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“Stop!” Draco shouted.
Granger was, once more, berating Potter and Weasley. While it usually left him part amused, part wondering how they were staying sane, he just couldn’t take it anymore. Not when he could hear her from his sit at the Slytherin’s table, on the other side of the great hall.
“You need to shut up, Granger!” he told her in a cold voice.
He didn’t even sneer, didn’t smirk, didn’t call her a mudblood. He just needed her to shut her mouth long enough for someone else to have a say in this monologue she seemed to have going on.
“Who are you to…” She started, but fell silent.
At the same time, Weasley stood and opened his mouth, but he too was stopped from speaking.
Draco took the time, he had to walk to them, to check on his magic. It'd been a while since he last had a fit of accidental magic, and he was too old to have an accident over what could be considered a tantrum. That would be embarrassing.
But, his magic was calm. He wasn’t. This didn't come from him.
He discreetly looked around, trying to see who could have cast a spell on them. Now that he was more aware of his surroundings, no one was talking anymore. lt could be because they were waiting to know what new drama the four of them would create. Maybe they too wanted Granger to just shut up.
He just didn’t know.
He could have sworn, though, that he saw a satisfied smirk on Potter’s face. It only lasted a second. Still, he saw it.
“You keep lording you’re readings over everyone’s head, as if you were the only person to ever read a book, as if reading something in a book meant you knew more than the people who grew up around magic their whole life.” She was gearing up to interrupt, and not only was he certain of what she had to say, but he didn’t even know if she could speak, so he plowed on. “Do you even listen to yourself when you talk? Or, to them when you breathe long enough in between words to let them answer?”
“You talk about the Muggle world as if it was this perfect place we should all aspire to live in. We don’t want to.” He continued when he saw her open her mouth.
“Weasley’s been telling you again, and again. The House Elves are not slaves. But, you just won’t hear it. Or ask him why he thinks that.” He took a breath, and wondered why no one was stopping him. Sure no one seemed to be able to talk, but they could move.
“Maybe, if you did, you’d get that we don’t even know what slavery is!” Draco yelled. He wanted to make sure every muggle born/raised could hear him.
He lowered his voice for the rest of his speech.
“We, just, don’t have slaves here. From what we were told when we asked Professor Snape, it’s a despicable act, and I don’t know how you can praise muggles after they did that to their own people.
Did you ever talk to a house elf? A house elf who isn’t Dobby? Though after fawning over Potter for an hour or two he might answer your question in a straight forward fashion if only to get you to shut up about the issue, and to stop trying to free them all.”
He needed to calm down. His magic was getting agitated, and as he still didn’t know why no one was talking he’d rather not mix his precious magic with an unknown one.
“Wild thought here, you could have asked a professor, instead of Weasley, who you clearly didn’t want to listen to, and Potter who doesn’t know this world any better than you do.
But, oh, no! The Great Hermione Granger is too smart to do something as lowly as ask the professors. After all, what would they know?”
Speaking of the professors, where were they? He didn’t remember seeing any before he started shouting.
“Now, since you, apparently, have no choice but to stay here and listen to me, let me educate you.” Draco didn’t sneer this time. “Contrary to what Binns might have made you think, the wixen,” he saw surprise in her eyes. “Oh, Merlin! This is just too funny! You don’t even know what a wix is? Smartest witch of the generation for sure.”
He laughed a little, then started again.
“Okay, lesson one: we do not say witches and wizards every time we make a generalization. The race of magical being we are is called wix. Just as you have werewolves, vampires, veelas, we have a human ‘muggle’ form physically, but we are not muggles with magic, we are wixen.”
He could see how much she wanted to ask questions. He’d have to run out of here before the spell broke. He didn’t want to be the one answering them.
“Lesson two: long before the first goblins war, long before the first magical being was even found.” He knew he had to be more precise. “I’m not saying there were no magical beings, just that communities, families were so scattered around the Earth that no one knew others lived elsewhere, they only knew about themselves, they didn’t know about their differences.”
Seeing her glare, he continued.
“The Elves, now house elves for some, were the most powerful beings. Their magic never diminishes. They don’t get magically exhausted. They don’t get sick. They live for centuries, the oldest one alive is over 1500 years old. The oldest is always their Alpha. If and when she dies, the oldest of the group will take her place, male or female, it doesn’t matter.”
At that point, he was starting to wonder why he decided to explain, he was wondering if she would even listen, or if she was just going to dismiss him as she does everyone else.
“When the tribes began to travel, they met other tribes, other being with or without magic. The elves were sent to observe them, to make sure they would not disturb the peace. Though, they didn’t know it was peace, as they never saw war before.”
This part always made him sad. A world where no one ever knew war. It must have been wonderful.
“The beings, soon, began to fight for territories. The Alpha called the elves back. They didn’t want their own to be injured in something they didn’t even understand. But, the beings, they remembered the creatures who had powerful magic, but refused to help their side.
Soon, everyone started looking for them. They wanted the creatures to be on their side. Doing this, they met more beings. More battles followed. Soon, the beings were plenty, and they outnumbered the Elves.
The Alpha wasn’t worried. No one was more powerful than they were. No one could breach their wards. But, not all elves lived under the wards. They traveled. They explored. Just as we do. The Alpha gave them orders, they were to hide, and they couldn’t come back. When the time was right, when it wouldn’t endanger their entire civilization, they’ll be called back.”
It took centuries for the beings to stop their search. During that time, the Elves became stories told to children of powerful beings who one day would come to save them from the other side of whatever conflict they were engaged in.
Then came the prejudice, no beings could be stronger than they were. At that time, instead of fighting for a territory, wars started against races, Humainoids against Goblins, Werewolves against Vampires, and more.
