The Almost Born S.P.E.W

Hermione pulled Lucas and ran from the seventh floor to the foyer in one breath.

When they were about to reach the dungeon Lucas seemed to think of something.

Hogwarts has three paths leading to the dungeon.

One leads to the Slytherin common room, the other leads to the Potions classroom and Professor Snape's office.

These two roads have a common characteristic, that is, they are very dark.

But the last path was different, it's brightly lit and even the portraits on the wall have warm colors.

Lucas hadn't been in the kitchen since the end of second year.

Perhaps it was affected by the Chamber of Secrets incident, but most of the previous fruit or food portraits have been replaced.

Instead, there are portraits with surveillance functions now.

"Hermione, where the hell are you taking me?"

Lucas asked her with a puzzled look, but she still didn't say anything and just kept pulling him along the road until the two came to the kitchen door.

"Honey, I'll show you a magical place."

Hermione was like a child who discovered a treasure, eager to share it with Lucas, so he also showed an expression full of interest in cooperation, which made her feel very useful.

"Look, it's something amazing, you're going to love it."

Hermione turned around to the huge fruit portrait and tickled the pear in the bowl, which proceeded to giggle a few times and then transform into a doorknob.

"Well, isn't it amazing?"

Seeing Lucas nod, Hermione took his hand and said, "Come in, it's even more magical inside."

The kitchen was still the same. A large room with long tables mirroring the great hall, neatly placed copper pots and basins, along with meticulously arranged ingredients.

And house-elves who are always hard at work.

Noticing someone coming in, the elves immediately looked towards the door.

They were ready to say hello when they saw Lucas, but seeing him signal them to pretend not to know him, many elves covered their mouths with their hands.

"What's wrong with them?"

"Maybe we broke in too suddenly and startled them?"

Hermione nodded knowingly.

"Honey, I never knew there were so many house-elves in Hogwarts."

"It turns out that they make the food we eat every day, tidy the common rooms, change the sheets in our beds and so on."

Seeing her frowning slightly, Lucas suddenly had a bad premonition.

And he was right, Hermione took out a book made of parchment from inside her school robe.

"Honey, I just talked to them some time ago, and I just realized that house-elves don't get paid."

"Not only do they have no wages, they don't even have holidays. And because of the contract, they have to serve wizard families for generations."

"It's too bad, right? Doesn't this make them slaves? I think the conditions and nature of their work must be improved, they at least should be paid for their work, what do you think?"

Seeing her casting a questioning look at him, Lucas thought for a moment and said, "Honey, you know I'll support you in anything."

As he spoke, he wrote his name on the parchment and expressed his attitude with practical actions.

When she received support and understanding from her boyfriend, Hermione became very happy. She looked at the names on the parchment and said, "I'll go find Cho and Ginny when I get back."

"Honey, listen to me first."

Seeing that she was turning to leave, Lucas quickly reached out to stop her.

When she saw him take out a book from behind his back as if by magic, there was a little doubt in Hermione's eyes.

"What is this book?"

"The Encyclopedia of House Elves, I know you're doing it for their good, but you need to understand why they are like this first."

Hermione took the encyclopedia and turned to glance at the elves beside her. They wear uniforms made of pillowcases and carry tea towels with the Hogwarts crest on them.

When they noticed that Hermione was looking at them, they immediately showed smiles on their faces and greeted her enthusiastically.

Some elves even curtsied, which made Hermione very uncomfortable.

"Let's go out first!"

The two returned to the hall and went to the garden outside to enjoy the bright moon in the sky.

Lucas used his wand to conjure a wide, large woolen blanket, which he used to wrap around them as he held the witch in his arms.

"Honey, house elves are not like that just because of a contract. The concept they have accepted for thousands of years is to serve wizard families unconditionally."

"Just as we think that work should be paid, they think that their work should be unconditional."

"This kind of concept is deeply rooted and cannot be easily shaken. So your proposal will not only be resisted by the old wizard families, it will even be resisted by the elves themselves."

"Why?" Hermione didn't understand.

She thought the elves should be grateful for her doing something like this, it's for their benefit after all.

"That's why I gave you that book, you don't know enough about house elves, and your behavior is an insult to them in their eyes."

Hermione frowned tightly, and spoke after a long time.

"Well, I'll take a deeper look, but I won't give up, I'll definitely find a suitable method to improve their living conditions."

