Dobby felt as if there was a flame burning in his chest, hot and full of power, causing his small body to tremble uncontrollably.
He wished he could shout to everyone—he was free! He was no longer a slave of the Malfoy Family!
"Dobby?"
A small voice came from behind him.
Dobby turned his head and saw it was another house-elf, Lucy.
She also bore injuries, but compared to Dobby's disheveled appearance, she looked much better.
Lucy asked softly, "Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?"
Dobby's big eyes shone brightly; he really wanted to share his joy with Lucy. But...
The house-elf bit his lip, hid the sock back, and said, "I'm fine... I need to carry out the master's task."
After saying this, he didn't wait for Lucy to respond and vanished with a "pop" from where he stood.
The next second, Dobby was in the attic of Malfoy Manor. It was dark, narrow, and the corners were filled with clutter.
Dobby casually sat on a dust-covered box and used his slender fingers to dig into his ear, pulling out a small scroll of paper.
He unrolled the paper and took a very thin pencil, writing a sentence on it—
[Dobby: Dobby got the sock, Dobby is free!]
Soon, flowing lines of words appeared:
[Vid: That's wonderful! Congratulations, Dobby!]
[Dobby: Thank you for your help, Mr. Gray. I don't know how to thank you...]
Big tears plopped down onto the parchment, and Dobby hurriedly wiped them away with his hand.
[Vid: I hope you can achieve the life you want; that would be the best thanks you could give me.]
At this moment, even the cold words seemed to have a heartwarming power.
Dobby almost broke out into sobs.
He covered his mouth tightly, curling up on the attic floor, weeping gently, appearing both lonely and sorrowful.
Lucy initially planned to call Dobby to apply medicine, but hearing the suppressed sobs above through the floors, she stood silently for a while, then quietly returned to the kitchen.
The other house-elves were preparing a sumptuous dinner when someone asked, "Lucy, how's Dobby?"
"He's crying," Lucy said, full of sympathy.
The other house-elves fell silent.
After a while, an elder elf finally said, "Then maybe Dobby needs some time alone... don't disturb him before tomorrow morning."
"Alright."
...
In fact, Dobby didn't allow himself to remain submerged in his emotions indefinitely.
The winds of freedom stirred in his heart, and his tears were not from sorrow but from joy and gratitude.
But the Malfoy Manor was not a place suitable for him to vent his feelings.
After crying for a while, Dobby quickly got up to wipe away the snot and tears, then cleaned his hands, carefully took out that sock, and then stuffed the remaining boxes and Flow Mirror in the corner of the attic.
The command from the master... the former master was—
"Put it away! Place it where I can never see it again!"
What Dobby understood was: "(Put the sock) away! Place (the box) where I can never see it again!"
—Of course, even if he didn't forcibly "translate" it this way, the moment he got the sock, Dobby had already gained his freedom.
Because of his resentment toward the master, his resistance to orders, and his longing for freedom, the contract rooted in his blood had long been fragile like a spider's silk. As soon as a slight opportunity to break the contract appeared, he would break free from the shackles and embrace freedom.
But Dobby didn't immediately run to declare his freedom to Malfoy, nor did he boast to the other house-elves.
On one hand, through his communications with Vid via the Friendship Book, Dobby had gradually grasped some understandings.
For instance, if he exposed the truth immediately, Malfoy would realize it was Vid who brought him freedom, which would cause great trouble for the person who helped him.
Moreover, the other house-elves of the Malfoy Family were not like him. Although they also suffered from the master's punishments, they didn't wish to leave the Malfoy Family, remaining loyal to the master and viewing Dobby, who longed for freedom, as an outlier.
—Wait a little longer.
Dobby told himself.
—Endure just a few more days.
The Malfoy Family frequently held various banquets of different scales. If he left while there were many guests, his former master would only suspect the guests present at the time, not Vid who was there many days ago.
Dobby was trembling with excitement at his own cleverness. He knew that staying at Malfoy Manor might still result in beatings, but getting beaten to protect his benefactor, even the pain made him feel happy.
—Wait a few more days.
The parchment was slightly warm again.
[Vid: Freedom without a penny isn't freedom, it's just wandering. I've prepared some money and clean clothes for you at Remus' place, remember to take them.]
Dobby couldn't hold back, vanishing with a pop and reappearing in a grove, where he fell to the ground and wailed loudly.
...
There were no new replies on the paper, and Vid wasn't concerned.
House-elves are inherently emotionally sensitive and easily excitable creatures; he guessed Dobby was probably hiding somewhere crying.
Vid didn't impose gratitude by suggesting that Dobby accept his employment either.
He was an elf who longed for freedom, and for freedom, he had already run into countless obstacles and blows.
If he just left the Malfoy Family and joined the Gray house, it would only be jumping from one cage into another.
—Even though the latter might be more spacious and luxurious, it's still not what Dobby wants at this moment.
So...
Even though Vid actually hoped Dobby could become his asset, he wouldn't propose it now. Even if he knew Dobby wouldn't refuse and would agree happily, he wouldn't do it.
Dobby wants freedom, so let him have freedom.
But freedom comes with its own costs.
In the current Magic World, while everyone desires diligent, loyal, and capable "house-elves," they struggle to accept "free elves."
Merlin's magic, many times, isn't even as potent as an elf's. Without the guarantee of a Magic Contract, the latter might bite back at any moment, leaving employers uneasy.
So, Dobby is bound to face obstacles everywhere, but this is also his dream.
Vid hoped that with his support, at least the initial period for Dobby would be genuinely joyful.
A day, two days, three days...
It wasn't until the weekend, ten days later, that Vid saw Dobby at Lupin's place.
He had already left the Malfoy Family, wearing the clothes Vid gave him, with bandages still wrapped around him, but his spirit was great, and he hadn't taken the money.
"Dobby wants to survive on his own strength!"
The elf said joyfully, "Dobby will go to different places and find a job that can pay me a salary."
Vid smiled wryly, "Alright... if you need help, feel free to come to me anytime. I can also offer you a job here."
"So great! So noble! Vid Gray not only freed Dobby but is willing to continue helping him!"
Dobby was again moved to tears, bowing so low his nose almost touched the ground, and Vid lost count of how many times this had happened.
Everyone laughed.
Vid said, "We're friends, right, Dobby?"
"Of course, of course—" Dobby said tearfully, "—we're friends."