Everyone wanted to claim victory, to prove their own power, to prove they didn’t need the legendary creatures. The only reason Vix seemed to have won is because our population far outweighs any other. It’s in no case because we are more powerful.
The Alpha kept waiting, they didn’t want to risk their people to a possible ruse. They were always beings coming around the wards. They had no way to know whether they were passing, or if they posed any danger.
Finally, when no one came for them, the Alpha asked for volunteers. Elves who would leave the wards to inquire about their lost ones.
Not many left, not many returned.
Some simply wanted to come back home, the mission wasn’t finished, but they didn’t want to get lost in the - by now - human world.
Others came back with lost ones. Often they came back with entire families as the elves continued to live their lives outside the wards. They met, they fell in love, they had children.
Not all the lost wanted to come back, the world was vast, they still had so much to learn.
Not all the search party came back either.
Some wanted to discover the world for themselves. Some wanted to find the still missing lost ones.”
His voice was getting coarse, and he was glad when a water glass appeared floating next to him. He was happy to know the elves didn’t mind him telling their story.
“The elves you see in the magical world are the ones who staid. Some are descendants from the lost ones, they don’t go to the wards because it’s a world they don’t know, and not everyone wants to go explore the unknown. Some are from the volunteers, still looking for their missing comrades.
No, they are not paid. But, not because we don’t want to. It is their way of life. From what I understand, behind the wards, but also in the little communities they have out in the world, everything is free. They do not have to pay for anything. They didn’t even know what being paid was. When the magicals tried to recruit the first ones they encountered, the elves were greatly offended by the offer. To them, life is simple, you sleep, you work, you eat. They have other interests of course, they are curious, they like learning new things. They are still looking for their missing members.”
Finally the crux of the matter.
“They do not want us to intervene in their lives, Granger. They have their own ways. They have the Alpha. They have Betas who lead each community.
The reason they see clothes as a dismissal is because they don’t normally wear any.” He had to smile at this. “They wear it to make humans comfortable. But, on their down time, or for the elves who don’t work around humans, they will be naked.
For them getting clothes, means they have to go live among humans, as humans. It’s as if you were telling them they needed to forget who they are, their home, their Alpha, and become human.
They simply don’t want that.
But, it also means being chased away, when they are not ready to. They are peaceful beings, they never fought any battle, any war. Yes, they learn from what they see in the world. But, it doesn’t mean they know how to do it, or that they want to do it. They just don’t use magic to hurt others, ever.
They are sheltered here in the kitchens, protected from the world outside. It’s comfortable for them. Like being behind the wards again, while doing what they love still. Living among other beings.
And, if you think, they are as they are because of the wixen, I’ll have you know, every magical race lives with a community of elves. We wouldn’t even be able to live as well, or half as long as we do without them.
When you are out of Hogwarts, you should travel the magical world, maybe you’ll see things differently.
At the MACUSA headquarter, elves work among other beings, they are there to inform people either about where they could find the person they have an appointment with, or about what to visit, and how magic is viewed in the country.
The elves here at Hogwarts, are house elves, because that’s what they want to be. They see the children, they find us quite amusing. As they live longer lives they’re aren’t as many children around them, and they grow faster for some reason. They are adults, after only 3 years. We grow so slow for such shorted lives in comparison, they love observing us.
They work here, they feed us, they clean, and in exchange, they can observe and learn freely. That’s their payment if you insist on them getting one. They have magic, they have food, and shelter, they don’t need galleons, they don’t want them. They are just a very curious species.”
He kept going.
“And, yes, some are badly treated. Yes, my father is one of those who don’t treat the elves with any sort of decorum. But, that doesn’t mean everyone is like him.
Along, the lines, the world forgot about the race of being more powerful than any others, and seeing the gentle beings always willing to work, they started taking advantage, as they do about everything.
“As for Dobby. Maybe he is the next evolution, and in centuries to come they will all want to wear clothes and get paid. Or, maybe, he is just eccentric. There is always one in every family. Maybe he’s theirs.”
Draco shook his head.
“Now, there is something else. I was wondering…” He looked at her smirking, this time, “do you even listen to yourself when you talk?”
“The muggle world this, the muggle world that,” Draco started, ”we do it better”, “we would never do that”. I feel pity for you Granger. After all this time, all you’ve done, you still don’t see this world, the magical world, as yours. You still think yourself a muggle. You’ll probably never find your place in our world. You’ll keep trying to change it to what you want, because you don’t feel like yourself when you are here.
You won’t always have Potter, and the Weasley family to create a space for you to thrive. At some point you’ll need to make a choice.”
Draco nodded, ready to return to his table and finish his meal, when from the corner of his eye he saw Potter snap his fingers. He didn’t know why. But, as he got further away from the Gryffindor table, people started talking again.
He turned his head swiftly to look at Potter, but he was busy listening to the harpy again. He didn’t know what she was complaining about now, but it was clear she thought it was Potter’s fault.
As at no point had he seen Granger look at Potter when she wanted to talk. He is pretty sure she is not aware he was to the one who silenced her. And, everyone else apparently.
Maybe, he could ask Potter to do it again. He was barely sitting back when the Slytherins started asking questions.
He raised his eyes, and everyone was looking at him, some were trying to be discreet, others were just staring. They were talking in hush tones to their neighbors.
This was very disconcerting, and absolutely not welcomed. Next time, Granger gets on his nerves, he’ll just leave the Great Hall.
As, he tried to see who thought what of his little story telling time, he caught Potter’s eyes. Potter was smirking. He was smirking, and snapping his fingers again, he was able to walk away without his cohort, not that they didn’t try to follow, but they seemed to be stuck to the bench.
Draco glared. What secret was Potter hiding? How had he done that? Why did he want him to know?