“The House-Elf Liberation Front,” Cedric read. Harry, Ron and Hermione went up to the Owlery that evening to find Pigwidgeon, so that Harry could send Sirius a letter, telling him that he had managed to get past his dragon unscathed. “I have a feeling that you'll most likely tell him quite a bit more than just that,” Hermione said. “I'm sure he won't mind reading it,” Harry said. “After all, considering how he's living right now and all, it'll probably be something he'll enjoy.” “True,” Luna said. On the way, Harry filled Ron in on everything Sirius had told him about Karkaroff. Though shocked at first to hear that Karkaroff had been a Death Eater, by the time they entered the Owlery Ron was saying that they ought to have suspected it all along. “Yeah, we probably should, considering what we heard on the train,” Hermione said, suddenly remembering that they had heard about the fact that Malfoy's father and him had been friends. That right there would point have a good point to showing that suspecting Karkaroff to being a Death Eater was a natural conclusion.” “Yeah, but it was not only something mentioned in passing, but something that you wouldn't really care to bother with,” Cedric said. “I mean, I don't think we bothered to think about the fact that the other two schools that are at Hogwarts for the Tournament were mentioned before by name, but they were.” “The Dark Mark chapter,” Hermione realized. “I'm even the one who mentioned Beauxbatons. And, of course, Malfoy was the one who mentioned Durmstrang. The fact that those two were named straight off, when the others were pretty much just mentioned, and not by name, should have been a big clue.” “Yeah, but considering the circumstances surrounding the two schools, it's easy to understand why we didn't make any connection between them being mentioned for any reason,” Luna pointed out. “You identified that girl as being a Beauxbatons student, most likely because you had an idea on what she was saying, considering you'd spent time in France the previous summer and probably picked up a bit of the language, as well as having read enough to recognize the name mentioned. As for Malfoy mentioning Durmstrang, considering what the reputation of the school is, I'm actually kind of surprised that he didn't mention almost going there earlier on in the book to his friends.” “True,” Hermione said. “Fits, doesn’t it?” he said. “Remember what Malfoy said on the train, about his dad being friends with Karkaroff? Now we know where they knew each other. They were probably running around in masks together at the World Cup ...” “That's very doubtful, because Karkaroff would have most likely been in complete trouble if he was caught. Plus, considering how he got out of Azkaban, there are probably those who would happily kill him because of his actions,” Luna stated. “I’ll tell you one thing, though, Harry, if it was Karkaroff who put your name in the Goblet, he’s going to be feeling really stupid now, isn’t he? Didn’t work, did it? You only got a scratch!” “And he can't just assume that your death is the reason why you were put into the tournament,” Hermione said, frowning. “Plus, without knowing what the other two challenges are, we can't really assume that Harry won't be hurt worse in them than in this one.” “Come here – I’ll do it –“ Pigwidgeon was so over-excited at the idea of a delivery, he was flying round and round Harry’s head, hooting incessantly. “Perhaps Sirius should have discovered why the owl was so eager to deliver a letter before buying him,” Luna said, a small smile playing on her lips. “The owl does sound rather annoying,” Hermione said. “It's a perfect match for Ronald.” Ron snatched Pigwidgeon out of the air and held him still while Harry attached the letter to his leg. “There’s no way any of the other tasks are going to be that dangerous, how could they be?” Ron went on, “Quite easily, if you actually used what little brain you have,” Hermione said. as he carried Pigwidgeon to the window. “You know what? I reckon you could win this Tournament, Harry, I’m serious.” “That's probably him thinking that it'll help make up for his behaviour in the last few weeks. It also points out to the idea that, as he probably believes that, he'll be able to have some of the glory for himself,” Luna stated. She knew that she was mostly likely just being mean when saying that, but, having very few friends – as in, none, considering the way Ginny had been acting – she couldn't stand the idea of someone willingly throwing away a friendship the way Ron did, only to come back the minute others opinions see to change. Harry knew that Ron was only saying this to make up for his behaviour of the last few weeks, but he appreciated it all the same. Hermione, however, leant against the Owlery wall, folded her arms and frowned at Ron. “Please let me have realized that Ron's change of attitude was just a bit too convenient to really be sincere,” Hermione said, though she really knew that it wouldn't be what she was frowning about. “You probably don't like his assumption that a dragon is the worse thing that they could bring out,” Cedric stated. “Harry’s got a long way to go before he finishes this Tournament,” she said seriously. “If that was the first task, I hate to think what’s coming next.’” “Right little ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” said Ron. “He's being rather closed minded about the idea that I might be right,” Hermione noted. “You and Professor Trelawney should get together some time.” “Your being realistic, not a nutcase,” Cedric said, disliking how Ron was giving a hint of an idea that Trelawney and Hermione were similar. He threw Pigwidgeon out of the window. Pigwidgeon plummeted twelve feet before managing to pull himself back up again; the letter attached to his leg was much longer and heavier than usual “Let me guess, you couldn't help but give a blow-by-blow account of exactly what happened?” Hermione said, sounding amused. “Possibly,” Harry said, sheepishly. “I'm sure that he'll definitely appreciate it,” Luna stated. – Harry hadn’t been able to resist giving Sirius a blow-by-blow account of exactly how he had swerved, circled and dodged the Horntail. They watched Pigwidgeon disappear into the darkness, and then Ron said, “Well, we’d better get downstairs for your surprise party, Harry – Fred and George should have nicked enough food from the kitchens by now.” “Not much of a surprise if I know it's coming,” Harry stated. Sure enough, when they entered the Gryffindor common room it exploded with cheers and yells again. There were mountains of cakes and flagons of pumpkin juice and Butterbeer on every surface; Lee Jordan had let off some Dr. Filibuster’s Fabulous No-Heat, Wet-Start Fireworks, so that the air was thick with stars and sparks; and Dean Thomas, who was very good at drawing, had put up some impressive new banners, most of which depicted Harry zooming around the Horntail’s head on his Firebolt, though a couple showed Cedric with his head on fire. “How nice,” Cedric said, his voice thick with sarcasm. “I think that half of the animosity towards you from most of the Gryffindors is because of the previous year, where you managed to beat Harry during the match,” Hermione said. “After all, so far, it seems that they clearly hold grudges against you for that little fact.” Harry helped himself to food; he had almost forgotten what it was like to feel properly hungry, and sat down with Ron and Hermione. He couldn’t believe how happy he felt; he had Ron back on his side, he’d got through the first task, and he wouldn’t have to face the second one for three months. “Of which, now that Ron's there to most likely distract you, you'll end up waiting until the last minute to bother with the clue and you'll most likely be left floundering because you didn't bother trying to figure it out beforehand and giving yourself enough time to make a plan,” Luna stated. “Blimey, this is heavy,” said Lee Jordan, picking up the golden egg, which Harry had left on a table, and weighing it in his hands. “Open it, Harry, go on! Let’s just see what’s inside it!” “He’s supposed to work out the clue on his own,” Hermione said swiftly. “It’s in the Tournament rules ...” “I have the feeling that