"The same lack of wages and holidays, the same requirement to obey Wizards completely, the same... cruel treatment."
Hermione thought about the introductions and explanations she had seen in books before, weighing her words carefully.
"Uh," Marietta Eckmore was taken aback by Hermione's question, "House-elves shouldn't need wages and holidays, right?"
She looked a bit blankly at Cho Chang beside her, who also nodded. "I've never heard of a House-Elf requesting wages and holidays; for them, work is pleasure."
"As for obeying Wizards, yes, they must comply." On the other side, Penelope also chimed in to answer Hermione's question.
"As for cruel treatment," Marietta Eckmore reached out to scratch her hair and looked at Headmaster Dumbledore at the Staff Table, "Headmaster Dumbledore probably wouldn't let such things happen at Hogwarts."
At least in Hogwarts, Wizards would not proactively punish House-elves; as for House-elves punishing themselves, that was another matter entirely.
"But this is wrong; they should have rights." Hermione frowned. Her Muggle World upbringing made her understand the importance of rights, and even more so the principle that everyone should be equal.
Cho Chang, Marietta Eckmore, and Penelope looked at each other. They vaguely knew Hermione was right, but they had lived in the Wizarding World for a long time.
This made them feel that the House-elves' current state was normal and not a problem. The two conflicting ideas left these three clever girls at a loss for a moment.
"Hermione," Amanda swallowed the steak in her mouth and looked up at Hermione, her eyes a mix of dead silence and sharp brilliance, "Rights are indeed something everyone should have, and House-elves should indeed possess them."
"But the prerequisite is that they must take the initiative to strive for them, to demand rights. In the current situation, the House-elves are satisfied with their status quo and don't want to fight for rights. Thus, it's useless for anyone to give them rights or fight on their behalf."
"Unless they want to fight for rights themselves, and then receive external help—only then can the House-elves get what they deserve."
After a brief two-second pause, Amanda gave a very fitting example. "For instance, in my original world, not a single student felt that everything we experienced was unreasonable."
"Some would resist before being scrapped, but that was only because they didn't want to die. No one ever resisted because of the usual study and competition, because we all felt it was reasonable. Students should study; young people should rush into the sky to become scorching suns and burn themselves out."
"So that led to our end." An end with no rights and no dignity to speak of.
"You aren't like that anymore..."
Hermione reached out to hug Amanda's waist, her voice sounding a bit muffled.
"Mhm, this is change," Amanda responded softly, looking down at Hermione hugging her, the dead silence in her eyes once again diluted slightly by gentleness and support.
"You mean?"
Hermione paused, catching Amanda's hidden meaning, and looked up at her blankly.
"Start with the House-elves themselves, make them realize the rights they should have," Amanda continued, looking at the three seniors around them, "even if you can't make them naturally accept wages and holidays, or can only get them to accept a small amount."
"They must first understand and realize that they should have rights and that they should not be treated cruelly."
"If Hermione wants to promote House-Elf rights, only this way will succeed."
Awakening can be aided from the outside, but for true awakening, there must be internal motivation as well.
"I understand." Hermione lowered her eyes, thinking carefully about how to make the House-elves develop this kind of awareness.
Chewing on her food, Marietta Eckmore's eyes suddenly lit up. "If House-elves really could have an awareness of wages, maybe my family could hire one."
With a House-Elf, there would be no need to do housework anymore. How wonderful!
As for the cost to pay the House-Elf, her father's income had surged because of the massive wage increases Amanda brought to the entire British Wizarding World; he certainly wouldn't be short of that small fee.
"This matter is indeed feasible."
Penelope nodded as she spoke. Initially, when she heard Hermione talk, she leaned toward the status quo, but after hearing Amanda and thinking it over carefully...
She still felt that Hermione's idea of promoting House-Elf rights was more reasonable and a better choice.
How could a group of lovely creatures who looked after Wizards so meticulously not deserve some respect and rights?
