I do not own Harry Potter. Charlotte Potter is my OC.

Dobby the House-Elf

Charlotte Potter could say, without a doubt, that her twelfth birthday was by far the worst birthday she'd ever had. And considering that the Dursleys never acknowledged her birthday, this was really saying something.

The young witch was crouched in the grass that she had clipped only an hour ago and gripped the weeds tightly between her hands. With a strong tug she freed the garden from the invasive plant and added it to the pile beside her.

Feeling the persistent ache build in her quads and hamstrings she straightened up to stretch. Her pale blue T-shirt, which was a hand-me-down from her overweight cousin Dudley, was plastered to her thin body with sweat. Her stomach rumbled fiercely with hunger and her throat was dry. She was able to satisfy her thirst, as her aunt had at least allowed her a bottle of water. Food, on the other hand, would have to wait until her work had been completed.

Charlie wasn't a stranger to doing chores on her birthday. But the sheer amount she had been given for that day had been absolutely exhausting. Her uncle was hosting a dinner party with a potential client and so everything had to be perfect.

Which of course meant Charlie would be forced to hide in her room from suppertime until tomorrow morning. She was the blemish on the Dursleys' otherwise carefully crafted life.

Charlie finished weeding the front garden and made her way to the backyard. She had tried to explain to Petunia that it didn't really matter if the back garden was cleaned out, as Vernon's guests wouldn't even see it.

Petunia strongly disagreed and she had the bruise on her ear to prove it.

"I hate summer," she said with a weary sigh.

Summer had always been the worst part of the year. There was no school to separate her from her aunt and uncle for seven hours out of the day. She was stuck with them for two months without any reprieve. In previous years she had looked forward to going back to her old Muggle school. At least then she would only have her cousin to contend with.

But now, come September, she would be away from all of them. She would board the train to Hogwarts and be spirited away from the Dursleys for ten months.

But her excitement at this prospect had dwindled as the month wore on and not a single letter had arrived from her best friends. Harry, Ron and Hermione had promised to write to her but nothing had come in. Without an owl to send mail to the wizarding world Charlie tried writing to Hermione, who lived in the Muggle world as well, but she never got a response.

"Not even a birthday card," she muttered under her breath.

Hard labour helped her forget about her hurt and disappointment. She set about weeding the back garden and peeked occasionally through the window that looked into the kitchen. Petunia was meticulously decorating an elaborate pudding, pastel icing-filled tubes clutched in her hands.

"Do you like your birthday so far?"

Ah. I wondered where he had gone.

Charlie glanced over her shoulder to see Dudley standing behind her, a smug smirk on his features. "Not particularly."

Dudley studied the coloured flowers standing proudly in the soil. Charlie carefully reached around them to pull out the weeds and Dudley smiled nastily. "I bet if I pull out all those flowers and blame you, Dad wouldn't let you eat for a week."

"You could. But be warned. I just might have to hex you."

Dudley went very pale at that. Little did her relatives know that she wasn't to use magic outside of Hogwarts. Not that it mattered, anyway. The word magic and anything related to it was strictly forbidden in the Dursley household. When she returned for the summer, Vernon locked her trunk in the cupboard under the stairs and Charlie had just barely managed smuggle her wand into her room by hiding it in her sleeve.

"You can't!" Dudley cried, backing away in fear. "Dad won't let you!"

Charlie wiggled her fingers. "Uncle Vernon isn't here right now, is he?"

"Mum!" Dudley howled, racing for the screen door. "Mum!"

It wasn't long before Petunia burst out of the kitchen with fury on her features. Brandishing a wooden spoon at her niece, she demanded, "Did you threaten to hurt Dudley?"

"I was just joking," Charlie said, leaning back slightly as the spoon loomed too close for comfort. "I don't even know any hexes."

"You don't talk like that in this house!" hissed Petunia, sending a frantic glance at neighbouring yards to ensure no one was around to overhear. "If you ever speak like that to Duddikins again Vernon will take care of you."

"Yes, Aunt Petunia."

The threat didn't concern her. The most Vernon ever did was give her a swat across the head or bodily throw her out of a room. His preferred punishment was to withhold food and after so many years of this she was accustomed to small portions and spending long periods of time not eating at all.

"Now finish up," said Petunia crossly.

It took another half an hour for Charlie to finish her work and she lugged the garbage bag full of weeds to the curb. When she reached the metal trash can she froze at the sight of a pair of large green eyes peering at her from overtop the rim.

What kind of mutated raccoon is that?

Charlie slowly inched forwards and ripped off the lid. But there was nothing inside and she frowned in confusion. She could have sworn she had seen something.

"Charlotte!"

"I'm losing my mind," she said with a shake of her head. She set the garbage bag into the container and slammed the lid down.

She was about to use the back door but Petunia stopped her before she could get inside. "Don't you dare dirty my floor!" She tossed a set of clothes at Charlie and she hastily caught them. "Go change in the shed and come right back."

