bioinnovel Chapter 276 Freedom is Precious
Chapter 276 Freedom is Precious
Chapter 276 Freedom is Precious
The understanding Professor Black quickly stopped the house-elf's passion, which was even more fiery than a flame.
After all, the purpose of bringing students to the Hogwarts kitchen is to solve problems, not to enjoy the service of elves.
With Belvina's intervention, the enthusiasm that had been weighing heavily on Harry and his friends dissipated, but the trio still couldn't let loose or be too proud to act freely.
The house-elves were still looking at them, especially Harry, whose lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead made him the most dazzling person wherever he went.
Under the watchful eyes, each one as big as a tennis ball, Harry awkwardly smoothed his bangs, trying to cover the scar on his forehead.
At this moment, Belvina, who had already found a place to sit, slowly spoke.
She said, "Does any of you know Dobby? Dobby the house-elf."
Belvina seemed worried that the Hogwarts elves might not be able to tell which Dobby was right away, so she made a point of emphasizing it.
To Harry and his friends' surprise, Belvina's words were like a boulder thrown into a lake, instantly creating ripples and even towering waves.
"Professor, please don't mention Dobby. He's a disgrace to house-elves!"
"He betrayed the wizarding family he served; what a shameful act!"
"Dobby lacks all the qualities a house-elves should possess; his existence is an insult to house-elves!"
The house-elves in the kitchen shrieked at Dobby, and even brought out armchairs for Harry, Ron, and the other two students to sit down. Harry and Ron were shocked, as they had never imagined that the house-elves would be so disgusted with Dobby's behavior.
In Harry's view, Dobby simply yearned for freedom and equality, and he merely chose freedom and equality; what was wrong with that?
Even if Dobby betrayed the Malfoy family he served, in Harry's eyes, Dobby's actions were a matter of turning away from darkness and embracing light, so what was wrong with that?
If Harry and Ron were greatly shocked, Hermione was struck dumb, completely stunned, sitting there blankly, even her eyes were somewhat unfocused.
Hermione's ears were filled with the house-elves' accusations against Dobby, and her eyes were filled with the house-elves' intense, tangible disdain for the outsider Dobby.
Many house-elves even turned their heads away in disdain, not wanting to mention Dobby, who had brought them shame, as if Dobby carried some kind of deadly infectious germ, and even mentioning his name was unacceptable.
"It sounds like none of you really like Dobby," Belvina said tactfully, "thinking he's a degenerate house-elf."
"Yes, Professor, that's it."
"He betrayed the master he served!"
"His master gave him a 'clothes,' the greatest disgrace a house-elf can suffer!"
"Even if he was kicked out by his master, he shouldn't stoop so low as to take wages! He should be ashamed of his freedom!"
The house-elves chattered amongst themselves, saying that Dobby, who pursued freedom, was an utterly wicked villain, a degenerate evil elf.
The shrill accusations continued for quite a while before the furious little elves gradually stopped, but their tennis ball-sized eyes still couldn't hide their indignation and shame.
When Dobby was being criticized, no matter how agitated the Hogwarts elves were, they remained respectful to Belvina and her companions and never uttered a single bad word about the wizards.
Harry and Ron were numb by this point, silently eating the cream cake that the house-elves had brought them.
It wasn't that Harry didn't want to say something in Dobby's defense, but he knew he was powerless to change the house-elf's opinion of Dobby.
From Dobby to Kreacher, and then to the hundred-odd house-elves in the kitchen, Harry had some understanding of their forced obedience, and it was simply unrealistic to change the mind of house-elves.
Ron the Thousand-Food King didn't think too much about it. Although there were no house-elves in the Burrow, he was already used to the fact that elves had to obey wizards. He didn't think there was anything wrong with it. House-elves had been like this for hundreds of years.
And Hermione, poor Hermione, her already fragile worldview has been shattered once again.
Hermione could never have imagined that house-elves would be so resistant to freedom, and that they would feel ashamed of the normal act of receiving a salary.
"But," Hermione said cautiously, "isn't it normal for wizards to pay you for your work? Wizards get paid too!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the house-elves of Hogwarts began to quietly move away, trying to stay as far away from Hermione as possible, as if she had just uttered an extremely vulgar and obscene word.
Although Hermione "insulted" the house-elves, the elves did not retaliate with strong words; instead, they silently protested Hermione's "desecration" with their feet.
"Don't you want your wages? Don't you want rest time?" Hermione stood up and shouted, "Don't you want to improve your living conditions? Do you want to continue suffering the abuse of wizards?"
No house-elves answered Hermione's question; they simply quickened their pace, hurrying away from where Hermione was.
It was as if Hermione, like Dobby, was carrying deadly infectious germs all over her body.
