Crossover Insanity Chapter 1

Hi all,

Here’s the first chapter of my new story. Introducing Dobby as the MC! But will that change in the next chapter? You get to decide!

[Edit] This chapter is now available for the Casual Gamer tier. Upgrade to Dedicated Gamer to read two chapters ahead, and have a vote on how it turns out.

Chapter 1 - The Box of Curiosities

Lucius Malfoy tumbled down the stairs, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below. Dobby couldn't help but giggle at the sight of his former master in such a state.

Harry shot Dobby a puzzled look. What was the elf giggling about?

Dobby’s amusement quickly faded. There was something wrong with his magic. He intended to inflict more damage on his former master, but his magic felt much weaker than usual. Would Lucius have been hurt if the stairs hadn’t been there?

What could be going on?

Lucius started moving, implying that he was fine, which disappointed him. It would have been a lot more satisfying if the man had broken his neck. Lucius stood up, his face like a thundercloud, and drew his wand. Dobby eagerly awaited the man's attack so that he could strike him again in self-defense.

Dobby often questioned his sanity due to the traumatic experiences inflicted upon him by his former master. It was only natural that he wanted to get revenge. He wasn’t like the rest of his kind. If his elf magic hadn’t been working against him, he could have hurt Malfoy a long time ago.

"You shall leave now," Harry demanded. "You will not hurt me. Would you like to take another tumble down the stairs?"

No! What was Harry Potter doing? Dobby tried to convey a message with his eyes, but the boy didn’t seem to understand. Crud. Why was the boy so stupid? How many times did Dobby have to hit himself in the head in the headmaster's office to get the boy to understand that he wanted him to help him break free from his master?

Dobby watched sadly as Lucius pocketed his wand, swung his cloak around, and hurried away. Don’t get comfortable, Malfoy. Dobby is not finished with you.

"Don’t worry, Dobby," Harry reassured him as he noticed tears in the elf's eyes. "Lucius Malfoy will not be able to hurt you again. You don’t need to thank me for getting rid of him."

Dobby grimaced at Harry’s words. Shirt for brains! Dobby didn’t need your help!

“Just promise me to never try and save my life again.”

Dobby placed a hand over his heart. “Dobby will definitely not try and save your life again.”

He would leave it to the Granger girl. The boy was helpless without her by his side. The smartest thing he could do was marry the girl and hope that her intelligence would be passed down to his children.

Harry said goodbye and walked away. As Dobby watched him leave, a sense of uncertainty washed over him. He hadn’t expected to be freed, and now that he had it, he was unsure what would come next. Besides seeking vengeance on his former master. He chuckled to himself as his ears danced, imagining various scenarios in his head that grew progressively more violent.

When a nearby knight in his portrait noticed the elve's crazed expression, he fled from his portrait, his chivalry abandoning him.

Nobody suspected that Lucius Malfoy's crimes over the last year went beyond giving a cursed diary to a young girl. It all started during the summer holidays when he ordered one of his house elves to murder a certain boy. The wizard didn’t expect it to work, but he saw an opportunity to eliminate two of his most despised enemies at once. Harry Potter and Dobby, the house elf.

The former was an obvious choice because he was responsible for the Dark Lord's demise and ruined much of his fun. The elf, on the other hand, was a bloody pest that he desperately wanted to eliminate, but his wife had a soft spot for the creature. Probably because the elf drove him crazy. Dobby was rebellious and sometimes had to be told several times to do something. Even when he punished the elf, it failed to learn its lesson.

House elves were curious creatures. Even though they were supposed to strictly follow their master's orders, they could be stubborn about certain issues. One of them was their pesky morality, which allowed them to defy orders that would have caused harm to others. This wasn’t a personality trait or a code of ethics the house elves adhered to, but something that was hardwired into their magic.

It prevented their owners from abusing their power and using the house elves for darker purposes. Still, if the master was strict enough, they could try to enforce the elf's compliance, but this rarely worked out well for the elf.

Dobby was already an unusual elf. However, the clash between his master's orders and his magic caused his mind to become unstable. It might not have been so bad, except for the fact that his target was the Boy Who Lived. He became obsessed with Harry after discovering Draco's secret stash of Harry Potter books. This meant that his magic fought harder against his master's order, resulting in a series of events throughout the summer and school year where he tried to save Harry Potter’s life.

Now that he was free, his magic had changed. Dobby was no longer bound by house-elves morality, which meant he was free in every sense of the word. The only reason he didn’t attack Lucius further was because there were witnesses, and he didn’t want to be pursued for attacking a wizard.

His vengeance would come in time. “Revenge is a dish best served frosty.”

Dobby frowned and repeated the words in his head. That didn’t sound quite right.

As he looked around, he considered where he should go next. Then it occurred to him to pay the elves in the kitchen a visit. They would want to know about his status as a free elf. He vanished with a resounding crack.

"What is happening?" Dobby screamed as he appeared in a girl's bathroom, ten feet in the air, and dropped to the floor with a thud.

A girl standing at the sink screamed when she noticed him in the mirror's reflection. She fumbled for her wand, and Dobby knew he needed to leave.

