Douglas glanced at Harry in the room, then said to Kreacher, "Let me introduce him. That is my nephew, Harry Potter, and he is also Sirius's godson. Do you need me to go on?"
Kreacher said in a trembling voice, "Is that true? Is he really Harry Potter? Kreacher did not see the scar just now. Is he really the boy who stopped the Dark Lord? Kreacher does not know how he did it."
Kreacher's reaction was strange. Lupin was certain he heard surprise in Kreacher's voice, and even a hint of delight.
Dobby, standing nearby, also heard the excitement in Kreacher's voice. Suddenly rather moved, he thought Kreacher was just like him, and said excitedly:
"Yes, yes, all House-elves know. What does Harry Potter mean to us lowly, enslaved little people in the wizarding world? Dobby has not forgotten when the Dark Lord whose name must not be spoken was at his most powerful. People treated us House-elves like vermin. Dobby is very glad he met the boss.
"To those of us who thought the dark days would never end, Harry Potter shone like a beacon of hope.
"And of course, there is Dobby's boss. Dobby will make sure more people know how great the boss is. Kreacher, you must believe there is hope for the future. Dobby will stand with you...
"Even if the Dark Lord returns, the boss will defeat him. And Harry Potter too, of course..."
Hearing Dobby's blatant flattery, Douglas coughed twice in embarrassment.
Lupin struggled to hold back his laughter nearby. Even Harry, who was looking around the room, suddenly wanted to crawl into the cupboard beside him when he heard Dobby. Sirius, meanwhile, clapped Harry on the shoulder delightedly and shot Douglas a scornful look. He knew Dobby had taken a Muggle butler