DOBBY’S WARNING
that he will not return to Hogwarts. Ah, sir, this is a danger you
must not face! Say you won’t go back, sir!”
“No,” said Harry angrily. “Give me my friends’ letters!”
“Then Harry Potter leaves Dobby no choice,” said the elf sadly.
Before Harry could move, Dobby had darted to the bedroom
door, pulled it open, and sprinted down the stairs.
Mouth dry, stomach lurching, Harry sprang after him, trying
not to make a sound. He jumped the last six steps, landing catlike
on the hall carpet, looking around for Dobby. From the dining
room he heard Uncle Vernon saying, “. . . tell Petunia that very
funny story about those American plumbers, Mr. Mason. She’s
been dying to hear . . .”
Harry ran up the hall into the kitchen and felt his stomach dis-
appear.
Aunt Petunia’s masterpiece of a pudding, the mountain of cream
and sugared violets, was floating up near the ceiling. On top of a
cupboard in the corner crouched Dobby.
“No,” croaked Harry. “Please . . . they’ll kill me. . . .”
“Harry Potter must say he’s not going back to school —”
“Dobby . . . please . . .”
“Say it, sir —”
“I can’t —”
Dobby gave him a tragic look.
“Then Dobby must do it, sir, for Harry Potter’s own good.”
The pudding fell to the floor with a heart-stopping crash. Cream
splattered the windows and walls as the dish shattered. With a
crack like a whip, Dobby vanished.
There were screams from the dining room and Uncle Vernon
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