"What is this, ah!" Mr. Malfoy's fingers suddenly brushed against something cold and slimy. Looking down, he let out a sharp scream and flung the little snake away in fright.
Dobby leapt up instinctively and caught what his master had thrown,
With a soft pop, the snake turned back into a sock, lying quietly in the house-elf's trembling hands.
"You filthy half-blood mongrel! I'm going to-" Mr. Malfoy shouted furiously at Snape.
But to his surprise, both Dumbledore and Snape showed no reaction to his outburst. Instead, they were staring fixedly at something beside him. Snape's eyes gleamed with anticipation, while Dumbledore's were filled with concern.
Mr. Malfoy spun around abruptly, following their gaze,
The house-elf was holding a smelly sock in his hands, trembling all over, his huge eyes brimming with disbelief and joy, as though he were holding a priceless treasure.
"Master..." Dobby murmured, his voice quivering. "Master has given Dobby a sock."
"What?" Mr. Malfoy snapped impatiently. "What did you say? Nonsense! Throw that filthy rag away!"
"Master threw the sock to Dobby, and Dobby caught it," the elf took a few steps back, his voice growing firmer. "Master gave the sock to Dobby. Dobby, Dobby is free."
Dumbledore looked at the little elf, astonishment shining in his blue eyes. Even this world-weary old wizard had clearly not foreseen such a turn of events.
Mr. Malfoy just stood there, staring blankly at the elf, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
Then, all of a sudden, he lunged toward Snape.
"You!" He grabbed Snape by the shoulders and shook him violently. "You vile, stupid-"
Snape allowed him to shake without resistance. He knew it was best to endure this quietly rather than retaliate. After all, Dumbledore was right there, Malfoy wouldn't dare do anything truly rash. Silently, he counted down in his head, three, two, one...
Sure enough, in the blink of an eye, Dumbledore was on his feet, wand raised, Mr. Malfoy leapt back instantly, releasing Snape as if burned.
"I will not permit you to assault my student, Abraxas," Dumbledore said coldly, his face showing anger for the first time that evening.
"You should calm yourself, Professor Malfoy," Snape said as he straightened his rumpled robes.
"No, you've cost me my house-elf, boy!" Mr. Malfoy panted, one hand clenched in a fist, the other reaching into his robes. "You'll pay for this-"
"Don't you dare harm Severus Snape!" Dobby's shrill voice rang out, quicker than Dumbledore could act.
With a loud crack, before Mr. Malfoy could even draw his wand, an invisible force struck him, sending him staggering backward.
He stumbled and landed heavily on the carpet of the Headmaster's office.
Mr. Malfoy struggled to his feet, his face ashen, and drew his wand,
But Dobby had already raised one long, slender finger, radiating authority.
"In front of Dobby," the elf said in a low, dangerous voice, pointing straight at Mr. Malfoy, "you shall not harm Mr. Snape."
Mr. Malfoy's furious gaze flicked between Dobby and Snape, finally settling on Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore, your student has not only disrespected a professor but has now cost me my servant! You will provide a satisfactory resolution, or I, Zetsu Malfoy, will not let this matter rest."
At those words, Dobby took a step forward. Instinctively, Mr. Malfoy jumped back, hiding behind Dumbledore.
"It's alright, Dobby," Snape said gently. "Don't worry. Wait over there for a bit."
"Yes, sir." Dobby gave Snape a deep bow, clutching the sock tightly in his hand. He backed into the corner, though his large, tennis-ball-sized green eyes continued to follow Mr. Malfoy's every move.
"Dumbledore," Mr. Malfoy said shakily as he sat back down, trying to maintain his dignity, "I never imagined that in such an ancient school, a teacher's personal safety would be at risk. If you cannot fulfill the basic duties of a Headmaster, I will petition the Board of Governors to appoint someone more suitable."
"Rest assured, Abraxas," Dumbledore replied coolly. "Your safety within Hogwarts, Zetsu, is guaranteed. Now, let's return to tonight's matter. I will give Severus appropriate punishment. He will no longer be permitted to take your elective class, and Slytherin will lose two hundred points."
At the mention of point deduction, Mr. Malfoy leaned forward slightly, his lips twitching as if to object, it was, after all, his own House losing points. But in the end, he sank back into the chair.
"Not enough," he said coldly. "He should be expelled from Hogwarts."
"No. I cannot expel a student without just cause," Dumbledore shook his head. "And you cannot name a single rule Severus has violated that would warrant expulsion."
Rage flared in Malfoy's eyes again. He gripped the armrests, preparing to stand, but a faint rustling sound from the corner, Dobby, made him freeze and sink back into his seat.
"Pff-" Snape nearly laughed aloud at his ridiculous reaction.
"Then let's add this," Dumbledore continued. "Severus will serve a one-month detention. Every night at ten, he'll assist Rubeus Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest. Are you satisfied, Abraxas?"
"Excellent, Dumbledore. Snape." Mr. Malfoy's expression shifted from fury to an eerie calm. His pale eyes glinted dangerously. "Very good. I suppose that's the harshest punishment you can come up with."
He stood, wrapped his cloak around himself, cast one last look at Snape and Dumbledore, and strode to the door.
Bang! The oak door slammed shut behind him, rattling the portraits on the walls awake.
Once they confirmed Mr. Malfoy had left, Dobby stepped out of the corner.