that only applies to adults,” Cedric said. “I really doubt that your friends are not allowed to help you in any way, especially since it's probable that whoever wrote it wouldn't think that they could help you in any way, so didn't bother to put that down.” “I was supposed to work out how to get past the dragon on my own, too,” Harry muttered, so only Hermione could hear him, and she grinned rather guiltily. “Yeah, you were technically helping break the rules when you did that yourself,” Luna pointed out. “I know, it was rather hypocritical of me to say that, especially since there's probably nothing really wrong with the whole house trying to help him,” Hermione said, sighing. “Yeah, go on, Harry, open it!” several people echoed. Lee passed Harry the egg, and Harry dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it, and prised it open. It was hollow and completely empty – but the moment Harry opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room. The nearest thing to it Harry had ever heard was the ghost orchestra at Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday Party, who had all been playing the musical saw. “Lovely,” Hermione said, frowning. “What is that supposed to be?” Harry said. “I don't know,” Cedric said. “No wonder there's a long break between the task. It'll take most of your time to figure out that clue,” Luna said. “Shut it!” Fred bellowed, his hands over his ears. “What was that?” said Seamus Finnigan, staring at the egg as Harry slammed it shut again. “Sounded like a banshee ... maybe you’ve got to get past one of those next, Harry!” “Doubtful, as that would probably be considered to easy, and not all that exciting,” Cedric said. “It was someone being tortured!” said Neville, who had gone very white, and spilled sausage rolls over the floor. “You’re going to have to fight the Cruciatus curse!” “That won't happen,” Luna said. “As some of the people involved with the planning have children at the school, they would have most likely lynched anyone who suggest having a task like that.” “Don’t be a prat, Neville, that’s illegal,” said George. “They wouldn’t use the Cruciatus curse on the champions. I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing .. maybe you’ve got to attack him while he’s in the shower, Harry.” “Yeah, anyway,” Harry said. “Want a jam tart, Hermione?” said Fred. Hermione looked doubtfully at the plate he was offering her. “Smart of you,” Cedric said. Fred grinned. “It’s all right,” he said. “I haven’t done anything to them. It’s the custard creams you’ve got to watch –“ Neville, who had just bitten into a custard cream, choked and spat it out. Fred laughed. “Just my little joke, Neville ...” “Somehow, I have a feeling that he's not really joking,” Luna said. “It definitely wouldn't surprise me to learn that he's not,” Hermione said. Hermione took a jam tart. Then she said, “Did you get all this from the kitchens, Fred?” “Yep,” said Fred, grinning at her. He put on a high-pitched squeak and imitated a house-elf. “ 'Anything we can get you, sir, anything at all!' They’re dead helpful ... get me a roast ox if I said I was peckish.” “While that might be an exaggeration, they would definitely pull out a feast if he did that,” Cedric said. “They can go a bit overboard sometimes.” “How do you get in there?” Hermione said, in an innocently casual sort of voice. “Somehow, I have the feeling that he's not going to wonder why you want to know until after he tells you what you need to know,” Luna said. “You're pretty good and getting information you want when you really, really, really want it.” “Easy,” said Fred, “concealed door behind a painting of a bowl of fruit. Just tickle the pear, and it giggles and –“ He stopped, and looked suspiciously at her. “Why?” “Like I said, you'll get the information you want before he wonders why you want it,” Luna said, smiling a bit. “Nothing,” said Hermione quickly. “I really doubt that they're going to believe that,” Harry said. “Going to try and lead the house-elves out on strike now, are you?” said George. “Going to give up all the leaflet stuff and try and stir them up into rebellion?” “If that's what your book self is planning, I can honestly say that it will not work,” Cedric said. “Truthfully, chances are that you'll end up banned from the kitchens by them if you tried to do that.” Several people chortled. Hermione didn’t answer. “I'm probably thinking exactly that, but don't want to admit it,” Hermione said. “Don’t you go upsetting them and telling them they’ve got to take clothes and salaries!” said Fred warningly. “You’ll put them off their cooking!” “Doubt it, since they wouldn't punish everyone for one person's mistake,” Cedric said. Just then, Neville caused a slight diversion by turning into a large canary. “He really shouldn't have believed Fred about the creams not being spelled,” Luna said. “Yeah, him saying otherwise was more for trying to get someone to eat them over being truthful,” Cedric said. “Oh – sorry, Neville!” Fred shouted, over all the laughter. “I forgot – it was the custard creams we hexed –“ Within a minute, however, Neville had moulted, and once his feathers had fallen off, he reappeared looking entirely normal. He even joined in laughing. “He's a good sport, then,” Hermione said. “Probably knows that they didn't exactly mean for him to be caught in their trap,” Cedric said. “Anyone who got a custard cream would have had that happen, no matter what.” “Canary Creams!” Fred shouted to the excitable crowd. “George and I invented them – seven Sickles each, bargain!” “So they're starting their inventory for their shop,” Hermione said. “That's good.” “Yeah, and they're also probably being more careful about the order forms this time around as well,” Harry said. “They'll most likely make sure that they hide it in a place their mother won't look this time as well.” “No doubt about that, though it's probably that Mrs. Weasley will be very thorough when cleaning their room, just to make sure that they don't make more,” Cedric said. It was nearly one in the morning when Harry finally went up to the dormitory with Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean. Before he pulled the curtains of his four-poster shut, Harry set his tiny model of the Hungarian Horntail on the table next to his bed, where it yawned, curled up and closed its eyes. Really, Harry thought, as he pulled the hangings on his four-poster closed, Hagrid had a point ... they were all right, really, dragons ... “Yeah, you say that now, after you've faced and won against it,” Luna said, smiling at him. “You weren't saying that before, though.” “Well, it's not like I'll have to deal with the dragon again,” Harry said. “So, of course I'm more willing to agree with Hagrid.” The start of December brought wind and sleet to Hogwarts. Draughty though the castle always was in winter, Harry was glad of its fires and thick walls every time he passed the Durmstrang ship on the lake, which was pitching in the high winds, its black sails billowing against the dark skies. “I wonder if they have any way of warming that ship,” Hermione muttered. He thought the Beauxbatons caravan was likely to be pretty chilly, too. Hagrid, he noticed, was keeping Madame Maxime’s horses well provided with their preferred drink of single-malt whisky; the fumes wafting from the trough in the corner of their paddock were enough to make the entire Care of Magical Creatures class light headed. “That's not good,” Cedric said. “Yeah, definitely not good,” Hermione agreed. This was unhelpful, as they were still tending the horrible Skrewts, and needed their wits about them. “I’m not sure whether they hibernate or not,” Hagrid told the shivering class in the windy pumpkin patch next lesson. “Thought we’d jus’ try an’ see if they fancied a kip ... We’ll jus’ settle ’em down in these boxes ...” “I really have a feeling that they do not hibernate,” Harry said. “I don't either, but what really has my attention is why is this class being given the amount of attention it is in the book,” Hermione said. “Especially since, considering the previous times a class has been given a lot of attention, it's because of something important. However, unless Hagrid has something to say to you again, I can't see