August | Hermione Granger x OFC

Chapter Thirty-Four

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"Robyn," Granger turned to her abruptly.

Robyn turned, too, "What?"

"Tell me what on Earth just happened, please."

Robyn laughed in disbelief but sobered up quickly at Granger's solemn expression, "I'm confused."

"You're confused? I'm confused," Granger frowned.

Robyn nodded, "Okay. We're both confused. What are you confused about, exactly?"

Granger looked at her like she was an idiot. "The house-elves...They don't get paid? And I say the word 'free' and they go completely bonkers. What are you confused about?"

'Many things,' Robyn thought, but said "I'm confused about why you're confused."

Granger took a deep breath before responding in a deadly calm voice, "Okay. Well, if you explain to me why that happened, I will no longer be confused. And if I'm not confused, then you have nothing to be confused about, either."

"Say 'confused' again," Robyn joked. Granger glared in response. "Okay, okay. What do you already know about them?"

Granger blinked. "I know they work in people's homes. And Hogwarts, too, evidently. I know that one tried to save Harry last year, but had trouble because he couldn't speak against his employer or something silly. Now I've just found out they don't get paid. And...that's it, really."

Robyn nodded with a sigh, "House-elves live to serve, I guess. They have a master which they work for. My house-elf, Winnie, practically raised me. I don't really have much else to say," she shrugged.

Granger stared at her, "That's it, then? What if they don't want to work?" Robyn shrugged again. "So, they're conditioned to work, and not paid for it. Don't you think that's wrong?"

"I can't say I've ever thought about it, honestly. When you say it like that, yes. The elves at my house are happy, though. And the ones here seem happy, too. If anything, as you just witnessed, they don't like the idea of being freed—"

"But why? Harry told me he freed one called Dobby, who was apparently very happy about it."

Robyn shook her head, unknowing, "I couldn't tell you why, Granger. Dobby must be a unique elf. Look, I think you should leave it, for now at least. You said yourself you're busy this year..." she trailed off as she noticed someone approaching from over Granger's shoulder. Bollocks. It was a Prefect.

"Girls," the handsome boy spoke as he approached. It was Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain. Granger almost jumped out her skin at the interruption. "Do you know it's past curfew?" he raised his thick eyebrows.

Granger froze, so Robyn took over, "We lost track of time," she said and tried to look as innocent as possible, hoping to Merlin he wouldn't give them detention or take points.

He nodded, "Late night snack? Date?"

If Robyn still had her tea she would've spat it out. "No! We just- the kitchens...Can I go now?" she stuttered out and kept her gaze stubbornly away from the girl beside her who still hadn't spoken. A date? With Granger? Yeah, right.

Diggory rubbed his chin thoughtfully and hummed, "I should really take points for breaking curfew, but young love makes you do crazy things, doesn't it?" he grinned as if he knew the answers to all of life's questions. She heard Granger's breath hitch.

Robyn's jaw dropped and she scoffed a laugh, "Funny, really. Can I go now?" she repeated, exasperated.

"I suppose—"