Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 534: Chapter 532: House-elves and Centaurs

For most people, the first phase of vacation is a time for endless entertainment and fun. Then, right before school starts again, they suddenly remember they have homework.

So on the last day of the Christmas holiday, this scene appeared in the Hufflepuff Common Room. The laughter from the previous days was gone, and everyone was anxiously and hastily completing their homework that they hadn’t written a word of.

This is also a traditional collective activity in Hufflepuff, happening once or twice every year.

With only one day before school begins, the time was tight and tasks were heavy, so much so that there weren’t many people coming for lunch. Compared to the bustling long tables of other houses, Hufflepuff’s table seemed deserted.

Of course, this might also be because Hufflepuff is closer to the kitchen, allowing them to have lunch without needing to come to the Auditorium... because some students from other houses were also acting quite strangely.

Among them were Harry and Ron from Gryffindor, who stood up after only five minutes, stuffed their pockets with roasted potatoes, and hurried out of the Auditorium.

Hermione was behind them, constantly scolding.

Then, when they reached the entrance of the Auditorium, she suddenly stopped and didn’t go back with them. Instead, she turned and headed straight towards Hufflepuff.

Kael was discussing the Firebolt with Cedric, just lifted his head, and saw Hermione sitting at the empty spot across from him.

”Hermione?” Kael asked instinctively, ”Did you have another fight with Ron?”

”No,” Hermione said, ”I’ve figured it out. Arguing with him doesn’t make me feel any better and served no purpose. I’m here to find you this time.”

”Find me?”

”It’s because of this.” Hermione took out a box, opened it, and placed it on the table.

Kael and Cedric both leaned in to look.

The box contained about a dozen badges, each a different color, but each bearing the same letters.

S.P.E.W.

”Spew?” Cedric instinctively said, ”You don’t mean to use this to boo the champions from other schools during the second task, do you... I don’t think Professor McGonagall would agree with that.”

”Not spew.” Hermione said somewhat irritably, clearly having already been misunderstood many times before.

But she still tried to calm herself, explaining, ”It stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.”

”The what of the house-elves?” Cedric looked at Kael, puzzled, ”Have you heard of it?”

”No,” Kael shook his head.

”I created it, just two months ago,” Hermione said crisply, ”The goal is to fight for the rights they deserve and wages for the house-elves.”

”Huh?” Cedric was even more baffled, thinking he must have misheard, ”Wages for house-elves?”

”Yes, that’s right.”

Hermione’s voice was a bit louder than before. ”I believe many wizards treat house-elves like slaves. They don’t receive wages or vacations, and what’s even more terrifying is that here at Hogwarts, there are over a hundred such house-elves...”

Hermione spoke passionately, growing more and more excited, as if delivering a campaign speech for Minister of Magic.

Upon hearing her words, many couldn’t help but laugh, especially the nearby Slytherins, who laughed till they were pounding the table.

Cedric, with his good personal upbringing, tried his best to listen calmly to Hermione’s words.

”So I think we should help them... Would you like to join? You only need to pay two Silver Sickles to purchase a badge... This income can later be used to print flyers.”

”Sorry,” Cedric said, ”Can I ask how many members you have now?”

”Hmm... six,” Hermione said, ”Me, Harry, Ron, Neville, Fred, and George.”

”Fred...” Cedric said incredulously, ”They joined too?”

”Yes,” Hermione said, ”Although they said they wouldn’t participate in any activities, they still bought a badge...”

Kael raised an eyebrow, thinking Fred and Ron likely paid the Sickles because they were interested in the ”spew” badge... since it changes, with a shake, ”SPEW” turns into a house-elf image.

At that time, with a slight alteration... like changing the image to Krum’s, it could serve as a tool for booing.

”Would you like to join us?” Hermione pushed the box forward, asking hopefully.

”If it doesn’t involve participating in activities... I can buy a badge,” Cedric said, taking out two Sickles and handing them to Hermione.

Conna, next to him, also paid two Sickles, just to support a friend... Of course, provided she didn’t have to wear the badge.

It looked way too much like a prank badge from the Weasley brothers, almost identical to Percy’s ”big head boy” badge. Wearing it would indeed be a bit embarrassing.

Both paid the money, but only Kael didn’t make any move.

”You don’t want to?” Hermione looked a bit disappointed because, in her impression, Kael wasn’t supposed to be like this.

But Hermione didn’t want to give up just yet,

She thought about it, realizing Kael’s attitude was crucial. If he was willing to join, with his status as a champion, she might be able to recruit more members.

Then, Hermione took a deep breath and said in a louder voice, ”This is slave labor. Every bite we take is gained by exploiting house-elves. So, do you think this is right and want to collude with them?”

