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Chapter 555: Let's Start with an Investigation, Hermione
Chapter 555: Let’s Start with an Investigation, Hermione
Wade flipped through Hermione’s petition and said, "I’ve looked it over. The short-term goal of your Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare is... to ensure house-elves receive fair wages and decent working conditions."
The petition detailed the various tasks house-elves performed and the corresponding pay and vacation time they should receive.
"And your long-term goal", Wade turned to the next page, "is to free all house-elves from their slave-like conditions, improve their legal status, allow them to use wands, and even advocate for a house-elf to join the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?"
"That’s right", Hermione nodded vigorously. "Of course, I know it’s difficult, so we can start with the short-term goals! First, we need to prohibit wizards from cruelly mistreating house-elves!"
Pausing, Hermione looked intently at the group. "I’ve noticed that many wizards still abuse and beat their house-elves. Didn’t Dobby suffer this way while at the Malfoys'?"
"But Hermione..." Padma said, puzzled, "You’ve known about this for a while, right? Why are you suddenly so passionate about it?"
"Yes, but I thought it was an isolated case!" Hermione frowned. "After all, it’s the Malfoys, isn’t it? I wasn’t surprised they would treat their house-elves that way. Later, I heard that Dobby was employed by Wade..."
Her gaze shifted to Wade, her expression a mix of concern and complexity. "I heard about the conditions you provided for Dobby. I thought that was the norm. But I didn’t expect..."
She took a deep breath, clearly frustrated. "I didn’t expect that other house-elves don’t have such benefits! Even at Hogwarts! Over a hundred house-elves work day and night without sick leave, bonuses, or any of the benefits they deserve!"
Hermione’s tone was filled with disappointment and disdain, as if to say—Dumbledore is no better.
The group exchanged glances.
Theo said, "But Hermione, you might not fully understand... house-elves enjoy working for wizards; it’s in their nature."
"They don’t need pay or freedom. House-elves see these things as insults", Michael added.
Wade raised his hand, and everyone fell silent.
"Hermione, I think you’re right. The enslavement of house-elves is a historical issue, and most people turn a blind eye to their suffering."
Wade continued, "Your willingness to raise this issue is very brave and noble. Even if many will mock your ideas, history will prove that your efforts to secure equal rights for other magical beings are correct and ahead of our time."
The group looked at Wade in surprise, except for Michael, who rolled his eyes and whispered to Padma, "I bet there’s a ‘but’ coming."
Hermione blushed at Wade’s praise, looking both shy and pleased. "Actually, I just feel... it’s a serious social injustice, and wrong actions should be corrected."
"But I only see a description of the current state of house-elves and the two goals of your society in your petition", Wade put down the petition and looked at Hermione, speaking softly. "What specific actions do you plan to take?"
At this, Hermione’s energy returned. She subconsciously mimicked Professor Minerva Mcgonagall’s teaching demeanor, looking serious.
"Of course, I’ve thought about it!"
"First, we need to recruit members. Participants will pay two silver sickles, which we can use to print leaflets."
"Next, I plan to convince the house-elves at Hogwarts that they are being oppressed and should demand pay and holidays from the school—these are their rights!"
"Then, we’ll free the house-elves at Hogwarts. I’ve checked, and we students can be considered part-owners of Hogwarts. If I give them clothes, they could gain their freedom!"
Everyone grew uneasy at this—why did every plan seem to target Hogwarts?
Especially the idea of freeing the house-elves, which sounded very feasible!
They exchanged a glance, and Harry asked quietly, "Hermione, if the school has no house-elves, who will clean and cook for us?"
"We can do it ourselves! Or we can pay people to clean the common areas!" Hermione glared at Harry. "Harry, do you really think we need to rely on oppressing house-elves to maintain our lives?"
"No, no", Harry said weakly. "You know, at the Dursleys, I was treated like a house-elf."
"Exactly!" Hermione slammed her hand on the table. "So you should understand how desperately we need to change the dire situation of house-elves!"
"But freeing house-elves outright is too radical", Wade said. "Hermione, have you considered what they will do once they are free?"
He gave an example. "Dobby initially struggled to find work and almost ended up on the streets. If over a hundred house-elves were freed at once... have you thought about the consequences?"
Hermione was speechless, thinking for a while before stammering, "The world is so big, there should... be jobs available, right? Dobby was hired by you, after all."
"Yes, but assuming they will all find jobs is wishful thinking. Without their families, house-elves could starve or turn to crime, or be killed by radical wizards—do you want that?" Wade said.
Hermione fell silent, her lips pressed together, but her face still showed disagreement.
"Let’s do this", Wade said. "You believe they should be free and not enslaved; I think freeing them abruptly will make their situation worse. Most people think house-elves enjoy being enslaved... but all of these are our own opinions."
Hermione’s eyes widened, and she looked up at Wade.
"This is still wizard arrogance, Hermione", Wade said pointedly. "If you want to help them, you should first listen to the real needs of the house-elves, not make decisions for them."
"I suggest you don’t rush to recruit members or force wizards to change their minds. Instead, start with a survey to understand what the house-elves really need."
"Don’t ask them if they want freedom—this will offend most house-elves and hinder your efforts. Instead, ask them—"
"Do they find their daily work tiring? Do they have time to rest? How are they treated when they make mistakes? Do they have enough food and a place to live? Do they receive medical care when injured?"
"Would they be happy if thanked by their masters? If they could earn some money, what would they want to buy?"
"If they had the chance to try different jobs, would they want to change? What jobs do they like most and least? How do they view Dobby’s current life?"
"If they ever left Hogwarts, would their lives improve? Would they want to change their current situation? If they could freely choose their own lives, what would they do?"
"Only by understanding the true thoughts of the house-elves can you create a practical plan—does that make sense, Hermione?" Wade asked.
Hermione looked into those gray eyes, the candlelight casting a warm, orange glow that softened their winter-like hue.
She was momentarily speechless, her face flushing with embarrassment. But soon, the idealistic light returned to her eyes.
"I understand. I need real and reliable data to think from the perspective of the house-elves!"
She immediately got to work, pulling out a roll of blank parchment from her bag and writing the survey questions with focused speed.
(End of Chapter)
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