Like a Villain

The Castle was rather deserted at night, but the light footsteps and voices of the young wizards broke the silence. Led by Hermione, they hurried out of the Portrait Hole, went down the stairs, and didn't stop at the first-floor Entrance Hall. They followed an underground stone staircase into a wide corridor.

The torches illuminated the surroundings brightly, and everywhere was decorated with delightful pictures, mainly of various kinds of food.

"This is the way to the Kitchen ... Loren and Dobby both mentioned it." Harry looked around, somewhat curious. "What could be more bizarre than Nearly Headless Nick asking us to borrow his head?"

"Nearly Headless Nick, wants to lend you his head." Loren, who was being led by Hermione, turned around at the opportune moment.

"Stop joking." Hermione tugged at him, and the group stopped in front of a huge silver bowl filled with fruit.

The large, bright green pear in the fruit painting giggled and bent over under Hermione's tickling, transforming into a curved doorknob. She pushed the door open and went inside—

Inside was Hogwarts ' Kitchen, a large room with high ceilings, furnished somewhat like the Great Hall. Four long dining tables were neatly arranged, and many Winky copper pots and pans were stacked up in an orderly fashion. A faint fire still lingered in the large brick fireplace.

Before the group could get a better look, two small creatures came running towards him from the center of the room, screeching loudly:

"Mr. Morgan!"

"Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!"

The two shouted at the top of their lungs, as if competing with each other. The House-elf in front suddenly bumped into Harry's upper abdomen and hugged him tightly.

"Hehe—"

Harry felt all the air being forced out of his lungs, and his expression was one of pain, as if his ribs had been broken.

Loren felt a phantom pain watching this, but thankfully Winky stopped a meter or two away from Loren and bowed respectfully, preventing Loren from experiencing the feeling of being hit by a catapult.

Dobby buried his head in Harry's stomach and shrieked, "Dobby has been waiting and waiting to see Harry Potter, sir, and now Harry Potter has come to see him in person, sir!"

"You... Dobby, let go of me first," Harry said with difficulty.

Dobby released his grip, took a few steps back, and looked up at Harry with a broad smile, his tennis ball-sized green eyes brimming with joyful tears. His bat-like ears and slender nose twitched merrily.

The young wizards then noticed that, apart from a tea towel printed with the Hogwarts emblem, their House-elf in the Kitchen.

Dobby had a teapot-shaped thermal cover on his head, covered with a bunch of colorful badges, a horseshoe-patterned tie on his bare chest, and something that looked like children's soccer shorts. He also had two mismatched socks on his feet.

Winky's attire had changed drastically since the last time Loren had seen him. His felt hat was now black, and his ill-fitting scarf was gone. His black and white striped vest gave him a somewhat aristocratic butler's air. However, as his gaze moved downwards, that air vanished, for Winky was still barefoot, his toes twitching restlessly.

Noticing Loren's scrutiny, Winky's smile faded, and she lowered her head, avoiding his eyes. She explained softly, "Miss Granger gave me these clothes. She said you would like me dressed like this, sir."

Loren glanced at Hermione with some surprise; he had no idea this was the case.

"Sometimes I ask him about the House-elf, and mentioning your name makes him more cooperative," Hermione explained, raising her eyebrows as she stared at Winky. "I also make you wear shoes and socks, but you don't even wear socks!"

Winky lowered her head even further and mumbled in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "Socks... the one the master gave me... Winky can't..."

Loren nodded thoughtfully and smiled gently, "It's alright, Winky, wear whatever you want."

"You look good dressed like this, and you were dressed very well when we last met. In fact, besides the gift I gave you and the clothes Hermione gave you, I'd like to ask you what you want to wear?"

The House-elf's ears twitched slightly. It slowly raised its head and met those smiling black eyes. Winky's voice trembled, but it still mustered up the courage to answer, "I don't know, sir. I think what you gave me is very nice. Winky likes the gift you gave me."

Hermione took a deep breath, wanting to cram the Declaration of Independence into his head again.

Loren smiled, didn't press further, and turned to Hermione: "What kind of bizarre event do you want us to witness?"

"I know, it's Winky!"

Dobby, who was explaining the two socks to Harry, answered in Dobby voice, his tone full of smugness.

"Winky? She's here too?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes, sir, yes!"

Dobby grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him through four long wooden tables into the Kitchen. The House-elf passing by greeted him with smiles, bows, and curtsies. They had no clothes, only tea towels with the Hogwarts emblem wrapped around their bodies as robes.