what's important about this class. We really don't need to know more about the Skrewts, after all – their basics is pretty much all that's needed to be known about them.” There were now only ten Skrewts left; apparently their desire to kill each other had not been exercised out of them. Each of them was now approaching six feet in length. Their thick grey armour, their powerful, scuttling legs, their fire-blasting ends, their stings and their suckers, combined to make the Skrewts the most repulsive things Harry had ever seen. “Honestly, exactly how is it that he's really getting away with being able to have a fourth year class raise those things? I mean, it's clear that they are not something you should let fourth year students even attempt to take care of,” Hermione said. “Dumbledore most likely gave him permission,” Luna said. “Since I can't see Hagrid being able to get away with the continual use of the creatures without his interference.” The class looked dispiritedly at the enormous boxes Hagrid had brought out, all lined with pillows and fluffy blankets. “Somehow, I think this is going to be a big waste of time. More than that, I have the feeling that people are going to be running as fast as possible in the opposite direction,” Cedric said. “Not everyone will,” Hermione said, knowing that neither she nor Harry would. Cedric had to admit that she was most likely right. “We’ll jus’ lead ’em in here,” Hagrid said, “an’ put the lids on, and we’ll see what happens.” But the Skrewts, it transpired, did not hibernate, and did not appreciate being forced into pillow-lined boxes and nailed in. Hagrid was soon yelling “Don’ panic, now, don’ panic!” while the Skrewts rampaged around the pumpkin patch, now strewn with the smouldering wreckage of the boxes. “They really didn't like it,” Harry said. Most of the class – Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle in the lead “Why doesn't that surprise me one iota,” Hermione said, rolling her eyes. – had fled into Hagrid’s cabin through the back door and barricaded themselves in; Harry, Ron and Hermione, however, were among those who remained outside trying to help Hagrid. “I have the feeling that it's all Gryffindors who stayed to help,” Luna said. “That's really a no brainer,” Cedric said. “I don't know if any of the Slytherins would bother doing that.” Together they managed to restrain and tie up nine of the Skrewts, though at the cost of numerous burns and cuts; finally, only one Skrewt was left. “Don’ frighten him, now!” Hagrid shouted, “Of course, worry about it being harmed rather than the students under your care,” Hermione said sarcastically. “As nice of a guy Hagrid is, he really shouldn't be teaching this class. He has no clue of where his priorities need to be.” “Very true,” Cedric said. “I do have to wonder, though, if his appointment to the position was because of his expertise about magical creatures, or because Harry thought of him as a best friend.” “What do you mean?” Harry asked. “I mean, Dumbledore most likely pulled quite a bit of strings to get him the position – Hagrid technically isn't qualified to teach because one needs to have at least an O.W.L. in the subject one is teaching, which Hagrid doesn't have, yet he got the position anyway,” Cedric said. “That means that Dumbledore obviously had a reason to place him there. I'm just wondering what it is.” as Ron and Harry used their wands to shoot jets of fiery sparks at the Skrewt, which was advancing menacingly on them, its sting arched, quivering, over its back. “Jus’ try an’ slip the rope round his sting, so he won’ hurt any o’ the others!” “God forbid that it kill any of the others,” Hermione said, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, we wouldn’t want that!” Ron shouted angrily, as he and Harry backed into the wall of Hagrid’s cabin, still holding the Skrewt off with their sparks. “Well, well, well ... this does look like fun.” “I really don't like the sound of that,” Harry said. “I don't either,” Cedric said. Rita Skeeter was leaning on Hagrid’s garden fence, looking in at the mayhem. She was wearing a thick magenta cloak with a furry purple collar today, and her crocodile-skin handbag was over her arm. “What's she doing there?” Hermione said, wrinkling her nose. “My guess: looking for a story,” Luna said. Hagrid launched himself forward on top of the Skrewt that was cornering Harry and Ron and flattened it; a blast of fire shot out of its end, withering the pumpkin plants nearby. “Who’re you?” Hagrid asked Rita Skeeter, as he slipped a loop of rope around the Skrewt’s sting and tightened it. “I wonder what Rita thinks about the fact that she's not known straight away to Hagrid,” Hermione said. “She's probably offended a bit,” Cedric said, frowning as he got the feeling that she might do something in retaliation for the offence she may be feeling at Hagrid's lack of knowledge about her. “Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter,” Rita replied, beaming at him. Her gold teeth glinted. “Here's my questions, though,” Harry said, “what would be interesting to Skeeter that she'd come to Hagrid's class.” “It's possible that she either noticed what was going on, or she someone discovered you were in the class, and is there in hopes of talking to you,” Luna said. “Thought Dumbledore said you weren’ allowed inside the school any more?” said Hagrid, frowning slightly as he got off the slightly squashed Skrewt and started tugging it over to its fellows. “I have the feeling that she's going to ignore that fact,” Cedric said. “So, even though she's not allowed to be there, she still is hanging around,” Hermione said. “The fact that she's been banned is probably a big draw for her,” Harry said. “It most likely just makes her more determined to go into campus.” Rita acted as though she hadn’t heard what Hagrid had said. “What are these fascinating creatures called?” she asked, beaming still more widely. “I really doubt that she's all that interested in them,” Cedric said. “Blast-Ended Skrewts,” grunted Hagrid. “Really?” said Rita, apparently full of lively interest. “I’ve never heard of them before ... where do they come from?” “Oh not good,” Cedric said. “Since Hagrid most likely bred them himself, and since he most likely only had Dumbledore's permission to do so, he can't really answer that question,” Luna said. “And I somehow get the feeling that, even if he did have the right permission, she'd most likely put it down that he didn't,” Hermione said. Harry noticed a dull red flush rising up out of Hagrid’s wild black beard, and his heart sank. Where had Hagrid got the Skrewts from? “He semi-illegally bred them,” Luna said. “And I say semi-illegally, because he most likely did have Dumbledore's permission to do so, and Dumbledore most likely got the permits to let him do so. Of course, Dumbledore might also have not done that.” Hermione, who seemed to be thinking along the same lines, said quickly, “They’re very interesting, aren’t they? Aren’t they, Harry?” “Did you have to bring her attention to me? Why couldn't you have asked this question to Ron?” Harry asked her, groaning. “Because she's more likely to be interested in you over Ron, and the idea is to get her interest away from Hagrid,” Hermione said. Harry bowed his head lightly, knowing that she was correct in that fact. Skeeter would most likely be more interested in him than Ron. “What? Oh, yeah ... ouch ... interesting,” said Harry, as she stepped on his foot. “I was getting there. You didn't need to step on my foot,” Harry said. “Sorry,” Hermione said. “Ah, you’re here, Harry!” said Rita Skeeter as she looked around. “So you like Care of Magical Creatures, do you? One of your favourite lessons?” “Not really, but I'm not going to tell her that, nor would I say it with Hagrid around,” Harry said. “Yes,” said Harry stoutly. Hagrid beamed at him. “Lovely,” said Rita. “Really lovely. Been teaching long?” she added to Hagrid. “No, he hasn't, and it's going to show,” Cedric said, frowning. He just knew that Skeeter was going to cause trouble for Hagrid, just knew it. Harry noticed her eyes travel over Dean (who had a nasty cut across one cheek), Lavender (whose robes were badly singed), Seamus (who was nursing several burnt fingers), and