The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

Chapter 338 Hermione's Thoughts

If Lockhart was as surprised as Anthony, he didn't show it. He tilted his head slightly, gave Hermione a reassuring smile - just as Harry and Ron came running out of the Great Hall, two muffins each - and took a step forward.

Hermione was still glaring at him.

"What did you say, Professor Lockhart?" she repeated. Harry and Ron slowed down and looked at each other.

"There, there," said Lockhart. "Relax, child. You're a clever little witch, and, to be honest, I've always admired you. So I'm happy to tell you the truth, which is that this path won't work."

Hermione said: "But -"

Lockhart interrupted her. "No wizard would be happy to free a house-elf, and no house-elf would be happy to be freed. It would be like crossing a manticore with a fire crab - neither party would be happy about it, and nothing would come of it." He had moved to Hermione's side and put a hand on her shoulder. He bowed his head and said in a gentler tone, "It would do you no good, Miss Granger."

Hermione frowned and bit her lower lip tightly.

Lockhart turned to Harry and Ron, showing his shiny teeth again: "Okay, boys, do you really want to spend your spare time thinking about these things? How to rescue the elves who don't need to be rescued? I believe you all have better things to do! Your Quidditch, Harry, and your--" Ron looked up and looked at him, "Well, I remember your mother, Mr. Weasley, don't forget to write to her. Of course, most importantly, remember to read more of my adventure series of books! Also, you can look forward to my new autobiography that will be published soon--"

"But the house elves need it!" Hermione cried, tears in her eyes, "Do you know what happened to Sodie and Wander?"

Harry and Ron looked at each other. From their expressions, Anthony guessed that they had heard it twenty times.

"I don't think—"

"In 1673, Sudi was dissatisfied with her master's abuse, so after her master ordered her to 'not let anyone bother me, including you', she locked her master in the room until the man died of thirst!"

"It's just—"

Hermione's voice rose. "In 1702, Ho-ho's master thought Ho-ho was too old and useless, and wanted to dig out his eyes to use as potion ingredients! Ho-ho heard the conversation between his master and his friends, fled to the town, and asked a group of Muggles for help. Do you know what he said?"

Anthony couldn't help asking, "What did you say?"

Hermione choked up: "'Save Huang Huang. Huang Huang is willing to give one of his eyes to you, but Huang Huang wants to keep one for himself.'"

"And those are the outliers!" Lockhart waved his hand dramatically, drawing everyone's attention back to himself. "In such a long time, there have only been a few strange house-elves who wanted to betray their masters."

"That was not betrayal, Professor Lockhart, that was defiance and self-preservation—"

"Miss Granger, I can understand your eagerness to do something. At your age, it is easy to be attracted by empty and correct words such as "freedom" and "equality", but sometimes you also need to think about whether they really need these things. Oh, don't look at me like that. I know what you are thinking.' It's easy for him to say that. He has rescued four or five villages without asking them if they want help before.' However, if you also have a strong magical ability with keen insight like me-"

"Of course they do!" cried Hermione, shaking slightly with emotion. "These are all examples of house-elves being intelligent beings with feelings and likes and dislikes like the rest of us, and a large number of them are suffering from their enslavement by wizards! Sodie was sentenced to death for murder, and Wander died for violating the Statute of Secrecy and trying to escape - ha, trying to escape!"

"Calm down, my dear child." Lockhart soothed with a knowing smile, "Yes, yes, it all sounds very attractive, but we should ask ourselves, is the freedom imposed on house-elves really freedom? Do they really need it? You see, just like I did in Colonia-"

Hermione was almost furious: "The female ghosts of Colonia are different from house-elves, Professor Lockhart!"

Lockhart said, "Yes, I can see that they look a little different, but, nevertheless, Miss Granger, I still suggest that you think about what I say after you have calmed down."

"How could you be so oblivious to the suffering they're going through, Professor Lockhart?" Hermione demanded. "Didn't you say that what mattered to you most was always to fight evil and to help your friends who were suffering, wherever they were, whether they had magic or not?"

"You have always been a very loyal reader of mine, and a very good student... So, as someone who has been through this, let me tell you a secret, Miss Granger. If you want to be a celebrity - especially to remain a celebrity - there is a very important requirement." He paused deliberately, lowered his head, and said sincerely in a low voice, "Don't go against most people, especially those who are most likely to become your followers. Good advice, my child, good advice - this advice is also for you, Harry."

Hermione's voice became high and shrill in anger: "I don't need to be famous! I'm not doing this for fame!"

Lockhart looked a little surprised, and seemed a little amused.

"Of course you are not," Lockhart said casually, waving his hand. "That is why I admire you so much, Miss Granger, because to me, fame is just an incidental thing, the least worth mentioning, and the most important thing is always to fight against the dark forces."

"Oh..." Hermione sounded confused, "Yes, I know, Professor Lockhart."

