Will knew better than to underestimate a House-elf. He had already drawn his Wand, though King's Cross Station was no place for large-scale destructive spells.
Spells like Confringo or Waddiwasi, for instance.
But he happened to have a spell he wanted to test: the Confusion Charm. He had never used it on an Intelligent Life before. Today was the perfect chance.
Will pointed his Wand. A purplish-red spell shot toward the tiny cluster of Magic.
Dobby wanted only to keep Harry safe. This was not the first time he had tried to stop him, but Harry seemed determined to return to that dangerous place, Hogwarts.
So Dobby would block Harry's way. If Harry could not board the train, he could not go to Hogwarts. Perhaps that would stop him. Perhaps it would save his life.
Others might be unable to reach Hogwarts too, but what did that matter to Dobby? He thought Ron and Will ought to consider it an honor to stay away from Hogwarts alongside the great Harry Potter.
A spell promptly shattered that plan.
The purplish-red Confusion Charm struck Dobby square in the forehead. His mind turned upside down, as though someone had grabbed him by the neck and spun him through the air a hundred thousand times. Dizziness, nausea, and confusion hit him all at once.
With his thoughts in disarray, he lost control of his Magic and became visible almost immediately, swaying and staggering like a drunk.
Will followed up with a Stupefy, and Dobby dropped unconscious.
A few nearby Muggles jumped at the sudden appearance of the ugly little creature. They thought they had seen a monster, but when they rubbed their eyes and looked again, there was nothing there.
They put it down to a trick of the eyes, unaware that Will had