“Dobby sorry!” He escaped the bathroom and dashed down the corridor.

He finally stopped running when he thought he had outrun any potential pursuers. Dobby placed a trembling hand on his chest, gasping for air. He felt extremely tired, as if he had used an enormous amount of magic, similar to the exhausting task of cleaning the entire Malfoy manor in a single sitting.

“Why did Dobby appear in the girl’s bathroom? Did Dobby make a mistake?”

Dobby apparated again, and reappeared, standing on the railing of the moving grand staircase. Fear gripped him as he looked down at the terrifying drop below. He took a moment to gather himself and sat on the steps, trying to make sense of the situation. The break was also required because his magic seemed completely depleted. He could feel his heart beating in his chest and felt as if he was about to faint, which passed after a few minutes.

There was no denying it anymore. Dobby was certain that there was something wrong with his magic. Could this be the consequence of defying his master's orders for the past year? Ever since he was freed, his magic has been acting up. It just didn't seem fair.

Unable to apparate in his current state, he had no choice but to wait for the stairs to shift to the correct floor before walking down to the kitchens. He tickled the pear in the portrait, and it swung open.

Dobby walked into the kitchen and jumped onto the table. He cleared his throat. “Dobby has an announcement.”

The house elves took a glance at him before returning to their tasks. They had no time to listen to the strange elf. There was work to be done.

Dobby frowned. Didn’t he speak clearly enough?

"Dobby is now a free elf!” Dobby declared. “No longer will I beholden to a cruel master. I will be getting paid for my work."

The announcement didn’t get the response that he was expecting. He was completely ignored, except for an older female who appeared to be in charge of the kitchens.

"Get down from the table," she squeaked, waving her ladle at him threateningly. “That table is not for standing on.”

Dobby jumped down from the table, and the elf approached him. “My name is Maisy. Your name is Dobby, yes? You are a strange elf.”

Dobby crossed his arms defensively. “I find you elves to be the strangest lot. Why do you bend down to the old goat beard? All elves should be free.”

Maisy whacked him on the head with the ladle. “Dobby shouldn’t be saying such things. We are good elves.”

Dobby rubbed his head. Why did he try and convince these simpletons?

“Is there something wrong with you?” Maisy peered at him, concerned. “Dobby’s magic feels strange.”

“Dobby doesn’t know,” Dobby admitted. “Dobby’s apparition is not working properly. It sent him to the wrong destination twice and burned out all his magic.”

Maisy nodded sympathetically. “Then you can’t leave the castle if your magic is not working right. You can work here for the time being until you can find out what’s wrong.”

Dobby's face twisted into a frown. “Dobby doesn’t want to work here for free.”

“I don’t know what to do with you,” Maisy said, shaking her head despairingly. She thought about it for a moment before she brightened. “I know the perfect job for you. You can search for the Come and Go Room for the house-elf heraldry.”

Dobby chuckled and slapped his stomach. “That doesn’t sound polite. They should clean up after themselves after making such a mess.”

“What is Dobby talking about?”

“Come and go?“ Dobby waited for her to grasp the meaning. But when she continued to look puzzled, he waved a hand dismissively. ”Forget Dobby said anything. Dobby has been learning some naughty things from Mrs Malfoy’s trashy muggle romance novels. Maisy mentioned something about a heraldry?”

Maisy nodded. “It’s a symbol that our elf-ancestors used to wear on our uniforms but it was supposed to have been lost in the Come and Go Room. The house elves haven’t worn a uniform since because of the shame.”

“You haven’t found it in all this time?”

“No, the room is strange. Some elves believe that wicked magic is at work, keeping things hidden from them.” Maisy leaned forward, whispering. "Maisy suspects that the room is connected to other dimensions, as strange items appear in it on occasion. Maisy hopes the heraldry is still there.”

“How will Dobby searching for the item make a difference?”

“Maybe if you don’t use magic to search, you can trick the room.”

Dobby thought about the offer before shaking his head. "Dobby wants to get paid."

“There is plenty of wizarding money scattered about the room,” Maisy told him. “The students are being careless with their gold.”

“A treasure hunt! Dobby agrees to look for the heraldry.” Dobby spat on his hand and offered it to Maisy. “Put it there, partner.”

Dobby was hit with the ladle again. “Don’t be disgusting.”

Dobby eyed the ladle in her hands enviously. If he ever got his hands on it, he would show her who was in charge.

Maisy pointed to the door. “Get to work. Find yourself a new pillowcase to wear as well. You are stinky."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Is this the room?” Dobby stared at the door, which had appeared after following Maisy's instructions.

Dobby grasped the handle and opened the door. After walking inside, the door shut behind him.

“This place is a total mess!”

Dobby had requested the Room of Hidden Things, and he had received his wish. The room was filled with rows of discarded items stacked on top of one another, creating narrow aisles through which to navigate. Dobby looked at the stacks nervously, as some appeared to be about to collapse at any moment.

“Where does Dobby even start?”

Without his magic, it would be much more difficult to find anything in this mess. He could be here for weeks, searching for the heraldry. But until he could figure out what was wrong with his magic, there was nothing else to do. There better be plenty of galleons in here.

