Sitting down next to the girl, I hold her hand, which she accepts, and what's more, holds it tightly, as if I were going to disappear somehow.
"What do you know about house elves, Hermione?" I ask, trying to understand where we are on this subject.
"Well, I know they are slaves of a wizarding family." she says finally. Which makes me sigh.
"Let's start from the beginning then. I found that out while researching in the library." I say, and make a face at the girl. "I study, okay? Just less than necessary. I promise I'll try harder to make my girl happy. Is that okay?" I ask, trying to soften that look in her eyes.
"Very well, Mr. Potter, I hope you keep your promise." she declares, like a mother would say to her messy son. Which makes me sigh again. My mind is already working on whether it was a good idea to start dating the girl.
"From what I've researched, house-elves are among the most powerful magical creatures, I dare say the most powerful magical creature in existence. They are, in a way, unrestricted by magical rules, or at least most of them.
Even goblins, as much as they disrespect us wizards, still have a certain respect and reservations regarding house-elves, which is why they are so strict in the rules about who owns each elf that goes to Gringotts.
The biggest problem is, due to their almost unrestricted magical capacity, magic itself has restricted the power of house-elves, which leads us to what you call enslavement. And don't give me that look, because that's generalizing, ignoring the rules, not the exceptions.
House-elves can only feed on magic and remain alive, being bonded, either to a magical family home, or to a magical individual. Dobby, was bonded the Malfoy house, which fed his magic, in exchange for him serving there as a slave.
Now, he is bound to me, until I have a home of my own and a family, in exchange for being magically fed, he is a friend who helps me when I need it. Can you see the difference? I will not treat Dobby like a slave, nor do I need to. What I need are real and loyal friends, Hermione.
With everything that has happened in my life since I arrived at Hogwarts, tell me that I do not need someone to take care of me, or my godfather, who, like me, does not have what we call a home. Dobby might be the one who will keep me from starving to death when I'm with the Dursleys."
I stop for a moment to breathe. I wasn't used to talking so much, but explaining certain things to the girl was extremely important. And I could even stop here, with the brain she has, I wouldn't need to continue.
She stares at me, her face a stoic mask, throwing me into the zone of uncertainty.
"Then promise me Harry, that you will never mistreat Dobby, or any other house elf in your life." she says, with that intense look becoming even more intense.
"Of course, Hermione. I can do it even with my magic if I need to. Don't forget, I'm treated like one by my uncles. So I know that what I don't want for myself, I shouldn't wish on others, if they're 'innocent'." I answer.
"What do you mean?" she asks, dropping her stoic mask into an expression of curiosity.
"Malfoy, don't you think he deserves some kind of retribution in life? I don't mean being enslaved, but for example, some setbacks or something like that in his arrogant and arrogant life." I soften the matter, just in case.
"Okay." she says finally, thinking for a moment. It doesn't take long for her eyes to start watching me as if she's looking for something. "What about us?" her voice had a certain weight of uncertainty.
"I would never treat you like a slave, Hermione, nor do I want you to take on my uncles' habits and make me your own." I answered, somewhat confused, until I received a good slap on the arm, which stung, and the girl's uncomfortable smile.
"I'm talking about our relationship. About our friendship with Ron, about Ginny who has loved him since who knows when. About what others will say about..." she seemed to start hyperventilating as she spoke, which made me hold her hand tighter.
And when her face turned to face me again, I kissed her. I felt the girl surprised at first, and a little tense, but soon, little by little, she relaxed, and allowed herself to be kissed, and then she reciprocated.
Separating my lips from hers, I look directly into her eyes, but not taking my face away from hers. "Our relationship is my greatest joy, our friendship with Ron depends on him, whether he accepts that we are together or not. Regarding Ginny, I've always seen her as a little sister who I should protect, since your mother has always treated me like a son.
As for what others will say? I don't give a damn about them. I'm happy, and I hope you're happy. Otherwise, let them melt into shit as far as I'm concerned." I say, shrugging, while a slap on the arm, much lighter and weightless than the previous one, hits me.
"Language, Mr. Potter." She laughs, while trying to keep a serious face.
We laughed and talked a little, while sleep began to take over our bodies. The tiredness of the day, extended by the time turner, came with force, and after taking Hermione to a stretcher next to me, covering her up and kissing her forehead and lips, wishing her good night, I went to my stretcher, and slept soundly.