Chapter 920 Connecting and Disconnecting

"What did Professor Dumbledore talk to you about?"

Hermione said as they left the Great Hall and climbed up the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room.

Generally speaking, Dumbledore, as the principal, rarely talks to students alone, but Elena is obviously not among the ordinary students. Since starting to study in the Institute [Magic Preparatory Class], Hermione has become more and more aware of her best friends around her. special.

After all, normal students are not qualified to arrange for professors like Quirrell and Lockhart to make up lessons.

Elena answered casually while looking at the familiar stairs, trying to identify the direction.

"Oh, it's nothing special. It just informed me that I got a new elf."

"Pocket elf?"

"Yeah, for example..."

Elena raised her right hand, lightly snapped her fingers, and said calmly.

"I'm lost--"

Snapped!

Two house elves suddenly appeared at the corner of the stairs directly in front of them.

One of them was very familiar to Hermione, Burley, the "head" of the house elves at Hogwarts. After all, every time they went to the kitchen to taste food or visit, Burley was mostly responsible for receiving and guiding them. As for the other ones, A younger elf...

"So, this is Dobby, right? Professor Dumbledore just told me."

Elena smiled slightly, squatted down, and stretched out her hand in a friendly manner.

"First meeting. I am Elena, Elena Kaslana, nice to meet you, Mr. Dobby -"

He looked slightly different from what she remembered. Dobby didn't have many scars on his body, and his iconic old pillowcase had been replaced by a Hogwarts uniform, but his distinctive look and eyes The light remains exactly the same.

If we must distinguish him from other house elves, then the most appropriate word is "hope".

"Hello, Miss Kaslana, just call me Dobby!"

Dobby subconsciously took half a step back. After being stunned for half a second, he screamed in a panic.

No wizard has ever squatted down to talk to a house elf. In Dobby's original imagination, the chef lady of the Hogwarts house elf was supposed to be very strict, old-fashioned, and full of oppression. An extremely powerful wizard.

"Ahem - Dobby, Miss Kaslana's hand is still in the air... This is a handshake..."

A small voice came to Dobby's ears. It was Burley who was reminding him in a low voice.

What Dumbledore never understood was that the house elves at Hogwarts did not just take orders from Elena because of her identity. Of course, that was an important factor... but the most important thing was that , when the chef lady is in the Hogwarts kitchen, what flows in her words and deeds is not the politeness of a superior, but equality.

"Shake hands--!"

Dobby's big bulging green eyes opened even wider, and he cautiously reached out and touched Elena's fingertips.

Then, he suddenly burst into tears, startling Hermione next to him.

"What's wrong with him? How did he...did we offend him somewhere just now..."

Hermione looked at the elf crying in front of them with some surprise, and looked at Burley at a loss.

"Uh - no, Dobby is just a bit, um, emotional -"

An embarrassed expression appeared on Burley's face, and he kicked Dobby hard in the back without moving.

In the past, although Dobby was occasionally a little neurotic, he was generally quite normal and capable at work. It was because of this that Burleigh kindly recommended Dobby as his backup. Who would have thought that such a big deal would come out of him just after he took office? ugly!

It's really - so rude!

If Elena and Hermione weren't still there, Burley would have wanted to stuff Dobby into the broom closet next to him right now.

"O-offend?! Offend Dobby?!"

Dobby shook his head vigorously, his big bat-like ears swaying, and screamed with a choked voice.

"No wizard has ever treated Dobby like this before, squatting down and shaking hands with Dobby - treating him like an equal -"

"This should be normal, I mean...after all, you have been secretly taking care of us."

Hermione also followed Elena's example and squatted down, speaking cautiously.

"Without you, I really can't imagine how much energy and time it would take to clean the dormitory, wash clothes, cook... these trivial tasks every day. I think all decent wizards will be grateful and kind to you."

Dobby shook his head, then suddenly jumped up, banging his head against the railing next to him, shouting.

"Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

"Oh, please, don't do this—what are you doing—"

The house elf Burleigh whispered anxiously, jumping up and pinning Dobby to the ground.