At this moment, silence speaks louder than words; Hermione, her worldview shattered, slumped down in dejection.
She couldn't help but wonder if the House-Elf Rights Promotion Association still had any meaning.
Seeing that Miss Know-It-All had conceded defeat, Belvina decided to quit while she was ahead.
If Hermione recovers and continues to harass the elves in the kitchen, Gryffindor's food allowance might drop drastically.
So, Belvina gave him a wink, and Harry, who immediately understood, put down the cream cake he was holding and helped the dazed Hermione toward the kitchen door.
Ron, a beat slow to react, turned his head and shoved the entire cream cake into his mouth. While chewing with difficulty, he quickly caught up with Harry, who was carrying Hermione away.
The two boys then carried the absent-minded Hermione out of the kitchen.
Belvina didn't linger any longer, casually chatting with the house-elf for a couple of minutes before turning and leaving.
The torches illuminated the wide underground corridor of the castle, and the four of them walked up the stone steps, passed through a door, and returned to the entrance hall.
It wasn't until the magnificent marble staircase disappeared from everyone's sight that Hermione, who had been completely devastated, finally came to her senses, and the light in her eyes shone again.
"They just don't understand what freedom is, don't know how precious it is, that's why they willingly endure this hardship," Hermione said to herself. "Yes, that must be it!"
Just wait to die, there's no hope.
The two boys who were supporting Hermione released their grip almost simultaneously, and Hermione, who was unsteady on her feet, almost fell. She stumbled a few steps before regaining her balance.
"Hermione, don't you understand? House-elves like this kind of life. They don't want to change, and they won't change," Ron said impatiently. "You saw how they were just now; they thought you were—you were insulting them!"
Ever since Hermione resolved to improve the miserable situation of house-elves, Ron has thought she was just messing around.
Ron Weasley was born and raised in a wizarding family. He may not know much about house-elves, but he knows about wizards.
Wizards cannot abandon their servants, their obedient servants. Hermione's house-elf rights association could not possibly succeed; it was utterly impossible.
"Yes, Hermione, give up your unrealistic fantasies!" Harry also advised Hermione. "Everyone who joined the Society these past two days is trying to get rid of you. You alone could change the current situation of house-elves."
Regardless of the reason, some people have actually joined the House-a-Pokémon Rights Promotion Association!
Belvina didn't understand, but she was deeply shocked.
The so-called House-Elf Rights Promotion Association is doomed to fail because the elves have no interest in fighting for their rights. Except for Dobby.
If house-elves don't take the initiative or fight back, how can that so-called association possibly succeed? Do you expect all wizards to be as kind-hearted as Hermione?
However, no matter how much Harry and Ron tried to persuade her, Hermione remained stubbornly silent, refusing to mention disbanding the association, as if she had gotten stuck in a rut.
"No, the elves are content with their lot only because they don't yet understand how precious freedom is!" Hermione said, seemingly resolutely. "Because they've never had freedom, they don't know what freedom is!"
With her hands on her hips, she continued with an air of authority, "The wizards only treated them as slaves, never showing them any kindness. That's why the elves are so submissive now! Slave labor, this is slave labor, it's inhumane!"
Hermione, occupying the moral high ground, looked down at Harry and Ron with just a few words, leaving them speechless and unable to refute.
Belvina, standing to the side, didn't interrupt, but instead looked at Hermione Granger with admiration.
Hermione may still be naive, imaginative, and even a little bit saintly, but Belvina still likes her indomitable spirit.
With Hermione's intelligence, it's impossible that she couldn't see that the key problem with the Rights Promotion Association lay with the house-elves. Her reason for refuting Harry and Ron's advice was simply that she was struggling with herself.
Give Hermione some more time, and she'll come to her senses and stop being so fixated on freeing house-elves.
But before that, Harry and Ron are likely to be used as punching bags for a while, with Hermione using them to vent her anger.
"The house-elves have become this subservient bunch because of the wizards!" Hermione rambled on, determined to criticize the wizards to the very end.
Hermione.
Belvina suddenly intervenes in Hermione's wizarding criticism session.
She continued, "You can have your own opinions, but you shouldn't force others to agree with them."
"I didn't—" Hermione paused, realizing she was indeed trying to force Harry and Ron to agree with her views on house-elves.
"It's good to have kindness, but don't abuse it," Belvina said as they walked. "Is what you're trying to give the house-elves what they want?"
A dejected Hermione followed closely behind Belvina.
She could hear the unspoken implication in Belvina's voice: the house-elves were not worth helping.
At the same time, Hermione realized that she seemed to have made the same mistake again, a mistake similar to the one with the Firebolt last year.
This time it wasn't Harry and his flying broomstick, but house-elves and freedom. Hermione meant well for the house-elves, but they didn't want to accept her kindness.