Chapter 338 Hermione's Thoughts

If Lockhart was as surprised as Anthony, he didn't show it. He tilted his head slightly and smiled reassuringly at Hermione - just as Harry and Ron ran out of the Great Hall, each holding two muffins - Lockhart took a step forward. .

Hermione was still glaring at him.

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

"Well, well," Lockhart said, "Relax, kid. You're a clever little witch, and, to be honest, I've always admired you. So I'm happy to tell you some facts, and that's this The road doesn’t work.”

Hermione said: "But -"

Lockhart interrupted: "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 and a fire crab—neither would. Being happy about it will not produce any results." He had already walked to Hermione's side, put a hand on her shoulder, lowered his head, and persuaded in a gentler tone, "It won't do you any good either. Miss Granger."

Hermione frowned and bit her lower lip.

Lockhart turned to Harry and Ron, showing his bright teeth again: "Okay, boys, do you really want to spend your spare time thinking about these things? How to rescue elves who don't need to be rescued at all? I'm sure you all have better things to do! Your Quidditch, Harry, and your-" Ron looked up and met his gaze, "Well, I remember your mother, Mr. Weasley, Don’t forget to write to her. Of course, and most importantly, remember to read more of my adventure books! Also, you can look forward to my upcoming new autobiography——”

"But house elves need it!" Hermione shouted, with tears in her eyes, "Do you know about Sudie and Shaky?"

Harry and Ron looked at each other. From their expressions, Anthony guessed that they had heard it no less than twenty times.

"I don't think-"

"In 1673, Sudie was dissatisfied with her master's mistreatment, so after her master ordered her to 'don't let anyone disturb me, including you,' she locked him in the room until the man died of thirst!"

"This is just-"

Hermione's voice became louder: "In 1702, Huanghuang's owner thought that Huanghuang was too old and was of no use, so he wanted to dig out his eyeballs to make potion ingredients! After hearing the conversation between his master and his friends, Huanghuang escaped. When he got to town, he asked a group of Muggles for help. Do you know what he said?"

Anthony couldn't help but ask: "What did you say?"

Hermione choked with sobs: "'Save Huanghuang. Huanghuang is willing to give you one eye, but Huanghuang wants to keep one for himself.'"

"And those are all aliens!" Lockhart waved his hand dramatically, drawing everyone's attention back to him, "In such a long time, there were only a few strange house elves who wanted to betray their master."

"That's not betrayal, Professor Lockhart, that's resistance and self-preservation—"

"Miss Granger, I can understand your eagerness to do something. At your age, it is indeed easy to be attracted by vague 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. 'It's easy for him to say, he has rescued four or five villages without asking before. I wonder if they want help. 'However, if you have as keen acumen and powerful magical abilities as I do -"

"Of course they need it!" Hermione said loudly, her body trembling slightly with excitement. "These examples all show that house elves are intelligent creatures with emotions, likes and dislikes just like us, and a large part of them are due to wizards' manipulation of Suffering for their enslavement! Sudie was sentenced to death for murder, and Huang died for violating the secrecy law and trying to escape—ha, trying to escape!"

"Calm down, my dear boy." Lockhart soothed with a knowing smile. "Yes, yes, it all sounds very attractive, but we should ask ourselves, what is the imposition on domestic children? Is the freedom of elves really freedom? Do they really need this? Look, just like what I did in Colonia-"

Hermione was almost furious: "Colonia's female ghosts are different from house elves, Professor Lockhart!"

Lockhart said: "Yes, I can see that they look a little different, but anyway, Miss Granger, I still suggest that you think about my words carefully after you calm down."

"How could you be so ignorant of the suffering they are going through, Professor Lockhart?" Hermione asked, "Didn't you say that the most important thing to you has always been to fight against evil and help those friends who are suffering, no matter what? Where are they, with or without magic?"

