You Can Meet Acquaintances of Acquaintances Abroad / The Chosen One Doesn't Deserve a Summer Holiday

In short, it was incredibly fortunate that Lucius's scheme failed and that the Mr. and Mrs. Granger were completely unaware of what had happened.

Harry certainly wouldn't go out of his way to tell his parents all this, so he simply let them pretend nothing had happened.

As for Lucius Malfoy, that scourge, he will naturally find an opportunity to deal with him once he has a proper plan.

Dobby, how have you been while we've been apart?

With Lucius's matter temporarily put on hold, Harry couldn't help but start to worry about Dobby's situation.

"To be honest, it's not very good, sir..." Dobby's voice subtly turned dejected as he spoke of his situation. "Dobby has certainly enjoyed his freedom and seen a lot of things, but Dobby knows that this kind of life can't last... and then Dobby finds that he can't find a job."

"Can't find a job?" Harry asked, puzzled. "Is it because you were fired by your employer?"

It is indeed difficult for ordinary House-elf to find new homes if they are expelled, but Harry thought that with Dobby's abilities, there should be many families who would like him.

"Not entirely, sir..." Dobby said softly, "There were some wizards who were willing to give Dobby a job, but in the end, they couldn't reach an agreement because... Dobby wanted payment."

"Payment?!" Harry was taken aback.

"Right... Dobby knows that his idea must seem very, very bad to others... sir?"

Dobby was initially a little disappointed, but he soon realized that Harry was looking at him with a gaze that seemed to hold understanding and relief.

"I'm glad you had this idea, Dobby," Harry said with a smile, patting Dobby on the shoulder. "Every creature has the right to fair compensation for its work, House-elf are no exception. So I fully support your idea."

"Really? Thank you, sir! Dobby knew that someone as kind as you would support Dobby's ideas!"

Upon hearing that Harry supported him, the House-elf jumped and danced with joy in the house.

Seeing his happy expression, Harry couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Of course, the world is unequal, and even Harry does unequal things... like the freedom to enslave Centaur and Acromantula.

However, for a sentient being capable of thought, it is possible to have ideas such as pursuing equality and yearning for freedom.

House-elf, in particular, have never had such aspirations since they came under the complete control of wizards. They even consider it a great disgrace not to work or receive payment.

Among these, the most typical example that Harry had seen was the House-elf in Hogwarts Kitchens.

Compared to Dobby, they are the complete opposite.

If someone were to give these House-elf a piece of clothing, they would certainly not show any gratitude. Instead, they would likely glare at them angrily, and might even punish themselves by shouting insults.

Therefore, the problem faced by House-elf is not just the abuse they suffer. The biggest issue that prevents them from changing their status is that they genuinely accept this abuse!

"Dobby, I have an idea, would you like to consider it?" Dobby was getting excited, Harry suddenly suggested, "From now on, you can stay at my house. I can give you a job, mainly to protect my parents. Of course, I'll definitely pay you accordingly."

"No...that's not right, sir!" Dobby's first reaction to hearing that Harry wanted to work for him wasn't happiness, but rather an anxious refusal. "Dobby these things willingly! It's because Dobby considers you a friend, sir, that I'm willing to stay at your house and do these things... Dobby feels that you can't ask for payment for helping a friend."

"Dobby, I appreciate you saying that, but we're thinking about completely different things." Harry shook his head, earnestly explaining his true meaning to Dobby, "Working for a friend is still work, and according to your wishes, work should be paid, so of course I will pay you. What I really want to tell you is that I hope you can stay in my house, not just as a House-elf working for money, but as a member of the Granger family!"

"Sir, you... you mean...?" Dobby a moment after hearing Harry's words.

He felt that Harry's so-called 'member of the family' was not the same thing he had previously thought.

"It's very simple. I'm willing to offer you a paid job, but you won't be House-elf being bossed around. You'll be a member of the household with equal status, and no one in this household will be your master."

Harry looked into Dobby's eyes and smiled sincerely, "When you no longer want this job, you can do other things that interest you. But this will always be your home, and we welcome you to stay and become part of our family... If possible, I'd even like you to agree to share my last name!"

"No... this is unbelievable! Sir, you just said... you're going to give Dobby a surname?!"

After saying that, Dobby felt like he was going crazy!

As a House-elf had been expelled from the family, he thought that demanding payment was already outrageous enough, but he never expected that Harry was much crazier than him!

Surname...

Ever since their race was conquered by wizards in ancient times and eventually named House-elf, they have never possessed such a thing.

But Harry Granger, the man Dobby had always genuinely considered a friend, was not only willing to grant Dobby's Dobby wish for paid work, but also to make him a true member of the family and give him a surname!

This feeling... it's like a dream.

