Chapter 556: Efforts Are Not Meaningless
Seeing that Vader had successfully diverted Hermione’s attention, everyone else smiled at him in relief, except Michael and Padma, who frowned thoughtfully.

Theo whispered to Ryan, “Hermione will know after the investigation – the house-elves at Hogwarts are already the happiest elves. They don’t want to leave at all.”

Ryan nodded and added: “In fact, if we want to change, we should look for an ancient wizard family like the Malfoys. Their practices are indeed cruel.”

“Most families wouldn’t do that, but my grandfather had an elf at home and we all treated him as one of our own.”

Theo said, “And house-elves sometimes punish themselves, and it takes a command from their masters to get them to stop.”

Ryan nodded.

Although there were no elves in his house, Ryan felt that from the story of the Black family, some wizards really took house elves to heart. Regulus Black would rather die than hurt Kreacher.

While Hermione was busy with her questionnaire, Padma and Michael moved over to Vader’s table.

Michael pretended to discuss the problem, put the book upright, and whispered: “Is it my illusion, Vader? Why do I feel that you have really considered liberating the house elves?”

“If you have studied Muggle history, you will know that the awakening of slave consciousness and the resistance struggle have lasted for thousands of years, from the slave uprising led by the gladiator Spartacus to the modern abolition movement. If you compare and imagine it, it is natural, right?”

Vader said casually.

Padma also asked quietly: “So you actually support Hermione? You just think her method is wrong?”

She looked at Michael, and they exchanged glances secretly.

Although… although Padma is reluctant to give up the life of being served by house-elves, but… if Wade also thinks that Hermione’s approach is right… then it means that they are wrong… right?

Friendship makes them feel that they can endure the inconveniences of life and go through fire and water for their friends’ ideals.

But Vader sighed and shook his head.

He said: “If I really support Hermione, I will tell her – what is really useful is not to give elves clothes or a questionnaire – because we all know that Hermione is destined not to get the answer she wants.”

“So what do you think we should do?” Michael asked.

But this time, Wade did not answer, but just smiled helplessly.

There are countless successful precedents in history on how to awaken the slaves’ consciousness and make them aware of the fact that they are being exploited.

The house-elves at Hogwarts are not good candidates for liberation, because they live a relatively comfortable life, and the teachers and students at the school will not beat or abuse them, and they will not starve.

They are so wrapped up in their contentment that they have no desire for change.

An elf like Dobby, who lives in dire straits, is Hermione’s first choice for work.

In order to change the elves’ minds, we must guide them to awaken, educate them on right and wrong, make them realize that their rights have been deprived, their dignity has been trampled upon, and even their survival and reproduction are threatened and controlled by wizards… and realize that this kind of life is extremely miserable and unfair.

Let them tell their peers about their pain, talk to each other, help each other, and find the emotions, motivation and support that can support their own change among people in similar situations.

They should be allowed to start with clothing and food, gaining small choices and gradually improving their lives; then, due to external changes, this right of choice should be disrupted to inspire the house-elves to have the ideas and courage to fight for their own rights.

We must give some of them the opportunity to obtain a truly safe environment, love, respect, equality and justice, so that they can truly realize how painful everything in the past was and awaken their self-awareness as “intelligent life”.

But this change is destined to be slow and painful, and will inevitably be accompanied by war and sacrifice. When the house-elves truly awaken, the disaster of wizards will come.

Moreover, individuals with clear and rational thinking and who know not to expand hatred wantonly are rare species. House-elves that have awakened their self-awareness may hate all humanoid creatures, and may unite with centaurs, werewolves, giants, goblins and other species to seek revenge on humans.

Even if Wade did not agree with slavery in his heart, he would not personally ignite the war in the wizarding world.

…In the next few days, Hermione no longer used her “SPEW” to harass Wade and others. She just captured a few strong men from Gryffindor to help her with the questionnaire survey and statistics.

Several times, when Wade returned to the dormitory at night, he saw Neville, Harry, Ron and Hermione clutching a thick stack of parchment and coming out of the kitchen entrance tiredly.

Hermione revised her questions several times to get a more ideal answer, but the pressure on her body became lower and lower, and she didn’t want to discuss with others at all.

Because the elves’ answers are always similar –

“Amy is not tired, Amy loves her work! Amy is very happy!”

“Bad elves make mistakes! Good elves shouldn’t make mistakes, and if they do, they should punish themselves! That’s the right thing to do!”

“Oh, don’t mention Dobby. Dobby is a depraved elf and a disgrace to house-elves! He should be ashamed of himself!”

“House elves are not supposed to have children without their master’s permission! But Becky’s great-great-great-grandfather once served the great Mr. Godric Gryffindor!”

“This is a terrible idea! House-elves don’t need freedom. Hogwarts is our home! Lola… Lola loves this place! Lola should never leave!”

Only a few house-elves, ashamed and as if they had done something wrong, secretly expressed their desire for reward.

But they don’t want the salary for its own sake.

“Zoe…Zoe wants to buy a gift…” The elf twisted a corner of his tea towel and said uncomfortably, “Zoe can only give Wade something he picked up from outside, but the crystal ball in the store should be a better gift…”

Another elf said, “If I can get paid, I’d like to buy scurvy. Madam Pomfrey always complains that there’s not enough scurvy…”

“I’ve said before that they like being slaves, but Hermione just doesn’t believe it.” Ron complained, “We’re going to the kitchen now and the elves are going to think we’re bad guys!”

Hermione was also very frustrated. She tried not to show her bad mood. Holding the data she had sorted out, she said to Wade:

“My work is meaningful. Maybe I should start from some small places, such as obtaining some funds for the school’s house elves…”

“Sure, why not give it a try?” Wade said encouragingly.

After dinner, Hermione plucked up the courage to send a letter to Dumbledore. The next day, when she went to the kitchen again, she was delighted to find that the money had arrived.

Hogwarts provides the kitchen with 10 Galleons per month so that the elves can buy what they need. Of course, most house elves have strong self-discipline and don’t even look at it.

“The elves at Hogwarts are very happy with their lives, but there are many house-elves out there who are suffering.”

The first attempt was successful. Hermione said excitedly, “My next goal is to find a way to reduce or even prohibit the abuse of house-elves.”

“Then you must first have the power to make laws and punish violators.” Wade poured a basin of cold water: “In fact, the Ministry of Magic has also stipulated how house-elves should be treated, but it has never been enforced.”

“Is there such a law?” Hermione asked in great surprise.

Wade nodded: “Really.”

Hermione wasn’t the first wizard to feel sympathy for house-elves.

Upon hearing this, Hermione immediately rushed into the library to borrow a book containing relevant legal provisions.

Wade expressed his admiration for her initiative, then twirled his quill and wrote down the plan for the next spell study session on paper.

Time flies, and next week, the schools participating in the league will arrive at Hogwarts.

(End of this chapter)