As long as they could be made to want it themselves.
"It is indeed feasible, though it will be a long process."
Cho Chang's gentle voice rang out as she turned to look at Hermione.
Hermione nodded slightly, her eyes full of fighting spirit and unyielding persistence. "No awakening happens overnight, but once a start is made, the awakening will not stop."
"Then let us make that start without hesitation."
Cho Chang raised her eyebrows and toasted a goblet toward Hermione.
"Of course."
Once everyone had finished their main course and dessert, Headmaster Dumbledore stepped to the front of the Staff Table again.
"I am pleased to see that you have all filled your stomachs."
Headmaster Dumbledore said with a chuckle, while Filch carried a large wooden box and placed it on a stand.
"I shall now introduce to you the artifact that will select our champions, our absolutely impartial judge, the goblet of fire."
As Headmaster Dumbledore's voice fell, the large wooden box snapped open, and a cup-like object burning with flames sat quietly on the stand.
"Students wishing to participate in the Triwizard Tournament may submit their names to the goblet of fire. The goblet of fire will select one champion from each of the three schools."
"Hmph, but Hogwarts will have two." Marietta Eckmore muttered softly from below.
The other four girls, including Amanda, all turned in unison to look at Harry sitting at the Gryffindor Table.
"According to the rules of this tournament, only of-age students may compete, and I shall personally ensure this. I will draw an Age Line around the goblet of fire to ensure that only those who meet the age requirement can submit their slips of paper into the goblet."
"I must also remind those of you who are of age that the Triwizard Tournament carries certain risks, and once your name is chosen by the goblet of fire, it means you have entered into a contract with it."
"This is a sacred, irreversible contract, so I hope everyone considers it carefully before entering. The deadline for entry is tomorrow evening, Halloween."
"Tomorrow night, we will announce who the three champions from the three schools are. Goodnight to you all."
After Dumbledore finished speaking, he waved his hand. The Great Hall doors swung open, and the Young Wizards from the three schools stood up and filed out.
Before reaching the door, Amanda once again heard the voice of that Principal Karkaroff.
"Viktor, do you need me to have someone get you a glass of mulled wine from the kitchen? You know, you can drink it back on the ship to warm up."
"No need, thank you, Principal."
Amanda looked over. Krum responded with a stiff expression, clearly uncomfortable with Karkaroff's arm around his shoulder and his fatherly attitude.
Behind them, another boy spoke up longingly, "I'd like a glass, may I? Principal Karkaroff."
"I wasn't asking you, Poliakov," the kindness on Karkaroff's face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of disgust. "I noticed you've got food on your clothes again, you tiresome boy!"
Withdrawing her gaze with an indifferent expression, Amanda reaffirmed her evaluation of Karkaroff in her mind.
Compared to Headmaster Dumbledore, he was indeed not a qualified Principal.
Or rather... not a qualified adult? If going by the standards of an adult that Professor McGonagall had once told her.
"He shouldn't treat his students with such favoritism." Hermione shook her head.
"That's just how the world is, Hermione," Cho Chang said, half-joking and half-serious. "After all, there is only one Hogwarts. Excellence is valued, importance is cherished, but the neglect and grievances suffered by the majority are the main themes of this world."
"Merlin's boots." Hermione waved her hand in discouragement. This scene, layered on top of the earlier discussion about House-elves, made her suddenly feel weary.
She had clearly learned as a child that everyone is equal and that there is no distinction of high or low status, so why did it all seem to change once one reached a certain age?
She was currently in the sanctuary of Hogwarts; what about when she left this school? Wouldn't such situations play out every day?
Amanda blinked, looking mechanically at the seemingly discouraged Hermione, not quite understanding what she was upset about.
Wasn't this just like a math problem where there are always some steps that can be ignored?
Becoming an ignorable step simply meant one had no utility.
How could an ignored, useless step be compared to the core formula?
