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Chapter 266: Debate
Chapter 266: Debate
Chapter 266: Debate
"You actually want Professor Forrest to join your 'S.P.E.W.' organization?"
When it came to such matters, Ron's stutter disappeared completely. He stared with wide eyes, his expression one of disbelief.
Hermione, on the other hand, looked extremely annoyed.
"I've told you, it's not called 'vomit'! Since none of you are willing to help me promote it, I'll go and invite others to join. At least Professor Forrest won't be as biased as you two!"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances and shrugged their shoulders.
"We're not being biased", Harry said. "We just don't see the point in what you're doing."
"Someone will understand!" Hermione said firmly. "Every being with independent thought should not be anyone's slave! Even house-elves deserve respect and should be paid for their work!"
Fleur watched their argument with interest but showed no intention of joining in.
Soon, Hermione parted ways with Harry and Ron.
Harry and Ron decided to visit Hagrid, while Hermione took Fleur to Sherlock's office.
"You want to help the house-elves fight for their rights?"
Fleur easily deduced Hermione's intentions after hearing just a few words.
Hermione's eyes lit up when she heard Fleur's question. Despite not particularly liking the proud girl, she didn't want to miss the opportunity to gain a new member.
"Yes, any work should be compensated, and house-elves are not animals. They have their own thoughts and are kind and loyal. Why should they be wizards' slaves? We need to help them fight for their rights, and they should be paid for their work!"
However, Hermione's passionate speech did not resonate with Fleur, who shook her head.
"Cheekly would be so upset if she heard you. She'd probably poke you with her finger and scold you thoroughly."
Hermione crossed her arms and looked at Fleur.
"Cheekly? Is she your house-elf? I've always found it hard to understand. Were house-elves always like this from the beginning? I've researched a lot, but there's very little information about the origins of house-elves. It seems that only the dark parts of their history have been covered up. House-elves are clearly a case of this. No creature starts as a slave; wizards must have done something to this race in the past."
At this point, Fleur began to truly take Hermione seriously, recognizing that she was different from her peers.
"You're not wrong", Fleur said, lifting her chin. "But what can be done about the means being dishonorable? I remember you're a fourth-year student, and you've studied the history of the goblin rebellion. You know that after wizards defeated them, they stripped goblins of their right to use wands. If you truly believe in fighting injustice, why don't you protest the fact that goblins can't use wands?"
Hermione realized that Fleur would never become a like-minded companion and was even trying to undermine her resolve.
"Because those goblins had already committed crimes. Not allowing them to use wands is both a protection for wizards and a punishment for them!"
"How do you know that house-elves didn't commit any crimes in the past? They serve wizards, and that is their punishment."
Fleur stared at Hermione and asked, not minding having a debate with this interesting young girl on the way to find Sherlock.
"This is not punishment at all", Hermione said passionately. "Slavery is slavery; don't use punishment as an excuse. Even if house-elves once made mistakes, that doesn’t justify enslaving an entire race!"
"You have house-elves in your own home. Is he loyal to your family? Is he kind? Has he done anything wrong since he was born? Why should he spend his entire life serving you for free? And what have you done for him?"
Fleur remained unfazed by Hermione's words.
"They choose this willingly. They are born to serve others, just as wizards are born with the ability to use magic."
Hermione replied with a cold laugh.
"A creature taught from birth that serving others without pay brings happiness—why would you compare that to wizards being born with magic? Has anyone ever taught them that labor should be rewarded? Has anyone told them that every life should be free? Has anyone told them that wizards and house-elves are equal, with no hierarchy?"
"They have never been exposed to the right ideas, so how can their service be considered voluntary? You, the beneficiaries, saying they choose this only shows how despicable you are!"
Fleur and Hermione could no longer continue their conversation.
Their ideologies were so different that they couldn’t find common ground.
Fleur, born into a wizarding family, had long accepted the existence of house-elves as a normal part of life. Hermione, on the other hand, had been raised with modern education and a strong sense of justice, making it impossible for her to tolerate the situation.
Hermione loved Hogwarts and the colorful world of magic, but the existence of oppressed and enslaved house-elves in this world she adored made it hard for her to turn a blind eye.
However, no one in the castle could accept her ideas.
People like Fleur and Ron, from pure-blood wizard families, found her thoughts radical. Even students who had received modern education, like Harry, lacked Hermione’s sense of urgency, seeing the enslavement of house-elves as no big deal.
Moreover, every house-elf they had seen expressed great joy in their unpaid work, leading Harry to believe that Hermione’s actions were disrupting their normal lives, and he couldn’t understand her.
But Hermione had thought more deeply about the issue than anyone else. With no one at Hogwarts supporting or understanding her, she felt a strong sense of frustration.
So, even though seeking Sherlock’s approval and support was risky, she still had to go.
She needed validation, someone to tell her that her ideas were right and just, not just seen as meddlesome and unreasonable by others.
Among the professors at Hogwarts, only Sherlock gave Hermione the feeling that he might understand her.
She still remembered the words of encouragement Sherlock had given her last year, in that empty classroom, when she and Harry and Ron had a falling out.
Now, Hermione had only one thought in mind.
Professor Forrest is a kind, gentle, and upright professor. He will tell me if what I’m doing has any meaning!
(End of Chapter)
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