Lorne didn't believe the House-elf's promise; after all, Harry wasn't Dobby's master yet.
He added, "We can have a good talk, Dobby. I have a way to keep Harry out of danger, it just depends on whether you're willing to help."
Dobby will save Harry from this predicament!
"Very good," Lorne whispered in Dobby's ear, "Come with me. You don't want Harry to know your masters are from the Malfoy family, do you, Dobby?"
Dobby's withered body trembled, and it stared at Lorne with wide eyes in disbelief.
Dobby had gotten used to receiving five death threats every day, but he never imagined there were things in the world more terrifying than death threats.
Lorne strode forward. "Come with me, Dobby."
Harry lay on the bed groaning, "Are you going to keep it from me again, Master? I've done you a huge favor!"
"Don't worry, Harry," Lorne turned around, "You'll receive my payment by the end of the term at the latest."
Dobby followed Lorne all the way back to the General Affairs Office, keeping its promise to Harry and not using Apparition.
Lorne plopped down in a chair; he had been squatting in the corner of the Hospital Wing for two hours and was now extremely tired.
Working overtime every day, life at Hogwarts is really tough.
" Dobby, did you Apparition from the Malfoy Manor?"
Dobby jumped onto Lorne's table, sat on the stack of books Lorne had piled up, and nodded. " Dobby has to work during the day and can't guarantee Harry Potter's safety."
"Don't worry, look under your butt."
Dobby stood up. On top of the book where it had been sitting was a pitch-black diary. Shocked and frightened, it exclaimed, "This is...!"
" Lucius, your master, the diary he used to frame Harry is now in my hands."
Lorne spoke lightly, completely Dobby the adoring look in Dobby's eyes. "You foiled his plot. No, Dobby shouldn't speak ill of his master. Dobby should punish himself."
Seeing Dobby about to bang his head on the ground again, Lorne quickly used Levitation Charm to lift him into the air. He looked Dobby straight in the eye, Dobby to him. "Now you can be sure Harry is safe, so don't do anything to hurt him."
"I called you here to discuss two things, which also correspond to two benefits. You can choose to agree to both or only one."
"First, I will help you protect Harry. No one can say for sure if your master has any backup plans. I will protect Harry to the best of my ability this semester. But I need you to help me eliminate a monster if necessary. Don't worry, I never fight unprepared battles, and neither of us will be in mortal danger."
"Secondly, I will help you gain your freedom and become the most famous House-elf in the world. You will receive the resources I provide, but in return, you will sign a contract with me after you gain your freedom, becoming my employee and obeying my commands. Of course, an employee is not a servant, just like Quirrell; you will remain free."
Dobby stood there, stunned, not even noticing that Lorne had gently placed him on the table.
Harry was Harry's benefactor when he was enslaved by the Dark Lord as House-elf. Protecting Harry was Harry's subjective will, and he was willing to give everything for it, including his freedom, because he never had freedom to begin with.
The word that had echoed in his mind a thousand times over was used by Lorne as a bargaining chip. He simply couldn't believe that such a noble word would one day be used on a lowly House-elf.
"Can Dobby really... be free?"
Lorne shrugged. "Not now, but the same time as promised to Harry, by the end of this term at the latest."
Dobby stretched out its slender arm to wipe away its tears, then obediently knelt on the table in front of Lorne: " Dobby promises, promises both."
"Don't worry, Dobby, you'll have a bright future working for me." Lorne patted Dobby's head reassuringly.
He even provides regular psychological counseling to Lockhart, a temporary employee. Lorne recently told him that as long as he teaches well and doesn't harm students, he can do whatever he wants with other things.
Lockhart, who had been silent for a long time, decided to start a " Duelling Club ". He even wanted to use Snape, who was regarded as the villain in the school by the students, to make a name for himself.
One week later.
"Come closer, come closer, students. You need to watch my every move carefully, the angle at which I swing my staff. Any error could prevent you from achieving the same effect as me."
Lockhart changed into a one-shoulder cape, looking as glamorous as a musician attending a ball.
Harry grumbled from the audience, " Director Lorne can keep him in class, but he can't stop him from causing trouble."
Ron chimed in, "The school notice said some important people were coming. I guess they were afraid that if Lockhart was mentioned, no students would come."
"As far as we can think of it, the term 'big shot,' whether it's self-praise or someone else's assessment, is something only Lockhart could utter."
The two were filled with regret. Hermione was exasperated. "The school is still dangerous, and the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets incident hasn't been resolved yet. We should seriously learn how to put it into practice."
"Learn practical combat skills from Lockhart?" Ron said sarcastically. "Then I'd rather Voyages with Vampires Travels with Trolls."
Lockhart continued to recount his glorious achievements on the platform, and with a wave of his hand, Snape ascended the long platform on the other side.
"My assistant, Professor Snape, is here to help me with this duel. Don't worry, kids, I'll return your Potions Class professor intact."
Snape remained silent, staring at Lockhart, his wand already held horizontally in front of him. He didn't like to talk too much, but as soon as Lockhart finished speaking, he would— Expelliarmus!
Ron stared, mouth agape, as Professor Lockhart arced through the air, his one-shoulder cloak billowing in the wind like a trail, before crashing heavily to the ground.
"It hurts so much... Yes, classmates, I'll let your Professor Snape have his way, after all, he's not as skilled in combat as I am," Lockhart stood up, then suddenly saw the murderous intent in Snape's eyes and immediately cowered. "That's enough of the demonstration, now for the actual combat. Come on, Harry, represent our group of celebrities."
Harry suddenly remembered his unfinished duel with Draco. He looked in Draco's direction and found that the latter was also watching him.
Professor Snape waved his hand. " Malfoy, come up here, let's see how you expose a celebrity's true colors."
Harry and Draco, already burning with fighting spirit, took a step forward onto the long platform and stood on either side.
There was no preparatory stance for a wizarding duel; instead, the two assumed elegant, poised postures.
If there were players familiar with the characters from Street Wizard Fighter present, they would immediately recognize that Harry is imitating Gryffindor and Draco is imitating Slytherin. Their rivalry is reminiscent of a simulated battle in Street Wizard Fighter.
Lockhart thought their poses were really cool, and maybe he could learn a move from them.
He strained to memorize the gestures the two men made when placing their wands, his mouth never stopping. "One, two, three... Begin!"