You're Going the Wrong Way

Firenze's words had a significant impact on Hermione, and she was now completely unable to utter a single word of what she had prepared.

"So you understand now?" Kyle turned to look at her and said:

"In the eyes of centaurs, those of us who wear clothes are essentially punishing ourselves in the most severe way... Isn't that exactly the same as your view of House-elf?"

"No, these are two different things." Hermione shook her head, trying to refute Kyle's opinion. "What I mean is, centaurs have nothing to do with us. Not liking to wear clothes is just their habit, right... but House-elf are one of us, and they're in school too."

"There's no difference, you just don't want to admit it."

Kyle said, "I met centaur members in an expedition team in Romania, and they were the same. They didn't change their habits or force their teammates to accept their ideas just because their teammates were wizards. They got along very well with each other."

"No... I feel this is different..." Hermione stammered, but didn't know how to refute it.

She missed Harry and Ron a little; at least if they were here, they might put in a good word for her... Oh, no, Ron had also mocked her badge, saying that even if they were here, they might not help.

"What are you talking about?" Hagrid asked, somewhat bewildered.

Although he was involved throughout the entire process, and even called Firenze himself, he didn't understand a word of what these people were saying.

Centaur, clothes, House-elf... He didn't fully understand what it meant, but he was completely baffled.

"Is that so..." Qiu then walked over and explained the general situation to Hagrid.

Meanwhile, Kyle, seeing Hermione's conflicted expression, continued:

"There's one more thing I must tell you, Hermione."

"You may not realize it, but your act of rushing into the kitchen to persuade the House-elf to ask for their wages is, in a way, equivalent to a centaur rushing into a castle and demanding that everyone take off their clothes."

"This kind of request is the greatest insult to them, bar none. Honestly, I'm surprised the House-elf didn't knock you out."

"So close..." Hermione paused for a moment, then murmured in an almost imperceptible voice, "When I left, I saw some House-elf going to get a spatula and firewood..."

"They were quite restrained, holding back until you were about to leave before making a move," Kyle shrugged. "Anyway, if a centaur came to persuade me not to wear clothes, he'd definitely be spending some time in the Hospital Wing."

"Puff."

Cedric couldn't help but laugh out loud... The centaurs were encouraging everyone to go naked; the image was hilarious, just thinking about it made him laugh.

The next second, he was kicked hard by Qiu, who had returned.

"By the way, Dobby?"

At this moment, Hermione seemed to suddenly remember something and regained some confidence.

"Dobby, the House-elf who blocked the platform entrance in his second year, causing Harry and Ron to miss the train, and he demanded that the wizard pay him for his work."

"This shows that House-elf don't completely enjoy enslaved labor; they just haven't realized it yet."

"I don't deny it... but it's just a special case," Kyle said. "It happens among wizards too. Remember that wizard at the Quidditch World Cup who liked to let the healthy breeze blow on his backside?"

Cedric laughed again.

He also remembered that the wizard was only wearing a short, printed bathrobe and absolutely refused to change into trousers.

"And speaking of Dobby..."

Kyle thought for a moment, "He's having a great time with Newt Scamander. He spends half of his ten Galleon a week on all sorts of Fantastic Beasts treats and the other half on Niffler... And it's all voluntary. Sometimes Newt stops him, but he buys them secretly."

Dobby also has one day off each week. He takes Galleon out to buy things, then changes into his own clothes and goes back to work.

"Dobby needed was never those Galleon, but the freedom to work more freely... to be rewarded for his efforts, and to be able to refuse things he didn't like, that's all."

"And aside from the rewards, Hogwarts has accomplished everything else."

"Yeah," Cedric said. "If you go into the kitchen often, you'll find they're always happy. Sometimes I just go to grab some cookies and come out with enough snacks to last a week."

I must say, they can be incredibly enthusiastic at times.

Hermione fell silent, her face growing paler, biting her lip, utterly dejected.

The centaur's idea had such a profound impact on her that she questioned whether she had truly made a mistake, yet her inner conviction kept negating the idea.

Hermione was in a state of confusion and uncertainty.

"Like I said, you're going in the wrong direction."

Seemingly sensing her thoughts, Kyle looked in the direction Firenze had left and said, "What you should do most is find a way to change most people's attitudes toward House-elf, rather than forcing them to pay wages."

I know a very old House-elf always remembered and was grateful to his former owner for treating him so well."

"You mean I didn't do anything wrong?" Hermione looked up and said excitedly.

"If you don't barge into the kitchen again and demand your wages," Kyle said with a laugh, "You'll probably be the first person kicked out of the kitchen if there's a next time."

"What should I do then?" Hermione asked quickly. "How about handing out flyers, or writing to the Daily Prophet?"

"That's beyond my control," Kyle shrugged. "After all, it's your decision, so you have to implement it. I need to hurry up and prepare for the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament; I'm very busy."

"If I stop demanding wages from the House-elf, will you buy the badge?" Hermione seemed unwilling to give up.

"This...?"

Kyle recalled the badge that said "S.P.E.W.," then reached into his pocket. "What bad luck, I was in such a rush today that I didn't bring any money."

Okay then, I'll definitely buy it next time, next time.

Kanna, who was standing next to him, glanced at him.

She knew perfectly well that Kyle kept most of his belongings in his suitcase, so how could he not have brought any money?

Of course, she wouldn't say any of this.

After a while, Hermione prepared to go back, but she lacked the confidence she had when she arrived. She simply lowered her head and silently walked forward, lost in thought.

Oh, right.

Just then, Kyle suddenly called out to her, "Although I can't help you, I can give you a suggestion."

If you have time, you can go to the school library and browse through books about House-elf to gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of them.

"At the very least, you need to be familiar with their history and know their character; only then can you better persuade others."

"Instead of making all decisions based on... I think... I feel... that won't do."