The others followed behind, and Hermione took a moment to explain, "I ran into Winky on my way back to the Common Room. She was wiping the frames for Sir Cadogan, but as soon as she saw me, she covered her face and ran away."

"Oh yes, Mr. Dumbledore said we have guests coming to the Castle and ordered us to do a thorough cleaning." Dobby stopped in front of the brick fireplace and pointed it out to them. "Winky is right there, look!"

A thin, House-elf sat on a stool by the fire, dressed in a neat little dress and blouse, with a matching blue hat with two holes cut out to reveal her large ears. Winky, on the other hand, seemed completely unconcerned about her clothes; her blouse was splattered with soup, and a patch of her dress was charred black.

She was so thin that she looked frightening; there was only a thin layer of skin on her bones.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Hermione's eyes. Although Winky also very thin during the Quidditch World Cup, she hadn't become emaciated back then. She tentatively asked, "Hello, Winky."

Winky looked up at them, her lips trembling, tears welling up in her big brown eyes, and then she burst into tears.

"No, Winky, don't cry..." Hermione was stunned and tried to comfort her at a loss.

Winky and Dobby, seemed used to this scene. Winky calmly looked up at Loren and said, "Sir, would you like a cup of hot tea?"

Seeing Loren nod, Winky waved his hands and ran off happily. Dobby's eyes widened immediately, filled with regret; why hadn't he thought to serve Harry Potter tea?

Winky moved quickly, but her hands were remarkably steady as she served the tea. On the silver tray lay a pot of steaming milk, several cups, and a large plate of biscuits. Loren, Harry, and Ron sat down beside her.

Hermione was trying to comfort the crying House-elf by asking him questions, but Winky just kept crying and didn't pay any attention to Hermione.

"Have the Ministry of Magic mistreated you, Winky?"

"..."

"How's the job at Hogwarts?"

"..."

"How long have you been here, Winky?"

"It's been a week, ma'am!" Dobby couldn't help but answer for her. "Dobby took her to see Mr. Dumbledore. You know, ma'am, it's very, very hard for a House-elf who's been fired to find a new job. It's really, really hard."

Upon hearing this, Winky Shan burst into even louder sobs, snot dripping onto her chest.

Ron, who was happily munching on a cookie, slowed down and sighed deeply. It was hard to imagine that such a thin body could produce so much snot, more than the milk in his cup.

Loren pulled Hermione, who looked troubled, to sit down, patted her on the shoulder, and looked at the smug House-elf: "How did you end up with Winky, Dobby? Tell us what happened."

"Yes, sir!" Dobby smiled brightly, revealing many yellowed teeth. "It all started with Dobby's vacation last month. As you know, Dobby is a free House-elf. Mr. Dumbledore paid Dobby wage, but Dobby has his own vacation time."

The House-elf in the Kitchen, who had been watching them with great interest, suddenly looked at them with disgust and scattered hastily, as if they had heard something rude, offensive, and shameful.

Only Hermione looked at Dobby with admiration.

"During the holidays last month, Dobby went to the Ministry of Magic. They thought he was sent by Dobby Dobby and asked him who his master was! When Dobby said he was a free House-elf, they were all stunned!"

Dobby's high-pitched voice softened slightly. "But it's very difficult for a House-elf without an owner to visit another House-elf in the Ministry of Magic's interrogation room. It requires very strict scrutiny. They turned my clothes upside down twenty times, until they were all frayed..."

"But this is no problem for Dobby. Dobby to sew and can mend things himself. Kind Mr. Weasley gave me some needles and thread, Dobby quickly repaired them."

"Hey, that's my dad!" Ron said excitedly.

"Mr. Weasley told me that Winky is ready to be released, but the gentlemen of the Ministry of Magic are unwilling to keep her there. It is Winky who does not want to leave; she only wants to return to her former master, but Mr. Crouch no longer wants her and says that she has been kicked out."

At just the right moment, Winky let out two sobs, and then her wailing grew even louder.

"Winky always says that her former owner was a good person. He never hit her, never burned her back with a red-hot spoon, and never made her bang her head against the wall to reflect on her mistakes..."

Dobby he spoke, and said with some fear, "But Dobby has seen that kind of look before, with Dobby's first master... no, even Dobby's first master. He wasn't a good person; that look was that of a dark wizard."

"Don't you dare talk about my master like that!" Winky shrieked angrily. "You should be ashamed of yourself, Dobby, for speaking ill of your master like that!"

"Oh, no, you can't criticize your master..."

