Draco threw back his head and laughed, drawing the attention of several nearby students. "Ah, the Gryffindor temper! How quaint. Potter and Weasley, champions of house-elf liberation! And now, thanks to their friend, they have someone else to blame. How touching!"
Harry's fists clenched tighter, his eyes blazing. "We're not blaming anyone but you, Malfoy! And we're not letting you humiliate us!"
Ron's voice cracked with anger. "Yeah, and next time you think about mocking my family, you'll regret it, Malfoy!"
Draco's smirk didn't falter, though his eyes glinted with challenge. "Oh, I see. The saviors have found their courage. How adorable. Shall I fetch some medals now, or will you settle for applause from your grateful little elves?"
Eira, sitting across the hall, merely tilted her head, a faint smile still on her face. She didn't intervene. She knew this wasn't her battle, but she couldn't hide her amusement at the spectacle.
Hermione moved to the Hufflepuff table next, carefully laying out the papers and badges for each student. "You may not think it matters now," she said softly but with urgency, "but small acts of kindness can change lives. You have the power to treat these creatures fairly, and that is a responsibility."
Some Hufflepuffs nodded, quietly taking the papers. Others, however, snickered among themselves. "What next?" whispered one boy. "She's going to start a union for ghosts?"
Undeterred, Hermione proceeded to the Ravenclaw table, her calm but firm voice explaining the society's objectives. Some students listened intently, clearly intrigued. Others exchanged skeptical glances, muttering under their breath.
Draco's eyes narrowed, a faint smirk returning. "Oh, this is rich," he said, so Harry can hear his voice. "The great Harry Potter, champion of Gryffindor, now the champion of house-elves? Maybe you should wear a sash! 'Savior of the Subservient!'"
The hall erupted once more, laughter echoing off the stone walls. Some students pointed at Harry and Hermione, others whispered excitedly. Hermione's patience was thinning, and she finally raised her voice, addressing the hall as a whole.
"Enough!" she shouted, every head turning toward her. "This isn't a joke! Your mockery proves exactly why this society is needed! You think cruelty is strength? You think mocking those who serve is clever? House-elves are intelligent, sentient, and they deserve fairness and respect. If you cannot grasp that simple truth, then perhaps you are the ones who need education!"
For a moment, the hall was silent, save for the whispers of a few Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs who had been inspired by her speech. Draco's smirk faltered as Hermione's words cut through the laughter.
Ron spun on Hermione, his face red with frustration. "See this? This is all your fault, Hermione! Because of your stupid idea, Draco's mocking us in front of everyone! House-Elf Liberation? Seriously? Are you trying to make us look ridiculous?"
Hermione's eyes flashed. "Ron, that's not fair! We're doing the right thing—"
"No! I don't care if it's the right thing! We're being humiliated because of you! Your 'right thing' is making fools of us!" Ron snapped, crossing his arms and glaring at her. "I'm not helping, and don't expect me to act like I care more than I do."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Ron cut her off. "And don't give me that speech about justice! You think this makes sense to anyone? It's just embarrassing."
Harry stepped slightly between them, raising his hands. "Alright… alright, let's—maybe we should just—"
But then he caught sight of Cho Chang across the hall, reading the memo Hermione had handed out, a quiet laugh escaping her. Harry looked away quickly, cheeks heating slightly, just noticing, and let the moment pass.
Ron muttered darkly under his breath, still glaring at Hermione. "See? This is exactly why no one takes any of this seriously…"
Hermione huffed, clearly frustrated but said nothing further, while Ron just scowled, refusing to offer any support.
As the morning sunlight strengthened across the enchanted ceiling, Hermione continued distributing papers and explaining her vision, undeterred by the ridicule. The hall, though noisy and chaotic, had at least paused to consider her words.
Tracey leaned back, a teasing smirk on her face. "This Granger girl… she's persistent. I mean, who in their right mind would try to liberate those creatures? House-elves are born to serve wizards—it's just how it is."
Eira smiled gently, her eyes thoughtful. "Well, she's doing what she believes is right. That shows compassion, a desire to help those creatures, to give them rights. For wizards, it might seem absurd, but in the broader muggle world, it's a respectable cause." She paused, her gaze softening. "I'd even compliment her courage."
Tracey shook her head with a laugh. "I still don't buy it. The wizarding world and the muggle world—they're completely different. You can't just change thousands of years of tradition."
Eira, observing from the Slytherin table, leaned back slightly and whispered, "She's persistent. Admirable, though perhaps hopeless against these fools."