1.a close thing
I luckily passed the examination, but it was a close thing.
2.speak ill of
I don't like those guys who speak ill of other people secretly.
Summary:
Harry found a strange-looking creature whose name is Dobby in his bedroom. He said he was a house-elf. He was so nervous and timid that a little thing would make him screech. Because he looked down upon himself very much, it was easy for him to cry loudly when Harry showed kindness to him.