But seeing Hermione's state, Amanda reached out and gently took her hand. Her heart stirred slightly when Hermione smiled back at her.
She seemed to understand a bit more—that even those ignorable steps were indispensable.
Just like the Wizards currently working with her to improve the British Wizarding World; not one of them was redundant, not one was without use.
Amanda became very certain of this. "I understand Hermione's thoughts now."
"Eh?" Hermione's heart gave a violent thud. A strong sense of excitement even pulled her directly out of her discouraged state.
Amanda... understands my thoughts?! She knows my feelings for her?
This—what should I do? Dating today, proposal tomorrow—is that okay?
No, no, no, that's too rushed. Then next week, a proposal next week?!
Just as Hermione's eyes grew brighter and she almost couldn't restrain herself from shouting with excitement, Amanda spoke first.
"No one should be treated differently; everyone has their own use. Excellence is not a definitive standard."
Hermione paused, suddenly feeling both annoyed and amused. Annoyed that Amanda was truly more dense than Senior Marietta, but amused that her beloved could fully understand her.
"You're right." Hermione squeezed Amanda's hand back. Who said Hogwarts was the only sanctuary?
With Amanda and her friends, why couldn't Hermione turn the British Wizarding World, or even all of Britain, into a sanctuary?
Anyway, the list of things she wanted to do in her life was already visibly long; adding one more didn't matter.
Fully encouraged by Amanda, Hermione returned to the Dormitory and began writing feverishly, listing books she would use to inspire the House-elves' consciousness.
She planned to send a letter back to her parents, asking them to send the books over as soon as possible.
Then she would organize them properly, striving to write an integrated collection, and then ask the Hufflepuffs to give it to the Hogwarts House-elves to read.
They had a better relationship with the House-elves; presumably, if they were responsible for giving the books, the House-elves would definitely enjoy reading them more.
Tilting her head, Amanda curiously leaned over to look at the book titles Hermione was writing. Hermione also turned slightly to let Amanda see clearly.
"I haven't read any of these books." Or rather, she had never even heard of them.
"What?!"
The quill in Hermione's hand came to a sudden halt, and she turned back to look at her in disbelief.
Books Amanda hadn't read?! Did such things really exist? One must know she had even read books on how to do housework.
"Haven't read them, haven't heard of them." Amanda shook her head with a calm expression.
"You haven't read Das Kapital? You haven't read the Communist Manifesto either?"
Hermione said in astonishment, pointing to the long list of titles below these two books.
Amanda looked at the titles and frowned, shaking her head. "No, in my original world, I never saw these books, nor did I hear of them. They don't exist in the Hogwarts Library either."
Hearing this, Hermione suddenly understood. "That's true," she pursed her lips, "given how your original world was, how could they have kept these books?"
Her eyes darted around as she looked at Amanda with a brilliant smile. "When these books arrive, Amanda, you must read them carefully."
"Okay."
Amanda nodded seriously. She was already mentally reproaching herself for how there could be so many works she hadn't read, especially ones that seemed so important based on Hermione's expression.
Now that Hermione wanted her to read them, she was naturally willing.
Cho Chang, who had just finished bathing, happened to glance over at Amanda and Hermione. She was instantly stunned by the book titles on the paper in Hermione's hand.
Good heavens... this junior of hers was certainly... bold.
However, "Hermione?" Cho Chang asked tentatively, "My family has other books of this nature; they're all from the East and translated with Translation Charms. Do you want them?"
"Yes!" Hermione nodded without hesitation. Since she was making a collection, the more books she gathered, the better. "Thank you, Senior Cho Chang."
"It's fine, no trouble at all." Cho Chang shook her head, continuing to dry her hair with the towel.
"May I read them too?"
Amanda turned around, her eyes flashing with anticipation. Any book she hadn't read, she wanted to see; she should see them.
"Of course." Cho Chang nodded, preparing to write the letter as soon as her hair was dry.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.