Oaths Were Worthless

She had read in a book that once a house-elf signed a contract with a human, he had to serve his contracted master and their descendants faithfully until his death.

Hermione loathed such unequal contracts. To her, what one gave and what one received should be equal. She would much rather see elves and humans interact as equals, signing employment contracts like those at Muggle companies, with wizards paying wages and elves providing labor.

After thinking it through earlier, Hermione had concluded that Dobby most likely served the Malfoy family, and she had felt deeply sorry for him. But the moment she saw Dobby cast a spell to hurt Harry, her sympathy turned to anger, and she could not help sharply demanding an explanation!

Knowing he was in the wrong, Dobby hung his head, his eyes darting about. "I... never meant to hurt Potter. I... the school is too dangerous. Sir... must leave here at once. Let... let go, please, Mr. Sear!"

"Dobby, you seem to be the greatest danger to Harry. You were the one who stopped the magic in the barrier at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters from working, weren't you?"

At that, Dobby's eyes darted about even more wildly. Hermione grabbed the Devil's Snare and snapped, "Take him to the Headmaster's Office. Dumbledore has plenty of ways to make him tell the truth. I really want to know what this danger he keeps talking about is!"

Thud!

Dobby flopped sideways onto the ground, his body jerking as he sobbed.

"Dobby, bad Dobby! There's no point in Dobby having such a big mouth when Dobby can't say anything. Dobby can't betray the contract, or there will be... the Cruciatus Curse. Dobby doesn't want to hurt Mr. Potter either, but being hurt is better than being dead. Boo-hoo, if the