Harry's second night back at Hogwarts saw him wandering out of the tower once more. This time, he left Jamie behind under a crap-ton of wards though. He was certain he'd find a few more to add in the coming weeks as well. At this point though, no one could open the curtains, if they tried, he'd know. If anything spiked with Jamie's heartrate or respiration, Harry would know. If any loud noises happened around the bed, he'd know. And if any magic was cast within a meter of the bed, he'd be notified. He knew he was paranoid, but well…people had been trying to kill him since he was born, and they had essentially succeeded over the summer. He wasn't ready to live as a dementor full-time.
Establishing a routine, Hedwig met him halfway to the library again. "I'm not always going to be researching, girl," he told her in quiet screeches. "One of these days, we're going to go flying again or go to the forest." Hedwig hooted in agreement, not really liking being cooped up in the library herself.
This time, Harry was looking for books on dementors. He needed to find out what had happened to him, if it was reversible, and how the ministry might be making the other dementors stay at Azkaban. He had a small stack of books before a quiet pop sounded in the library.
"Mr. Harry Potter, sir?" a squeaky voice whispered out into the library questioningly. Harry put down the books on a nearby table after nearly jumping out of his robes and looked around the shelf in surprise, staying invisible in the shadows.
Dobby the house elf was almost quaking in fear from where he was standing in the corner of the library by the circulation desk, pulling on his purple, knitted hat that Harry recognized as one of the ones Hermione made. "Mr. Harry Potter, sirs, Dobby needs to speak to you," the house elf said in a whisper again as he wrung his hands anxiously. Harry had expected at some point to have either a house elf confrontation or for the fifth-year boys' dorm to never be cleaned and the elves to go on strike out of fear, but he hadn't expected Dobby to come alone to find him.
"I don't know if you can understand me now, Dobby," Harry called out as quietly as he could in the dementor language, still invisible to his anxious friend. "If you can, you should know that I'd never hurt you."
Dobby let out a sigh of relief but looked around the shelves for Harry. "I can's understand, sir. Where are you?"
"Do you know what I am, Dobby?" Harry asked sadly, not planning to come out until he was sure Dobby already knew what he was. There was no way he was going to reveal himself if the house elf didn't.
"Yes, sirs. That's why Dobby's been sent by the other house elves. Dobby says to them that Mr. Harry Potter would never hurt an elf, but they's be scared. They says that Dobby needs to go make sure the dementor doesn't like the taste of elveses," Dobby rushed out in an apologetic tone.
Harry finally drifted out from behind the shelf and dispelled the magic keeping him invisible. "Hey, Dobby," the dementor gave his friend a little, sheepish wave. "I didn't mean to scare the elves."
Dobby jumped, but then took in Harry's appearance. Yes, he was a dementor, but he was hunched over into himself and trying to make himself as small as possible. His hood was pulled low over his face to cover it completely, and there was absolutely no aura emanating from him. Hedwig was sitting on the table between them, keeping an eye on the interaction. Even for a dementor, Harry looked rough. "Dobby knows his friends," Dobby said with a little sob before he rushed over and wrapped his little arms around the dementor's waist.
Harry couldn't cry; he didn't even have eyes. He was certain if he could, he would be though. Instead, he patted the tiny back of the elf that was holding him tightly. "Thank you, Dobby," he croaked out.
"You's need to take better care of yourself," Dobby pulled back and admonished the dementor, shaking a little finger at him warningly. "Have you's been eating well? Students are happy at dinner…you need to eat too. They's won't miss a little happy. Quidditch is happy, and Saturdays. Mr. Harry Potter needs food like all students."
"I've only been here two days, Dobby," Harry chuckled in surprise. He couldn't believe Dobby was telling him to take some of the happiness from around him. Or, maybe he could, Dobby was always a strange elf.
"Well, you's didn't eat well before you got here then!" Dobby frowned.
The dementor shrugged. "I've had a bit. I'm not too hungry."
The house elf crossed his arms and stamped his foot. "You eats at least once a week from now on. I know you's been feeding your other body, take care of this one too. Dobby will send Winky to find you's if you don't."
Harry wasn't sure how Winky was a threat, but since Dobby had tried to get him expelled and had almost killed him trying to protect him, if he thought Winky was a threat, then Harry was certain the little elf would probably be hella scary. He didn't want to take that chance. "Yes, sir, Dobby, sir," he said with a little laugh.
Dobby nodded and grinned broadly at his friend. "Now, I's tell the other elves you no danger."
"Please tell them I'm not going to hurt them or anyone else. If I do skim some happiness, I'll make sure to do it so it isn't noticeable, ok?" Harry promised.
"You's better…or Winky," Dobby warned, still grinning. Hedwig hooted in agreement from where she was perched on the table.
"Er, Dobby…could you ask them to not tell anyone please…like the headmaster?" Harry asked sinking into himself a little more.
Dobby scoffed and gave Harry a little chuckle. "Harry Potter, sir, you's not the only magical creature in this school. House elves have been taking care of the students since Hogwarts began. We's follows the rules of the school. All students are fed and cared for…no matters what they are, and we's no snitches."
"Really?" Harry tilted his head wondering who else could be a magical creature besides himself and Luna. "I bet I'm your first dementor though, right?" He asked with just a little bit of irrational pride at that.