Burley's face turned completely livid, and his expression was wrinkled into a ball. It was hard to tell whether he wanted to cry or want to eat people. He didn't expect that Dobby would actually get sick on such an occasion. Burley wanted to throw this bastard out directly. castle.

"K-Ms. Kaslana, Dobby is not usually like this - he is actually -"

"I'm sorry, Dobby wants to punish himself, Mr. Burley..."

Dobby was trembling all over, and his eyes were already somewhat aligned.

"Dobby almost said bad things about his master just now. Dobby has been too presumptuous and bad during this time -"

"Master? Wait--"

Hermione narrowed her eyes and looked at Dobby, who was being pinned to the floor by Burley.

"What is... Master? Are you not a house elf at Hogwarts?"

"Dobby is different from the house elves at Hogwarts. Dobby comes from outside. He originally served another wizard family. A house elf cannot choose to work - he must always serve his native magical place. .”

The house elf Burleigh explained quickly, struggling to cover Dobby's mouth to prevent him from continuing to talk nonsense.

"Then why did you appear in Hogwarts Castle? Did you escape?"

Hermione asked curiously, glanced at the elf struggling to separate, and added an additional sentence.

"Let him go, Mr. Burley—Dobby will do us no harm. Do your masters know you are here?"

"Well, if you insist, ma'am. I'm so, so sorry—"

At Elena's slight nod, Burley glared at Dobby fiercely and reluctantly let him go.

Dobby shuddered and seemed to finally have control of himself.

"Oh, yes, miss. They know... Dobby was sent to Hogwarts for training by his master, learning how to cook more delicious food, how to better serve wizards, and... taking care of the little ones. Master, there are many more..."

Dobby stammered in a sharp voice, his expression particularly painful, as if someone was squeezing his throat.

"little Master?"

"He's talking about Draco, Dobby is the Malfoy elf, and Hermione."

Elena explained casually, looking at Dobby with interest. She seemed to have guessed a little bit about Dobby's motives.

Perhaps in the eyes of Dumbledore and Burley, taking care of the little master is a reasonable excuse, but Elena knows very well that conventional house elf logic cannot be applied to Dobby - Dobby does not like the Malfoy family at all .

But on the other hand, there was someone else in the school that Dobby cared about.

The savior who defeated a certain devil who must not even be named, Mr. Harry Potter.

"Well, Professor Dumbledore has introduced the general situation to me before. I believe in the judgment of Mr. Burley and Professor Dumbledore. I will have to trouble you more in terms of campus life in the future - but I have a little bit of trouble. Small additional suggestions…”

Elena thought for a few seconds, then turned her head to look at Burley, the house elf standing aside.

No matter why Dobby appeared, it was definitely not for her.

Just as Dumbledore had guessed before, the problem probably lies with Lucius Malfoy and the magic society forces behind him. Dobby coming to Hogwarts is certainly a lucky result, but it is also A dangerous signal.

When faced with the temptation of an unknown enemy, the most correct approach is to follow through and guide them to reveal more information.

"After the pilots last semester and this semester, the 'Shadow Elf' model can be gradually promoted. Since you mentioned this, Burley, let's start a small-scale pilot with you and Dobby—— "

Elena took out the class schedule from her chest and glanced at it, confirmed her next schedule, and continued.

"In the next week, Burley, you will take Dobby with you to familiarize yourself with the work and sort out the methodology. After Dobby is generally familiar with the work process, you can start training in Hogwarts according to this methodology. If If possible, try to train a group of 'junior shadow' elves who can try to take up the job after Christmas."

"Then, we will provide daily care on a class-by-class basis at Hogwarts Castle——"

Elena pointed to the class schedule in her hand and explained it to Burley, the house elf, unhurriedly.

"For example, I will go to the Muggle Studies classroom this afternoon, while the other students in Class A of the second year will go to the Transfiguration classroom. In this case, you can split up - Dobby will continue to protect and look after the second graders. Class A, and Burley, you will accompany me next to me... Of course, the specific allocation will be determined based on the subsequent situation. Can you do it?"