"Severus Snape has freed Dobby!" the elf cried shrilly, looking up at Snape. Moonlight streamed through the window behind the desk, glinting off his round, tearful eyes. "Severus Snape has given Dobby freedom!"
"I didn't do anything, Dobby," Snape said with a faint smile, gesturing to the chair Malfoy had just vacated. "As long as you don't mind being free, that's all that matters. Sit down, Dobby."
The elf suddenly burst into loud sobs, startling Snape. Dobby cried so loudly that Fawkes lifted his head from his perch, curious.
"S-sit down!" Dobby hiccuped, trembling. "Never... never has... never has a wizard told Dobby to sit, like an equal-"
"From today on, you're free, Dobby," Snape soothed him, guiding the elf into the chair. "I've never seen a house-elf so happy to be free."
Dobby sat there hiccupping, looking like a strange oversized doll. Finally, he calmed down, gazing at Snape with tear-filled reverence.
Then Dumbledore spoke.
"Severus," the Headmaster said thoughtfully, "I must admit, I didn't expect your actions to have any real effect beyond making Abraxas uncomfortable."
"Most house-elves," he continued, "consider being freed a disgrace. Even when freed by accident, they often choose to rebind themselves to their former masters or seek new, respectable families to 'settle down' with."
"But Dobby loves freedom!" A brilliant grin split Dobby's ugly, reddish-brown face, showing all his teeth. "Dobby doesn't like bad masters!"
The moment he said it, Dobby froze, his entire body shaking in terror at his own daring. Suddenly, he jumped up and began to beat his head frantically with both fists, screaming, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"
"Hey!" Snape grabbed the elf's filthy pillowcase, yanking him close and pinning down his hands. "Don't hurt yourself!"
"Thank you, honorable Mr. Snape, thank you," Dobby gasped, gradually regaining his composure.
"A rather unusual elf, isn't he, Professor?" Snape said, placing Dobby back in the chair. "But I see nothing wrong with it. The world is mad precisely because it's surprised by things that are perfectly reasonable."
"A refreshing view," Dumbledore said approvingly, then turned to Dobby. "Since you're now free, Dobby, I wonder if you'd like to work at Hogw-"
", Would you like to work for me?" Snape interrupted quickly. He wasn't about to let the elf he'd just freed end up scrubbing pots in Hogwarts' kitchens, there were plenty of elves there already.
"Work?" Dobby hesitated. "Sir, Dobby wants to work, but-"
"Of course, you'll be paid," Snape cut in, realizing what Dobby was worried about. "Let me explain the terms."
He straightened, putting on his most serious tone. "Your salary will be only five Galleons a week. You'll work eight hours a day, weekends off. Three meals a day with snacks, milk only in the morning. Overtime earns triple pay, and you'll receive bonuses only three times a year, with two months of annual leave-"
"No!" Dobby shivered, crying out in horror. "No!"
"House-elves don't need wages," Dumbledore said, shaking his head and giving Snape a reproachful look. "They have no use for money."
"Is that so?" Snape sneered lightly. "I disagree."
"Dobby," he turned to the elf. "Is there something about my offer that you dislike?"
"So much wealth and leisure is terrifying..." Dobby stammered. "Dobby loves freedom, but sir, too much freedom is frightening. Dobby prefers work!"
"Sir," the elf stood up, "Dobby only wants ten Sickles a week, and half a day off every six months-"
"That's far too little," Snape interrupted firmly. "One Galleon a week, one day off a month. That's my bottom line, Dobby. It wouldn't be polite to haggle, don't forget who gave you your freedom."
"Dobby-" the elf's eyes grew wider still. "Thank you, Mr. Snape!"
"Then it's settled," Snape said with a faint smile. "You start tomorrow. At ten o'clock, meet me by the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Until then, do as you like, perhaps visit the kitchens and talk with your friends. You've met Mipper there, haven't you?"
"Yes, sir," Dobby said eagerly. "Dobby has met her, but hasn't had the chance to talk properly. Dobby doesn't know why she came to Hogwarts."
"Then go on," Snape said. "Go, Dobby."
Dobby tucked the sock into his pillowcase, stepped forward, and threw his arms around Snape's waist, hugging him tightly.
"See you tomorrow, sir." His voice broke with another loud sob, and then, he vanished.
The office fell silent.
Snape turned toward Dumbledore and found the Headmaster watching him with a curious expression.
"Severus," Dumbledore said, amusement twinkling in his eyes, "sometimes I truly wonder just how many surprises that head of yours still hides."
"Perhaps more than you'd imagine," Snape replied with a small shrug. "Now, may I ask what exactly you want me to do in the Forbidden Forest?"
"Oh," Dumbledore flicked his wand, guiding a bottle to pour two small glasses of deep red liquid. "Redcurrant rum. Try it, you're of age now."
Snape caught the floating glass.
"Recently, the werewolves in the Forbidden Forest have been rather restless," Dumbledore said gravely. "There's been some internal strife. Hagrid requested that I send someone to assist him."
"I had planned to send Filius, but his workload is overwhelming. Considering your abilities-" Dumbledore's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "You've exceeded all my expectations. I'd like you to accompany Hagrid. Just... try not to be too harsh in your methods."
"Alright," Snape agreed almost immediately. "Today's a good day, Dobby's been freed. For such a small task, you can leave it to me."
"Yes," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Today, you gained the friendship of a most interesting little elf."
"Indeed. I couldn't be happier." Snape raised his glass toward the Headmaster and clinked it lightly.