After Lucius left, Dobby picked up the pastry crumbs that had fallen off him and stuffed them into his mouth.
Then, carefully cradling the sock, he walked over to Douglas and bowed respectfully.
"Sir... Dobby... Dobby is so grateful to you."
Douglas kindly poured Dobby a cup of tea.
"Your throat must be dry. Have some tea to moisten it first..."
At those words, bean-sized tears pattered down Dobby's face, and he said, trembling:
"Sir cares about Dobby... Dobby's throat isn't dry. It's very sweet, too..."
Before Dobby could wipe his tears with Harry's smelly sock, Douglas hurriedly stopped him.
"Dobby, calm down, calm down. Don't forget that you're a free House-elf, no longer a slave who takes orders from others..."
After finally calming Dobby down, he firmly made him sit in a chair.
"Whatever we discuss next, please speak to me calmly and don't suddenly get worked up. Do you understand, Dobby?"
Dobby nodded, sobbing quietly as he pulled the sock over his hand.
The corner of Douglas's mouth twitched. He did his best to persuade him.
"Dobby, this sock has been worn. You could actually put it away for safekeeping. Oh, and this is Harry Potter's sock."
At Harry's name, Dobby stared incredulously at the sock on his hand.
"It's Harry Potter's sock... Yes, sir is right. I should put it away... Mr. Potter is even greater than Dobby knew..."
Then he looked down at the rag he was wearing and found nowhere to hide the sock.
Douglas snapped his fingers, and a shoulder bag flew over.
"This bag is for you. You can use it to carry your things..."
Before Dobby could get excited, Douglas hurriedly asked:
"I wanted to ask, do you have any plans now that you've left the Malfoy family?"
Dobby hesitated, looking cautiously