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HPTD - CH 115 - Freedom by Frills
🕑 Added 2025-04-25 15:07:33 +0000 UTCThe doors flew open hard enough to rattle the hinges.
Lucius Malfoy swept inside, his cane tapped sharply, like the floor had personally offended him. Ben could see fury barely caged behind polished civility as he got out of his way.
"Ah. Mr Malfoy," said Dumbledore, as calm as a pond in winter. "What a surprise. I didn't expect company at this hour."
"You're back," Lucius spat. His eyes darted to Ben, narrowed, then returned to Dumbledore. "I heard the board had… reversed their decision."
"Indeed," said Dumbledore, nodding once. "In light of recent events, they saw fit to reinstate me."
Lucius's lips thinned. "That decision was not unanimous. I was not consulted."
"No," Dumbledore said pleasantly. "But it was... overwhelmingly in favour."
Leaning against the doorframe, Ben peeled a chocolate coin without looking up. "Word is you fought very hard to keep him gone," he said. "Didn’t even last the day. Bit embarrassing, that."
Lucius's eyes snapped to him.
"And you are?"
Ben finally looked up. "Benedict Brown. First name's a mouthful, so people just scream 'Ben!' when something's on fire."
Lucius's eyes narrowed with disdain. "I don't recall inviting your commentary."
Ben grinned. "I don't recall needing your permission."
Dumbledore cleared his throat lightly, but there was no reprimand in his expression. "Mr Brown has been instrumental in resolving the recent… crisis."
"I see," Lucius said, voice frost-tipped. He looked Ben over as though inspecting a stain that had ruined his favourite robes.
His sneer turned back to Dumbledore. "My only concern has ever been the welfare of this school. I assume the culprit has been identified, then?"
Dumbledore gave him a kindly look. "Yes. We have."
"Well?" said Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Ben muttered with a scoff that earned him another glare from Malfoy Sr.
"Oh, the same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. Through a diary."
He held up the fake diary for Lucius to see, watching his face closely.
"Interesting..." Lucius said slowly.
Ben stretched his back against the stone and added, "Yeah, not as interesting as how Voldemort's old diary ended up in the school."
Lucius's head turned. "I beg your pardon?"
Ben straightened from the wall and took a step forward. "Someone very clever must've slipped it into a student's belongings," Ben went on. "Really cunning, you know. The sort of thing a snake would pull."
Lucius's grip tightened on his cane, and his eyes sharpened. "I have no idea what you're implying."
Ben gave a wide, unbothered smile. "Not implying anything, Malfoy. I'm saying it. I know it was you who planted that diary in Ginny Weasley's cauldron after your little scrap with Arthur at Flourish and Blotts."
Lucius's face went stone-cold.
He stepped forward, voice low. "Mind your tone, boy—"
"Or what?" Ben cut in, eyes cool, steady. "You'll hex me in the Headmaster's office? Give it a go, if you're feeling brave."
Dumbledore didn't move, but the firelight flickered off his half-moon glasses in a way that made Lucius pause.
For a long second, no one spoke.
"You have no proof," Lucius said at last, voice tight.
"No, we don't," Dumbledore said. "Not now that Tom Riddle has vanished from the diary. But I would advise you, Lucius—don't go handing out any more of Voldemort's school heirlooms. If one more ends up in the wrong hands, the consequences could be... severe."
"Then I think this conversation has run its course." Lucius turned sharply and swept toward the door, but paused just before crossing the threshold.
He glanced over his shoulder at Ben.
"Careful where you make enemies, Mr Brown. The world outside these walls isn't quite as forgiving as your Headmaster."
He stepped out, and a small thud followed almost immediately.
"Out of my way, you wretched thing," came the cold voice, followed by the sharp click of his cane and a muffled grunt.
Ben raised an eyebrow. Sounded like someone had just caught a boot to the ribs.
He pushed off the wall. "I'll go walk him out. Make sure he doesn't punt anyone else down the corridor."
Dumbledore didn't stop him.
-
Lucius was halfway down the steps, cloak whipping behind him, when Ben caught up with him under the great marble archway. Dobby trailed behind, hunched and flinching at every step Lucius took.
He called out, a little too cheerfully— "Oi, Mr Malfoy! You forgot something."
Lucius stopped dead, turned slowly.
Ben tossed the diary.
It was damp, he'd made sure to hit it with a little Aguamenti before stepping out, just enough to make it squelch a bit. It spun once in the air, then smacked against Lucius's chest with a wet flap. He caught it reflexively, eyes narrowing.
Ben gave him a pleasant smile. "Bit of a family keepsake, isn't it?"
Lucius looked ready to hurl it straight into the nearest fireplace, but it had belonged to his master. His fingers curled around it in disgust.
"You insolent little—"
"Uh-oh, looks like it's about to blow," Ben said, taking a few steps back.
The diary in Lucius's hand began to squirm.
Lucius made a strangled noise and flung it away like it burned.
Mid-air, it began to shift—edges rippling like water, spine bubbling and twisting. By the time it was about to hit the floor, it wasn’t a diary anymore.
It was a hat.
A fluffy, absurdly pink sun hat, rimmed with frills and a bow tied cheerfully at the front.
Lucius stared at it in horror.
Before his brain could process what his eyes were seeing, it was snatched right before it hit the floor by a set of trembling little hands.
Dobby was on the floor, clutching the pink hat like it was the most precious thing in the world. "A hat… a hat," he whispered. "Master gave Dobby a hat..."
Lucius's face went ashen. "I did no such—!"
"Well, technically, you tossed it to him, didn’t you?" Ben said with a shrug. "Magic’s funny like that."
"Master... gave it to Dobby. Dobby is free..." Dobby screamed with elation.
Lucius turned to him, eyes wild. "You...you planned this."
Ben tilted his head. "Or maybe you walked into it."
"You've lost me my servant, boy!" Lucius raised his cane like he might strike.
Ben didn't flinch.
"Try it," he said calmly. "Just once."
Before a Mexican standoff could start, Dobby stepped between them.
With a snap of his fingers, a sudden gust of magic knocked Lucius backwards multiple steps, almost to the edge of the staircase.
Lucius's face twisted. He pointed a furious, shaking cane at the elf.
"You insolent creature—!"
Dobby stood straighter than he ever had.
"Sir will not harm Ben Brown," he said, voice trembling but firm. "Not while Dobby is here."
Lucius stared them both down, but he wasn't brave enough to go against them both with a winding staircase behind him.
Lucius’s grip faltered. He lowered the cane, nostrils flaring.
"You'll regret this," he said, his teeth clenched.
Ben smiled, all teeth. "You first."
Lucius turned in a sweep of robes and stormed off down the steps. His boots clipped violently against the stone. His cloak caught on a portrait, and he yanked it free with a growl.
Ben watched him go. "Well," he muttered, "not that I needed it… but thanks anyway."
Dobby beamed at him, still clutching the ridiculous hat to his chest, as if it might vanish.
Ben sighed.
"It's just a hat, mate," he said gently.
Dobby nodded, but his eyes shimmered “Dobby... Dobby will treasure it forever.”
Ben gave a tired grin. “Well, it’s your fashion problem now.”
But he had the sudden, bone-deep feeling he’d just missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To give Dobby a thong.
-To be Continued...
Comments
Prashant Deopa
Yeah, somebody commented that on the previous chapter. Had to pass on the trauma.
Vick
Oh god, I wish I could unread the last sentence.