"Yes, Aunt Petunia," said Charlie, holding back a sigh.

She completed her task and wrapped the dirt-stained clothes into a tight ball. She took off her mud-encrusted sneakers and clapped them together to get rid of as much filth as she could. Deeming herself clean enough to be let back in Charlie returned to the house.

Petunia gave her a critical once over before asking, "Did you finish the weeding?"

"Yeah, both gardens are done. Anything else?"

"No." Her aunt pointed to a cheese sandwich resting on a plate on the counter. "Hurry up and eat. They'll be here soon."

Tucking the sneakers and clothes under one arm and grabbing the sandwich with her free hand, she thanked Petunia for the food before heading for the stairs. She was on the second step when the front door flew open and her large uncle stood framed in the opening.

"Girl!"

She came to a halt and glanced over her shoulder. "Yeah?" she asked around a mouthful of bread and cheese.

Vernon's face was purple, which indicated his stress was at an all-time high. "You better behave tonight, girl," he snarled. "You and that cat of yours will stay quiet and out of our sight. If you do anything to ruin this deal for me…"

The threat remained unfinished but Charlie could fill in the blanks. She swallowed her subpar dinner and gave a nod. "I won't come downstairs, Uncle Vernon. They'll have no idea there's a second child living here."

Vernon levelled Charlie with a glare. "That better be the case. Get upstairs."

She hurried for her bedroom, opening the door and shutting it quickly before her cat could escape. Snowflake gave her a frustrated glare and a harsh meow. Charlie shushed her. "I know, it sucks. But you know my aunt and uncle don't like pets. You're lucky they let you stay here in the first place. I'm lucky they let me stay here."

Snowy hissed and went to curl up by the window. Charlie sighed. "I'm sorry. But summer will be over and then you'll have a whole castle to roam."

As she was setting her dirty clothes in her hamper there was a great popping sound just as the doorbell chimed. Charlie frowned in confusion and squinted up at her ceiling light. But it was still brightly lit, which meant a lightbulb hadn't burst.

Snowy gave a vicious hiss and Charlie snapped her head towards her bed, where a small creature with the bulging green eyes she had seen only minutes earlier was standing near her bed. Charlie held back a startled shriek and hastily caught her cat as it launched towards the strange creature.

"Stop it!" she snapped at her cat. "I told you, you have to be quiet!"

Snowy bristled, but obeyed her owner and curled back up near the window, sending the creature a suspicious glance.

Charlie eyed the creature nervously. "Hi."

It beamed at her. "It is a great honour to be meeting Charlotte Potter!"

Charlie rubbed the back of her neck, completely confused. "Uh, thanks. It's really nice to meet you too."

To her surprise and horror, the creature burst into tears. Charlie hastily clamped a hand over his mouth and shushed him gently. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry!"

"Its not that!" he sobbed. "No one has ever said it was nice to meet Dobby before! Never has Dobby been treated so kindly by a wizard or witch like an equal!"

After a moment Dobby's sobs lessened and Charlie removed her hand. "Well then, you've obviously only been in the company of rude wizards and witches."

Dobby nodded. And then immediately afterwards he started to bang his head on her dresser.

What have I done to deserve this?

The conversation paused downstairs and she hastily seized Dobby. She listened intently but there were no footsteps heading towards her and she breathed a sigh of relief. Setting Dobby down she asked in bewilderment, "What was that for?"

"Dobby almost spoke ill of his family, Miss. Dobby must not speak ill of them, or he must punish himself!"

"Your family?" Charlie asked.

"Dobby serves a wealthy wizarding family. He serves them and cleans for them."

He was like the wizarding version of a housekeeper. Except Charlie hoped Muggle housekeepers were treated much better than Dobby—and her, for that matter.

"We don't have to speak about your family. I'm sure you came here for a reason. What can I do for you?"

Dobby's eyes misted over. "Charlotte Potter, asking what she can do for Dobby. Dobby is here to help Charlotte Potter! Dobby must protect the great and noble witch! Charlotte Potter must not return to Hogwarts!"

"Why not?"

"There is a plot, Miss! Dark plots that'll make terrible things happen at Hogwarts!"

"Who's plotting?" asked Charlie frantically.

Dobby lunged for her lamp but she caught him before he could do any damage. "Okay, okay, sorry," she said, setting him away from the breakable objects. She was starting to see a pattern. He punished himself every time he wronged his family, whether it be by insult or going against their wishes. "You clearly can't tell me this plot, right?"

Dobby nodded. Charlie furrowed her brow. "Well, has it anything to do with Voldemort?" Dobby recoiled fiercely and Charlie winced. "You-Know-Who. Does it have anything to do with You-Know-Who?"

Dobby shook his head. Charlie pushed her long raven hair over her shoulders and gave a small smile. "Listen, Dobby, thank you for your concern. But if it's not You-Know-Who who is behind this plot, I think I'll be fine."

"Charlotte Potter will be in danger!" insisted Dobby.

"Professor Dumbledore won't let anything bad happen to the school or to me."

"Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, but Dumbledore is a good wizard, and good wizards don't have powers like…"

Dobby didn't finish his sentence and leapt across the room. Charlie snatched at him but he avoided her grasp. He grabbed hold of the lamp and slammed it against his head, letting out a loud yelp of pain. The conversation downstairs stopped once more and Dobby got in a few more blows before Charlie managed to wrestle the lamp from his hold.

Charlie could hear Vernon making up an excuse as his heavy footsteps came towards her. "Get in the wardrobe," she hissed, shoving him towards the furniture piece. "Keep quiet!"

Dobby complied; his ears plastered to his head in shame. Charlie set the lamp on the floor and gripped the edge of her nightstand, holding her foot in the air and appearing as if she had hurt herself.

The door flew open moments later and Vernon hissed furiously, "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry! I tripped," said Charlie, rubbing her foot for good measure.

"Sit on that bed and don't move a muscle!" he snarled.

The door slammed shut and Charlie sunk to the floor with a relieved sigh. Dobby crept out of the wardrobe and Charlie gave him a pointed look. "I have to go back, Dobby. It's my school now. I can't miss school. My friends are there. Or at least, I think so. They haven't written a word to me all summer."

Dobby shrunk back, his guilty look intensifying and Charlie frowned suspiciously. "What's wrong, Dobby?"

Dobby nervously removed a bundle of letters from underneath the pillowcase he wore. "Dobby thought if Charlotte Potter believed she was all alone she would not return to Hogwarts."

Charlie ran her hands down her face. "You can't take people's mail, Dobby."

"Dobby knows. Dobby is very sorry. Dobby was only trying to help."

"I understand. May I please have them?"

"Only if Miss will say she won't return to Hogwarts."

"Dobby, I'm going back. There's nothing to worry about."

Dobby gave a solemn shake of his head. "Then Dobby will have to make Charlotte Potter stay."

He tossed the letters onto her bed and hurried out of the room before Charlie could stop him. With horrified eyes she hastily followed, trying to remain as quiet as possible as she went down the stairs and into the hall.

She froze outside the sitting room, where a large pudding was being levitated over the heads of Vernon's esteemed guests. She crept frantically across the carpet and lunged forwards.

She missed by a hair and the pudding fell, splattering all over the Masons. They shrieked in shock and horror and sprang to their feet, regarding the pale, raven-haired girl with wide eyes. "Sorry," Charlie squeaked, well aware of the enraged expressions aimed at her by her aunt and uncle. Dudley, on the other hand, was torn between terror at her apparent display of magic and delight at just how epically she landed herself in trouble.

"I was, uh, just trying to deliver the pudding for you," Charlie lied, inching her way towards the hallway. "Terrible idea. I'm such a klutz. So sorry."

She made to dart off but with surprising speed Vernon lurched out of his seat and grabbed her by the arm. "Very clumsy indeed," he said tightly, and Charlie could practically feel the bruise forming as he squeezed. "I am so sorry."

"Who is this?" exclaimed Mrs. Mason.

"You never mentioned you had another child," said Mr. Mason with a sharp frown.

Despite knowing how much trouble she was in, Charlie nearly laughed at the offense forming on the features of her aunt and uncle. "She's our niece," said Vernon quickly. "Her parents died so we graciously took her in."

More like grudgingly, thought Charlie.

Before the Masons could ask any more questions about the unexpected appearance of another child, an owl suddenly flew through the kitchen window and into the sitting room. It was distracted by Mrs. Mason's large, colourful hat and landed on the rim. Screaming in fear, the woman ran about the living room trying to dislodge it. Charlie eyed the letter that fell from its talons.

Mr. Mason swatted at the owl, finally shooing it off. With a frosty glare, he bid goodnight as he escorted his hysterical wife out of the house.

Vernon let go of Charlie and grabbed the letter. Charlie stared at him uncertainly and as he finished reading a look that genuinely frightened her crossed his face. He silently handed her the letter and Charlie rapidly scanned the words.

It was a warning from the Improper Use of Magic office of the Ministry of Magic, and it clearly stated that she wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school due to the fact she was underage.

Charlie paled as Vernon lumbered towards her. "Um…not my fault?"

...

"You've got me in a real mess now, Dobby," Charlie sighed.

It was one night later and Vernon had given her bedroom a renovation. Bars were over her window and they kept her bedroom door locked, effectively imprisoning her. Food was slipped in through a little slot Vernon had installed and she was allowed out a few times a day for bathroom breaks.

"Well, Dobby will be happy. I certainly won't be returning to Hogwarts now. They're so angry no professor will change their minds." Charlie flopped back on her bed. "I'll be serving life at the Dursley Institution for Abnormal Freaks. At least they feed the inmates."

Even though she wasn't nearly tired, she closed her eyes and tried to drift off. A knock sounded on her window and she rocketed upwards, thinking maybe it was perhaps another owl.

Peering at her through the iron bars was none other than Ron Weasley.