Lockhart gave Hermione a perfect smile. Ron frowned at Harry secretly, as if he had just eaten a very sour lollipop. Some more students who had just finished their meals came out of the Great Hall and looked back curiously at Lockhart and Hermione on their way to their classrooms.

"Then... but... I don't understand, Professor Lockhart." Hermione still frowned, "I remember you just now... did you say that you didn't want to join SPEW because you didn't want to lose the convenience brought by enslaving house-elves?"

Lockhart shook his finger. "I have never said anything like that, Miss Granger. But I should probably tell you that I am not willing to join your society for the protection of house-elves... or whatever, because I do not quite agree with your philosophy. Nevertheless, I admire your enthusiasm."

"Aren't house-elves enslaved?" Hermione asked. "Professor Lockhart, didn't you free those Fauns when you came across them in the closet?"

"Well, maybe. But the situation is different now." Lockhart said, "Alas, it's getting late. I need to go to class. I believe you should also go to the classroom as soon as possible."

He turned around and walked away briskly. "Did you hear what Professor Lockhart said, Granger?" a student Anthony didn't know suddenly said loudly, "He will never join your lunatic society. Stay away from him, you are causing trouble for him."

Another student said, "Potter, I suggest you get away from her as well. Have you read the newspaper?"

Anthony said, "Okay, everyone, get to class. What's your first class, Mr. Potter?"

"Herbology, with the Hufflepuffs," said Harry.

"You better hurry up then," Anthony said. "Greenhouse Three, right?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, Professor Anthony."

Hermione took a deep breath, her eyes red.

"I see what's going on now," she said viciously. "He's a famous man, so he won't go against old, ugly customs for the sake of house-elves! What - what - hypocritical coward! What do you say?"

Harry and Ron both looked a little strange.

"That makes sense," Harry said. Hermione stared at them for a moment, then looked away, letting them go. Ron, visibly relieved, nudged Harry with his elbow and shrugged.

Hermione turned her head, stared at Anthony, and asked for confirmation, "Is that so, Professor Anthony?" Her expression seemed to indicate that she expected Anthony to deny her guess.

Anthony also believes that it is not appropriate to speak ill of colleagues in front of students.

"It's hard to know what's going on in everyone's mind," he said. "For that matter, there are plenty of house-elves at Hogwarts itself. Since you think they need help and Professor Lockhart - and some others - think they don't, why don't you ask the house-elves themselves what they think?"

"There are a lot of house-elves in Hogwarts?" Hermione looked very surprised. "But I've never seen them!"

"I guess that's because they don't want you to see them," Anthony said. "Anyway, they're in the kitchen, helping us prepare our daily meals, cleaning the castle, and keeping the fireplaces burning in the winter. In other words, most of the daily magic in Hogwarts Castle is done by them."

"I never knew..."

"Well, now you know. Talk to them."

"Of course I will," Hermione said confidently.

Anthony saw a hint of danger and warned, "If you'll allow me to say one more word, Miss Granger, remember to show them some respect. I'm not saying you'll beat them up -" he said before Hermione could protest, "just don't criticize their ideas. What I mean is that if you want to understand their thoughts, at least listen to them first instead of refuting them right away. In a way, I think house-elves are almost as proud as centaurs - please don't tell either of them that I said that."

Hermione still looked unconvinced, but she said, "Okay, Professor."

"Don't let me keep you too long," Anthony said. "Go to class."

"I'll go to the kitchen, thank you, Professor Anthony." Hermione turned around, "By the way, Harry, I'm not making friends with you just for fame."

Harry grinned. "I know."

"Yeah, don't be silly, Hermione," said Ron. "'It's Winga-Dimmul-O-Sa.' Oh, and there's a troll. I've never seen such a strange way of making friends."

Hermione blushed slightly: "Shut up, Ron."

Ron smiled and said, "Have some cake." He handed over the muffin in his hand and put another one into his mouth.

"Yeah," Harry said, handing his to Hermione. "You didn't have much for breakfast."

Hermione took them hesitantly, then hurled them back at an unsuspecting Ron ("Hey!"). Ron spat crumbs all over himself and coughed violently. Harry was almost hit as well, but he reached out and caught the cake, so now only some crumbs escaped from his fingers and fell on the floor and his shoes.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry, Ron! I'm sorry, Harry!" said Hermione. "It just occurred to me that -" she suddenly looked angry again, "this all comes from enslaved house-elves! I won't touch them!"

"Well, you'd better not eat anything for lunch," said Ron grumpily, turning to Harry and looking at his sticky fingers. "How could anyone think she was trying to curry your favor for the sake of fame?"

Harry clutched the cake: "I don't know."

Hermione was already heading for the door in a menacing manner.

"Clean up," Anthony said. "Okay, get to class. You're going to be late."

(End of this chapter)