"No problem! Don't worry, I will definitely sort it out before Christmas!"

Burley, the house elf, subconsciously puffed up his chest and said proudly.

Since Elena arrived at Hogwarts, she has brought too many things to the house elves, and the most important of them is the endless tasks-compared to the confusing and repetitive work before, the busyness now is obviously more meaningful.

"Thank you for your hard work. See you in the afternoon."

Elena glanced at Dobby's thoughtful expression and nodded with satisfaction.

There is no doubt that if used properly, Dobby is definitely a blade as sharp as Gilderoy Lockhart.

And now she is taking the first step in holding a knife - don't point the pointed end at herself.

…………

After a while, Elena and Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room.

Due to a delay on the stairs, by the time they walked through the corridor and entered the lounge, most of the Gryffindor students had returned to their dormitory beds to rest. Only a few sleepless students were left in the crowded and warm hall. .

Yes, even if there are only a few students active, the lounge looks a bit crowded now.

"Hagrid? Why did you come back to Gryffindor Tower today?"

Hermione glanced at the huge figure sitting in front of the fireplace in a daze, and asked curiously.

Although he had gone through the re-enrollment procedures, Hagrid usually went directly back to the hut by the Forbidden Forest to rest after class. In Hermione's impression, this seemed to be her first time in the Gryffindor common room at noon. Saw Hagrid.

"Don't disturb Hagrid. Let him be quiet. Today is too scary..."

At this moment, the sofa next to the fireplace suddenly spoke, almost startling Hermione.

"Huh? What's wrong with you... George? Or Fred?"

Hermione calmed down and looked over, only to realize that there were actually many lost students in the lounge.

The quiet and empty appearance just now was just an illusion. Most of the people were slumped on the ground, sofas, and soft chairs like sculptures. They were like a bunch of wizard robes that suddenly lost their dreams, extremely peaceful.

"I'm Fred, George should be relaxing on the Ravenclaw balcony -"

The Weasley who was slumped on the sofa said feebly, his usual smart and cunning eyes losing their sparkle.

"As for the reason, there is nothing - Professor McGonagall has just announced good news. There has been a huge milestone in the field of modern transfiguration theory. All previous theories may be invalid. In addition to this year's final exam, starting from next year Starting from now on, the textbooks and exam contents of all grades at Hogwarts will be adjusted accordingly.”

"Huh? That sounds okay. Isn't there still a year's buffer time?"

Hermione nodded suddenly. After returning from the research institute at the weekend, she had roughly guessed this result.

The theoretical changes in Transfiguration will obviously change a lot. Once the new theory is determined, the old theories that are wrong and outdated will obviously be overturned and discarded immediately. And judging from the current situation, Professor McGonagall's promotion is quite decisive.

"Sounds okay?! Maybe it is okay for you, Ginny, and seventh years..."

Fred raised his dull eyes and said hoarsely with a miserable look on his face.

"But, we are in fourth grade this year - next school year will be the O.W.L.s exam for fifth grade..."

“Uh——(⊙o⊙)……”

Hermione looked around with great sympathy at the sculptures of lost dreams in the Gryffindor common room.

As Fred pronounced "O.W.L.s", many sculptures seemed to twitch reflexively, and so did Hagrid, who was sitting in front of the fireplace and staring at the fire in a daze, as if it was a stinging curse.

Ordinary wizarding level examinations may be different from the internal examinations at Hogwarts.

This also means that this class of fourth-year students will face the most terrifying "pains" of the transformation reform:

Obviously, they were told that all the knowledge they had learned in the previous four years had been falsified. Next, they had to make up for the content that future students might spend five years learning in one year, and then rush to meet the unfamiliar exam.

Maybe ordinary Hogwarts students like Fred and George would be fine, but at worst they would just fail one subject.

However, Hagrid, who was still talking about the future yesterday and putting all his hopes on the Transfiguration...

Hermione walked carefully to Hagrid and patted him gently.

"Are you okay, Hagrid?"

————

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Great!