Hogwarts Lion Girl

"What are they doing?" Ron asked curiously. "Are they working on a new order for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?"

Salina looked away from the book in her hand. She knew what the twins were busy with.

"They're writing to Ludo Bagman," Serena whispered. "To get their gambling money back."

Before Harry and Ron could react, Hermione walked in with a tall pile of parchment and a strange box.

The box seemed to contain some living thing, and it kept making a rattling sound.

Salina noticed that Crookshanks was staring at the box in Hermione's hand, his eyes full of curiosity and desire.

Hermione walked briskly over to Harry and Ron, her loose brown curls swaying slightly as she moved.

Noticing the two of them scratching their heads at the parchment with sad faces, Hermione's eyes flashed a helpless smile.

"Let me see," she said, reaching out and pulling the parchment away from Ron. "'I foresee a giant dancing cake appearing in the Hogwarts kitchens, and it will sing and turn all the pumpkin pies into ..."

Hermione slammed the parchment shut, frowning, and said in a serious tone: "Ron! Harry! How could you make up a prophecy homework? Although this course is ridiculous, you can't be perfunctory like this!"

Ron blushed and muttered softly: "We can't think of any hunch. Those crystal balls and tea leaves seem to be laughing at us..."

Harry spread his hands helplessly and tried to explain: "We just wanted to give it a try. Anyway, handing in a blank paper will have the same result..."

Hermione took a deep breath and tried to suppress her anger, but her tone still revealed a hint of hatred: "Divination is indeed difficult, but you can't give up on yourself. Prophecy requires intuition and observation, not fabrication!"

Seeing this, Salina immediately tried to change the subject. She leaned over to look at the box in Hermione's hand and asked, "What is that, Hermione? It sounds like there's a Niffler in it."

Hermione carefully placed the box on the table and gently opened it, revealing the badges neatly arranged inside.

“It’s not the Niffler,” she said, laughing. “It’s this!”

The box contained about fifty badges, all made of shiny material with the word "HERA" printed on them, and each letter was embellished with a small emerald.

"HERA?" Ron struggled to make out. "What does that mean? Some new Quidditch spell?"

"No," Hermione explained patiently, "It's the acronym for the Association for the Advancement of House-Elves. I just founded it."

"House-Elf Rights Association?" Harry and Ron asked in unison, confusion written all over their faces.

"That's right," Hermione said firmly, "I've been researching this issue in the library. The slavery of house-elves dates back centuries, but no one has taken any action. It's so unfair!"

She took a deep breath and continued, "Our short-term goal is to raise awareness of this issue and let more people understand the plight of house-elves; our long-term goal is to promote legislation from the Ministry of Magic and eventually abolish this inhumane system completely."

Hermione asked happily, "Do you want to join?"

Ron, however, looked reluctant. He shook his head like a rattle: "Don't count me in! I think the house-elves like to do this. If you ask them to stop working, they will be unhappy!"

He pointed at the badge and said with disgust, "This thing looks like..."

He seemed to be searching for the right words, "It's like vomit! No one likes to touch it."

After saying that, he grabbed his textbook and ran back to the dormitory as if escaping.

Harry sighed helplessly and said to Hermione, "Ignore him. He's been under too much pressure lately. He made tragic predictions all night last night and is not in a good mood." After that, he chased Ron out of the common room.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, casting a warm glow on the walls of the Gryffindor common room, and also reflecting the scowl that had not yet faded from Hermione's face.

After Harry chased Ron away, the originally lively room suddenly became quiet, leaving only Hermione and Serena.

Salina gently placed the badge on the table, looked at Hermione with concern, and said softly, "Don't be angry, Hermione. Ron has been under too much pressure recently. You know, Professor Trelawney's prophecy scared him a lot, and..."

She paused, as if choosing her words, "Malfoy's previous rude remarks to Ron's parents also bothered him."

Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger, but there was still a hint of disappointment in her tone: "I know, Sharina, but this is not a reason for him to say that. House-elves also have dignity, they should not be treated like slaves!"

She stood up suddenly, paced in front of the fireplace, and said excitedly: "Ron thinks that house-elves like to do those things and like to be enslaved. This is ridiculous! They have been enslaved for so long that they have forgotten what freedom is! We can't take their obedience for granted!"

Serena nodded in agreement. "You are right, Hermione. The situation of house-elves is indeed very unfair. It is completely different from the situation when Hogwarts was first established a thousand years ago."

She paused, her tone becoming somewhat heavy. "But it will be difficult to change the status quo. You will encounter a lot of resistance. Many wizards are used to treating house-elves as property. Even some house-elves themselves are used to a life of slavery. They will oppose you."

"I know it's hard, Serena," Hermione stopped, turned around, and looked at Serena firmly, "but no matter how hard it is, I will stick to it! I can't turn a blind eye to this injustice! If my efforts can free even one house-elf, then it will all be worth it!"

She walked to the table, picked up a HERA badge, held it tightly in her hand, and said firmly: "This is my belief and my goal. Even if it means being an enemy of the entire wizarding world, I will do it!"

Salina listened quietly to Hermione's impassioned speech until her excitement subsided a little, then she said softly: "Hermione, your goal is great, and I admire your courage and determination very much. But liberating the house-elves is not something that can be accomplished overnight."

She walked over to Hermione, gently held her hand, and said earnestly: "You have to know that many wizard families have become accustomed to the services of house-elves and take them for granted. If you want to change their mindsets, you need to make great efforts and even more strategies."