Ottery St Catchpole, an old dark green car wobbled to a stop at the door of the Shabby Residence.
The car door opened, and Kael and several members of the Weasley family got out one after another.
"We're home kids, make sure you don't leave the luggage in the car."
Mr. Weasley shouted from the driver's seat, but he himself had no intention of getting out.
The old Ford he had before had disappeared into the Forbidden Forest after Ron drove it to Hogwarts and could never be found again. This car was one he temporarily borrowed from the Ministry of Magic and would have to be returned later.
Every time he thought of this, Mr. Weasley felt a wave of heartache, as he had put a lot of effort into modifying that ordinary Ford into its previous form.
Not only did it come with the standard Undetectable Extension Charm, but it could fly, become invisible, and automatically recognize directions… and now it's suddenly gone.
"Maybe I should find an excuse to give Ron a good thrashing?" Mr. Weasley silently thought on his way back to the Ministry of Magic.
"Just like his report card wasn't bad..."
...
Meanwhile, just as they got off the car, Mrs. Weasley rushed out from the house.
"Thank goodness, you're finally on vacation!"
With a kettle on her waist and a brand new brush in her hand, she headed straight for Kael.
"Kael, you..."
At this moment, Ron suddenly looked excitedly at the house-elf following behind her.
"Oh, you must be Doba... oh no, I mean Dobby!"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley," Dobby said respectfully.
"It called me 'Mr.'!" Ron looked a bit excited.
"If you like it..." Fred laughed, "we can call you that too."
"Honorable Mr. Ron Weasley, could you please take your luggage back to your room now?" George giggled.
Ron's face turned bright red.
But just as he was about to pick up his luggage, Dobby had already stacked those boxes together and carried them into the Shabby Residence.
"That's really convenient," Ginny marveled.
"Yeah..."
Ron also forgot Fred and George's earlier teasing and began to dream of a life where meals are ready and clothes are put on for him.
"Convenient? I wouldn't say so."
In a place where they didn't notice, Mrs. Weasley muttered softly.
She pulled Kael aside, making sure Dobby was not nearby, and then asked expectantly, "Dear, although it's a bit much to ask, can you really send Dobby away?"
"Of course, Mrs. Weasley," Kael nodded, "but it's too late today, I'll take him away tomorrow."
"That's good, that's good," Mrs. Weasley breathed a sigh of relief, "If possible, please try not to hurt him, Dobby is a really good child, but..."
She suddenly sighed, "Arthur's appetite is getting smaller and smaller lately, I know he wants to eat my cooking."
"I've also tried to negotiate with Dobby, but every time he's filled with anxiety, thinking he hasn't done a good enough job, and even bangs his head on the table."
"I understand, Mrs. Weasley..." Kael nodded, "Leave it to me."
While the two talked, the others had already entered the Shabby Residence.
Dobby had prepared several large plates of cookies and desserts in advance, saying they were for everyone to snack on before dinner.
But the table was so full of cookies, it was more than enough to be a meal in itself.
At this rate, the Weasley family's food expenses would surely increase significantly...
Kael found Dobby busy in the kitchen, preparing the ingredients for dinner and dessert like pudding.
"Sir!"
Upon seeing Kael, Dobby immediately stopped his work, "Thank you for helping Dobby find a new job, Dobby really likes it here."
"Glad you like it," Kael said, "Just so happens, I have something to tell you. Can I invite you to come to my house as a guest?"
"Invite... you just said, invite!"
Dobby clutched his big ears excitedly, his whole face turning a brownish-red, "Dobby would be delighted."
After that, Kael took Dobby back to his place.
"Good news."
Seeing Dobby, who was eager to scrub the floor, Kael quickly said, "You've passed the probation period."
"Pro... bation period?"
Dobby was a little confused and clearly didn't understand what this meant.
"Simply put, the family you were just in wasn't your real workplace,"
Kael said the reason he had prepared earlier, and before Dobby could bang his head on the floor, he quickly continued the next part.
"You need to work for another family, but the master there is very picky, only the best house-elves are recognized by them."
Seemed like a keyword had been triggered...
"Dobby can... Dobby is the best house-elf!"
Thankfully, the floor was spared.
"Of course, Mrs. Weasley has already told me," Kael nodded and continued, "You've passed her test and are qualified to work there."
...
Under Kael's narrative, Dobby quickly believed his story.
But he insisted on finishing today's dinner before leaving the Weasley family, otherwise, he would rather not be that "best house-elf."
Kael had no reason to refuse, after all, they would leave tomorrow, so there was no rush for one more night.
Mrs. Weasley was also happy to agree.
After resolving Dobby's matter, Mr. Weasley happened to return, accompanied by Chris and Diana.
The reunion after a year was not as warm as imagined...
Diana, upon seeing Kael, immediately put on a stern face and began scolding him for meddling with time, saying he should have written home as soon as he found himself in the past.
"Even if I couldn't receive the letter, you could have told your father... he would have found me..."
Diana squinted her eyes, "If it weren't for Dumbledore, I wouldn't even know you had such an exciting time at school..."
"Did all the teachers at school die, needing you to handle that Chamber of Secret..."
Chris lowered his head, pretending not to hear anything, trying to avoid unnecessary trouble, he quietly slipped out the door and hid in the Shabby Residence.
This scolding lasted for over half an hour until Kael repeatedly promised that Salazar Slytherin had agreed to smooth over the impact of that time travel did it finally end.
As a graduate of Slytherin, Diana had some inexplicable admiration and trust towards that founder.
Just like those fans of Lockhart at the beginning of the school, they believed whatever was said.
...
Finally waiting until the evening.
Kael's family set off for the Shabby Residence at Mr. Weasley's invitation.
Dobby had used up all the ingredients, turning them all into a sumptuous feast.
Mr. Weasley had to conjure up a larger table just to barely fit all the plates.
Because it was so abundant, the dinner lasted for nearly two hours before it ended, with Ron slumping in his chair, holding his stomach, unwilling to move.
This meal was about as grand as the banquets at school.
Enjoying a banquet-like experience at home... this was something he never imagined before, no wonder so many people wanted a house-elf.
"It's wonderful..." Ron thought.
Fred and George were also very happy, with a house-elf, Mrs. Weasley no longer had to clean in their room, and wouldn't discover the things they hid under their beds.
And Percy... house-elves were famous for doing housework quietly, which wouldn't disturb him.
...