The Room of Requirement

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, several weeks had gone by since term began. During this time, Dobby had been wandering around Hogwarts, looking for the right opportunity to see Harry.

Today, he had found it.

Harry's owl needed to be brought back, and the House-elf volunteered for the task. In the Common Room at night, he brought the owl to Harry Potter.

"Who's there?"

Harry sat up straight. The candles in the Common Room had all gone out, and the room was dark, but something was moving beside him.

"Dobby has brought your owl back, sir!"

the House-elf said in his shrill voice.

"Dobby?"

Harry replied numbly, looking toward the sound in the darkness.

The House-elf Dobby stood beside the table where Hermione had left her knitted little hats. Between his large, pointed ears seemed to be every hat Hermione had ever made, stacked one atop another, making his head appear two or three feet taller.

Hedwig was perched on top, hooting calmly. She had clearly recovered completely.

"Dobby volunteered to bring Harry Potter's owl back!"

the House-elf squeaked enthusiastically. "Professor Grubbly-Plank said she was well again, sir!"

He gave a deep bow, his pencil-tip nose brushing the worn carpet. Hedwig gave an annoyed hoot and flew onto the arm of Harry's chair.

"Thanks, Dobby!"

Harry stroked Hedwig's head, blinking hard as he tried to banish the image of the door from his dream... but it was so vivid... Looking more closely at Dobby, he saw that the elf was also wrapped in several scarves and wearing who knew how many pairs of socks, making his feet look absurdly large.

"Er... did you take all the clothes Hermione left here?"

"Oh, no, sir," Dobby said cheerfully. "Dobby took some for Winky too, sir."

"Oh, how is