"You have been a very loyal reader of mine and an excellent student... So, as someone who has been there, let me tell you a secret, Miss Granger. If you want to be a celebrity - especially a permanent one - "I have a very important request." He paused deliberately, lowered his head, and said softly sincerely, "Don't go against most people, especially those who are most likely to be your followers." , my boy, good advice - this advice is for you too, Harry."

Hermione's voice became high and shrill in anger: "I don't need to be famous! I'm not doing it for the sake of being famous!"

Lockhart looked a little surprised and a little amused.

"Of course you are not." Lockhart said casually, waving his hand gracefully, "That's why I admire you so much, Miss Granger, because to me, fame is just an accident. The least worth mentioning, but the most important thing is always the fight against the forces of darkness.”

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

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

"Then...but...I don't understand, Professor Lockhart." Hermione still frowned, "I remember you just...did you say that you were unwilling to join S.P.E.W. because you didn't want to lose the enslaved house elves? The convenience it brings?”

Lockhart shook his finger: "I have never said such a thing, Miss Granger. But I probably should tell you that I am not willing to join your house-elves... or something like that, because I I don’t really agree with your philosophy, but I appreciate your enthusiasm.”

"Aren't house elves enslaved?" Hermione asked. "Professor Lockhart, didn't you also rescue those satyrs locked in the closet when you met them?"

"Well, maybe. But things are different," said Lockhart. "Well, it's getting late. I need to go to class. I believe you should go to class as soon as possible."

He turned around and left briskly.

"Did you hear what Professor Lockhart said clearly, Granger?" A student whom Anthony didn't know suddenly said loudly, "He will never join your lunatic association. Stay away from him, you are causing him trouble. ”

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

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

"Herbology class, with Hufflepuff classmates." Harry said.

"Then you'd better hurry up," Anthony said. "Greenhouse Three, right?"

Harry nodded: "Yes, Professor Anthony."

Hermione breathed deeply, her eyes red.

"I understand what's going on." She said viciously, "He is a celebrity, so he is not willing to fight against those old and ugly customs for house elves! This - this - hypocritical coward! What do you think? "

Harry and Ron both looked a little strange.

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

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

Anthony also believes that one should not speak ill of colleagues in front of students.

"It's hard to know what's going on in everyone's mind," he said. "Speaking of which, Hogwarts itself has a number of house elves. Since you think they need help, Professor Lockhart—and a few others People - think they don't need it, why don't you ask the house elves what they think?"

"There are many house elves in Hogwarts?" Hermione looked very surprised, "But, I have never seen them before!"

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

"I never knew..."

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

Hermione said confidently, "Of course I will."

Anthony saw a sign of danger and reminded: "If you allow me to say one more thing, Miss Granger, remember to show respect to them. I am not saying that you will beat or scold them-" He rushed before Hermione could say Before protesting, "Just don't accuse them of what they think. What I mean is, if you want to know what they think, at least hear them out first instead of immediately refuting it. In some ways, I think domestic The elves are almost as proud as the 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 delay you for too long." Anthony said, "Go to class."

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

Harry grinned. "I know."

"Yeah, don't be silly, Hermione." Ron said. "'It's Winga-Dimmu-Levi-O-Sa.' Oh, and trolls. I've never seen such a strange way to make friends."

Hermione blushed slightly. "Shut up, Ron."

Ron laughed. "Eat some cake." He handed the muffin in his hand over and stuffed another into his mouth.

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

Hermione took them hesitantly, then threw them back at the unsuspecting Ron ("Hey!"). Ron spit cake crumbs all over himself and coughed violently. Harry was almost hit, but he reached out and grabbed the cake, so now only some cake crumbs came out from between his fingers and fell on the floor and his shoes.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry, Ron! I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione said, "It just suddenly occurred to me--" She suddenly looked angry again, "These are all from those enslaved house elves! I won't touch them!"

"Okay, you'd better not eat anything for lunch." Ron said unhappily, turning to Harry and looking at his sticky fingers, "How can anyone think that she is trying to please you for fame?"

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

Hermione had already walked towards the door in a rage.

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