"Of course, after you finish this book and think of a suitable method, I will definitely support you with all my strength."

"At that time, not only Cho, Ginny and I, but all the students in Slytherin, including the Saints, will support your decision."

Hermione snorted and smiled in satisfaction.

Lucas gently kissed her forehead: "Then should we talk about another matter?"

"What matter?" Hermione froze for a moment.

Then she looked at the dark environment around them, and her cheeks suddenly turned red.

"This… this is not good, we're in the school!"

"I was talking about the Yule Ball."

Hermione was taken aback again, raised her fist and hit Lucas lightly on the chest.

"Then why didn't you speak clearly from the start?"

A hearty laugh came from Lucas's mouth.

He hugged the little witch tightly until she was embarrassed by his smile.

"Hermione, sorry for ignoring your feelings for so long."

Hermione leaned her head down in Lucas' arms.

"I have prepared for this a long time ago. In fact, you don't have to blame yourself."

Hermione's voice was very small.

That being said, who would really be willing to share their beloved with others?

So Lucas has always felt very lucky and happy to have her.

"But this time I should be more partial to you. They are right. You are the only one who can stand by my side at a time like this."

"Miss Hermione Granger, would you accept my invitation to be my date for the Yule Ball?"

The moonlight suddenly enveloped the two of them and Hermione looked up, smiling beautifully.

"It is my honor to receive your invitation, Mr. Lucas Grindelwald, I will gladly accept."

Her voice was very soft, but Lucas' ears could clearly hear it.

The two looked at each other smiling, then slowly approached each other.

When the two of them finally returned to the castle. Only then did a figure walk out from among the bushes in the distance.

Looking at the sturdy body covered in fur clothes, it looked like a bear.

…

Time always flies by and in the blink of an eye, it's already December.

There's only one week left until Christmas.

Hogwarts was fully decorated for Christmas.

Because it was Christmas with two other schools, the festive atmosphere in the castle this time far exceeded previous years.

On the marble stairs, icicles that will never melt have been conjured by magic.

There are twelve Christmas trees in the great hall decorated with many ribbons and bells, there were even several real fairies and golden owls perched on them.

The armors in the corridors were also enchanted. As long as someone passed in front of them, they would sing some Christmas carols.

Affected by the environment and atmosphere, how can the students concentrate in class?

So most professors turned a blind eye and the classroom became a place where everyone discussed the incoming Yule Ball.

As time went by day by day, news about the Yule Ball came one after another.

For example, Dumbledore invited the famous music group Weird Sisters to sing at the ball.

Another example is that today someone saw people from the three broomsticks come to deliver tankards of butterbeer and mead.

Every time there is news, the students will become excited for a long time.

Except for Harry, because he has not found his own dance partner so far, and his good friend, Ronald Weasley was also in the same situation.

The two looked at each other and sighed at the same time.

"Harry, why don't we go outside and ask casually? With your status as a champion, there should be many girls willing to be your date for the ball."

"But I don't really want to dance with people I don't know."

Harry's answer was exactly what Ron had in mind.

But the ball was just around the corner, and they couldn't afford to be picky.

No matter how troubled the two are, how much they want to just escape, Christmas will still arrive along with the ball.

This year because of the ball, none of the students above the fourth year went home.

Everyone got up early in the morning and unwrapped their Christmas presents, but all hearts have already flown to the ball that will be held in the evening.

At 5 p.m. Lucas and his girlfriends ate something in the great hall. The three girls ate very little today.

Before Lucas finished eating, the three got up and prepared to leave.

"Let's go back and prepare first."

Lucas looked at the time, it was only five o'clock, and the dance didn't start until eight o'clock.

They actually needed three hours of preparation, what exactly are they preparing for, a war?

After eating some more, Lucas also got up and returned to his dormitory.

Wearing a black velvet dress robe, with some inconspicuous patterns drawn on it using special embroidery techniques. The tall and straight Lucas looked even more handsome in this robe.

On the way to the great hall, countless witches showed surprised expressions when they saw him.

He soon arrived outside the gate of the great hall.

The champions have a separate entry ceremony, so he still needs to wait outside the door with the other champions for the dance to start.

Just at this time, there were bursts of exclamations from behind.

Even Fleur and a group of female companions stared at Lucas in a daze.