then to the cabin windows, where most of the class stood, their noses pressed against the glass, waiting to see if the coast was clear. “Yeah, that's not a sight of someone who's been on the job long,” Hermione said. “This is on’y me second year,” said Hagrid. “Lovely ... I don’t suppose you’d like to give an interview, would you? Share some of your experience of magical creatures? The Prophet does a zoological column every Wednesday, as I’m sure you know. We could feature these – er – Bang-Ended Scoots.” “Does the Prophet really do that?” Hermione asked. “Yeah, but the article is so small that it's easily missed,” Cedric said. “No one considers it important to make it any bigger, after all.” “Which means that Hagrid wouldn't have to say much,” Harry said. “So if we get a report that she wanted to know quite a bit, we would definitely know that she wanted the interview for another reason entirely,” Hermione said. “Although, when you consider the fact that she knows that Harry's there in the class, and that he considers it one of his favourites, it's obvious that she most likely wants an interview for a different reason.” “Blast-Ended Skrewts,” Hagrid said eagerly. “He fell for her trap hook, line, and sinker,” Cedric said. “He most likely really wants to talk about those creatures,” Harry said. “It's obvious that he likes them a lot, and is probably thinking that more people will like them once they hear about them. He has no idea that he'll probably cause parents to want him away from their children because of that.” “Er – yeah, why not?” Harry had a very bad feeling about this, but there was no way of communicating it to Hagrid without Rita Skeeter seeing, “Yeah, you're pretty much screwed there,” Luna said. so he had to stand and watch in silence as Hagrid and Rita Skeeter made arrangements to meet in the Three Broomsticks for a good long interview later that week. Then the bell rang up at the castle, signalling the end of the lesson. “Well, goodbye, Harry!” Rita Skeeter called merrily to him, “I really don't like the familiar way she's speaking to me,” Harry said. “Yeah, it makes it feel as though you two are good friends,” Hermione said, frowning. “That's probably why she does it,” Cedric pointed out. “As it give an illusion that you're closer than you actually are.” as he set off with Ron and Hermione. “Until Friday night, then, Hagrid!” “She’ll twist everything he says,” Harry said under his breath. “Just as long as he didn’t import those Skrewts illegally or anything,” said Hermione desperately. “It wouldn't matter. She'd say he did it anyway, especially if he doesn't give her the type of stuff she wants,” Luna said. “Unfortunately,” Cedric said, making it clear that she was right, and both Hermione and Harry felt a sinking feeling in their guts over the fact. They looked at each other – it was exactly the sort of thing Hagrid might do. “That's true as well,” Luna said. “Hagrid’s been in loads of trouble before, and Dumbledore’s never sacked him,” said Ron consolingly. “Hagrid's only been a teacher one year, Dumbledore most likely use any persuasion he had to make sure he wasn't sacked immediately, and letting him keep the Gamekeeper's job was most likely done because they could get away with paying him lowly and it's doubtful they'd find anyone half as good at the job as he is,” Cedric pointed out. “Worst that can happen is Hagrid’ll have to get rid of the Skrewts.” “I have the feeling that Dumbledore most likely made it so that wouldn't happen – with something like that, Dumbledore had to be helping him, because there is no way one of the other students haven't attempted to have the gotten rid of already,” Luna said. “That's most likely true,” Cedric said, thinking about it. “It definitely is, because I can't see Malfoy not attempting to do that very thing,” Hermione said. “Sorry ... did I say worst? I meant best.” Harry and Hermione laughed, and, feeling slightly more cheerful, went off to lunch. “It's good that you were able to get your minds off of what Skeeter might possibly say about Hagrid, especially since you can't keep it from happening,” Luna said. Harry thoroughly enjoyed double Divination that afternoon; “Let me guess, it's because you and Ron are friends again,” Hermione said. “Most likely,” Harry agreed. they were still doing star charts and predictions, but now that he and Ron were friends once more, the whole thing seemed very funny again. Professor Trelawney, who had been so pleased with the pair of them when they had been predicting their own horrific deaths, quickly became irritated as they sniggered through her explanation of the various ways in which Pluto could disrupt everyday life. “Oh, she's not going to like that her 'you're going to die soon' victim is laughing at her, especially when she's probably coming up with even more 'wonderful' ways on how you're going to drop soon.” Hermione said, sarcasm in her voice when she said 'wonderful'. “I would think,” she said, in a mystical whisper that did not conceal her obvious annoyance, “I really don't the others noticed the fact, though,” Cedric said. “that some of us” – she stared very meaningfully at Harry – “Not very subtle, is she?” Hermione said. “Nope, not subtle at all,” Cedric agreed. “might be a little less frivolous had they seen what I have seen, during my crystal-gazing last night. As I sat here, absorbed in my needlework, the urge to consult the orb overpowered me. I arose, I settled myself before it, and I gazed into its crystalline depths ... and what do you think I saw gazing back at me?” “It's going to have something to do with Death, just watch,” Harry said. “An ugly old bat in outsize specs?” Ron muttered under his breath. Harry fought hard to keep his face straight. “Death, my dears.” “Why doesn't that surprise me,” Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes as she wished that they didn't have to listen to this bloody, over-grown bat much longer. She wasn't feeling any patience to listen to this idiot any longer. Parvati and Lavender both put their hands over their mouths, looking horrified. “Yes,” said Professor Trelawney, nodding impressively, “it comes, ever closer, it circles overhead like a vulture, ever lower ... ever lower over the castle ...” She stared pointedly at Harry, who yawned very widely and obviously. “It might be a bit more impressive if she wasn't doing it every class period,” Harry said without shame over his book actions. He was barely holding on to his own actual yawn. Just hearing about the worthless class was tiring him out. “It’d be a bit more impressive if she hadn’t done it about eighty times before,” Harry said, “Depending on how many classes you've actually had with her before, it's probably even more than that,” Cedric said. as they finally regained the fresh air of the staircase beneath Professor Trelawney’s room. “But if I’d dropped dead every time she’s told me I’m going to, I’d be a medical miracle.” “Which would actually defeat the purpose of her saying you would die, because it would have the same effect if you did it over and over again,” Luna said. “You’d be a sort of extra-concentrated ghost,” said Ron, chortling, as they passed the Bloody Baron going in the opposite direction, his wide eyes staring sinisterly. “Somehow, I get the feeling that his laughing as to do with the irony of mentioning the word ghost around one, than the actual idea of Harry being one,” Hermione said, frowning as she wondered about Ron's reaction to his own words. “At least we didn’t get homework. I hope Hermione got loads off Professor Vector, I love not working when she is ...” “How mature,” Hermione said, rolling her eyes. “He almost acts as though you having to work is a horribly idea to you, the way it is to him,” Harry said. “His comment is most likely in reaction to what Hermione did earlier in the book, and you have to admit, he is kind of justified in wanting that, with the way you kind of bragged,” Luna said, looking as though she really disliked the idea of even thinking that. “You know, I have the feeling that you've probably already worked ahead. I mean, it wouldn't actually surprise me if you did,” Cedric told her. She smiled at him, admitting, “I probably have, at least on the reading. Since