"How about it, want to give it a try?" Harry chuckled, placing a hand on Dobby's head. "Dobby Granger, I think it's a pretty good name. So how about you consider becoming an unprecedented, paid, and surnamed... House-elf?"

"Dobby... Dobby is willing!!"

Dobby nodded Dobby, large tears welling up in his eyes and dripping onto the floor like broken strings, quickly creating a small splash.

However, he didn't wipe it off. Instead, he forced a wide grin, revealing a smile that was uglier than crying, but incredibly genuine.

"Dobby... Dobby is so happy! From today onwards, Dobby has a new name, Dobby Granger!"

Chapter 240 Going abroad means you can run into acquaintances.

When France is mentioned, most people immediately think of romance, art, wine, and French cuisine.

At the same time, some famous landmarks will subconsciously come to mind, such as the Seine, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, and most importantly, the Eiffel Tower.

Coincidentally, all of these places are in Paris, so the Granger family's so-called trip to France was actually a trip to Paris.

But there's nothing we can do about it; they don't speak the language, and they can't go to any further places.

"We really should have learned some French before we came..."

Standing on the streets of Paris, gazing at the Eiffel Tower from every angle, and listening to Mr. Granger's heartfelt remarks, Harry was simply blown away.

I wonder who said it in my past life: if you learn English well, you can travel all over Europe without any worries... Harry really wants to grab that person and throw them on the streets of Paris so they can experience it for themselves.

Perhaps out of a sense of national pride, the Mr. and Mrs. Granger made the same mistake as Harry before their trip, believing that their fluent English would allow them to travel freely throughout France.

Unexpectedly, they encountered a problem upon disembarking and entering the country.

After the customs officer in charge of security spoke fluent French, leaving the Granger family bewildered, he had to switch back to heavily accented English and earnestly advise them...

'If you really can't speak any French, you'd better not leave Paris.'

The Granger family, or more precisely Hermione, were initially quite skeptical of this good intention, but after strolling through the streets of Paris, they had to admit that sometimes one really does need to listen to advice.

The locals they encountered in Paris could mostly understand English, but when these enthusiastic France people started speaking, the Granger family couldn't understand a word they were saying.

It wasn't until they had spent a few days wandering around Paris that they gained a general understanding of the local lifestyle and language habits.

To put it bluntly, France's overall English proficiency is among the worst in Europe. Locals rarely speak English, and even when they do, it's often with a heavy French accent, making it impossible to understand them.

Moreover, this is in Paris, the city with the most developed tourism industry and the most foreign tourists. It is conceivable that if you continue to delve deeper and try to learn about the customs and culture of some France villages, you will definitely be asking for trouble.

Harry figured that if they really left a bustling city like Paris, his family might have trouble even ordering food at a roadside restaurant.

"But this is good too!" a shrill voice rang out from Mr. Granger's pocket. "Dobby has barely even traveled around Britain, and now he's going abroad! This is fantastic!"

That's right, the Granger family is traveling as a group of five. Since Harry gave Dobby a surname, it's only natural that he'd be included on this trip... Anyway, the House-elf doesn't need an extra plane ticket; he can just shrink down and hide in a pocket.

During his time traveling in Paris, Dobby was definitely the most excited, because he had never had any way to learn about this exotic culture before, and every attraction was completely new to him.

This further convinced him that Harry's decision to leave him with the Granger family was genuinely to accept him as family, and that he absolutely did not intend to continue treating him as House-elf.

"Ha, two underage wizards, daring to go out with their parents and House-elf, you two are really bold."

However, just as the family was enjoying themselves on the street and discussing where to go for the day, a voice that suddenly drifted over startled everyone.

The uninvited guest was an elderly man wearing a trench coat and a top hat. He looked very old, but he was still very energetic. In addition to his Sonorus, he was also quite robust and muscular.

Most importantly, he spoke English, and with perfect London accent.

"Relax, I mean no harm. I just want to remind you that there are many wizards on the streets of Paris, and simple Shrinking Charm won't fool them."

As he spoke, the old man tilted his top hat, revealing a head of gray hair.

But for some reason, although he seemed to be expressing goodwill, his tone always gave people a sense of authority without anger, as if he had experienced the trials of blood and fire in his youth.

"Who are you?" Hermione stood tensely in front of her parents, sensing that the other party was a formidable opponent.

"Who am I... would you like to guess?" A kind smile appeared on the old man's face. "I'll give you a hint. Among the people you know, there's someone I'm quite familiar with."

"Hey, this hint is practically useless."

Hermione rolled her eyes, speechless. The fact that he knew people he was close to was utterly obvious.

"First, let me correct you, Dobby is a member of our family, not House-elf. Also... I think I should address you as Mr. Scamander."

However, after some deduction, Harry seemed to have figured out the other person's identity.

"Oh, how did you figure that out?" The old man seemed somewhat surprised, but did not deny Harry's guess.

