.Dobby.has.your.owl,.sir!..said.a.squeaky.voice..
.Dobby?..said.Harry.thickly,.peering.through.the.gloom.towards.the.source.of.the.voice..
Dobby.the.house‐elf.was.standing.beside.the.table.on.which.Hermione.had.left.half.a.dozen.of.her.knitted.hats..His.large,.pointed.ears.were.now.sticking.out.from.beneath.what.looked.like.all.the.hats.Hermione.had.ever.knitted;.he.was.wearing.one.on.top.of.the.other,.so.that.his.head.seemed.elongated.by.two.or.three.feet,.and.on.the.very.topmost.bobble.sat.Hedwig,.hooting.serenely.and.obviously.cured..
.Dobby.volunteered.to.return.Harry.Potter.s.owl,..said.the.elf.squeakily,.with.a.look.of.positive.adoration.on.his.face,..Professor.Grubbly‐Plank.says.she.is.all.well.now,.sir...He.sank.into.a.deep.bow.so.that.his.pencil‐like.nose.brushed.the.threadbare.surface.of.the.hearthrug.and.Hedwig.gave.an.indignant.hoot.and.fluttered.on.to.the.arm.of.Harr.s.chair..
Thanks,.Dobby!..said.Harry,.stroking.Hedwig.s.head.and.blinking.hard,.trying.to.rid.himself.of.the.image.of.the.door.in.his.dream….it.had.been.very.vivid.
.Surveying.Dobby.more.closely,.he.noticed.that.the.elf.was.also.wearing.several.scarves.and.innumerable.socks,.so.that.his.feet.looked.far.too.big.for.his.body..
.Er….have.you.been.taking.all.the.clothes.Hermione.s.been.leaving.out?..
.Oh,.no,.sir,..said.Dobby.happily...Dobby.has.been.taking.some.for.Winky,.too,
.sir...
.Yeah,.how.is.Winky?..asked.Harry..
Dobby.s.ears.drooped.slightly..
.Winky.is.still.drinking.lots,.sir,..he.said.sadly,.his.enormous.round.green.eyes,
.large.as.tennis.balls,.downcast...She.still.does.not.care.for.clothes,.Harry.Potter.
.Nor.do.the.other.house‐elves..None.of.them.will.clean.Gryffindor.Tower.any.more,.not.with.the.hats.and.socks.hidden.everywhere,.they.finds.them.insulting,
.sir..Dobby.does.it.all.himself,.sir,.but.Dobby.does.not.mind,.sir,.for.he.always.hopes.to.meet.Harry.Potter.and.tonight,.sir,.he.has.got.his.wish!..Dobby.sank.into.a.deep.bow.again...But.Harry.Potter.does.not.seem.happy,..Dobby.went.on,
.straightening.up.again.and.looking.timidly.at.Harry...Dobby.heard.him.muttering.in.his.sleep..Was.Harry.Potter.having.bad.dreams?..
.Not.really.bad,..said.Harry,.yawning.and.rubbing.his.eyes...I.ve.had.worse...
The.elf.surveyed.Harry.out.of.his.vast,.orb‐like.eyes..Then.he.said.very.seriously,
.his.ears.drooping,..Dobby.wishes.he.could.help.Harry.Potter,.for.Harry.Potter.set.Dobby.free.and.Dobby.is.much,.much.happier.now...
Harry.smiled..
.You.can.t.help.me,.Dobby,.but.thanks.for.the.offer...
He.bent.and.picked.up.his.Potions.book..He.d.have.to.try.to.finish.the.essay.tomorrow..He.closed.the.book.and.as.he.did.so.the.firelight.illuminated.the.thin.white.scars.on.the.back.of.his.hand.‐.the.result.of.his.detentions.with.Umbridge….
.Wait.a.moment.‐.there.is.something.you.can.do.for.me,.Dobby,..said.Harry.slowly..
The.elf.looked.round,.beaming..
.Name.it,.Harry.Potter,.sir!..
.I.need.to.find.a.place.where.twenty‐eight.people.can.practise.Defence.Against.the.Dark.Arts.without.being.discovered.by.any.of.the.teachers..Especially,..Harry.clenched.his.hand.on.the.book,.so.that.the.scars.shone.pearly.white,..Professor.Umbridge...