Dobby looked conflicted, and he raised his hand shakily as if he wanted to slap himself, but Harry grabbed his slender forearm. "Dobby, you are no longer a slave, you are a free House-elf."

Dobby's stiff, trembling body relaxed, and he repeated nervously, "Yes, I am a free House-elf, and my current master is Mr. Dumbledore."

"The employer, it's the employer," Hermione interrupted.

"Mr. Dumbledore doesn't ask us to keep secrets or remain silent. He says we can do whatever we want, and if we want, we can call him a fool, a big idiot, ha!"

Dobby gave a dry laugh, his uneasy tone slowly returning to normal. "But I like Professor Dumbledore, and I'm willing to keep his secrets, remain silent for him, and be proud of it."

"You'll know what happened next. Where could we take in a homeless House-elf? Dobby suddenly had an idea and brought Winky to Hogwarts, so she would never have to see her former master again."

Upon hearing this, Winky threw herself forward from the stool, falling face down onto the stone-paved ground. She pounded her little fists and sobbed in anguish, "My poor Mr. Crouch, what will he do without Winky ... I've been taking care of the Crouch family since I was born. Before me was my mother, and before her was my grandmother... Oh, what a disgrace, what a disgrace!"

"If you can calm down, I might let you see your master again."

A gentle voice rang out slowly, Dobby Dobby's sobs, which he had been yelling at for a long time but couldn't drown out, instantly subsided. Winky sobbed a couple of times, but tried to suppress her sobs, blinking as she looked at Loren.

Loren slowly finished his cup of hot milk and casually put it back on the tray. "I'll make a deal with you. From now on, no matter what Dobby, you will do the same thing. If he gets paid, you will get paid. If he takes a day off to go shopping, you will take a day off to go shopping... I can promise that you will see Mr. Crouch again before Christmas."

Hermione's eyes lit up as she looked at Winky with anticipation.

Her Winky - Scabbers face froze, her wide eyes filled with disbelief. The idea of being ashamed to receive a salary and her longing for her master collided in her mind, making her head spin.

Ultimately, the obsession with returning to its master prevailed.

"Really?

"I can make a contract with you, or Unbreakable Vow."

"No, no, Winky 'm not worthy to sign a contract or swear an oath with Mr. Morgan." Winky shook his head in a panic. "Mr. Morgan. Loren Morgan is someone that both Winky and Dobby respect. He is a noble wizard of Hogwarts and my master. I believe in you, Mr. Morgan."

"But..." Winky's face was full of struggle. "Winky can't take wages. Although Winky is a House-elf has been kicked out, Winky has not stooped to the point of taking wages. Headmaster Dumbledore's willingness to take me in is already a great favor. I can't let Mr. Dumbledore be talked about by others."

"..."

Hermione's fists were clenched tightly, her little face filled with resentment and anger at her misfortune and lack of ambition.

Loren chuckled softly, "That's your problem. I don't care if you go begging Headmaster Dumbledore or Deputy Headmaster McGonagall, pleading for their charity or having a friendly discussion with them. In any case, you have to earn no less Dobby's wages every month. Otherwise, if I find out that Dobby has bought new clothes and socks while you haven't, you'll only be able to see your master again in your dreams."

Winky remained silent, tears welling up in her eyes again, streaming down her cheeks and onto her dirty dress.

Looking at the House-elf who didn't even dare to cry out, Harry and Ron exchanged a glance, finding the same feeling in each other's eyes. They both felt that this person was a villain who bullied and persecuted House-elf. Just listen to those lines, like coercion and extortion...

"By the way, if I see your skirt all dirty again next time, then the agreement will be void."

Loren said something casually, then pulled Hermione up and walked out of the Kitchen, showing no intention of talking to her any further.

Harry and Ron grabbed the remaining cookies from the tray and followed, looking more like villains.

Winky and Dobby glanced at Winky; one's eyes held pity and sympathy, while the other's held excitement and blessing.

As they approached the door, the House-elf gathered around again, enthusiastically stuffing them with lots of cream cakes and pies...

As Winky and Dobby saw the group to the door, Dobby asked, "Harry Potter, Dobby come to see you sometimes, sir?"

"Sure."

Dobby immediately beamed with joy.

Winky also secretly glanced at Mr. Morgan, feeling tempted, but also afraid that Mr. Morgan would make him like Dobby, receiving wages, holidays, and shopping... that would definitely be considered a disgrace by the other House-elf.

Loren found it amusing and casually knocked the little felt hat off his head. "Come see me Friday night, I have something else to tell you to do."

