"Huh? What did you say?"
Harley didn't understand at first. What was this little monster calling itself Dobby the house-elf saying?
"Dobby says Harley Potter cannot return to Hogwarts!" Dobby shouted with all his might.
"Dobby is doing this for Harley Potter's own good! Dobby intercepted all of Harley Potter's letters just to stop Harley Potter from returning to Hogwarts!"
Anger rose in Harley's heart, mixed with a little confusion.
But she didn't let any of it show. Instead, she followed Dobby's lead and put on a smile.
"Dobby," Harley said gently, "you said your name was Dobby, right?"
"Yes!" Seeing the expression on Harley's face soften, Dobby changed its attitude as well. It was overjoyed.
"The great Harley Potter actually remembered Dobby's name! Dobby is so honored!"
"All right, Dobby." Harley's smile grew even gentler. "Since you're doing this to protect me, may I ask you a few questions?"
The delight on Dobby's face nearly overflowed. "The great Harley Potter wants to ask Dobby questions? It is Dobby's honor!
"Dobby can answer! As long as it doesn't go against Dobby's principles, Dobby can answer anything! Because Dobby wants to protect Harley Potter!"
"Then, first question: what is a house-elf?"
"House-elves are servants who serve warlocks! As for Dobby, Dobby must serve its master for its whole life!"
Dobby shrieked, "Only when its master gives Dobby clothes can Dobby leave that warlock's family!"
Harley nodded thoughtfully and made a mental note to look into it later.
She didn't ask who Dobby's master was. Under normal circumstances, servants in warlock families were bound by magic.
Dobby had said it could answer questions that didn't go against its principles. Presumably those principles included the magic binding it.
She'd never heard Ron or Neville mention creatures called house-elves, let alone anyone else in