The instant Draco tossed the clothes onto Dobby, he heard the system notification.
[Ding! Original plot altered. Original content added. Fortune Points increased by 30.]
He was instantly overjoyed. It really worked.
The clothes landed on Dobby's shoulders, instantly enveloping his scrawny frame.
He instinctively pulled them off and clutched them tightly, but the moment his fingertips touched the fabric, a wave of excruciating pain suddenly swept through his entire body.
The contract between the House-elf and his master was being stripped away. The tearing pain sent violent convulsions through him, his body stiffening like stone, as though struck by a powerful electric current. He curled up on the floor, barely able to move.
Seeing this, Draco hurried forward, gestured for him to keep quiet, and urged in a low voice, "Don't scream! If you bring my father here, we'll both be in trouble!"
Dobby endured the agonizing pain, biting his lip hard and keeping his mouth tightly shut to prevent even the slightest sound from escaping. Cold sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking the floor beneath him.
He collapsed on the floor in a trembling heap and forced himself to endure the agony of the contract being stripped away.
A moment later, the piercing pain gradually faded, but he suddenly grabbed the clothes that had just appeared on him and tore at them frantically, crying quietly as he did. "No! Take them off! Bad clothes! Young master, take them back! Dobby is a bad elf! Bad elves don't deserve freedom!"
"I order you not to damage those clothes!" Draco snapped, his tone brooking no argument.
Dobby abruptly stopped tearing at the clothes and raised his head in disbelief to stare at Draco. His large, clouded eyes were filled with bewilderment and confusion, and his voice trembled, catching with sobs. "Y-young master... Dobby... Dobby is free? Why... why would you do this?"
The corridor was silent, save for Dobby's stifled sobs mingling with the occasional evening breeze outside the windows.
He held the clothes that symbolized freedom, his gaze complicated. There was bewilderment at being freed from his bonds, fear of the unknown, and a trace of barely perceptible gratitude. For a moment, he did not know what to do.
Looking at Dobby's terrified expression, Draco suddenly grinned and said teasingly, "Dobby, it looks like you've wanted freedom for a long time. You certainly hid it well. Any other House-elf would probably be heartbroken and utterly lost if their master let them go. Would they be struggling with it the way you are?"
At those words, Dobby's face instantly went deathly pale, his expression more miserable than if he had been crying.
He hastily dropped to his knees and raised the clothes that symbolized freedom high in both hands, his shrill voice full of desperate protest. "No! Young master, you've wronged Dobby! Dobby never meant that! Bad Dobby only wants to serve young master and the Malfoy family for the rest of his life! If young master doesn't want Dobby to be free, Dobby is willing to sign another magical contract and be young master's elf for all his lives, without a single complaint!"
"All right, stop kneeling." Draco waved a hand, putting aside his teasing expression as his tone softened. "I was only joking with you. There's no need to take it so seriously."
Seeing that Dobby was still tense, Draco slowly voiced his true feelings. "As for why I freed you, perhaps it's because I felt a little guilty. I've seen all the suffering you've endured in the Malfoy family, and I really couldn't bear to keep watching you be treated like that-after all, only twisted sickos would abuse a living being at will."
Those words came from the heart. Although House-elves were born into slavery, they were still beings with minds of their own. Their self-harming obedience and the arbitrary harsh treatment they suffered were inherently painful to witness.
Dobby slowly stood. There was no joy at escaping his bonds on his face; instead, his expression was complicated, his large, protruding eyes churning with bewilderment, gratitude, and more than a little worry. "Young master, but if master and mistress find out that you freed me without their permission... they certainly won't let you off lightly!"
Draco raised an eyebrow and smiled, a hint of slyness in his voice. "That depends on you. Will you let them find out?"
Dobby shook his head like a rattle, his large eyes full of determination. His tone was so solemn that it was almost an oath. "Never! Even if Dobby is smashed to pieces, Dobby will never betray the young master who gave Dobby freedom! Dobby will spend his whole life repaying this kindness, and will gladly brave fire and water to do so!"
"There's no need for that," Draco said calmly, interrupting his oath. "I never freed you to get anything in return. But remember, until I take charge of the Malfoy family and become its head, do your best not to reveal that you're free. You wouldn't want the young master who freed you to be severely scolded by his parents over this, would you?"
Dobby's eyes widened, as though he had never expected Draco to still be looking out for him. He hurriedly nodded hard and said with the utmost solemnity, "Don't worry, young master! Dobby will be very careful and play the part of a House-elf properly, without revealing the slightest flaw. Dobby will be loyal to young master for life and never let anyone discover a thing!"
"You don't need to be loyal to me for life." Draco looked at him, his tone even. "If one day I treat you badly, or you truly want to leave, you can simply turn around and go, without any worries."
