the mission was a success.”“Then it’s time to pick our next target.” Harry said with finality, wishing to leave it all in the past.“Arcturus already has someone in mind.” Charlus admitted.“Voldemort won’t wait, and neither should we.”Charlus nodded to his son, “Get changed. We have training to do.”.o.Elaina could hardly believe her eyes as she looked at the front of the Daily Prophet, reporting that Malfoy Manor had been burnt to the ground. They did it, Elaina realized as her eyes scanned the article. Without her. The thought burned in her mind, and she sighed as she put the paper down. Harry and his family could’ve been in real danger attacking the Malfoy’s and here she was traversing Europe with her grandfather studying nearly non-stop. There was no doubt she was learning loads from the older man, but some days her heart wasn’t as in it as it needed to be. She missed her boyfriend, and his family immensely. She missed her friends, and her comfortable bed inside Potter Manor. She longed to fight and train beside them once again, but she knew what she was learning here could be the difference. That had become apparent from the first time she had crossed wands with her grandfather.Even at his age and deteriorated form from being locked in a cell for 30 years, he was still immensely powerful. His magic was something to behold as well. Every spell he cast seemed to be something she had never seen before, and she could imagine what the man would have been capable of in his prime.Despite his patience with her, and his willingness to share his knowledge with her, there were still days she longed to return to her old life. To run back to the arms of her boyfriend, whom she knew she had hurt immensely by leaving him in Hungary. It had been one of the most difficult things she had ever done when she had returned to England to leave her birthday present for Harry. As she stood in his room surrounded by his things it took all of her power not to go downstairs while they were having family dinner and beg for his forgiveness. She knew if she had done that though she would not have had the strength to leave him again.The only thing she had to look forward to now was entering the dueling circuit on the continent. Her grandfather had planned to enter her in disguise and under a new alias to prevent her from being discovered, and allow her to face some new opponents. His magic would be unrecognizable to most, and he was preparing her to be a better duelist than what the average circuit fighter would produce. A few wins under her belt, and she would have some money to help them travel to more comfortable places.Her grandfather had been taking her to old safe houses that were hardly the picture of luxury she had become accustomed to at Potter Manor, but she remembered hardship from her younger years and never once complained. Regardless of that, she hoped to have her own money soon.They, of course avoided Gringotts like the plague. Gellert had killed more than his fair share of goblins in his first rise to power, and they would receive no welcome from the greedy little creatures if their identities were to be discovered.Sighing, she sat the newspaper down and picked up a book she had been reading since this morning. The bright side of staying with her grandfather was he always had very interesting books to read with magic she never would have imagined. Today's book she was attempting to focus on was a tome on area of effect spells that her grandfather had used against the Aurors. Before she could delve into the contents a voice entered the room behind her, “My dear.”Elaina clenched the pages of her book a little tighter at the greeting that the old man knew she did not like to hear from him, but instead of rising to the bait, she said, “Yes grandfather?”“I will be having a guest over tonight. Do not wait up.” The man advised.Frowning at the book in her hands, she closed it and put it on the table before turning to face her grandfather, “A guest?”“Indeed. An old friend.” Grindelwald said with a smile.“From your days as a Dark Lord?” The girl taunted.“Precisely.” The man answered without a second thought.This caused a troubled feeling in her stomach, but quickly shook it off, “Whatever.”Turning back to her book, her mind raced at the thought of a guest coming. It would be the first time that she knew that he welcomed anyone into the places they had been staying. She could only hope the man was not up to his old tricks, because she knew Charlus and the others would not stand for it.If the man stepped out of line, she would not stay with him, and he had to know that. She wouldn’t risk her future with the Potters anymore than she already had. If he began building up an alliance again, she wouldn’t hesitate to go to Harry and Charlus to tell them everything. She could only hope the man wouldn’t be so foolish.Glancing at the newspaper on the table one last time, she swallowed hard before saying a silent prayer that her boyfriend and his family would be careful in the coming days.