Plot Twist [GEORGE WEASLEY]

27.

George guided her through a series of hallways. Without questions, Amara followed. They hid behind silence by taking off their shoes and walking with socks. It was George's idea. Their woollen socks made no noise. Soon, Amara realized they were nearing the Hufflepuff common room.

"Where are we going? Are we getting lost like last time?" Amara finally spoke up in a hushed whisper.

George held a finger to his lips. He gestured her forward. They took another corridor and stopped in front of a large portrait of a fruit bowl. In her mind, she quickly deduced the reason why they were here. She pinched George's arm. He winced, glaring at her. 

"Food isn't the answer to everything!" she hissed, annoyed.

Her feet hurt from walking a long way from the secret library. It was on the other side of the castle. Not to mention, she was suffering from her lack of sleep. If George thought a hearty midnight snack would solve the problem, then Amara would have to resist the temptation to punch him in the face.

Amara's remark made George chuckle under his breath. He reached out to the pear in the portrait and tickled it. The green pear wiggled as if laughing and the portrait groaned. George stepped back. The portrait swung open.

 It showed the busy kitchen of the Hogwarts house elves.

They didn't notice two sixteen-year-olds in their midst. Engrossed in their work, the elves did not look up. A bunch of house elves were scattered across many work tables and cooking stations. A blazing fire warmed the room on a freezing November night.

The constant grind of the house elves reminded her about Hermione Granger's Society for the Promotion of Elf Welfare. She had somehow found Amara in the library a week ago and interrupted her study. With a heartbroken yet, determined voice, she described the state house-elves lived in.

Amara thought the SPEW was a well-meaning society. However, she failed to see house elves actually suffering from it. When she brought this up to Hermione, the young girl explained it was social conditioning and brainwashing. She thought they should be paid for their never-ending work.

Amazed and inspired by Hermione, she had brought a badge for supporting the cause. Although, she did not show up for any of the meetings. Hermione minded this, sending her disapproving looks in the morning. As much as Amara was for equality and solving injustice, there was one problem.

The house elves did not seem to care about getting paid or being on the grind all day and hours of the week. It displayed in their smiles and desire to keep going even at night. It surprised Amara but, maybe that was just the workings of an elf's mind.

"Do you think they actually like working here or have been brainwashed?" asked Amara.

George made a gagging noise.

"Don't tell me. Hermione Granger advertised for her S.P.E.W thing, right?"

"Yes. I bought a badge actually," Amara said, smiling at some of the house elves.

George huffed. "Why are you encouraging her? They are obviously in love with working like this."

"Who knows? It takes a while for people to realize they want freedom."

George shook his head to this but, did not have any quips to counter it. He approached a small house elf who had been mixing a bowl of cookie dough. Her ensemble, a skirt, and a blouse had singed ends. Amara wondered what had happened to her.

"Winky?" George politely asked.

Winky jumped, almost splattering George and Amara with cookie dough. Her watery eyes widened when she saw them. This contributed to Amara's reason for buying a SPEW badge. These elves treated them like royalty and the elves, themselves, were beneath them. Amara hated this.