Dobby's eyes reddened, and he nodded repeatedly, deeply moved. Tears welled in his eyes, but he fought to keep them from falling, silently swearing to himself, That day will never come! Young master treats me so generously. I'll never leave him as long as I live!
Seeing that his emotions were gradually settling, Draco continued, "Now that you're free, naturally, you can't keep working for the Malfoy family under the same conditions as before, no different from an ordinary House-elf."
As he spoke, Draco reached into his pocket, took out ten gleaming gold Galleons, and held them out to Dobby.
He had just reluctantly exchanged Fortune Points for those Galleons, each of which felt solid and weighty.
"These are your wages for the next ten weeks. Take them for now. I'll pay you the rest all at once when I come home from Hogwarts for the holidays. After all, I'll be starting school soon, and I won't have much time to attend to these things."
Dobby stared blankly at the Galleons Draco held out, his pupils contracting slightly in disbelief.
He reached out with trembling, slender fingers and carefully accepted the Galleons. Their cold touch sent a jolt through his heart.
[Ding! Original content added. Fortune Points increased by 20.]
This young master had not only freed him without a word of reproach, but had even offered him wages, paying so much in advance without the slightest concern that he might run off with the money.
That trust and generosity instantly sent tears streaming down his face. He was so moved that countless words crowded his throat, yet he did not know how to express them.
With tears and snot running down his face, Dobby could only bow deeply to Draco, his forehead almost touching the floor, and choke out, "Th-thank you, young master... my master! Dobby will work hard and never betray young master's trust! The wages... there's really no hurry about the wages. You can pay Dobby later, when you have the means!"
Watching how moved Dobby was, Draco secretly rejoiced.
It seemed those Fortune Points had been well spent. Not only had he changed Dobby's fate, but he had also won his sincere loyalty. He might even earn more Fortune Points from this later.
Draco patted his shoulder and said firmly, "Don't worry. This money is all mine. It has nothing to do with the family. There's no need to worry about anything. Just take it."
"This..." At those words, Dobby was moved beyond measure, and his tears flowed even harder.
How could he believe that this money belonged to young master himself? Clearly, young master had deliberately used the family's money to reassure him, afraid he might have misgivings. Such thoughtfulness made him wish he could brave fire and water for young master right that instant.
He tightly clutched the Galleons, feeling as though each weighed a thousand pounds, carrying the weight of young master's kindness.
As Dobby's crying grew louder and almost impossible to suppress, Draco hurriedly urged in a low voice, "Stop crying, Dobby! If you keep crying and that old geezer of a father of mine finds out, I'm screwed! Then I won't be able to protect you, and I'll be punished myself!"
Only then did Dobby snap out of it. He hurriedly stopped sobbing and wiped the tears from his face with the rough back of his hand. His eyes still red, he looked at young master, deeply moved, his gaze filled with determination and gratitude.
"All right, enough getting emotional here. Go get on with your work." Draco waved a hand and reminded him, "Remember what I just said. You absolutely mustn't give yourself away. Keep doing things as you normally would, and don't arouse anyone's suspicions."
Dobby nodded hard, carefully tucked the Galleons close to his body, then hugged his own clothes tightly and bowed deeply to Draco once more.
Only then did he turn and leave the corridor, his steps light yet somewhat cautious. Presumably, he was going to find a secluded place to safely hide the proof of his freedom and his wages.
Draco watched him leave, a faint smile curling his lips, then turned and headed toward his room.
Ten Galleons-although exchanging for them had hurt, since Fortune Points were hard to come by, this investment certainly seemed worthwhile now.
Now that he had changed Dobby's original fate, he could not only earn Fortune Points as a reward but might also gain a reliable helper in the future. Why not?
Back in his room, Draco summoned the system panel with a thought. The Fortune Points field clearly displayed "50," considerably more than before. It was evidently the reward for freeing Dobby.
Having made a small profit, he could not resist opening the system shop again to see whether there was anything suitable to exchange for.
The shop was still filled with a dazzling array of spells, potions, and magical items, but everything he wanted cost a staggering number of Fortune Points. His current fifty points were nowhere near enough. I'd better save them for now.
After browsing for a long time, Draco finally closed the shop helplessly.
He silently grumbled, The stuff in this shop is way too fucking expensive. These prices are outrageous! Looks like I'll have to give it some serious thought and earn more Fortune Points if I want to exchange for the things I want.
After all that activity, it was already getting late, and drowsiness gradually crept over him.
Draco took off his clothes and lay on the soft, large bed, thinking about his future plans at Hogwarts and ways to earn Fortune Points. Before he knew it, he had fallen sound asleep.
The night deepened, and Malfoy Manor lay silent. Only moonlight shone through the window frames, spilling pale light across the floor and illuminating the new life after rebirth and the unknown road ahead.