I don't have an idea of what the homework is until I'm told, I doubt I'd have been able to more than that.” But Hermione wasn’t at dinner, and nor was she in the library when they went to look for her afterwards. “Were are you?” Luna asked her. “No clue,” Hermione said. “I think I might have an idea,” Cedric said, and Hermione looked over to him. “Remember what you talked about to the Weasley twins.” “Oh,” Hermione said, remembering and thinking about what importance it was. “You think she's down in the kitchens,” Harry said. “Do you think otherwise?” Cedric countered. “No, it makes sense, after all,” Harry said. The only person in there was Viktor Krum. Ron hovered behind the bookshelves for a while, watching Krum, debating in whispers with Harry whether he should ask for an autograph – “Somehow, I get the feeling that the moment he realizes that he's not the only one with the idea, just the only male, he's probably not going to care for the idea,” Harry said, remembering how Krum had his fan club that repeatedly followed him, wherever he went. but then Ron realised that six or seven girls were lurking in the next row of books, debating exactly the same thing, and he lost his enthusiasm for the idea. “Seems you were right,” Luna said. “He probably didn't like the fact that he was having the same idea as they were,” Hermione said. “It makes him seem like a girl, after all.” “Which he probably would consider an insult,” Cedric said. “Wonder where she’s got to?” Ron said, as he and Harry went back to Gryffindor Tower. “Dunno ... Balderdash.” But the Fat Lady had barely begun to swing forwards, when the sound of racing feet behind them announced Hermione’s arrival. “I wonder how you know it's me,” Hermione said. “We probably looked over our shoulders,” Harry said. “Harry!” she panted, skidding to a halt beside him (the Fat Lady stared down at her, eyebrows raised). “Harry, you’ve got to come – you’ve got to come, the most amazing thing’s happened – please –“ “What's got you excited?” Harry asked her. “I don't know,” Hermione said. “The only think we know is that we've figured that I've gone to the kitchen. Even then, we're not absolutely sure I have.” She seized Harry’s arm and started to try and drag him back along the corridor. “What’s the matter?” Harry said. “I have a feeling that I haven't really seen you this excited about something before, unless it concerns school work,” Harry said, teasing her a bit with the mention of the latter bit. She just gave him a look, while Cedric and Luna did their best not to laugh at that fact. “I’ll show you when we get there – oh, come on, quick –“ Harry looked around at Ron; he looked back at Harry, intrigued. “Why did you just basically check in with Ron?” Hermione asked him. “I really don't know,” Harry said, frowning over his book selfs behaviour. He didn't like how it make it seem as though he absolutely had to have Ron at his side at all times at the moment, “OK,” Harry said, starting off back down the corridor with Hermione, Ron hurrying to keep up. “Why am I not surprised that he would go along?” Luna said. “Oh, don’t mind me!” the Fat Lady called irritably after them. “Don’t apologise for bothering me! I’ll just hang here, wide open, until you get back, shall I?” “If Ron answers that, the sarcasm is just going to go over his head,” Cedric said. “Too true,” Hermione agreed. “Yeah, thanks,” Ron shouted over his shoulder. “Definitely went over his head,” Harry said. “Hermione, where are we going?” Harry asked, after she had led them down through six floors, and started down the marble staircase into the Entrance Hall. “You’ll see, you’ll see in a minute!” said Hermione excitedly. She turned left at the bottom of the staircase, and hurried towards the door through which Cedric Diggory had gone the night after the Goblet of Fire had regurgitated his and Harry’s names. Harry had never been through here before. “You've never really had a reason to go through there,” Cedric pointed out. He and Ron followed Hermione down a flight of stone steps, but instead of ending up in a gloomy underground passage like the one which led to Snape’s dungeon, they found themselves in a broad, stone corridor, brightly lit with torches, and decorated with cheerful paintings that were mainly of food. “Is the Hufflepuff dorms on that level?” Harry asked. “No,” Cedric said. “It's more above it. Instead of going down the flight of steps, you continue along the hall until a certain point.” “Oh,” Harry said. “Oh, hang on ...” said Harry slowly, “Seems that you just might have realized what was going on,” Luna said. halfway down the corridor. “Wait a minute, Hermione ...” “What?” She turned around to look at him, anticipation all over her face. “I know what this is about,” said Harry. “Probably not completely,” Hermione said. “If it was just my ill-thought-out society, I doubt I'd be as excited as I seem to be.” “That's true,” Harry said. “That still doesn't explain why you wanted to drag us down there, though.” He nudged Ron, and pointed to the painting just behind Hermione. It showed a gigantic silver fruit-bowl. “The kitchen,” Harry said. “You know, seeing that, it's probably why I think it has to do with the house elf society.” “Hermione!” said Ron, cottoning on. “You’re trying to rope us into that spew stuff again!” "While I have the feeling that myself going down there was for that, I don't think dragging them with me is for it," Hermione said. "I seem way to excited for that to be the reason.” “No, no, I’m not!” she said hastily. “And it’s not spew, Ron –“ “It's S.P.E.W.,” Hermione said, having already memorized her rather unfortunate alliteration. “Changed the name, have you?” said Ron, frowning at her. “What are we now, then, the House-Elf Liberation Front?” “H.E.L.F.,” Luna said. “Sounds better that what you came up with, but still not the best sounding alliteration.” “I’m not barging into that kitchen and trying to make them stop work, I’m not doing it –“ “And I'm not asking him to do that,” Hermione said. “I’m not asking you to!” Hermione said impatiently. “I came down here just now, to talk to them all, and I found – oh, come on, Harry, I want to show you!” “You notice how it is that I'm only trying to show Harry,” Hermione said, having a sudden idea. “What if I'm doing that because of an elf I met?” “You mean...Dobby?” Harry said. “Of course,” Luna said. “If Dobby's there – and it is entirely possible – then it makes sense why Hermione would be doing this. After all, she knows that you would probably want to see him again; you two did part on pretty good terms, and there is a possibility that, when you mistook Winky for Dobby, there was a hint that you wanted to see him again in your voice. “So Hermione, being the great friend that she is, is most likely just helping bring me to see a friend that I haven't in quite a while,” Harry said. “Exactly,” Luna said. She seized his arm again, pulled him in front of the picture of the giant fruit-bowl, stretched out her forefinger and tickled the huge green pear. It began to squirm, chuckling, and suddenly turned into a large green door handle. Hermione seized it, pulled the door open, and pushed Harry hard in the back, forcing him inside. “You know, I wonder if I told Dobby I'd bring Harry down or not, when I met him,” Hermione said. “I mean, it could be why I'm shoving Harry inside first.” He had one brief glimpse of an enormous, high-ceilinged room, large as the Great Hall above it, with mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, and a great brick fireplace at the other end, when something small hurtled towards him from the middle of the room, squealing, “Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!” Next second all the wind had been knocked out of him as the squealing elf hit him hard in the midriff, hugging him so tightly he thought his ribs would break. “Definitely Dobby,” Luna said, chuckling. “D-Dobby?” Harry gasped. “I have the feeling that it would have never occurred to me that I'd see Dobby there,” Harry said. “I'm sure your gasping also has to do with the fact that he hugged you so tightly,” Cedric told him. “It is Dobby, sir, it is!” squealed the voice from somewhere around his navel. “Dobby has been hoping and hoping to see Harry