Simultaneously traversing: the pinnacle of all realms

Chapter 97 Socks of Freedom

Harry was a little confused, not understanding what Lucius meant at all. He just thought this Malfoy man was extremely annoying, just like his slick-haired son Draco Malfoy.

Harry straightened his back and retorted, "Don't worry, I will."

Two people who are completely on different wavelengths managed to have a perfect conversation.

Dumbledore smiled; Harry possessed the true courage of Gryffindor.

Lucius was speechless, gave a cold snort, and turned away abruptly.

He walked incredibly fast, not forgetting to give Dobby, who was following behind, a hard kick: "Hurry up, you piece of trash!"

Harry watched Dobby's staggering figure, his fists clenched tightly.

But Harry was clever; he noticed the diary on Dumbledore's desk: "Is this Malfoy's diary?"

Harry, on a sudden inspiration, looked up at Dumbledore and asked, "Headmaster Dumbledore, would you like to continue reading this diary?"

Dumbledore smiled knowingly and handed the charred and tattered diary to Harry, probably guessing what Harry was going to do.

Xavier understood Dumbledore's expression perfectly. He was a troublemaker, a centenarian who still didn't mind making things worse. No wonder he was a Gryffindor student.

Harry quickly took off one of his socks—which had a hole in the toe—and stuffed it into his diary.

Without even saying goodbye, he grabbed his diary and quickly chased after her.

Xavier thought for a moment, bowed slightly to Dumbledore, picked up his things, and followed.

The door closed slowly.

In his office, Dumbledore's smile gradually faded. He walked to the window, gazing at the swirling snowflakes outside, his expression turning serious.

"The unwilling Death Eaters—"

Lucius wasn't the only Death Eater who escaped the Ministry of Magic's punishment.

Phoenix Fox flew to his shoulder and gently nuzzled his cheek with its soft, golden head.

"Go, protect those two children."

Fox let out a screech and then disappeared in a flash of fire.

"Mr. Malfoy! Mr. Malfoy! You forgot your things."

Harry caught up with Lucius in the corridor and shoved the diary into Lucius's arms, deliberately making it even dirtier.

"Mine? I don't know what you're talking about—"

Lucius's pupils dilated, and he instinctively wanted to throw the diary back.

Xavier then slowly spoke up: "Mr. School Board Member, you have the qualifications and the responsibility to handle this mysterious dark magic artifact. I think that's why Headmaster Dumbledore summoned you here."

Lucius whirled around, scrutinizing him from head to toe: "And who are you?"

"Ethan Xavier."

"Another Muggle-born wizard."

Upon hearing the surname, Lucius scoffed, his tone full of disdain. But after a moment's thought, Lucius wrinkled his nose in disgust and still tossed the filthy diary to Dobby behind him.

"Take it!"

Lucius snorted and turned to leave: "Dobby! Follow me!"

"Dobby!"

Harry whispered a reminder, winking at Dobby, "Quick, open the diary!"

"Dobby!"

Lucius, standing ahead, shouted impatiently, "What are you dawdling about?!"

Dobby looked around and subconsciously opened the diary in his hand.

A wool sock with a hole in it fell out of the book and landed at its feet.

Dobby was stunned.

It slowly raised its head, looking at Lucius's retreating figure, its eyes gradually filling with tears.

"Owner----"

Dobby's voice choked with emotion, filled with unbelievable joy, "Master just gave Dobby a sock!"

"What? I didn't—"

Upon hearing this, Lucius turned around abruptly and saw Dobby's diary in his hand, the smelly socks on the ground, and Dobby's tearful expression of joy in his tattered clothes. He instantly understood.

"These were given to Dobby by his master."

Dobby picked up the socks, hugged them tightly, looked at Lucius, and gave him a big, mocking smile.

However, her face was still covered in tears and snot.

Dobby is now free!

Harry then provocatively raised his boot towards Lucius, showing off his bare feet.

Seeing Harry's actions, Xavier raised an eyebrow: Oh ho, the cunning Harry is even mocking him to his face.

Lucius was furious: "You've made me lose my servant!"

His face was contorted in a ferocious expression, and all traces of his noble elegance had vanished.

The dignified head of the Malfoy family and the Hogwarts school board member was actually tricked by this "savior"!

Lucius fiercely pulled his wand from his staff, pointing it directly at Harry, "Avada Kedavra—"

"You are not allowed to hurt Harry Potter!"

Before Lucius could finish his spell, Dobby stepped in front of Harry.

It stretched out its small hand with four fingers, without a magic wand or any incantation.

An invisible force suddenly erupted, sending Lucius flying.

Lucius screamed as he flew out and crashed heavily onto the corridor floor, where he lay sprawled.

Dobby crossed his arms and gave a smug hum.

"Oh~ It must be a little painful from all that work~"

Xavier gasped and shook his head silently to himself.

He wasn't worried about Harry's safety at all.

I don't know what Lucius Malfoy was thinking, daring to use the Unforgivable Curse outside Dumbledore's office, and against Hogwarts students no less.

No wonder Draco Malfoy is like that too; he doesn't have any of the cunning of a pure-blood nobleman.

Lucius staggered to his feet, his platinum hair disheveled, his robes covered in dust, looking utterly disheveled.

And this silent, wandless spellcasting won't be bad. Although the power and accuracy of the spell may not be as good as spells with incantations and wands, the wind-up is extremely short and it can catch you off guard, making it a perfect match for wizard duels.

Lucius trembled with rage. He glared at Harry and cursed viciously, "Your parents were nosy fools too! Remember me, Potter, one day you'll suffer the same fate as them!"

Having said that, he dared not linger any longer. He straightened his robe, turned around, and left in a disheveled state.

"Thank you, Dobby."

Harry looked at the house-elf standing in front of him and said sincerely.

He was genuinely startled, never expecting Lucius to act so recklessly.

Dobby shook his head, then looked up at Harry sincerely: "Harry freed Dobby, how will Dobby repay him?"

Harry stopped thinking about Lucius and replied to Dobby with a smile.

"Just promise me one thing: don't even think about saving my life anymore."

Dobby smiled but didn't say anything.

It has no owner now and doesn't need to obey anyone's orders. It can protect whomever it wants.

Xavier looked at the little creature and knew that Dobby was one of the few house-elves with a strong sense of self. Even when he was with the Malfoys, he would bypass the constraints to help Harry, let alone now that he was free.

"What are you planning to do next?" Xavier asked.

Dobby's smile slowly faded, and it shook its head blankly.

House-elves without owners, especially those who have betrayed their owners, usually do not have a good ending and find it difficult to survive in the wizarding world.

Although the Ministry of Magic has an Office for the Settlement of House-Elves, where Newt Scamander once worked, the vast majority of freed house-elves ultimately did not receive proper resettlement.

Harry didn't have a good idea at the moment, after all, according to Ron, he himself was like a Dursley house-elf.

"Come with us to the principal's office."

Xavier said, "Professor Dumbledore is a good man; he'll give you a job. At Hogwarts, you're not a servant, you just work here. You'll have a salary, holidays, and lots of friends."

Although the house-elves at Hogwarts also serve the students and teachers, they are treated much better than the house-elves outside the city.

Moreover, the little spirits here have much better self-awareness than those in the outside world; at least they can clearly distinguish right from wrong and good from evil.

They won't reject this little guy who "betrayed" his owner.

Of course, Xavier never intended to start any movement to protect house-elves.

You can treat them kindly and give them better care, just like you would protect your own pet companions.

But this must not be like some mentally unstable extreme animal rights organizations.