Winky grinned, adjusting her hat, and nodded emphatically.

Emerging from the underground staircase, the Castle had already been turned off. Mr. Filch's warden's office on the first floor was dark, presumably because he had gone on patrol with Mrs. Norris. But the four night-wandering children were no longer the first-year wizards they once were; with ample experience in nighttime exploration, they strolled back leisurely.

"Loren, how did you let her see Crouch?" Harry asked, swallowing the pie in his mouth.

"I know, because of the Triwizard Tournament!" Ron held up the cream cake in his right hand and explained, "The Triwizard Tournament will involve schools from four other countries, and Mr. Crouch, as the Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, is definitely a member of the tournament organizing committee."

He took a bite of the cream cake and asked, his words muffled, "I have another question. Why did you make Winky learn from Dobby?"

Hermione's gaze also fell on Loren. She had been discussing things with Professor Bubage for almost a year, and based on the conditions Loren had proposed, she had a vague idea of what was going on.

"Because freedom and desire are like apples that tempt people to fall into depravity; once you taste them, you can never stop."

In the spacious, empty corridor, Loren's voice was very soft.

Over the next few days, the Castle underwent a thorough cleaning. The metal armor was polished to a gleaming shine and stopped creaking when moved. Most of the portraits were also restored and refurbished.

The portraits in the Hogwarts corridors are at least several decades old, covered with a thick layer of grease and oxides, making most of them appear grayish. Every night after lights out, the House-elf would carefully dip soft blades of grass into Potions, apply them to the portraits, and scrape off a layer of grease from the figures.

The figures being cleaned were quite dissatisfied, huddled in the picture frame, grumbling sullenly, and wincing in pain every time they touched their newly exposed pink flesh.

"Can't you just polish my armor and lance?" Sir Cadogan exclaimed.

At the end of October, the autumn wind and cold wave arrived at Hogwarts together, and the world outside the blankets became indifferent. The most difficult moment of the day for the young wizards became getting up.

On Friday morning, the young wizards were astonished to find that the Great Hall had been decorated overnight, with four huge banners fluttering on the walls: a majestic golden lion on red silk, a black badger on yellow silk, a bronze eagle on blue silk, and a silver python on green silk.

Upon seeing the giant Hogwarts emblem on the four silk ribbons, the sleepy young wizards instantly woke up and excitedly discussed information about the other three schools and the Triwizard Tournament.

"Do you remember my relative who taught me at Ilvermorny? He told me that Ilvermorny used to be the most closed and conservative school, but there were too many Muggle in America, and Pure-blood wizard were quickly assimilated."

"Durmstrang has formal courses in Dark Arts, even more extensive than Professor Moody's!"

"It's said that there are more Beauxbatons girl, and they're all very pretty!"

"..."

"Professor McGonagall still won't reveal how the Champion are selected..." George grumbled resentfully. "All she tells me to do is shut up and focus on Transfiguration my raccoon!"

"You haven't given up yet? You know, the Champion ' mortality rate is even higher than Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts."

Angelina yawned. For a long time before school started, she had been struggling with how to manage the team after taking over, and how to get through the days without Wood... Who knew that the Quidditch Match would be canceled? Angelina was very upset.

Fred waved his hand. "Think about it, Angelina. The tribunal won't let anything happen to us. I don't believe Dumbledore would just watch his lovely students die."

"..."

Hearing the lively discussions all around, Harry scooped up a large spoonful of scrambled eggs and shoved it into his mouth in frustration.

Loren and Hermione ate their breakfast in silence, without saying a word.

Ron, who had a lot to say and was feeling suffocated, finally couldn't hold back any longer. "How do you think those three schools will come to Hogwarts? Flying broomsticks or Apparition?"

"I don't know," Harry sighed, his tone wistful. "I probably never will, since I was the only one left in the creepy Dungeon Classroom when everyone else left early..."

"How would I know? I have to stay after school to organize the crucibles containing corrosive liquids, and I have to wash the spoons that may be poisonous."

"It's all my fault, because I echoed a comment when I saw the notice that day..."

Ron got goosebumps all over and quickly rubbed the skin on the back of his hands. "Okay, okay, I'll stay and help you organize the equipment, alright?"

"Ha, if we hurry, we might make it." Harry laughed cheerfully. "They definitely won't Apparition here; Apparition is prohibited within Hogwarts grounds. Maybe they'll take a vehicle; I've ridden the Knight Bus before..."

Loren and Hermione kept their heads down, focusing on eating their breakfast.

They wanted to watch the excitement, not be conscripted.