When Orli finally arrived at the doorstep of the Waters Family House, she almost didn't recognize the place she had called home for over a decade.
The once half-collapsed fence had been meticulously repaired, and the peeling exterior walls were now freshly painted. The overgrown yard had been transformed with neatly transplanted spherical shrubs and clusters of wildflowers. The dirt path leading from the gate to the house had been replaced with smooth, even stone slabs.
As Orli approached the gate, Dobby darted out from the house, glancing around nervously as though looking for her luggage to carry. However, upon spotting her small satchel, he simply stood quietly beside her, his large eyes filled with anticipation.
"Dobby, what are you doing at my house?" Orli asked, her voice tinged with surprise. "Did you do all this? You've done an incredible job!"
"Miss Orli praises Dobby! This is what Dobby is supposed to do!" he squeaked, his voice high-pitched and brimming with joy. He hopped twice on the spot, his enormous eyes glistening with tears of excitement.
"Dobby is Miss Orli's servant. Dobby must repair Miss Orli's house."
"No, Dobby, you're free now," Orli corrected him gently. "Even if you don't want to break the contract, you don't have to call yourself a servant. You're a free elf."
Orli entered the house with Dobby, only to discover that the interior was just as immaculate as the exterior. Though there were no extravagant decorations, the bugs and bowtruckles that used to flit about were nowhere to be seen. The floor shone, the sofa and bed curtains had been thoroughly cleaned, and there wasn't a single speck of dust in sight.
Orli couldn't help but marvel at Dobby's work. She doubted she'd ever find a better house-elf. A fleeting thought crossed her mind—perhaps she could "steal" him from Dumbledore.
"Dobby, how about I hire you?" she proposed. "Now that you're free, I can pay you wages. You can have a proper job, just like a wizard."
"Wages?!" Dobby's eyes widened to an almost comical size.
"Yes, wages," Orli explained patiently. "Twenty Galleons a month during the summer holidays, plus four days off. During the school term, your wages will still be paid, but you'll have complete freedom to manage your time. On top of that, my Gringotts account will grant you an additional twenty Galleons per month for household expenses—things like paint, cleaning supplies, household items, and your own food and clothing. No need to keep track of the expenses."
"So generous, this is too generous! Dobby cannot accept it. It's far too much for Dobby!" Dobby exclaimed, pacing frantically back and forth across the floor, his hands tugging at his oversized ears.
"Dobby only needs one day off, and only five Galleons a month—no, one Galleon!" he insisted.
"Alright, Dobby, calm down," Orli said with a soft chuckle as she pulled her luggage from her satchel. "Twenty Galleons a month. It's settled."
She didn't want to waste time debating such a minor issue. Besides, if Hermione ever found out, she'd probably complain that twenty Galleons wasn't nearly enough.
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Orli didn't find summer holidays to be particularly relaxing or enjoyable. In fact, her July turned out to be even busier than the hectic end-of-term period.
First, following Dobby's suggestions, she embarked on a major shopping spree in Diagon Alley to stock up on household essentials. Then, she rushed to complete her History of Magic discussion paper on the witch burnings of the 14th century. She also spent an exhausting three days crafting Snape's assignment on the Shrinking Solution—a paper so long it nearly matched her own height—in the hopes of earning his approval.
After that, she threw herself into systematic potion-making tasks, advancing to a level comparable to Hogwarts' seventh-year curriculum. She also honed her intermediate Occlumency skills to near perfection.
Every moment of her day was precious. If it hadn't been for Dobby's presence at home, she might have even forgotten to eat.
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