Homecoming from Hogwarts

In the dormitory, lit only by starlight, Harry stared at the pile of boxes.

After a long moment, he turned his attention to the two house-elves in front of the window.

Dobby was still the same as last school year, with his whole body full of unique styles, just like a rock and roll hippie in the Muggle world.

And Winky. Harry was surprised that he hadn't thought of visiting her to express his gratitude after returning from that terrible graveyard.

But the Winky that appeared before him was in much better condition than when he saw her in the Hogwarts kitchen before.

It was wearing a tea towel with the Hogwarts crest printed on it, and although it didn't look very lively, we couldn't be too demanding. After all, it witnessed the tragic end of its beloved director's family when Voldemort was resurrected.

Old Barty was forced to commit suicide by Voldemort, while young Barty died at the hands of Professor Braine.

To be honest, Harry was surprised that Winky didn't go mad over this.

Harry resisted the urge to ask Winky how she was doing, so as not to upset the poor elf. He turned his gaze back to the boxes that were stacked on the ground to the same level as the side of his bed. His nostrils moved and he smelled some sweet fragrance.

"You brought me some food, didn't you?"

Harry asked hesitantly. After all, it sounded a bit ridiculous that two house-elves woke him up in the middle of the night just to bring him some food.

"Dobby, can you show something to Harry Potter?"

Dobby asked cautiously.

"Winky also prepared some for the great Harry Potter."

Winky blinked her tennis ball-sized eyes, looked at Harry timidly and said,
"Thank you, Harry Potter, for saving Winky from the Dark Lord."

"Oh, you're welcome, Winky, you know it wasn't me who saved you, oh, don't mention that"

Harry held his forehead and said, although he still didn't understand the situation, he nodded.

The two elves sprang into action, and the first box they opened was the largest one. In the starlight, Harry saw that inside was a very large double-layer cake, just like the ones used for birthdays. However, there was no words like 'Happy Birthday, Harry Potter' written on it with jam, only a thick layer of cream.

The remaining boxes were also filled with food, such as pies of various flavors, some roasted sausages, smoked bacon, and boiled potatoes. One box even contained more than 30 boiled eggs!
"Well!"

Ron suddenly sat up from the bed. He still had his eyes closed, but his nose was sniffing the air.
"Are you eating secretly, Harry?"

Ron asked in a mumbled voice, his face aimed at Harry.

"no!"

Harry, worried about waking up the others, whispered,
"You must be dreaming, Ron."

"Oh, I think so. You can't have a secret meal without me."

Ron said, and then he fell back onto the bed with a thud, turned over and fell asleep again. A moment later, Harry heard Ron grinding his teeth.

"I think you're mistaken, Dobby. Oh, and Winky?"

Harry turned his head back and looked at the big cake with a puzzled look.

"My birthday is on the last day of July. Well, of course, I am very grateful to you--"

"That's not a mistake."

Dobby's big eyes sparkled in the dark dormitory, but his expression was full of melancholy.
"Dobby knows when Harry Potter's birthday is, sir, how could Dobby be wrong. But this is not to celebrate Harry Potter's birthday!"

"Not to celebrate my birthday?"

Harry asked.

The two elves nodded in unison, looking into Harry's eyes.
"It was just in case. When Dobby and Winky found out about this, they immediately made a decision. Harry Potter couldn't go to class hungry if Hogwarts could still provide magical education."

Starving in Hogwarts, and... no more teaching in Hogwarts?
Harry shook his head to make sure he wasn't too sleepy and didn't understand what Winky said.

"Dobby, and Winky--" Harry sat on the bed, feeling sleepy in waves. Tomorrow was not a day off. The first class tomorrow morning was Potions.

Harry was sure that if he fell asleep in Snape's class, he would happily put himself on the dissection table and let everyone dissect him.

"I'd love to talk to you guys more, but I have classes tomorrow, so if you want to tell me something, could you please try to be as clear as possible?"

After saying this, Harry looked at Dobby and Winky quietly, waiting for them to say something. Then, he saw the two elves looked at each other with serious expressions.
"Harry Potter, there is a crisis at Hogwarts, sir—"

Dobby raised his little face and said,
"Just like when the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a very serious crisis!"

Harry's scattered thoughts quickly gathered together, and his misty green eyes began to sparkle.

Before the Chamber of Secrets was opened, Dobby, who was then serving Lucius Malfoy, the instigator of the Chamber of Secrets incident, sneaked into the Dursleys' home to remind him, who was still on summer vacation, that a crisis would break out at Hogwarts this year and asked him not to return to school.

Although the truth of the matter was completely different from what he originally thought, Dobby was not shooting in the dark at the time.

"What is it, Dobby, Winky, you heard something again, right? Tell me?"

Harry leaned forward slightly, his expression unconsciously solemn as he wished a happy new year.

But neither Dobby nor Winky faced the problem head on. Dobby shrugged his shoulders.

"I can't tell you, Harry Potter. The great Mr. Amosta Blaine and Professor McGonagall came to the kitchen to announce this to the house-elves, and specifically told us, sir, that Professor Blaine didn't want us to tell them, because it would worry the students.
He said he was doing his best to solve the problem. Dobby volunteered to ask Professor Bryan to stop Dobby's salary, but Professor Bryan disagreed. He said, "

"No more, Dobby."

Harry was listening intently, but Twinkle, who was more sober beside Dobby, reminded him uneasily,
"We cannot disobey Professor Blaine's orders."

Dobby has never been an obedient elf, but this time, he actually shut up.

"Dobby is leaving, sir—"

After a short silence, Dobby bowed deeply to Harry and said,
"Dobby and Winky still have to clean the castle and do the laundry for the students. These foods are to keep Harry Potter from starving. You can share them with your friends. Dobby and Winky have processed them with magic, so these foods can be stored for a long time."

Having said that, Winky also bowed to Harry. After a few overlapping crisp sounds, the two elves suddenly disappeared in the dormitory, leaving Harry sitting on the bed in a daze, staring at the pile of food on the ground.

What exactly is going on?!
In the darkness, Harry opened his mouth and asked silently.

But unfortunately, this kind of analytical work is not what he is good at, it is Hermione's strong point.

It's time to put on the invisibility cloak and go to the kitchen. Dobby and Winky just said they were going to clean the castle. Apart from them, he wouldn't be able to find another elf in the kitchen who would be willing to tell him the truth.

But Hogwarts is facing a crisis comparable to the Chamber of Secrets?
This reminded Harry of what happened a few days ago when Umbridge and Lucius Malfoy from the Ministry of Magic came to Hogwarts to force a palace invasion, but ended up failing.

Even without Hermione telling him, Harry knew that the Ministry of Magic and the board of directors controlled by Malfoy would be willing to endure this humiliation.

It is normal to seek revenge.

But will they do this?
Harry got out of bed, pulled a robe from the clothes basket to cover the food that Dobby and Winky had brought him, then pushed it under the bed and climbed back onto it.

Sirius would surely know the inside story.

Since the Black family is also a member of the board of directors, no matter what Malfoy does to harm Hogwarts, Sirius must know about it even if he can't stop it.

However, it is not necessary to ask Sirius.

Because no matter what the conspiracy is, since there are already clues, perhaps the truth will come out tomorrow.

"Let's hear Hermione's thoughts first."

Harry grunted and quickly fell asleep under the starlight of the second half of the night.

(End of this chapter)