New Professor at Hogwarts

"Professor Dumbledore, and Xia Ran, why are you here?" Hagrid quickly stood up and wiped away his tears, his face was a little red, and he seemed to be at a loss.

Xia Ran chuckled and said, "If you meet someone, come over and have a look."

He was planning to come over to see Hagrid, but when he was walking out of the castle, he happened to meet Dumbledore coming downstairs, so he simply came over together and heard Hermione's words.

"You are a teacher in the school. It is also my responsibility as the principal to care for the health of teachers and students." Dumbledore smiled, "Miss Granger, you are great!"

He looked at Hermione again and gave a thumbs up.

Hermione blushed, trying not to look too proud.

Xia Ran suddenly turned around and looked outside, smiling: "Dumbledore, it seems we should leave. By the way, you three should follow."

No one else had to ask, they already understood everything when they saw the tall figure through the window.

"Hagrid, we won't disturb you anymore." Dumbledore smiled narrowly and followed Xia Ran out.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione trotted out quickly.

Hagrid came out with a red face and ignored the few people returning to the castle. Instead, he greeted Ms. Maxim with an unusually strong smile on his face.

"It seems Hagrid has found his other half." Ron said.

Harry and Hermione were also sincerely happy for Hagrid.

"The Yule Ball is coming soon, and there should be a lot of students staying in school this year." Dumbledore said softly, "The elves will be very busy by then."

Oops!

Harry and Ron's expressions suddenly changed.

As expected, Hermione immediately became excited and said: "Professor Dumbledore, don't you think it's so unfair that the elves work hard without complaint, without getting a day off, no subsidies, and no wages? This is labor exploitation. This is This is disgraceful behavior!”

Xia Ran noticed that Dumbledore seemed a little confused and looked at Hermione blankly.

"Professor, elves must enjoy the same treatment as us, including wages, subsidies, and various benefits. Even if they are free...well, freedom can be postponed for a while, but other benefits must be compensated!" Hermione was very excited, not showing any signs of it. He restrained himself somewhat due to Dumbledore's status as principal.

Dumbledore said distressedly: "Miss Granger, I want to do this - really, I am not lying to you - I will give him a salary for the new house elf. I am going to give him a salary for a week." Ten galleons, a weekend off, but he didn't ask for it and acted very frightened. In the end, he only asked for one galleung, one galleung a week and one day off a month, while the other house elf simply didn't want a penny. No need for a day off."

Xia Ran's eyes moved slightly, thinking about the plot in the original time and space, and asked: "Dumbledore, what are the names of those two elves?"

"Dobby, Winky," Dumbledore replied.

"More than?!"

"Twinkle?!"

There were two exclamations in succession, the first one was from Harry and the second one was from Hermione.

"Yes, Dobby, Winky." Dumbledore sighed, "There are more than a hundred house elves in Hogwarts, and Dobby is the only one who asked for wages and holidays, but even so, I am willing to Give him more wages and holidays, but he doesn’t want them.”

"It's always been a concept issue." Xia Ran said softly. Dobby was originally a house elf of the Malfoy family, and was later liberated. Winky was a house elf of the Crouch family, and he also sneaked into Hogwarts and captured him. After Harry - who had been struck by Barty Crouch Jr. or Voldemort's Imperius Curse - was rescued, he and Dobby found Dumbledore, hoping to get a job at Hogwarts.

After all, the only job in the magic world that two elves can do is Hogwarts, and they may not want to go to foreign magic schools.

"Professor, Dobby is at Hogwarts?" Harry asked hurriedly.

"Is Winky okay?" Hermione asked worriedly. She had seen Dobby and Winky before. Dobby was in relatively better condition, so she was more worried about Winky.

Dumbledore replied: "I didn't go to the kitchen, but it should be fine. Dobby is a smart and enthusiastic elf. He will take good care of Winky."

Harry nodded, Dobby was indeed such an elf.

"Professor, we need to change. House elves are our friends, not our slaves." Hermione's eyes burned.

"Of course, I recognize this, and I have never regarded them as slaves." Dumbledore said.

"So, freedom..."

"I'm afraid this won't work." Dumbledore shook his head. "In the wizarding world, apart from Hogwarts, there is no other place that can accommodate more than a hundred elves at the same time. They need a job, and this job currently Only Hogwarts can provide that.”

"But……"

"I will try to increase wages and holidays for other elves. There will be an adjustment period." Dumbledore said.

Xia Ran smiled and said: "Dobby's mind has been liberated, isn't he still unable to accept more wages and holidays? Hermione, the road must be walked step by step, don't walk too fast."

Hermione could only accept this reality helplessly, but her eyes flashed, thinking that she might be able to ask Fred and George how to get to the underground kitchen of Hogwarts and see the house elves in person. status.

…

After the first round of competition, time passed very quickly, and Christmas was coming soon, because there was the Triwizard Tournament this year, and the Christmas dance would be held. It would be opened by the three warriors and their dance partners. Almost most students in the school chose to stay. school.

"I'm not going back, Harry." Ron said, signing the detention list issued by Professor McGonagall.

As for Harry, he signed as usual. He originally wanted to spend Christmas at the Black Mansion this year, but since he encountered such a big event, of course he had to slow down. He and Sirius wrote through letters, and Sirius also It is recommended that he stay in school, after all, the Triwizard Tournament is too rare.

Xia Ran left school before Christmas - after taking the last class before the holiday - he came to Grimmauld Place in London and gently knocked on a building that jumped out from between houses 11 and 13. door.

"Xia Ran, you're finally here. I've been waiting for you for a long time." Lu Ping opened the door.

Xia Ran went in and said, "I just finished class and I haven't eaten anything yet. Is there anything to eat?"

"We haven't finished eating yet, let's eat something together." In the kitchen, Sirius poked his head and said.

Kreacher, the house elf of the Black family, said enthusiastically: "Professor Frémont, what do you want to eat? Kreacher can make a lot of food!"

After Regulus's bones were buried, Kreacher completely changed his temper and recognized Sirius as his master, as well as most members of the Order of the Phoenix.

"Just have some." Xia Ran smiled, "Thanks, Kreacher."

"Is it just the three of us?" Sirius asked, putting down his knife and fork.

"No, there are others." Lupine said, "Me, you, Xia Ran, Mad-Eye, Tonks, Kingsley, and Arthur are also there."

"I hope to meet Death Eaters." Sirius said expectantly, full of fighting spirit.

Xia Ran said softly: "Mad-Eye will come over later. He has classes. Arthur and the others will meet us at the Ministry of Magic."