Disclaimer:

I do not own or claim to own any of the incredible ideas owned by J. K. Rowling and the Harry Potter enterprise. I only hope to pay homage to one of my favourite author's and do a story based on her work.

Chapter 1 – At The Dursley's

Harry had that dream again last night.

He'd been having almost every night for the last two weeks. In this dream, he was in the department of mysteries at the Ministry of Magic. He walked down the long corridors to the room with the stone staircase leading down to and archway. Covering the archway was a thin, worn curtain. He was standing in front of it reaching out. Someone, somewhere was saying something. He was aware of voices speaking in whispers just out of reach. He strained to hear what they were saying. He could pick out works every once in a while. Miss you, hold on, don't forget, and try, look, Book of Isis.

It was at this point that Harry had waked up. He was drenched in a cold sweat.

Harry had dreaded going back to the Dursley's. He wanted to be alone. Alone to recover: to collect his thoughts: to grieve. Even though the Mad Eye, Tonks, The Weasley's, Kingsley, and Remus had talked to the Dursely's about their treatment of Harry, he somehow didn't believe that they would give him the time he needed to mend his broken heart.

He spent the first three weeks of summer vacation alone in his bedroom, not because he was forced to, but because of his terrific and immense need to think about the past month. Uncle Vernon called him down for meals each day but Harry declined.

"Boy, dinner is ready."

"No thanks Uncle Vernon, I would just like some time by myself right now. I'll just take a sandwich and a glass of milk."

Uncle Vernon stared at him, not knowing what to say and not wanting to seem anything remotely angered, just nodded. He remembered the talk that was given to him by Harry's group of magical maniacs and had no inclination to get into it with Harry after that.

He'd then collect his small meal and go back upstairs. He was a former shadow of himself. His will to live was fighting with his will to die and nobody could tell which was winning. Harry had lost about 20 pounds since returning from the Ministry of Magic that awful night. On a slight frame as Harry's, it was really beginning to look as if he was starving himself to death.

Harry had lost the closest thing to a real father he ever had since losing his real parents.

He had watched as Sirius fell through the veil after being hit with Belatrix's curse. He had watched and waited for Sirius to jump back through ready to have another go at Belatrix. He remembered struggling with Remus as he went to go after him, to help him, and all the while Remus telling him.

"It's no good Harry, He's gone! You can't help him now."

Why was he gone? He had just slipped through the veil, the same veil he had heard voices thru when they first entered the room earlier that night on his way to find the mysterious room.

He remembered the talk he had had with Professor Dumbledore and the prophecy.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"

The entire year had been one challenge after another. The ministry of magic had turned their back on him. He wasn't believable anymore apparently. He was just trying to get attention after all. Cedric's death was labeled an accident. They didn't believe him or Dumbledore when they told them that Voldemort was back.

He thought about their installing Dolorus Umbridge to the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts and then to Headmistress. He thought about the D. A. club and all the members. They really had learned a lot through his teaching. He smiled to himself.

"That really was something I can be proud of" he thought to himself.

Watching Neville, Luna, Ron, Hermione and Ginny throw curse after curse fighting the Deatheater's in the Ministry of Magic that night was also something he could be proud of. But that had almost cost them their lives as well…. If the Order hadn't of shown up, things could have been horribly worse than just a couple of day's stay in the hospital wing of Hogwart's.

He would never forgive himself for getting them into that much danger…

He absently stroked Hedwig's feathers. What a comfort she had been to him. She seemed to sense his need right now and didn't spend much time out of his room except to catch her evening meal and to deliver Harry's short messages to Ron and Hermione to tell them that he was all right and that the Dursley's were treating him fair.

He looked at the clock. It was 12:00 and he thought he should turn in for the night. He got into his pajamas and slipped into bed. Before he turned out the light, he picked up his parent's wedding picture that Hagrid had given him. In it were his parents, Lily and James Potter looking so much in love, and grinning from ear to ear between them was Sirius.

A tear ran down Harry's troubled face. He placed the photo back on his nightstand and turned out the light.

"Crack!!!"

Harry sat upright in his bed. Someone had just apparated into his bedroom.

He reached for the light, flicked it on and sitting on the end of his bed…

"Dobby!"

"What are you doing here Dobby?"

"Dobby came to see his friend sir. He wanted to see if Harry Potter needed some company in this muggle household!"

"Dobby is sorry to see Harry Potter sad sir! Dobby would like to help young Harry Potter if he cans sir."

"You can't help Dobby, no one can!"

Dobby sat wringing his hands on the end of Harry's bed. He looked up with worried eyes at his idol and friend, who was a former shadow of the Harry Potter he knew. He did not like the looks of Harry Potter, not one bit.

"Harry Potter doesn't look like he's been eating sir. Those muggles have not been feeding Harry Potter sir! I must tell Dumbledore. He won't like this very much!"

"No, no Dobby, they've been feeding me… it's just… that I haven't much felt like eating lately."

"That will never do sir! Harry Potter must eat! He needs his strength sir. And I know just the thing. Dobby will care for Harry Potter. He will make him feel like eating again…"

Dobby was muttering under his breath.

Harry sat looking back at his loyal little house elf with a bit of curiosity. He wondered how this elf always seemed to be cropping up exactly when Harry's need for him was greatest. He smiled back at Dobby.

"Won't you be missed at Hogwart's Dobby? Won't Professor Dumbledore be expecting you to be working?"

"No sir, Dobby is on summer holiday's sir. House elves are not as busy in the summer at Hogwart's when there aren't too many people around. Professor Dumbledore will not be unhappy that Dobby comes to stay with Harry Potter for a few weeks while Harry Potter is on the mends."

"We must go now sir but we will be back tomorrow to start caring for Harry Potter. We must go prepare now!"

"But Dobby, my uncle won't like it one bit that there is a house elf staying here in his house. He will surely have a fit if he finds you here!"

"Harry Potter mustn't worry sir. Dobby knows a trick or two! Those muggles will not even know Dobby is here."

"Dobby must go and plan. He must get ready…"

Dobby was muttering under his breath again. And before Harry could utter another single word… Crack! Dobby was gone again.

Harry couldn't believe what was just happened. Before he could protest, Dobby had invited himself to stay with Harry. That was going to go over like a ton of bricks with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. That's all he needed was to have them blow up at him. He didn't feel as if he was strong enough to handle that at the moment.

He lay awake in bed that night for hours mulling over the prospects of having a house elf nurse him back to health. It just didn't seem like a good idea but somehow, Harry couldn't seem to think his way out of this mess. He didn't want to hurt Dobby's feeling by turning him away. And it judging by the way he was feeling, it wouldn't hurt to have someone take care of him that wouldn't ask too many questions of him or make a big fuss about him. After all, house elves are notorious for keeping out of their master's way. Somehow, he felt that dobby wouldn't be a burden to him right now. And he really needed a companion that he could talk to that wouldn't be too judgmental.

Harry turned out the light and fell asleep.

Author's Note – This is my first fan fiction so I hope you will be gentle with me. I accept all criticism with good grace and will reply when time permits. I hope to post about once a week or biweekly depending on how much writing I get done when I have free time.