Hidden Talent

Chapter: 32

After his walk with Chase, Jack went straight back to avoiding the Heylin Warlord. However, this time it wasn't out of fear, but instead it was out of confusion and his need to really think about everything that had happened since the Immortal's arrival.

Jack liked to believe that he'd matured somewhat over the last couple of months, even if only a little, enough to not just automatically agree with Chase and jump right back into the 'Good vs. Evil' fight. He actually wanted time to think about his options now.

He could understand where Chase was coming from: looking back, most of his plans were all pretty promising and worked on paper, but tended to fail whenever he personally got involved. Not that this was anything he didn't already know. It was why he'd tried hiring minions to do the work for him, and it's not like it was his fault everyone he worked with was back-stabbing traitors. It was practically in the job description! Loyalty and being Evil didn't tend to mix in the Heylin community.

But that begs the question; would he already be the Ruler of the World if he'd found competent minions who worked for a pay-check instead of their own ambitions?

Did it matter? He was doing pretty well for himself by being neutral, did he really want to risk falling flat on his face again just because he had a chance at winning for once? Not really... But at the same time, what were his plans for his future now that he'd given up on his dream of Ruling the World?

"Ugh, my brain hurts!" Jack grumbled, rubbing his head with a pout "I'm way too young to be thinking about my future"

"It's never too early, Spicer" a smug voice stated suddenly, causing Jack to jump in surprise, he'd assumed he was the only one in the courtyard and was startled to notice Granger situated just out of sight sitting on one of the stone benches surrounded by what looked to be knitting equipment.

"What are you doing here?"

"You're not the only one who finished study period early" Hermione scolded as Jack shrugged, throwing his bag next to hers and sitting on the spot closest to her that wasn't covered in wool, instructional books, or knitted creations.

"What's all this?" he asked picking up what looked like a tiny, half-finished jumper with one sleeve longer than the other "Krum get you pregnant, or something?"

"NO!" Hermione screeched in utter horror, her face turning redder than the Goth's hair "Don't be cruse, Spicer! These are for S.P.E.W!"

"Spew?"

"Not 'spew', S.P.E.W. The Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare!"

"And you need to knit baby-clothes for this... why?"

"They're not baby-clothes" Hermione scoffed, turning back to her knitting with a dramatic eye-roll "I'm making clothes for the House-Elves that work at Hogwarts. They're obviously too scared to ask for their freedom, so I'm going to leave them clothes around the Gryffindor dorms"

"Oh, I get it!" Jack nodded in understanding "You think they have Stockholm Syndrome, so they cant ask for help"

"Exactly!" Hermione grinned in surprise, dropping her things and turning to give Jack her full attention. She was more than happy to try and recruit more S.P.E.W members, even if it was her main academic rival and suspected Dark Wizard supporter since the only other member than her so far was Neville. "They're so brainwashed that they don't even know being free is a good thing! Winky became an alcoholic when she was freed, and still refuses to let Professor Dumbledore pay her for working in the kitchens!"

"Winky?"

"Mr. Crouch's old House-Elf" Hermione scolded "He freed her as punishment after blaming her for what happened at the World Cup"