Chapter 274: Those Who Believe in Harry
Chapter 274: Those Who Believe in Harry
Harry looked even more bewildered.
"So what’s the point of all this?"
Hermione finally closed the book in her hands and said seriously.
"It helps me understand what is required to properly liberate a species, what needs to be done, and how oppression arises. It also helps me understand what kind of social structure can prevent such oppression."
Harry blinked his eyes, which had become slightly dry from being wide open.
"You haven’t given up on the idea of saving the house-elves?"
Hermione replied calmly.
"I have."
"Then why are you still—"
"I’ve given up on my completely unrealistic, idealistic notion of saving them. I was too naive before, thinking everything was simple. I need to learn more."
She waved the book in her hand.
"There is very little research in the Wizarding World about class, oppression, and society, almost none. Conversely, Muggles have delved deeply into these topics. I had my dad buy these books and send them over last night."
Harry didn’t know what to say. Now he understood why he hadn’t seen Hermione all day yesterday. She had been writing to her dad to get the books.
He didn’t speak, but Hermione could see what he had come for.
"You came to ask if I believe you didn’t sign up for the Triwizard Tournament and that someone is trying to frame you. Of course I believe you. Your reaction was too genuine to be faked; you were more shocked than any of us."
Harry felt much better. He sat down next to Hermione, resting his head on his arm and said with a pout.
"At least someone still believes in me, but Ron doesn’t. No matter what I tell him, he doesn’t believe me."
Hermione hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Ron isn’t disbelieving you; he’s just a bit jealous."
Harry found this absurd and spread his hands, laughing bitterly.
"Jealous that I can be gawked at like a monkey? If he wants, I can give all that attention to him anytime!"
"Because you are always the center of attention, and when people talk about him, the best they say is that he’s ‘Harry Potter’s friend.’"
Hermione tilted her head to explain, "Ron isn’t the oldest or the youngest in his family, so he often feels overlooked. He craves attention, praise, and recognition. He sees all of that in you, but he has never experienced it himself. This has made him envious of you. It all came to a head during the selection of the Triwizard Tournament champions yesterday."
Hermione’s analysis was logical, but no matter how logical it was, Harry couldn’t forgive Ron for that.
"If he wants to be the show-off, let him! I don’t want it, so why should he force his ideas on me!" Harry said angrily. "I’m not going to talk to him unless he apologizes to me!"
They sat in the common room for a while longer before Harry got up to leave, heading for the owlery.
"I’m going to write to Sirius Black and tell him everything that’s happened these past few days. He can help me decide what to do", Harry said.
"If you have time later, you should also go to Professor Flitwick’s office and talk to him", Hermione reminded him.
Harry nodded.
"Even if you hadn’t suggested it, I was planning to go see the professor anyway."
Hermione was very pleased with Harry's current behavior. She said earnestly,
"I feel that since the start of fourth year, you've become much more mature. If I were an adult, I would definitely praise you for growing up."
Harry's face turned a bit red. All of this was actually Lily's idea. If it were just him, he definitely wouldn't have thought about writing to Sirius Black or talking to Sherlock.
"Even if you're not an adult, you're saying it now."
Hermione neither confirmed nor denied this. She shrugged and reopened the book on her lap, her eyes returning to the pages.
"Go on, I need to continue reading. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
They parted ways in the common room.
Harry headed straight for the owlery, not even in the mood to go to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Whenever he appeared among the Gryffindor students, he would immediately receive a lot of praise and cheers. So, even inside the castle, he tried to avoid crowded places.
When sending a letter to Sirius Black, Harry didn't use his own owl, Hedwig. The snowy owl was too conspicuous among the gray owls; anyone could recognize that it was him sending the letter as soon as it flew out of Hogwarts.
In his last letter, Sirius had specifically instructed Harry not to use Hedwig for the next delivery. This time, he chose one of the school's public owls.
This decision displeased Hedwig. She stood on Harry's shoulder, expressing her dissatisfaction by digging her claws into him. As Harry clenched his teeth and rubbed his shoulder, he grumbled in frustration.
"Why are you blaming me too? It's not my fault."
After sending the letter, Harry returned to the castle. This time, he headed straight for Sherlock's office.
He had a lot to say about being chosen as the fourth champion last night. Hermione was reading and not in the mood to listen, and Ron was still upset with him.
At this moment, Sherlock was the best choice, and he might even offer some reasonable advice.
However, when Harry stood in front of Sherlock's office door and knocked several times, he received no response.
Just as he was about to give up and head back to the common room, thinking Sherlock must be out, a tall figure appeared at the stairwell corner.
"Harry? Is there something you need?"
Sherlock, who had been planning to go find Silke for a walk by the Black Lake but couldn't find her, coincidentally met Harry just as he was about to leave.
Harry stopped in his tracks and stepped aside to let Sherlock open the door.
"It's about being chosen as the champion last night. I wanted to talk to you, Professor."
"You should definitely talk to me. Being suddenly chosen as a champion shouldn't make you think you have to stand out in the competition to live up to the title, right?"
Sherlock said this casually as he led Harry into the office.
Harry was not embarrassed by this; instead, his face was filled with gratitude.
"I haven't even explained, and you already believe it wasn't my own doing?"
Once inside, Sherlock took off his coat and snapped his fingers, and the door closed by itself.
"If you had this ability in fourth year, Dumbledore would have to step down and make way for you by the time you graduate."
(End of Chapter)
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