Chapter 128: S.P.E.W.
A little over ten minutes later, Jon arrived at the Great Hall; then he was surprised to find the decorations had changed again.
Because it was Halloween, Professor Flitwick had conjured a swarm of bats that flew around the enchanted ceiling, while hundreds of pumpkin-carved figures peered askance at the crowd from every corner.
A crowd had gathered near the Great Hall entrance... some eating bread while observing the Goblet of Fire.
“Hey, do you know which students put their names in the Goblet of Fire?” Jon asked casually.
“All the students from Durmstrang!” a second-year girl nearby answered. “Plus Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor, Roger Davies from Ravenclaw, and...”
“Your house's Cedric Diggory threw his name in too!” a familiar voice chimed in from behind. “And our Prefect, Gemma Farley!”
“Astoria... Good morning!” Jon turned to glance at the girl, greeting her warmly.
Astoria Greengrass smiled as she handed him a note. “Professor Snape asked me to give this to you.”
Jon took the note and saw Snape's handwriting: “Blood of Indian black eel!”
“What does that mean?” Astoria asked curiously.
“Professor Snape’s given me detention tonight” Jon answered honestly. “Probably involves bleeding some Indian black eels!”
“Professor Snape is still giving you detention?” Astoria asked with concern.
“Yes... but it's nothing...” Jon murmured.
As they spoke, the Beauxbatons students had finished breakfast and were hurrying over.
The Hogwarts students gathered around the Goblet of Fire stepped back to let them pass, watching intently.
Madame Maxime followed her students and instructed them to form a line.
One by one, the Beauxbatons students stepped over the Age Line and tossed their parchments into the blue-and-white flames.
Each time a name was tossed into the flames, the flames flared crimson, scattering sparks into the air.
The last to cast her name into the Goblet of Fire was a girl with sapphire-blue eyes and long, cascading silver hair; after tossing her name into the Goblet of Fire, she flashed a wide grin at the Hogwarts crowd, revealing a row of perfectly straight, pearly-white teeth...
Jon suddenly sensed the boys around him all draw in sharp breaths; he was no exception. Had he not promptly sealed his thoughts with Occlumency, he might have made a fool of himself too...
“She must be a Veela!” Astoria gripped his hand tightly, her voice tinged with hostility.
“Probably has some Veela blood,” Jon remarked casually. “After all, magical creatures like Veelas are strictly forbidden from owning wands...”
Seeing Jon wasn't as easily enchanted by the girl who looked so much like a Veela as the other boys, Astoria seemed rather pleased.
“Jon...” she murmured softly, “Shall we go see the Bowtruckle?”
“Sure!” Jon nodded.
...
The two left the castle, slowly approaching Hagrid's hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
The grove where the Bowtruckles lived lay just ahead, at the forest’s edge.
“I hope Gabrielle becomes a Hogwarts Champion!” Astoria said as they walked. “She's truly Outstanding!”
“I think Cedric has a better chance...”
“How about we make a bet?” Astoria winked mischievously. “Whoever loses grants the other one wish?”
“Absolutely!” Jon couldn't possibly refuse such a sure bet. Without hesitation, he declared: “I bet Cedric Diggory will be Hogwarts' Champion!”
“But if he isn't... you lose?” Astoria cleverly shifted the terms.
Jon dismissed such petty cleverness with disdain: “Of course!”
Losing wasn’t even a possibility in his mind...
They continued walking forward, unexpectedly encountering three familiar faces coming towards them.
“Jon?” Harry Potter exclaimed in surprise.
“Hello, Harry!” Jon greeted the trio of saviors. “My friend and I are heading to the Forbidden Forest to see Magical Creatures!”
As he spoke, Jon introduced Astoria to them.
However, relations between Slytherin and Gryffindor had always been the worst, so they merely exchanged a flat greeting.
“Wait, Hermione...” Ron Weasley suddenly yelped, “You're not going to...?”
Before he could stop her, Hermione Granger rushed over holding two green badges.
“Jon… and Miss Greengrass…” she said with a serious expression, “I’d like to invite you to join S.P.E.W.!”
“Vomit?” Astoria took one of the badges with some curiosity.
“No, the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare!” Hermione corrected earnestly.
“House-elves...” Astoria seemed to take a bit of interest in the badge.
“...The enslavement of house-elves dates back centuries. I can't believe no one has ever done anything about it...” Hermione Granger spoke rapidly, beginning her pitch to the two newcomers: “...No sick leave, no benefits, no rights whatsoever...”
“...We'll ensure house-elves receive fair wages and working conditions that exceed expectations. Our long-term goals include amending the law prohibiting wand use and securing a house-elf position within the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures—the lack of representation for their interests is truly appalling...”
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley stood nearby, both wearing expressions of utter exasperation.
Jon didn't know what to say either. Just as he reached for a few Sickles to buy two badges, Astoria interrupted him...
“You don't understand them at all!” Astoria screamed. Jon rarely saw her so emotionally charged.
This time, it was Hermione's turn to look stunned.
“That’s not good for them at all… Their very nature is to care for wizards. They enjoy it, do you understand? If they aren't allowed to work, they'll feel sorrow. Paying them wages, giving them clothes—that's an insult to them...” Astoria said sternly.
This was likely the most scathing opposition Miss Hermione Granger had faced since founding S.P.E.W.
“Keep them enslaved by wizards?” she sneered sarcastically. “Keep them oppressed by wizards!”
“Not every wizard family treats house-elves like slaves! Many families regard them as friends, as family!” Astoria shouted. “You've never interacted with them, you don't understand them at all...”
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