Hogwarts: The Cat Wizard of the Moving Castle.

Chapter 362: Better than Genocide

On the third floor, in the office.

Mu En was correcting homework. Dozens of parchment scrolls were unfolded and floating in front of his desk.

A feather pen kept moving back and forth in the parchment scroll, writing and correcting.

"Sir, what do you think snow feels like?" Sindel leaned against the window, staring blankly out.

"It has a kind of soft coldness that makes warmth even warmer," said Mu En.

This year will be Sindel's first winter.

She was looking forward to it very much.

dong dong——

There was a gentle knock on the door.

Sindel opened the door and saw Hermione and Harry standing at the door.

Both of them had a badge on their chest.

"Professor Jones, are you busy now?" Hermione knocked on the door again.

Mu En shook his head meaningfully, put away the parchment scrolls on the table and gathered them at the corner.

"It's not busy, come in."

Hermione's face lit up with joy and she walked in quickly.

"Is there anything wrong?" Moon looked at Hermione and noticed a small brown wooden box in her hands.

"Professor." Hermione excitedly put the box on the table, and then noticed an hourglass-like ornament on Moon's desk.

She is very familiar with this thing.

"Oh, this." Mu En picked up the hourglass: "I studied it for a while."

As he said that, he threw the hourglass into the drawer and looked at the wooden box Hermione placed on the table: "Let's talk about the matter."

"Okay." Hermione nodded and unfolded the box. Inside were SPEW badges, the same as the ones the two wore on their chests.

She then began to explain her investigation and research into the current situation of house-elves, as well as her intention to liberate them.

After talking for more than ten minutes, Mu En remained quiet, listening to the little witch in front of him without interrupting.

Until Hermione finished talking about the difficulties the organization had encountered in its development to date.

"So, we hope that Professor you can join our House-Elf Rights Promotion Association." Hermione finally expressed her thoughts.

"Well, so you want to change the entire wizarding world?" Moon said.

Hermione thought about it for a moment, then nodded: "Well, our ultimate goal is this."

"That's a very meaningful idea." Mu En nodded in affirmation: "So you hope that more people will join you in this matter? Join the cause of changing the current situation of house-elves and fight for it?"

"Right," Hermione said enthusiastically, cocking her head.

"Why humans?" Mu En asked.

"What?" Hermione looked at Moon in confusion.

"Why humans? Why do humans have to change the current situation of house-elves?" Muen asked again: "And - why do humans want to change the current situation of house-elves?"

"Because they are oppressed!" Hermione said as a matter of course.

"Yes." Mu En nodded in agreement: "I don't deny that they have been oppressed."

Hermione glanced at Harry triumphantly.

It seems to be saying, 'You underestimate the professor. The professor will not deny the fact that house-elves are oppressed just because they like to serve people.'

Harry just remained silent and said nothing.

"But." Moon caught Hermione's thoughts back: "Isn't it a good thing that house elves are oppressed?"

"What?" Hermione looked at Moon in disbelief.

"Hmm." Mu En nodded. "Isn't it a good thing for humans? They cook, they clean, they can even clean up the leftovers. Well, I mean their meals."

"But this is very pitiful."

"What does it have to do with me?" Mu En looked at Hermione in confusion: "I can't see them. House elves that are not seen by others are good elves.

Besides, it's pitiful, but - no one cares!"

"What?" Hermione's pupils trembled. She looked at Muen's nonchalant and arrogant smile and felt it was ridiculous.

She never thought that such words would be spoken by the professor in front of her.

"Hmm." Mu En nodded: "So, back to my original question, why are your targets humans?"

"Because he was oppressed by others." Hermione blurted out.

"I understand." Mu En nodded in understanding: "You mean

For example, now I want to enslave you, and your solution is to pray that I don’t enslave you, and pray that I give up the benefits of enslaving you.

Can I understand it this way? "

"People can't enslave people?" said Hermione.

"Of course, there are still some even now, in a corner of this world unknown to you and me." Mu En smiled: "That's too easy, don't you ever learn history?"

"Of course I studied history," Hermione stammered.

She was well aware that slavery existed in every country's ancient history.

"It seems that you haven't learned it deeply." Mu En said.

"I" Hermione frowned: "I just want to change their current situation."

"Then you can change them instead of changing people," said Mu En.

"Isn't their oppression imposed by humans?" Hermione still didn't understand.

Mu En shook his head: "They like to serve humans very much. This is the core of the problem."

"But isn't this very unfair to them?"

"Who cares about fairness?" Mu En frowned. "That's something only fools care about. The real truth is - whoever wants to fight for their rights should work hard on their own, instead of relying on others!

I don't mean to deny your thoughts, that's kind.

But on the other hand, the fact is, this is stupid! And stupid without knowing it!

And self-righteous.

Do you think the house-elves will be grateful to you for doing something like this? No.

Will people be grateful to you? I don’t think I need to give a clear answer to this question.”

"But." Hermione kept shaking her head and hesitantly said, "Is this current situation correct?"

"I didn't say that." Mu En leaned back on the sofa and said with a smile, "There is an even simpler way."

"what?"

"Hmm, genocide?" Moon thought for a moment and said, "Well, as long as all the house-elves die, everything will be much simpler, and there will be no such oppression.

I can also create some more outstanding [Working Units] that can be responsible for the food and daily maintenance of the entire castle."

As he spoke, Mu En clapped his hands, even applauding himself for his own idea.

"Well, it's perfect. This idea not only eliminates oppression, but also solves your troubles."

Hermione felt the hairs on her body stand on end and her teeth began to tremble.

"Professor Jiao, what you said is not true?"

"It's fake." Mu En changed his expression: "I'm just teasing you. What does the current situation of house elves have to do with me? I don't care about these things."

"But."