Potter, sir, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!” “Only because Hermione was so insistent that I go with her,” Harry said. “Which I am definitely glad for, since I kind of did want to see him again, and if my book self is like my real self, he also wanted to see him again, but didn't know that Dobby was bound to him, and would come if I called him – he could come if I called, right?” “Yes, he would,” Cedric told him. Dobby let go and stepped back a few paces, beaming up at Harry, his enormous, green, tennis-ball-shaped eyes brimming with tears of happiness. He looked almost exactly as Harry remembered him; the pencil-shaped nose, the bat-like ears, the long fingers and feet “The features like those don't really change all that much,” Cedric said. – all except the clothes, which were very different. “That would make sense, since it's doubtful he would keep that pillowcase that was his uniform when he worked for the Malfoys,” Luna said. When Dobby had worked for the Malfoys, he had always worn the same filthy old pillowcase. Now, however, he was wearing the strangest assortment of garments Harry had ever seen; he had made an even worse job of dressing himself than the wizards at the World Cup. “I'm not that surprised about that, strangely enough,” Harry said. “Chances are, even if he was able to learn how Muggles usually dressed, he is still strange enough to have his own twist to it.” He was wearing a tea-cosy for a hat, on which he had pinned a number of bright badges; a tie patterned with horseshoes over a bare chest, a pair of what looked like children’s football shorts, and odd socks. “Let me guess: one of those socks is going to be the one you tricked Mr. Malfoy giving Dobby,” Hermione said, while also trying not to giggle over how Dobby had dressed himself up. One of these, Harry saw, was the black one he had removed from his own foot and tricked Mr. Malfoy into giving Dobby, thereby setting Dobby free. The other was covered in pink and orange stripes. “I wonder where he got the other one,” Luna said. “Dobby, what’re you doing here?” Harry said in amazement. “He's obviously found a place to work,” Cedric said. “Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!” Dobby squealed excitedly. “Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir!” “Winky's there, too?” Hermione said. “That's not good.” “Why do you say that?” Harry said. “Because, Winky obviously didn't want to have her bond broken, and the way my book self is acting about house-elves having that bond...” Hermione said. “You're going to make her mad, as well as upset her, and you're basically going to become the person she hates the most,” Luna said. “Exactly, because I won't understand why she would want to go back to him, as well as the fact that I just don't understand why any of them would want to live the way they do,” Hermione said. “Winky?” said Harry. “She’s here, too?” “Yes, sir, yes!” said Dobby, and he seized Harry’s hand, and pulled him off into the kitchen between the four long wooden tables that stood there. Each of these tables, Harry noticed as he passed them, was positioned exactly beneath the four house tables above, in the Great Hall. “How do you know that the Great Hall is above it?” Hermione asked. “They might be something on the ceiling that shows the Great Hall, in some manner. After all, they would need to know when more food is needed, or when it's time for pudding, or even when people have all finished eating,” Harry said. At the moment, they were clear of food, dinner having finished, but he supposed that an hour ago they had been laden with dishes that were then sent up through the ceiling to their counterparts above. “Most likely,” Cedric said. At least a hundred little elves were standing around the kitchen, beaming, bowing and curtseying as Dobby led Harry past them. They were all wearing the same uniform; a tea-towel stamped with the Hogwarts crest, and tied, as Winky’s had been, like a toga. “That's usually what an elf wears, only without a crest,” Luna said. Dobby stopped in front of the brick fireplace, and pointed. “I wonder what Winky is doing in front of a fireplace,” Hermione said. “Winky, sir!” he said. Winky was sitting on a stool by the fire. Unlike Dobby, she had obviously not foraged for clothes. She was wearing a neat little skirt and blouse with a matching blue hat, which had holes in it for her large ears. “Why is she wearing clothes instead of the Hogwarts elf uniform, since she most likely prefers it to them?” Hermione asked. “She hasn't bonded with Hogwarts,” Cedric said. “And for an elf to wear clothes usually symbolizes that they're either freed, or not bound to the place they work at.” “And, since Dobby is technically bound to me, he doesn't wear the Hogwarts elf uniform because of that,” Harry said, guessing. “Exactly,” Cedric said. However, while every one of Dobby’s strange collection of garments was so clean and well cared for that it looked brand new, Winky was plainly not taking care of her clothes at all. “She doesn't want them,” Luna said. “Why doesn't she bind herself to Hogwarts, then?” Hermione asked. “She doesn't want Hogwarts. She probably doesn't want anyone other than her previous masters,” Luna said. There were soup stains all down her blouse and a burn in her skirt. “Hello, Winky,” said Harry. Winky’s lip quivered. Then she burst into tears, which spilled out of her great brown eyes and splashed down her front, just as they had done at the Quidditch World Cup. “I don't think she's going to last very long without being a Crouch elf,” Cedric said. “She seems to be very depressed,” Hermione said, frowning and feeling sorry for the little elf. It also had her hating Crouch even more than she did when they read about this happening. “Oh, dear,” said Hermione. She and Ron had followed Harry and Dobby to the end of the kitchen. “Winky, don’t cry, please don’t ...” “I don't think that's going to work all that well,” Luna said. But Winky cried harder than ever. Dobby, on the other hand, beamed up at Harry. “His hero's there, nothing else matters,” Cedric said. “Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?” he squeaked loudly, over Winky’s sobs. “Er – yeah, OK,” said Harry. Instantly, about six house-elves came trotting up behind him, bearing a large silver tray laden with a teapot, cups for Harry, Ron and Hermione, a milk jug and a large plate of biscuits. “From the looks of it, they must've all just been listening in to you guys, just in case they were needed,” Luna said. “Good service!” Ron said, in an impressed voice. Hermione frowned at him, but the elves all looked delighted; “And, because I'm too busy frowning at Ron for being impressed with them doing their job – for complimenting them, basically – I probably don't even notice the fact that they're all delighted from what he said,” Hermione said, shaking her head. they bowed very low and retreated. “How long have you been here, Dobby?” Harry asked, as Dobby handed round the tea. “Probably not long, since I don't think he would have stayed away for that long,” Cedric said. “Only a week, Harry Potter, sir!” said Dobby happily. “Dobby came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir. You see, sir, it is very difficult for a house-elf who has been dismissed to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed –“ “Mostly because he was not only bonded, but because he also wants to be paid,” Luna said. At this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed tomato of a nose dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow. “Dobby has travelled the country for two whole years, sir, trying to find work!” Dobby squeaked. “But Dobby hasn’t found work, sir, because Dobby wants paying now!” The house-elves all around the kitchen, who had been listening and watching with interest, all looked away at these words, as though Dobby had said something rude and embarrassing. “And, to them, it is,” Cedric said. Hermione, however, said, “Good for you, Dobby!” “I'm probably the only person he'd hear that from,” Hermione said. “Thank you, miss!” said Dobby, grinning toothily at her. “But most wizards doesn’t want a house-elf who wants paying, miss. 