Conna frowned, disliked Hermione’s tone towards Kael earlier, and wanted to take back her two Sickles.

”I don’t want to buy anymore, give the money...”

But before she could finish her sentence, someone stopped her.

”I understand what you’re thinking, Hermione,” Kael shook his head and said, ”but you’re going about it the wrong way. I guess you’ve already visited the kitchen, right.”

”That’s right,” Hermione said, ”I persuaded them to fight for wages for themselves.”

”And what was the outcome?” Kael continued to ask.

This time, Hermione didn’t say anything.

After a while, she murmured, ”House-elves have been enslaved for too long, that’s why they need our help, I believe...”

”Please hold on.”

Kael interrupted her, ”It’s not something that can be explained in one or two sentences. How about this, if you have time, could you come with me? I’ll take you to a place... if you still insist afterward, then I’ll buy the badge.”

”Okay!” Hermione said, ”Where to?”

”Follow me, you’ll know when we get there.”

Kael stood up and walked out of the auditorium, with Hermione following closely behind.

Conna hesitated for a moment and followed, and Cedric, needless to say, even called Cho, who was eating beside them.

The group walked out of the auditorium, and then Kael walked across the castle gate, heading towards the Forbidden Forest.

The door to Hagrid’s Hut was tightly closed, and as they approached, Fang’s barking came from inside.

Then the door opened, and Hagrid poked his exhausted head out, clearly, even in his bad mood, he hadn’t forgotten his most important duty...

”You guys,” he called to Kael, who was about to enter the Forbidden Forest, ”if you’re here to visit me, then go back, I just want some peace alone.

If you’re thinking of going into the Forbidden Forest, just go back, it’s too dangerous there, as long as I haven’t been fired, I can’t let you go in.”

”Sorry, Hagrid,” Kael stopped and said, ”We have something important, if we don’t go into the Forbidden Forest... could you help call a centaur for us?”

”Oh, no, go back.”

”We really have something important, Hagrid, please.” Kael said again.

This time, Hagrid hesitated for a moment, then stumbled out of the hut.

”Alright,” he said, ”but you absolutely cannot take another step forward until I come back, just wait here.”

”No problem,” Kael said.

Hagrid nodded and ventured into the depths of the Forbidden Forest.

Kael kept his word and stood there, continuing his unfinished discussion with Cedric.

”Honestly, the Firebolt’s performance is incredible, it’s hard to imagine you held off Harry for so long last year.”

”Yeah, I also find it unbelievable,” Cedric said, ”you dodged the Bludger so smoothly before, the Firebolt is truly the broom every Seeker dreams of.”

”You can buy one too, when I win the thousand Galleons from the Triwizard Tournament, I can lend some to you.”

”No need, I’ll be in seventh year next year, just for one year it’s not really worth it.”

”What about after graduation then,” Kael said, ”don’t you want to join a professional Quidditch team? You can’t possibly use your Nimbus 1700...”

”Yeah, Kael’s right,” Conna chimed in, ”If it’s not enough, I can lend you some too.”

While they were talking, Hermione stood silently beside them.

Soon, Hagrid returned with a centaur.

He had strikingly blue eyes, gleaming platinum hair, very handsome, and his lower half was that of a light golden horse with silver mane, equally beautiful.

”Thank you, Hagrid.”

Kael stepped forward and greeted the centaur, ”Hello, Firenze.”

”Hello, young foal,” Firenze said, ”Oh, I recognize you, you’re the one who rescued the young unicorn from that Dark Wizard.”

”That was years ago.”

”Yes, the young unicorn has grown up since then,” Firenze said, ”Alright, to the point, Hagrid said you were looking for us centaurs, is there something you need?”

”Just a simple question,” Kael said, ”Firenze, what do you think of the fact that we wizards always wear clothes?”

”Incomprehensible,”

Firenze blurted out, ”I can’t understand, obviously you are still young foals, and have done nothing wrong, why punish yourselves in such a rigorous manner.”

”Wait, you mean wearing clothes is a punishment for us?” Hermione couldn’t help but ask.

”Yes,” Firenze said solemnly, ”In our tribe, only those who have committed grave mistakes would be forced to be wrapped in cloths and leaves, depriving them of the right to connect with nature.”

”Thank you, Firenze, that’s all I wanted to ask,” Kael said, ”I hope you can send my regards to Magorian.”

”I will certainly pass it on,” Firenze said.

However, before returning to the Forbidden Forest, he paused for a moment and then said, ”I really advise you to take off those shackles and feel the wonders of nature... after all, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

”Uh... no thanks,” Cho said, stepping back cautiously, her gaze towards Firenze changed.