"Are you going to condemn me?" Moon opened his arms. "Don't forget that the entire castle is kept running by the house elves."

"I know." Hermione nodded.

"I've said before, you shouldn't try to change humans, because humans are a group with vested interests." Mu En poured himself a glass of water:

"Well, anyway, if you want to change all this, you have to change the house-elves first. Their own changes will be a million times more effective than you talking your head off here."

"Really?" Hermione looked at Moon.

"Of course." Mu En nodded: "You can go to Professor Lupin about this matter.

He faces the same problems as you, the werewolf environment, the dangerousness of werewolves themselves, and the wizarding world's distrust of werewolves.

I believe his choices and practices will give you some direction.”

Hermione nodded stiffly.

Then, Mu En pushed the box away again.

"Now, anything else?"

"No more, Professor." Hermione shook her head in a low voice, picked up the box again in a daze, turned and left.

"Professor, goodbye."

"Goodbye." Mu En waved his hand and looked at Harry again: "What about you? Is there anything else?"

Harry smiled awkwardly: "Uncle Muen, um. I don't have any problems for now."

Mu En nodded and said regretfully: "I thought I could give you the task of creating the [Work Unit], what a pity."

"Uncle Muen, is what you just said true?"

"I know she won't agree to it." Mu En smiled, "But I really have no interest in this matter. I don't have any idea about liberating them or enslaving them."

"Okay, I see." Harry nodded.

"I must say that a stupid person cannot be called kind." Mu En picked up the cup.

“A foolish act, even if it is done with good intentions, cannot be called a good deed.

Like this thing on your chest. I've heard some stories about you guys vomiting in the hallway."

"Well, I'm just trying my best to support my friend." Harry smiled awkwardly: "I am willing to do whatever I can to help. Even if it's insignificant."

"That's understandable." Mu En smiled and said, "Since you have nothing to do now, go and comfort your friend."

"Okay." Harry nodded: "Uncle Muen, I'm leaving first."

"Ah."

Turning around, Harry had to be thankful that Hermione was just upset.

In the plot he imagined, Hermione would be extremely disappointed and even leave here crying.

Fortunately, it didn't come to that.

Although he had only been in the office for a short while, Hermione had already left the corridor.

"She said she was a little sleepy and went back to the lounge first." Sindel said.

"Thank you, Miss Sindel."

"You're welcome." Sindel nodded.

After saying goodbye to Sindel, Harry thought about it and decided to go back to the common room and continue his studies now that Hermione had left.

Late at night, Gryffindor common room, girls dormitory.

A figure climbed up.

Walking out of the common room and casting an Disillusionment Charm for herself, she saw Peeves running around with a huge magic book in his arms, and also saw him looking for unruly students who were trying to go out for a night stroll.

This was her first night tour.

The purpose is also very clear.

We went down all the way and came to a wide and warm underground stone corridor. The torches lit up the corridor and also illuminated the huge murals that decorated the surroundings.

Most of the portraits here were of various foods, and Hermione soon came to a silver bowl filled with many fruits.

She reached out and tickled a green pear in the bowl.

The pear began to squirm and giggle, and suddenly it twisted and turned into a green door handle.

Here is the hidden entrance to the kitchen at Hogwarts.

As you walk through the door, you'll see a large room with a high ceiling, the same size as the auditorium above.

Many gleaming copper pots and basins were piled against the surrounding stone walls, and there was a large brick fireplace at the other end of the room.

In the center of the room, there are four long tables exactly like the ones above.

With the sound of the door being pulled, a house-elf soon saw Hermione.

He came up to Hermione with a smile on his face, bowed, and curtseyed.

.

"Oh, dear witch, is there anything you need?"

His voice was a little sharp, echoing in the quiet kitchen. With a series of pings and clangs, a group of house-elves soon appeared.

They all wore the same uniform: a tea towel with the Hogwarts crest printed on it, which they all wrapped around themselves like robes.

They started talking at once, asking Hermione why she came here.

As he spoke, he pulled Hermione to sit at the Gryffindor table, then brought over a variety of food and sweet pastries.

"No, I don't want any of that." Hermione shook her head.

Hearing this, the house-elf who had just brought her food immediately threw his head to the ground, cursing himself for being "wise".

He even brought the food so self-righteously before the wizard even asked for anything.

This was also the first time Hermione had seen such a scene. She had only been here once, and that was after she rescued Sirius. It was morning, and she was hungry and sleepy.

At that time, she had never paid attention to these house-elves.

Only then did she realize that she did seem a little...stupid.

"Don't be like this." Hermione stopped the house-elves and said hesitantly, "I'm just here to... chat."

"Chat?" asked the house-elf who had first spoken to Hermione in confusion.

This word has not yet appeared in their world.

"That's right." Hermione nodded: "Well, I want to ask, is there anything you want?" Hermione looked at the house-elves.

The little ones below looked at each other, until Hermione asked again, then they started answering in unison.

"I want to serve Hogwarts for the rest of my life."

"I don't want anything. Whatever the wizard wants, I want."

Amidst the noisy responses, Hermione suddenly heard a completely different answer.

"I want to live longer."

Hermione turned her head sharply and looked at the house-elf who had said this. He had a coarse mane and looked very old.

This is indeed true. This house-elf has served Hogwarts for nearly a hundred years.

Then, meeting Hermione's gaze, the old house-elf's yellow, bulbous eyes welled with tears.

"Thinking about it, I have only served Hogwarts for ninety-two years. It really doesn't feel like it's enough. I really want to live a few more years and work for the wizards for a little longer!"

His words were so sincere and heartfelt that Hermione was stunned on the spot, yet she couldn't find any fault with them.

"you."

Hermione opened her mouth and understood why Draco said, "If someone came here and said they wanted to give them a raise, they might get scolded."