"When I visited Scamander family, I saw a photo of him and you when you were middle-aged. Using that photo as a reference, the person in the photo would have looked similar to you now as they have aged."

Harry explained confidently, "Since you've asked us to guess, it can't be someone too distant. Considering your age and accent, I've finally confirmed my judgment... You must be Mr. Scamander's brother."

"Excellent prediction. Just as he said, you really are a remarkable child." Looking at Harry, who was speaking eloquently before him, the old man smiled with satisfaction. "Let me introduce myself. I am Theseus Scamander. Newt, the one you always want to treat you Newt a son, is my younger brother."

"As expected..." Harry nodded slightly upon hearing this. "So you came here specifically to see me?"

"That's right, but we can talk about the specifics after we've eaten." Theseus gave the Granger family a gentlemanly bow. "I've booked a reservation at a highly-rated restaurant here. Harry, it's a rare opportunity for you and your family to come to France, so please let me treat you to a good meal!"

"Thank you very much then." Harry turned to gesture to his family before accepting their invitation.

When it comes to matters concerning the Wizarding World, the Granger family always leaves the decision-making power to Harry; this has become a consensus within the Granger family.

"Ha, that's wonderful!" Theseus, hearing Harry's agreement, happily stepped forward and gave him a warm hug.

"Cough... please, can you let go right now?" Harry struggled to push the other person away, his expression gradually turning pained.

To be honest, Theseus Scamander's grip strength is truly extraordinary.

Chapter 241 the Boy Who Lived Doesn't Deserve a Summer Vacation

The elderly wizard who 'bumped into' Harry on the streets of France, Theseus Scamander, is Newt Scamander's brother and also a powerful wizard with an extremely impressive resume.

He participated in World War I, and instead of being held accountable for violating the International Statute of Secrecy after the war, he became a war hero in the entire Britain Wizarding World.

When Newt's career was just beginning and he published his first book at the age of 30, Theseus had already become the Head of the Auror Office at the Britain Ministry of Magic, making him an absolute leader among young wizards.

His most legendary experience was leading the once-sensational global wizarding war as one of the frontline commanders, and ultimately defeating Gellert Grindelwald, the dark wizard who attempted to rule all of Europe!

After completely dismantling Grindelwald's power, Theseus's reputation had reached its peak in Britain, but he resolutely refused the position of Minister for Magic and instead moved to France. After starting afresh, he made great strides and eventually reached the very top of the France Wizarding World.

In other words, there was a time when the Minister of French Ministry of Magic was actually a native Britain!

If this were told to others, everyone would think it was a fantasy, but they actually did it.

Without a doubt, Theseus Scamander was a super genius who simultaneously conquered the Wizarding World of both England and France.

"I could be said to have led that war, but I didn't defeat Grindelwald. Otherwise, I would be the greatest white wizard of our time, not Dumbledore."

Theseus seemed to be a very easygoing person; he recounted his experiences after the meal, during casual conversations with the Granger family, and he didn't seem to care particularly much...

Seriously, this isn't some kind of easygoing person at all; he's totally a quintessential Versailles type!

Who in their right mind would recite their entire past like a resume when meeting someone for the first time?

However, seeing the other person's smug expression, Harry didn't find it particularly annoying. After all, any one of Theseus's experiences could be boasted about for a lifetime, yet he had accomplished them all by himself.

Harry could also tell that the other person was only jokingly 'showing off' because of the relationship between him and his brother.

"Yes, yes, I understand completely. Mr. Scamander, far away in Britain, does indeed have an unparalleled elder brother."

Haha, you think so too, right?

See? That's exactly what he was waiting for.

Harry: Brother complex, pshaw~

"So, what exactly do you want to see me about this time?"

Seeing that Theseus was satisfied, Harry was finally able to ask him why he had come.

"I've come to see you because someone learned you're in Paris and wants to meet you." Theseus's expression became somewhat troubled as he got down to business. "Of course, his real purpose isn't just to see you, but since you're currently enjoying your trip with your family, his request might be a bit of a disappointment."

"What a disappointment... Seriously, are we going to have to go through what happened last summer again?"

Harry frowned in confusion; he had already understood Theseus's true intentions.

The real meaning behind the phrase "meet him" is probably... someone wants to keep Harry in Paris.

And that person's purpose is most likely the same as Scamander's last year: to teach him something during the holiday.

Therefore, a miserable "The Boy Who Lived" like myself doesn't deserve to have a summer vacation at all.

"Child, I know this isn't fair to you, but you really don't have much time for leisure right now." Seeing that Harry had guessed his purpose, Theseus decided to be frank. "You're far from strong enough to shoulder the responsibility of the Boy Who Lived. Until the Dark Lord, who is about to return, is completely defeated, any form of relaxation is probably a luxury for you."