House-elves are a subspecies of goblins, domesticated for generations by wizards, making them inherently subservient and exceptionally loyal.
Additionally, house-elves possess remarkable magical abilities. Their natural talent for Apparition is far superior to that of wizards, allowing them to bypass even the anti-Apparition wards of Hogwarts Castle.
With two house-elves secretly protecting his parents, Dudley could be much more at ease.
However, house-elves are not mere commodities that can be bought easily. They are exclusive to prestigious pure-blood families and are rarely sold.
Hogwarts does employ over a hundred house-elves, but they are bound to the school itself and are considered communal property. Even Dumbledore cannot assign them for personal use.
Thus, Dumbledore had to search the wizarding world privately in hopes of acquiring house-elves under his name.
Days passed without any success.
August 11th
Cornelius Fudge, now stripped of all official positions, suddenly visited Azkaban, the wizarding prison located on a remote island in the sea.
The Dementors stationed at Azkaban had not yet received news of Fudge's dismissal and still regarded him as the powerful Minister for Magic.
Thus, when he issued an outrageous command, they begrudgingly complied.
Like wisps of tattered black smoke with hooked beaks, the Dementors soared through the prison, locating the cells of the most devoted Death Eaters.
They first pressed their decayed faces against the deranged and lifeless prisoners, draining away the last remnants of happiness the inmates had struggled to muster over the years. Only then did they unlock the cell doors.
The Death Eaters, already weakened by the Dementors' draining presence, were slow to react to their newfound freedom.
It wasn't until the Dementors screeched at them to leave that the prisoners realized they were being released.
"Wahahaha! The Dark Lord! It must be the great Dark Lord!"
"We're free!"
"Aha-ha-ha! Gahahaha!"
Overcome with exhilaration, the freed Death Eaters let out maniacal laughter, their weakened bodies fueled by a sudden surge of adrenaline. Like ravenous wolves, they scrambled out of their cells.
Gathering in the open yard of the island, they shouted and cackled, sharing their excitement at regaining freedom and dreaming of returning to rule over the wizarding world. Some even dared to order the Dementors to remove their chains and return their wands.
The Dementors, already displeased about losing a valuable source of "food," grew even more irritated as these prisoners flaunted their joy in front of them.
It was an insult they could not ignore.
The very next second, a swarm of tattered, clawed hands reached out, and their rotting mouths puckered as they dove down in a frenzy…
The Death Eaters' celebrations were cut short.
At that moment, an old wizard with a long white beard, clad in deep purple robes and wearing half-moon spectacles, suddenly appeared nearby.
With his gnarled right hand, he raised an ancient wand—its surface knotted with bony protrusions—and aimed it at both the feasting Dementors and the desperate Death Eaters.
A blinding light erupted!
August 12th
The front page of the Daily Prophet was dominated by a large, moving image.
The animated scene showed two powerful magical phoenixes, sweeping across the battlefield with devastating force.
One was an orange-red phoenix of fire, incinerating a group of Death Eaters into nothing but ash.
The other was a silver-white phoenix formed from a Patronus Charm, purifying Dementors into vanishing wisps of darkness.
In the lower-left corner of the image, a blurry figure stood.
Though the image was unclear, few in the British wizarding world failed to recognize the man's identity.
Who else could it be but the greatest wizard of the 20th century, Albus Dumbledore?
The British wizarding community erupted in excitement!
Ordinary witches and wizards, who had been gripped by fear after Voldemort's return, now felt their hearts swell with courage.
With Dumbledore standing against him, what did Voldemort amount to?
Their thoughts shifted: The Dark Lord? Hah! Let us catch sight of him, and we'll report him in an instant!
Meanwhile, silence fell among the former Death Eaters and opportunistic pure-blood wizards.
They knew that cowardly Fudge would never have orchestrated such a bold move as freeing the Death Eaters.
Dumbledore, the once-gentle old lion, had bared his fangs. He was no longer merely a wise and powerful wizard—he was now wielding his political influence with equal ferocity.
That was terrifying.
With Dumbledore's unmatched strength, now paired with cunning strategic prowess, they had no choice but to behave.
Until Voldemort returned at full power, these wizards would have to act as law-abiding citizens.
All secretive plots among pure-blood families came to an immediate halt.
Moreover, Dumbledore's search for house-elves suddenly became a matter of great interest to them.
Where once they had scoffed at selling their elves, now they were eager to give them away for free.
August 13th
When Dumbledore arrived at the Dursleys' home for lessons, he brought with him two house-elves.
One was a male elf, Dobby, a "gift" from Lucius Malfoy.
The other was a female elf, Winky, acquired at a low price from Bartemius Crouch.
"It seems your plan worked well, Dumbledore."
Dudley grinned as he watched the two house-elves swear loyalty to the Dursley household.
"And I must say, those moves you pulled off—not one, but two—were incredible!"
"You're right, Dudley. And thank you for the compliment," Dumbledore said, clearly pleased with the outcome of his actions.
"Soon enough, you will master such skills as well."
The success of his bold strike had left him in high spirits.
To prevent Voldemort from utilizing Azkaban's forces, he had not only eliminated the Death Eaters but also wiped out seventy percent of the Dementor population.
His justification? That the Dementors had conspired with the former Minister of Magic to rebel.
The remaining Dementors at Azkaban had been thoroughly cowed. Even feeding on prisoners' happiness now seemed like a joyless task.
"There are matters I need to discuss with you and Harry," Dumbledore said, his expression growing serious.
He led Dudley and Harry upstairs to the second floor.
Meanwhile, Dobby and Winky stayed downstairs, eagerly trying to win favor with their new masters, Petunia and Vernon.
Hagrid, standing by, enthusiastically explained the benefits of having house-elves in their home.