Chapter 199: Arrangements for Dobby
"I'm sorry, but I might have to disappoint you," Aaron said indifferently. "I can't arrange anything for him."
"Why? He's just a House-elf, it should be easy for you."
"It is easy," Aaron didn't deny, then changed the subject. "But I have no reason to help him. Our family isn't a charity, after all.
There are so many rich people in the world, but how many of them feel sympathy for beggars on the street? If they toss a coin when passing by, they're considered good people."
Harry was speechless, but seeing Dobby's pitiful appearance, he still wanted to try and speak up for him.
"Dobby is very powerful; he can cast magic without a wand or spells, and he even knocked Lucius flying."
"What?" Aaron sat up in surprise, perhaps moving too much, and felt a slight pain from the bandaged area, his expression also unnatural.
"You hit Lucius Malfoy?"
Dobby nodded weakly, "He wanted to hurt Harry Potter, so…"
Aaron rolled his eyes, looking at Harry with some helplessness, "No wonder you're helping him so much."
Harry's face flushed slightly, and he said awkwardly, "I just want to help him find a job."
"A job that would easily offend the master's family," Aaronsneered. "To put it bluntly, taking in Dobby is like slapping Malfoy in the face. No one in the Wizarding World would want to offend a powerful and influential Pure-blood Family."
"Not even your family?"
Aaron's eyes flickered, and he snorted disdainfully. He stopped playing such crude reverse psychology when he was three years old.
"The Malfoys don't have the guts to challenge the authority of the Gaius family, nor do they have the strength.
But even Reclusive Families don't want to cause trouble, even if that trouble is very small, or even non-existent.
Besides, I stayed at the Malfoys' for a day or two, and they treated me very well. Now you're asking me to take in a House-elf who hit Lucius Malfoy, do you think that's appropriate?"
"Perhaps… not appropriate," Harry said weakly. "But besides your family, I can't think of anyone else. We can't just let the Weasleys… Oh right! There's the Weasleys! I remember Mrs. Weasley always wanted a House-elf to help her with chores."
"Heh heh!" Aaron chuckled lightly. "If it weren't inconvenient, I'd definitely give you a thumbs up."
"That won't work either?" Harry unconsciously frowned.
"Nonsense, of course not.
You should be aware of the situation at The Burrow; the Weasleys themselves are struggling. Do you think they have money to pay Dobby a salary?"
"I don't need money," Dobby said timidly, biting his lip. "Dobby's greatest wish is freedom. Being able to leave the Malfoy family is already a huge blessing. I dare not ask for too much."
Aaron was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Among House-elves, you are quite ambitious. If it doesn't bring them financial pressure, the Weasleys might not mind taking you in.
But I still advise you not to go to their house. The Weasleys and Malfoys are already like fire and water, but both sides still exercise restraint.
However, if you, as a former servant of the Malfoys, were to go there, it would be tantamount to stomping on the Malfoys' face. You know Mr. Lucius; do you think he could endure such a humiliation?
He would use his power to constantly pressure the Weasleys until they agree to expel you."
"Um…" Harry interjected, "Aaron, you might not know, but Lucius put Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny's cauldron at Flourish and Blotts. He almost killed Ginny.
In other words, the relationship between their two families couldn't be worse."
"Harry, I know you don't like Malfoy, but I can tell you with certainty that Lucius absolutely didn't know the secret of that diary," Aaron stated confidently. "If he wants to target someone, it will only be within the rules, no matter how much he dislikes them, and he would never fatally harm a Pure-blood Family."
"You're so sure?"
"Use your clever brain and think carefully: with the Malfoyfamily's power in the Wizarding World, would it really be difficult to make Arthur Weasley lose his Ministry of Magicjob?"
Harry paused, thinking about Lucius's attitude towards Minister for Magic Fudge; it seemed it wouldn't be difficult for him to get Mr. Weasley fired.
Yet the reality was that Mr. Weasley had remained steadfast in the Ministry of Magic, even occasionally causing trouble for Malfoy.
This might be related to him being the head of the Weasleyfamily, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families, but if Malfoy truly made up his mind, the Weasleys might not be able to stay in the Ministry of Magic.
Having understood these points, Harry sighed deeply, "So there's no way then."
"It's alright, Harry Potter," Dobby slowly shook his head. "Dobby will always find a job.
And I think any new job, no matter how hard, will be much better than being a servant in the Malfoy family."
Harry pursed his lips, feeling a little unpleasant inside.
He could hear the regret in Dobby's words, but he was also dependent on others and powerless to help.
"Perhaps, you could go to Dumbledore," Aaron suggested. "The most powerful White Wizard of this century wouldn't worry about Malfoy's retaliation, and Hogwarts could provide a House-elf with a job without any pressure.
The salary wouldn't be too high, but it would include food and lodging, no abuse, and… you could even resign if you didn't want to do it anymore."
Harry and Dobby exchanged glances, and bright smiles appeared on their faces.
They had both forgotten where they were. Hogwarts could perfectly solve Dobby's employment problem, and Dumbledore certainly wouldn't refuse.
