It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 23

"Indeed, well, I will be sure and arrive a bit early.  And the second thing?"

"Draco is there visiting your son, I believe?"  Lucius inquired.

"Is he?  Well, he very well could be up in Gregory's room.  I've been in my study most of the afternoon.  I'll just go and . . ."

"Ah, it was you I heard, Father," Draco interrupted, as he descended the stairs.  "Hello, Mister Goyle, sorry I missed you when I arrived, but was informed you were in your study and not to be disturbed."

"Yes, yes, I had quite a lot of paperwork to attend to; boring nonsense, but the Goblins at Gringott's insist I go over the end of year statements.  You agree about that chore, don't you , Lucius?"  Mr. Goyle turned to see Lucius looking at Draco with a frown on his face.

"I was told Gregory was ill.  Do you think it advisable . . " he started, but Draco waved his hand dismissively.

"Just a rotten head cold, Father, nothing contagious.   I sat in an armchair and Gregory was propped up in bed.  We talked about Quidditch . . . girls . . . school . . .  girls . . . pulling pranks on Mudbloods . . . what we'd gotten for Christmas . . . "

"And girls!" Mister Goyle laughed. "Yes, those were the topics when we were their ages, eh, Lucius?"

"Indeed,"  Lucius smiled.  "But, I need you to come home, Draco.  We have a dinner invitation from The Minister for Magic and I want you to come with your mother and myself."

"Certainly, Father."

Lucius' face disappeared from the green flames.

"Nice to see you, Mister Goyle.  Tell Gregory, when he wakes up from his nap, that I'll owl him later, see how he's feeling." Draco put out his hand and shook Mister Goyle's before he took a handful of 'Floo Powder' and tossed it on the flames.  "Malfoy Manor!"

'POOF'

* * * *

'Pop'

"Dobby!"  Ginny exclaimed.

"What's going on, Dobby?"  Harry leaned over and steadied the House Elf.

"Oh, thank you, Harry Potter.  Dobby is coming to tell you not to worry about Master Draco, him is home safe and old Master does not know him was not where he found young Master."  Dobby wheezed, trying to catch his breath.

"And where was Draco supposed to be, Dobby," asked Rupert.

"Visiting Master Gregory, him is sick in bed with a cold and Master Draco was visiting him to cheer him up . . . old Master believed him, when he walked down the stairs and went home.  Him, that is young Master, is to go to dinner with old Master and Missy Cissa," explained Dobby, with a smile.  "Master Gregory will only remember young Master was there and that he took a nap."

"That was a close one, Dobby," Hermione sighed.

"Missy Cissa told Dobby where to take young Master and what to tell him, but young Master knew what to say to Master Gregory's father and old Master.  Dobby was listening before he went to tell Missy Cissa everything was alright, then Dobby thought he should come and tell you what had happened."  Dobby stood there, looking extremely proud of his part in the little adventure.

"Fast thinking on all of your parts, Dobby," Dan agreed.  "Well done!"

"Oh, thank you Mister Dan, sir.  Dobby is only doing his duty."

"And you do it splendidly, too, Dobby," said Luna, as she leaned over and hugged the House Elf.

Dobby blushed pink to the tips of his ears, but before he could say anything, Molly's voice echoed up the stairwell, calling them all down to dinner.