'That’s not the point of a house-elf,' they says,” “Actually, so long as Dobby still worked, he wasn't going off that far from what a house-elf does,” Cedric said. “He just wanted money as his form of payment instead of anything else.” “and they slammed the door in Dobby’s face! Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid, Harry Potter ... Dobby likes being free!” “He's not going to tell me that he's bound himself to me, is he?” Harry said. “No, I don't think he will, because I have the feeling that, well, while he wants to be your elf, he still does enjoy being able to go wherever he wants at the same time,” Luna said. “Hey, that's fine with me,” Harry said. “I want him to be happy, after all.” The Hogwarts house-elves had now started edging away from Dobby, as though he was carrying something contagious. “I really hope my book self is taking notes about how they act with him wanting that,” Hermione said. Winky, however, remained where she was, though there was a definite increase in the volume of her crying. “And then, Harry Potter, Dobby goes to visit Winky, and finds out Winky has been freed, too, sir!” said Dobby delightedly. At this, Winky flung herself forwards off her stool, and lay, face down, on the flagged stone floor, beating her tiny fists upon it and positively screaming with misery. “Dobby really shouldn't have mentioned that,” Cedric said. Hermione hastily dropped down to her knees beside her, and tried to comfort her, but nothing she said made the slightest difference. “Of course not. Unless it's that the Crouches will take her back, she's not going to want to hear it,” Luna said. Dobby continued with his story, shouting shrilly over Winky’s screeches. “And then Dobby had the idea, Harry Potter, sir! 'Why doesn’t Dobby and Winky find work together?' Dobby says. 'Where is there enough work for two house-elves?' says Winky. And Dobby thinks, and it comes to him, sir! Hogwarts! So Dobby and Winky came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir, and Professor Dumbledore took us on!” “Schools in general are that way for elves, since they always could use them,” Cedric said. Dobby beamed very brightly, and happy tears welled in his eyes again. “And Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!” “That's not a whole lot,” Harry said. “Somehow, I get the feeling that might have been all that Dobby would except,” Luna said. “That’s not very much!” Hermione shouted indignantly from the floor, over Winky’s continued screaming and fist-beating. “Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off,” said Dobby, suddenly giving a little shiver, as though the prospect of so much leisure and riches was frightening, “It probably is to him,” Luna said. “After all, it's not something he is used to.” “but Dobby beat him down, miss ... Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn’t wanting too much, miss, he likes work better.” “Just how an elf usually is,” Cedric said. “And how much is Professor Dumbledore paying you, Winky?” Hermione asked kindly. “Oh, that is not the right question to ask her,” Hermione said, wincing at the storm she just knew Winky was going to unleash on her. If she had thought this would cheer Winky up, she was wildly mistaken. Winky did stop crying, but when she sat up she was glaring at Hermione through her massive brown eyes, her whole face sopping wet and suddenly furious. “Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not yet getting paid!” she squeaked. “Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!” “That's going to confuse my book self,” Hermione said. “I'm not going to get why she would be so ashamed of being freed.” “It sounds as though it still does confuse you,” Cedric said. “Oh it does a bit,” Hermione said. “I can't see why she wouldn't want to be freed of Mr. Crouch, considering how he used her as a sacrificial pawn. That said, I know for a fact that what will confuse my book self is not what has me confused. My book self will probably be confused because she just doesn't get why she would be so ashamed of being freed from slavery and hating herself when it's Mr. Crouch who should be ashamed, not her.” “Ashamed?” said Hermione blankly. “But – Winky, come on! It’s Mr. Crouch who should be ashamed, not you! You didn’t do anything wrong, he was really horrible to you –“ “You know, to an elf who loves their master, that's probably the worse thing to say to them,” Harry said. But at these words, Winky clapped her hands over the holes in her hat, flattening her ears so that she couldn’t hear a word, and screeched, “You is not insulting my master, miss! You is not insulting Mr. Crouch! Mr. Crouch is a good wizard, miss! Mr. Crouch is right to sack bad Winky!” “I can't see how that can be true,” Hermione said. “Especially with what we suspect on why he did it.” “Winky will probably never see it that way, though,” Cedric said. “Winky is having trouble adjusting, Harry Potter,” squeaked Dobby confidentially. “Winky forgets she is not bound to Mr Crouch any more; she is allowed to speak her mind now, but she won’t do it.” “A sign of just how deeply she feels for him,” Luna said. “Can’t house-elves speak their minds about their masters, then?” Harry asked. “Not when bound to the family. Unless given permission by their master, they are not allowed to say anything about their masters, even if it's their own opinions of them,” Cedric said. “Oh, no, sir, no,” said Dobby, looking suddenly serious. “ ’Tis part of the house-elf’s enslavement, sir. We keeps their secrets and our silence, sir, we upholds the family’s honour, and we never speaks ill of them – though Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this. Professor Dumbledore said we is free to – to –“ “My guess is that Dumbledore has made it clear that he will not hold them to the never speaking il part of the rules,” Hermione said, smiling slightly as she thought of how Dobby probably felt upon hearing that. Dobby looked suddenly nervous, and beckoned Harry closer. Harry bent forwards. Dobby whispered, “He said we is free to call him a – a barmy old codger if we likes, sir!” “Well, I can see why he'd give permission for that. I mean, it's not like it's something super bad,” Harry said. “And it's only anything that's secret, either,” Luna said. Dobby gave a frightened sort of giggle. “But Dobby is not wanting to, Harry Potter,” he said, talking normally again, and shaking his head so that his ears flapped. “Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets for him.” “I wonder if he would keep whatever secrets Dumbledore lets out if I asked for them specifically,” Harry pondered. “But you can say what you like about the Malfoys now?” Harry asked him, grinning. A slightly fearful look came into Dobby’s immense eyes. “Harry, you should probably not have said that. After all, even without the bond there, he's been conditioned to punish himself if he does one thing out of line about the Malfoys,” Cedric said, frowning. “Even if he does tell you, he's going to want to punish himself if he says something he was originally told not to say.” “Dobby – Dobby could,” he said doubtfully. He squared his small shoulders. “Dobby could tell Harry Potter that his old masters were – were – bad Dark wizards!” “Nothing that wasn't already known,” Hermione murmured. Dobby stood for a moment, quivering all over, horror-struck by his own daring – then he rushed over to the nearest table, and began banging his head on it, very hard, squealing, “Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!” “It's going to take him awhile to be freed of that habit,” Luna said. Harry seized Dobby by the back of his tie and pulled him away from the table. “Thank you, Harry Potter, thank you,” said Dobby breathlessly, rubbing his head. “You just need a bit of practice,” Harry said. “You probably shouldn't be saying that in front of Winky, considering how she's acting,” Luna said. “Yeah, she'll probably get upset that Dobby would even consider doing that, since she most likely wouldn't be able to understand the fact that Dobby has no loyalty to them because of how he was treated by them,” Cedric said. “Practice!” squealed Winky furiously. “You is ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dobby, talking that way about your masters!” “Luckily for Dobby, they're not his