Once Harry was changed, Hermione gave him a little wolf whistle. "You look so much more handsome in a suit, Harry. We're going to have to buy you a bunch of muggle suits and blazers next summer. I like this."
With a smile, Harry headed to the counter. The witch asked, "Will that be all? All our dress robes come with the basic Fabulous-Fit charm, but you can add the Stain-Stopper, Lintless, and a basic Self-Repair charm for only three Sickles."
"Oh, I'd like that," Harry said. An idea came to him at that moment. "Suppose I brought some muggle clothes here, could you charm them for me? I'll need all the charms on my dress robe and a permanent colour change as well."
"Sorry, for now we're only doing alterations on our own clothes. With Christmas along with the ball at Hogwarts, we're far too busy as it is. I'd suggest heading over to Unifer's Alley. Mrs. Malkin's sister owns a shop there, only it's called Mistress Malkin's. She shouldn't be nearly as busy as us right now."
Harry thanked her and paid for his new robes. He debated with himself whether or not he should tell Hermione, but settled on surprising her. It would make a perfect Christmas gift. As he walked out of the store with the two Granger women, he asked, "Hermione, Mrs. Granger, do you have any plans for tomorrow? I was thinking of going out by myself for a little bit to buy Hermione's Christmas present."
Emma frowned. "I don't want a fourteen-year-old boy out on the streets shopping by himself, especially on one of the most hectic shopping days of the year. Pickpocketers and muggers will be just as busy as the shoppers, you know. I'm guessing you want it to be a surprise for Hermione," she glanced at her daughter, who smiled understandingly. "But you should go with Dan. Make sure you're back early, because we have quite a dinner to prepare."
Harry nodded vigorously. "Thanks, Mrs. Granger. Maybe I can get Dobby to help you with dinner."
"Who's Dobby?" Emma looked surprised.
"He's a house-elf that bonded to me when I freed him from the Malfoys," Harry explained. "He loves doing housework, actually."
"Harry! You shouldn't take advantage of him like that! You should free him instead of enslaving him to you..." Hermione scolded, but quickly stopped. "Wait, I think I've had this argument with you before..."
"Yeah, me too," Harry said. "Maybe Dobby can explain it? Dobby!" Harry called out for his house-elf.
"I is here, Master Harry!" Dobby proudly appeared in front of them. Emma jumped back in surprise and stared at the wee little creature standing before them.
"Dobby, I want you to help the Grangers prepare their Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow." Dobby's eyes lit up with excitement. "But first, can you explain why you bonded to me?"
"I is being bonded to Master Harry because Master Harry is noble and proud! Master Harry is a good master!" Dobby hopped up and down gleefully.
"No, Dobby... what I meant was, when you were freed from the Malfoys, why didn't you just... stay free? Why did you bond yourself to anybody at all?" Harry asked him.
Dobby's eyes watered. "Is Master Harry wanting to free Dobby? I has been bad house-elf! I am working for Hogwarts when I should be working for Master Harry!" He threw himself to the ground and began thumping his head on the brick walkway. Emma stared in disbelief at Dobby's behaviour, still completely dumbstruck.
"No! Dobby, stop! I command you to stop hurting yourself!" Harry quickly picked the elf up and set him on his feet. "I'm just curious why you'd want to be free from the Malfoys but why you wouldn't want to... stay free."
"But if I is free, then I cannot work!" Dobby said. Harry and Hermione stared at him for a moment, thinking there would be more to his answer.
"Wait, so... you like working?" Dobby nodded.
"But... what if you could be free and just do whatever you like, for yourself?" Hermione asked.
Dobby looked horrified. "I would die without Master Harry! House-elfs cannot work for himselfs! It would be like tickling by yourself... or holding your hand with your hand... no, clapping to yourself..." Dobby's face scrunched up in confusing as he attempted to explain it.
Hermione seemed to understand. "So you mean when you work for someone else, it's like... when Harry and I hold each other's hands? That's how you feel?"
Dobby bounced up and down at the analogy. "Yes, yes, or like when Master Harry and Her-mininy press faces each day!"
Hermione went red as she avoided her mother's gaze, while Harry covered his eyes with his hand. They were still careful never to kiss in front of their parents, rather embarrassed about explaining how deep their relationship had become in a few short months, but here was ten pounds of tiny magical elf proclaiming they had done so on a regular basis. "Thank you Dobby, that's all for now. You can come back tomorrow when it's time to cook dinner..."
When Dobby disappeared again, Emma turned to her daughter and said, "You seem to have left out a lot of information in your letters home." Turning to Harry, she said, "And you should just be glad I sent Dan on some errands instead of going shopping with us today."
"Are you sure you don't want me to drive?" Dan asked.
"No, this should be fine." Harry stood at the side of the road and held his wand up. With a sudden bang, a huge, purple, triple-decker bus appeared in front of them. Dan stumbled backwards, almost as if the Knight Bus had crashed into place. Harry stepped on and it took a few seconds for Dan to come to his senses and follow him.
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