After sighing, Shawn put the Book of Abraham into his ring, stood up, and headed for the door.
He planned to find somewhere secluded to test Fire Escape Shield. He certainly did not dare cast it at home.
Until he could wield the skill effortlessly and summon or dismiss it at will, he might accidentally burn the house down, even with Finite Incantatem at his disposal.
As soon as he reached the floor below, he heard Kreacher swearing in the kitchen.
Shawn turned his head to look.
Kreacher was berating Dobby, who was huddled in a corner.
"Dobby, you shameful traitor! Miss Narcissa was far too merciful. She even told Kreacher to teach you properly. If the old mistress were still here, she would have had a disgraceful house-elf like you executed!"
When Kreacher saw Dobby bow his head and cover his face, looking ashamed and pitiful, he felt no sympathy whatsoever. Instead, he went over and delivered two hard kicks.
Then he barked an order in his hoarse voice.
"Dobby, you disgrace! Why are you still cowering there? Get up and keep reciting the house-elf rules after me.
A house-elf must remember at every moment: our wizard master is our eternal god.
From the day we are born, we must be loyal only to our master and ease our master's burdens.
Work more, sleep less, never complain, and toil diligently.
Punish yourself when you do wrong, and never grow complacent when you do right.
Every word you say to your master must be true. Never reveal any of your master's secrets..."
Watching this display of self-inflicted psychological manipulation, Shawn did not know whether to find it tragic or pitiful.
Yet he had no standing to speak up for Dobby's freedom or hypocritically shed a few crocodile tears. After all,