Harry was still darting around the sky, desperately dodging the rogue Bludger that seemed hellbent on killing him.
Thankfully, Harry's flying skills were excellent—otherwise, the pitch would already be soaked in blood. Still, the dangerously close calls drew a chorus of gasps from the spectators.
Amid the crowd craning their necks to follow the action, Kai Adler was pulling Hermione through the stands.
"Kai, aren't you going to help Harry first?" she asked anxiously.
Kai looked up briefly. "He can hold on for a little while. But if we help him now, the real culprit might slip away."
As always, just like with the matter of the Chamber of Secrets, Kai chose not to treat the symptom, but to go straight for the cause. If that meant risking Harry—or even the entire school—so be it.
Hermione bit her lip, cast one worried look back at Harry dodging another strike, then followed him without hesitation.
They reached a quiet corner of the stadium where no spectators seemed to be present.
"There's no one here," Hermione said, scanning the space.
"There is," Kai replied quietly.
He withdrew his white ash wand and turned it subtly in his fingers.
"Revelio."
Before their eyes, a figure gradually shimmered into view—a small, thin being no more than half a meter tall, draped in filthy rags. Its large green eyes bulged in its bat-like face, and long ears drooped slightly with tension.
Hermione gasped. "A house-elf?"
Kai blinked in faint surprise as well. He had only detected vague magical interference—he hadn't expected this.
"What are you doing?" Hermione snapped. "Stop it now!"
Though she normally felt sympathy for house-elves, this one was clearly attacking her friend.
"No, Dobby cannot stop. Harry Potter must not stay at Hogwarts!"
The elf's voice was shrill and desperate, his spindly body trembling—but his finger continued to direct the Bludger's relentless pursuit.
Kai narrowed his eyes, wand aimed.
"End the enchantment. Or I'll end you."
The elf quaked, but didn't stop.
"Harry Potter must not stay! Harry Potter is in danger!"
Kai almost laughed. Wasn't it the elf himself putting Harry in danger?
Still, he was intrigued. How did this creature know something was coming? Could it be tied to the Chamber of Secrets?
No more time for talk. He flicked his wand sharply. "Stupefy."
A crimson beam hit the elf squarely, launching him backward and knocking him out cold.
When Dobby woke again, he found himself on the floor of a plain room, lying on a robe.
Hermione and Kai were watching him closely.
"You're awake. Talk. Why did you attack Harry Potter?" Kai asked, cold and direct.
Dobby sat up, eyes wide. "Where is Harry Potter?!"
Kai crossed his arms. "Perfectly fine. In fact, he caught the Snitch and won the match."
Dobby clutched at his ears in distress. "No! Dobby must stop him! He must not stay at Hogwarts!"
He snapped his fingers—but nothing happened.
Startled, he looked down and saw the iron rings on his wrists, faintly glowing.
"Trying to Apparate, were you?" Kai said coolly. "Those are suppression rings. As long as your magic is weaker than mine, you won't be casting anything."
The elf deflated instantly, slumping in place.
"I must save Harry Potter… he cannot stay…"
No matter what Kai asked, Dobby gave the same answer.
Hermione gently pulled on Kai's sleeve and knelt in front of the elf. "Your name is Dobby, right?"
The elf stared in shock. No wizard had ever spoken to him with such gentleness.
"Y-Yes… Dobby is a house-elf…"
"You must be hungry," Hermione said, reaching into her pocket—only to find Luna's mealworms. She gave Kai an apologetic look.
With a sigh, Kai produced a small cloth pouch from his robes and poured out a handful of sweets.
"Of course you'd have something stashed," Hermione teased with a grateful smile.
Dobby looked at the food with disbelief. "Is… is this for Dobby?"
"Yes," Hermione said warmly. "It's yours."
Tears welled up in Dobby's eyes. "So kind… Dobby has never been given such food… only spoiled scraps…"
Hermione's heart ached. "Eat as much as you like."
Dobby began to eat with almost frenzied gratitude.
With a flick of his wand, Kai summoned a small table and chairs. He poured tea into two cups and handed one to Hermione.
"You're drinking too?" she asked.
"The elf's eating. Why should I go hungry?" he replied matter-of-factly.
Hermione giggled, but then sobered. "Dobby, whose elf are you? Don't they feed you?"
"Dobby cannot say…"
"Then why attack Harry Potter?"
"Dobby was saving him! Just an injury—to send him home!"
Kai and Hermione exchanged a look.
"Why protect him?" Kai asked.
"Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord… he is Dobby's hero…"
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Then what's the danger at Hogwarts?"
"Someone is planning something terrible… but Dobby cannot say… must not betray the master…"
The elf suddenly smashed his head against the floor with a crack.
Hermione rushed to stop him. "No, no! Don't hurt yourself!"
Kai raised his hand. "Enough questions."
He studied the elf carefully.
"So, your master's family is behind the plot. Was he at Hogwarts today?"
A small nod.
Kai's expression sharpened. "Is your master a Malfoy?"
Dobby's eyes bulged in shock, but he didn't speak.
"No need. I already know."
He removed the suppression rings with a flick. "You're free to go."
Dobby hesitated, looked longingly at the uneaten sweets, then vanished with a snap.
Kai leaned back. "So it really was the Malfoys…"
Hermione sat beside him. "Could Draco have opened the Chamber of Secrets? Is he Slytherin's heir?"
Kai took another sip of tea. "We could just ask him."
Hermione's eyes brightened. "There's a potion in the library… I think it can help us ask."
Kai arched a brow. "What potion?"
"You'll see~" she said slyly.
He chuckled. He'd been planning to confront Draco and use Legilimency, but if Hermione wanted to try something clever, how could he say no?
"That suppression spell is amazing," Hermione added. "It even worked on a house-elf."
Kai nodded. "Grindelwald invented it."
Hermione grimaced. "Let me guess—he used it to torture people?"
Kai smirked. "No. He used it… on me."
"…What?" Hermione blinked.
"Long story." He sipped his tea, smiling faintly. "But it worked."