"Thank you, Aaron," Harry said excitedly, rushing towards the door with Dobby.
There was still a little time before curfew; with good luck, they could settle this tonight.
Aaron watched Harry and Dobby's backs disappear through the door, his cheek twitching involuntarily.
What kind of people are these?
They came without any sincerity, and left so hastily, just a thank you and that was it… Early the next morning, Madam Pomfrey kindly removed Aaron's bandages and brought him a particularly rich and nutritious breakfast, even Abey had four chicken drumsticks.
"The Hospital Wing's breakfast is a bit too extravagant."
Aaron stared blankly at his plate; when Harry was hospitalized before, it was just pumpkin porridge, but for him, it was fish, meat, eggs, milk, and beans.
Even if he was the only patient who could breathe and speak, this differential treatment still made him feel a bit uneasy.
"Professor Snape specifically reminded us that you need to replenish your nutrition," Madam Pomfrey explained with a smile. "And Professor McGonagall announced last night that you are one of the heroes who solved the Chamber of Secrets incident. I absolutely have to arrange a good meal for you."
"So that's how it is!"
Aaron felt a surge of emotion; his own Dean truly knew how to care for people.
The others didn't even bother to visit him, bad reviews.
Just as he was thinking this, Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall appeared at the door, carrying several glass bottles emitting white steam, their faces beaming with joyful smiles.
"Gaius," Professor McGonagall walked to Aaron's bedside, tapped her wand lightly, and a pile of gifts stacked up at the foot of his bed.
"These are all from your friends. Harry even specifically asked me to prepare a fruit basket for you.
They crowded the Hospital Wing early this morning, with many people from all four houses, but Madam Pomfreydidn't let them in, otherwise it would affect us un-petrifying the five victims."
Crack! Crack!
Aaron blinked, inexplicably feeling a twitch in his cheek. Just as he was about to say something, a white shadow darted into the pile of gifts.
Abey excitedly picked and chose, stuffing various snacks one by one into its pockets. The pile of gifts visibly diminished, leaving only a few bouquets of flowers.
Professor McGonagall couldn't help but smile, shrugging at Aaron, "I delivered the gifts. I have no objection if you let Abey accept them on your behalf."
Aaron forced a smile, then pulled the smug Abey in front of him and poked its forehead twice forcefully, "Being a glutton is one thing, but at least have some table manners!"
Abey rubbed its forehead aggrievedly, then immediately pulled out a box of biscuits from its pocket, its clear eyes looking directly at Aaron: Come find me if you don't have enough to eat.
Aaron: …Just bear with it! After all, it's the dragon cub that grew up with him.
"Haha!" Professor McGonagall let out a hearty laugh. "I'm relieved to see you both in such good spirits."
"Sorry, Professor, for making you laugh," Aaron said helplessly. "Are those Mandrake potions?"
"Yes, Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey brewed them together last night," Professor McGonagall said, lightly flicking her wand. Brownish-green potion flew from the bottle mouths, landing respectively on Madam Norris, Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Penelope Clearwater, and the ghost Nick.
The potion easily integrated into their bodies, and the petrification quickly receded.
A few seconds later, Colin Creevey, next to Aaron, blinked, then let out a horrifying scream.
"Ah! A snake, such a big snake…"
The others weren't in much better shape. Madam Norrisdarted onto the windowsill, Nick flew rapidly into the wall, and Justin rolled directly off the hospital bed.
Only Penelope Clearwater, the Ravenclaw prefect, was relatively calm. After a tremble, her hand went into her pocket, presumably searching for her wand.
"Alright, everyone," Professor McGonagall pressed her hands down. Her voice carried a soothing power, and the five recently recovered patients gradually calmed down.
"The Basilisk that harmed you is dead, and the mastermind behind the Chamber of Secrets incident has been dealt with. Hogwarts is safe."
Hearing this, the victims exchanged glances, momentarily unable to fully process it.
"It's truly lucky to have survived," Aaron said with a smile, enjoying his breakfast. "Especially since all five victims survived; that's definitely the favor of the Goddess of Luck."
"Five victims?" Penelope pondered for a moment, her gaze sweeping around the Hospital Wing. "But there are six patients here!"
"You all should thank the sixth injured person; Mr. Gaiussaved you," Professor McGonagall said.
Aaron's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said, "I just helped find the Chamber of Secrets. Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione were the main force; they are the ones who truly deserve the credit."
Professor McGonagall gave him a helpless glare, but Aaronglared back without reservation.
What happened to lowering my presence? Don't you know that the victims' voices are countless times louder than others'?
"I knew Harry Potter was wrongly accused," said Colin, Harry Potter's ardent fan, his face flushed. "He must have saved us and killed that giant snake."
Aaron raised an eyebrow, silently giving Colin a hundred thumbs up in his mind.
Well said. It would be best if he went around school after being discharged to widely publicize Harry Potter's great achievements, so that the attention on him would naturally decrease.
"There is still a bit of time before curfew. If they are lucky, they can settle this tonight."