“Dobby needs to be smart about this and do a systematic search.”

He began working through the first stack, taking care not to knock anything over. After an hour of work, he was exhausted, and the robes he was sorting made him sneeze. As he was moving another robe, he felt something hard in one of the packs. Curious, he pulled it out.

“A galleon! What a great find!"

He resumed his search for the heraldry with renewed zeal, even starting to sing a song as he worked.

"I'm an uneducated fool with galleons on my mind... I got a galleon in my hand and a gleam in my eye… I'm a loc'd out elf, set trippin' banger...  And my elves is down, so don't arouse my anger…fool…The heraldry ain't nothing but a heartbeat away...  I will find it; do or die, what can I say?... I'm searching now but will I live to see it found?... The way things are going, I don't know.”

Dobby spent the next few hours clearing out a space near the entrance so he could better organise everything. He found another two galleons and fifteen sickles, which motivated him to work even harder. But in his excitement, he became careless and tipped over a precarious stack of books.

“No!” Dobby covered his head as the books fell on top of him.

A book struck him on the head with its sharp edge, leaving him dazed. He eventually found himself sprawled on the floor, buried under a pile of books.

“Crud. Why did this happen?” Dobby cried out in pain and frustration. “Why doesn’t his magic work properly? Give it back to me. I need power if I’m going to get revenge on that bad master.“

The sound of a loud thunk reached his ears, originating from somewhere within the room. He pushed the books off his body and slowly stood up. "Is there someone here?"

He squinted as he noticed a faint glow emanating from the back of the room. Where did that come from? Dobby moved in the direction of the light, curious about its source. There was a chest against the back wall, similar to what one would find at the foot of one's bed, and nearly as tall as him. The chest was releasing a soft glow, but it faded as soon as Dobby appeared, as if it had achieved its goal of catching his attention.

“What is this thing?” Dobby examined the chest carefully.

The chest was a beautifully decorated piece with intricate illustrations carved into its sides. Although he didn't understand the meaning behind them, they were visually pleasing. On the lid, there were written words and a set of switches that were paired with an illustration that were scaled-down versions of the larger ones.

“Let’s see what it says,” Dobby stood up on tiptoe and read the words on the lid.

Box of Curiosities.

This chest is a cross-dimensional treasure that contains special perks such as unique abilities, powerful artefacts, and superpowers from various dimensions. Each one on its own can change your life, but getting all of them will make you a god. As the first individual to discover it in this world, you will be offered the first opportunity to obtain these perks through a pact.

However, you must meet the conditions listed below. Once completed, you will be able to open the chest by flipping one of the switches. The contents inside the chest will grant you the perk. You can choose the order in which you unlock them, but keep in mind that the requirements will become more difficult as you progress.

Warning: The perks may cause some unusual side effects. Use at your own risk.

This pact is governed by several rules, which you will not be aware of unless you discover them on your own. As a sign of cooperation, the first perk will be provided for free. Simply drip some blood on the chest to obtain it and sign the pact.

“Box of Curiosities?” Dobby grinned. “Maisy was right. There are some strange things in this room. Dobby wants to become a god. A puny god!”

It never occurred to him to be cautious about the strange chest that had appeared. Perhaps it was because he was unhappy with how his magic was acting up. Deep down, he knew there was a serious problem, but he had no idea how to solve it. It would be preferable to take a chance on this treasure. Dobby refuses to be mediocre!

Dobby bit his thumb, and some blood welled up. He dripped blood onto the chest, and a beam shot out from it, striking him in the chest. At first, he was afraid, but the only thing he felt was a brief heat before it faded.

“What should Dobby choose?”

Dobby examined the various illustrations, which he assumed must be related to the perk he would receive. He paused when he came across an image of a ninja. The prospect of becoming one instantly appealed to Dobby's sensibilities. Just imagine what athletic feats he could pull off!

Without hesitation, Dobby flipped the switch. The lid exploded open with a bang. A billowing cloud of blue smoke engulfed Dobby before he had time to react. He fell to the ground, writhing on the floor and screaming in terror. But he provided an entry point for the smoke, which began to pour into his mouth. Whatever happened next was a mystery because the darkness consumed him.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Dobby awoke unexpectedly and sat up in a panic. He patted himself down to reassure himself that he was alright. When nothing seemed out of place, he sighed with relief. But that feeling was quickly replaced by confusion as he discovered something wrong with his body.

He was usually attuned to his magic, which was a constant presence within him, like another heartbeat that was always running. It was now completely absent. That would have sent him into a tailspin if it hadn’t been for the unusual energy he felt that had replaced it.

Dobby clenched his fist and felt an enormous surge of strength. Confused, he looked around the room, and it was only then that he noticed the pile of books on the floor beside him. Picking up one of the books, he read the title.

“Chakra? What is that?”

So, what do you think? The first poll will be up tomorrow, and it will decide which fandom will be added to the next chapter. Be sure to suggest some fandoms in the comments, and I will add them to the poll. If there aren't enough choices, I will add some of my own.

Thanks for reading.