masters any more,” Hermione said. “They isn’t my masters any more, Winky!” said Dobby defiantly. “Dobby doesn’t care what they think any more!” “Oh, you is a bad elf, Dobby!” moaned Winky, tears leaking down her face once more. “How is Dobby a bad elf for not having loyalty to those who probably would have ended up killing him because of their punishments?” Hermione asked. No one had an answer to that. “My poor Mr. Crouch, what is he doing without Winky? He is needing me, he is needing my help! I is looking after the Crouches all my life, and my mother is doing it before me, and my grandmother is doing it before her ... oh, what is they saying if they knew Winky was freed? Oh, the shame, the shame!” “It's too bad that there isn't a way to make her realize that it was Mr. Crouch in the wrong, not her,” Luna said. “Somehow, based on how Winky is acting, I have a feeling that her ancestors would indeed be ashamed of her because she was given clothes,” Hermione said, sounding rather sad at the knowledge. She buried her face in her skirt again and bawled. “Winky,” said Hermione, firmly, “I’m quite sure Mr. Crouch is getting along perfectly well without you. We’ve seen him, you know –“ “You know that she's going to want to know exactly how he appears to have been doing, right?” Cedric said. “Actually, she might use this as a chance to beg him to take her back,” Luna said. “If she knows when he's going to be at Hogwarts, she'll probably be willing to leave the kitchen long enough to do just that.” “So, hopefully, neither myself, Harry, or Ron mention when he's going to be there,” Hermione said. “You is seeing my master?” said Winky breathlessly, raising her tear-stained face out of her skirt once more, and goggling at Hermione. “You is seeing him here at Hogwarts?” “Yes,” said Hermione. “He and Mr. Bagman are judges in the Triwizard Tournament.” “Mr. Bagman comes, too?” squeaked Winky, “Why has that captured her attention so?” Hermione said. “I don't think that Crouch has a high opinion of Bagman,” Cedric said. and to Harry’s great surprise (and Ron and Hermione’s, too, by the looks on their faces), she looked angry again. “He must definitely not think well of Bagman if she's so angry that they're even being seen together,” Luna said. “I wonder what Crouch has been saying about Bagman that has gotten that reaction from Winky,” Cedric said. “Mr. Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My master isn’t liking him, oh no, not at all!” “He's not a bad wizard. I mean, sure, he doesn't seem to be the best department head, but that doesn't make him a bad wizard,” Hermione said. “I think there was something in Bagman's past, before he became department head, that might have been the cause for that, but I don't exactly remember what it is,” Cedric said. “Bagman – bad?” said Harry. “Oh yes,” Winky said, nodding her head furiously. “My master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying ... Winky – Winky keeps her master’s secrets ...” “You know, I'm sure anyone who looks into the past of either of them could figure out what it is that's caused Crouch to not like Bagman,” Harry said. “Yeah, but I don't think it would reveal any depth to how Crouch feels about him, which is something only Winky would know,” Cedric told him. She dissolved yet again in tears; they could hear her sobbing into her skirt, “Poor master, poor master, no Winky to help him no more!” “That makes it sound as though there is something he needs her to help with other than just housecleaning,” Hermione said. “Well, we already suspect that he's hiding something,” Cedric said, referring to what they had come up with in the one chapter. They couldn’t get another sensible word out of Winky. They left her to her crying, “It's not like you can really do anything else,” Cedric said. and finished their tea, while Dobby chatted happily about his life as a free elf, and his plans for his wages. “Dobby is going to buy a jumper next, Harry Potter!” he said happily, pointing at his bare chest. “It does seem like he needs one,” Luna said. “Tell you what, Dobby,” said Ron, who seemed to have taken a great liking to the elf, “I’ll give you the one my mum knits me this Christmas, I always get one from her. You don’t mind maroon, do you?” “I don't think that Dobby will care,” Luna said. Dobby was delighted. “We might have to shrink it a bit to fit you,” Ron told him, “but it’ll go well with your tea-cosy.” As they prepared to take their leave, many of the surrounding elves pressed in upon them, offering snacks to take back upstairs. “Eager to please,” Cedric said. Hermione refused, with a pained look at the way the elves kept bowing and curtseying, “It just probably disgusts me that they would do that,” Hermione said. “It's probably a good thing that Harry and Ron are there with you,” Cedric said. “Otherwise, you'd probably hurt their feelings because you refuse them.” “Not that my book self will think about that,” Hermione said. but Harry and Ron loaded their pockets with cream cakes and pies. “Thanks a lot!” Harry said to the elves, “Which will let them know that you appreciate them,” Luna said. who had all clustered around the door to say goodnight. “See you, Dobby!” “Harry Potter ... can Dobby come and see you sometimes, sir?” Dobby asked tentatively. “I don't seem myself having a problem with letting that happen,” Harry said. “ ’Course you can,” said Harry, and Dobby beamed. “Not surprising that that would make him happy,” Luna said. “You know what?” said Ron, once he, Hermione and Harry had left the kitchens behind, and were climbing the steps into the Entrance Hall again. “All these years I’ve been really impressed with Fred and George, nicking food from the kitchens – well, it’s not exactly difficult, is it? They can’t wait to give it away!” 'Yeah, it is a bit of a let down to see that it's just so easy to do,” Hermione said. “I think this is the best thing that could have happened to those elves, you know,” said Hermione, leading the way back up the marble staircase. “Dobby coming to work here, I mean. The other elves will see how happy he is, being free, and slowly it’ll dawn on them that they want that, too!” “It won't, especially since Dobby's not really free, and they'll know it,” Cedric said. “Let’s hope they don’t look too closely at Winky,” said Harry. “I don't think that's possible,” Cedric said. “Oh, she’ll cheer up,” said Hermione, “Yeah, right,” Hermione said, rolling her eyes at how idiotic her book self seemed to be. though she sounded a bit doubtful. “At least I'm realizing that I might not be right there,” Hermione said. “Once the shock’s worn off, and she’s got used to Hogwarts, she’ll see how much better off she is without that Crouch man.” “From the way she seems about him, I really doubt that will happen,” Harry said. “She seems to love him,” said Ron thickly (he had just started on a cream cake). “Doesn’t think much of Bagman, though, does she?” said Harry. “No, she doesn't,” Hermione said. “Wonder what Crouch says at home about him?” “Probably says he’s not a very good Head of Department,” said Hermione, “and let’s face it ... he’s got a point, hasn’t he?” “It probably killed me to say that, since I doubt particularly seem to like the man,” Hermione said. “Yeah, but there's really no way not to agree with him. I mean, what was just said is true, after all. He really isn't a good Head of Department,” Cedric said. “I’d still rather work for him than old Crouch,” said Ron. “At least Bagman’s got a sense of humour.” “Because it's always good to have a boss with a sense of humour than one with a sense for getting work done,” Harry said. “Does he not realize that, because Bagman is an idiot, that means that most of the work done in the department actually falls on those working under Bagman?” Hermione said. “I doubt it,” Cedric said. “Don’t let Percy hear you saying that,” Hermione said, smiling slightly. “Yeah, well, Percy wouldn’t want to work for anyone with a sense of humour, would he?” said Ron, now starting on a chocolate éclair. “Percy wouldn’t recognise a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby’s tea-cosy.” “Somehow, I can see that being true,” Harry said. “That's the end of that chapter,” Cedric said, handing the book over to Luna.