Perspectives and Decisions
Professor Einar… may I speak with you for a moment?
Hermione's voice echoed down the hallway just as Einar stepped out of the classroom. She seemed to have been waiting for him, finishing a conversation with Neville before approaching.
Einar stopped, observing her calmly before nodding.
"Of course."
His serene tone contrasted with the evident tension in Hermione, who hurried to walk alongside him, trying to keep up with his pace.
"Actually… I founded S.P.E.W., and I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining as one of the Hogwarts professors. Your support would be invaluable."
Hermione spoke quickly, too quickly, as if she feared her determination might falter if she gave herself even a second to hesitate.
Einar abruptly stopped.
"S.P.E.W.?" He repeated the acronym with an expression that made Hermione rush to clarify.
"It's the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."
Hermione's eyes burned with the same passion she had shown back at the Quidditch World Cup stadium.
"You know? House-elves live miserable lives! It's slavery, that's what it is! Winky was forced to climb to the top of the stadium even though she was terrified… and she was so bewitched she couldn't even run when the Death Eaters stormed the place! Why does no one do anything about it?"
Einar listened in silence, recalling that event perfectly.
"So… what you desire is for elves to be treated with dignity."
"Yes. And, if possible, to achieve their freedom. That's one of the most important goals."
Once again, Einar stopped, observing her with an unreadable expression.
"You want to free a species that, in many ways, is more powerful than wizards… That is…" his eyes narrowed slightly, "quite bold."
For a moment, the air seemed charged with something different, as if Einar were analyzing the true weight of her words. Then, after a brief silence, he gestured with his head.
"Follow me."
Without questioning him, though with her heart pounding, Hermione followed him into an empty classroom.
"I'm going to introduce you to someone," Einar announced, closing the door behind them. "But it would be best if you didn't speak of their existence to anyone. I don't care what others think, but explaining it is… bothersome."
Hermione swallowed hard and nodded.
Einar raised a hand and spoke firmly:
"Dren."
A portal of shadows opened beside him. From within, a terrifying figure emerged"Dren, a dremora.
The atmosphere changed immediately. Hermione felt a chill run down her spine, a primal terror twisting inside her for no apparent reason. Her body trembled instantly, an uncontrollable reaction to the presence of that creature.
"Greetings, Master," Dren said, bowing his head slightly, his deep, reverberating voice filling the room.
"This is Dren. A dremora. To put it simply… a demon. A very powerful one."
Einar's tone remained calm, as if explaining something as mundane as a Potions lesson.
"He is bound to me by a magical contract that forces him to serve me for eternity. Literal slavery. Especially for his kind."
Hermione had barely begun to process his words when Einar shifted his gaze to Dren.
"Now, Dren, I permit you to speak with complete honesty. Tell Hermione… what would you do if I were to release you from your bonds?"
Dren didn't hesitate for even a second.
"If I were free in this world, the first thing I would do is massacre every human within my reach. They are weak creatures. I would torture them for pleasure, rule until exhaustion, and unleash wars just for fun. I would revel in absorbing the souls of those who fell in battle…"
"That's enough," Einar interrupted calmly.
Hermione was pale. Her legs trembled.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Master."
Dren turned and, with a bow, disappeared into the darkness of the portal.
The classroom fell into an eerie silence. Hermione still couldn't move a muscle.
Einar watched her patiently before speaking.
"If you really want to fight for the rights of house-elves and improve their living conditions, I'll support you. But... if your goal is to liberate a species without knowing its true nature... then you should reconsider the existence of your group."
Silence settled between them again. Hermione lowered her gaze, her thoughts spinning at full speed.
Suddenly, she felt a hand ruffling her hair.
"Don't worry too much. What matters is seeing all perspectives before making a decision. Maybe you should talk to the house-elves in the kitchen. Ask them what they really want. Perhaps happiness is simpler than you think. And using Dren as an example might not be the best idea. After all, Dremora are... demons."
With that, Einar began walking toward the exit. Hermione, still deep in thought, followed him slowly.
Finally, her expression of uncertainty faded, replaced by a new determination.
"Then, first, I'll think carefully about the guidelines for S.P.E.W," she said firmly. "And then I'll come back to ask him to join. I hope he agrees."
Without waiting for a response, she ran down the hallway, her mind working at full speed.
Einar watched her leave with a slight smile before continuing on his way.
...….
Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room, her mind still reeling from her encounter with Einar. Her thoughts were whirling in a whirlwind of doubts and revelations when, upon entering, she saw Harry sitting in one of the armchairs near the fire. His expression was serious as he read a letter, frowning.
"What's going on, Harry?" she asked immediately, sensing the tension on his face.
Harry didn't look up, but his voice reflected concern.
"It's a letter from Sirius. He wants to come back to Britain... says he's heard rumors about Professor Einar and is worried. He thinks Einar might be trying to deceive me or something like that."
Hermione felt a slight chill.
"Did you talk to him about him?"
"No. I have no idea how he found out. Or what kind of rumors he's heard..." Harry pressed his lips together, his concern turning to suspicion. "It's strange. Especially the insistence with which he wants to return."
Hermione noticed the unease in his voice. She knew how dangerous it would be for Sirius to expose himself unnecessarily.
"Don't worry, Harry," she said firmly. "Sirius has managed to stay free all this time. He won't get caught by such a simple trap."
Harry sighed, relaxing his shoulders a little.
"You're right..." he murmured, though his gaze didn't leave the letter.
There was a brief silence before he decided to change the subject.
"And you? You've been pretty busy lately. What were you doing?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment before responding.
"I was forming a group to help the house-elves. I wanted Professor Einar to be our representative at Hogwarts... but..." Her voice lost strength as she looked down. "Maybe I was too hasty."
Doubt and frustration weighed on her words, but she quickly remembered what Einar had told her. Her eyes regained a gleam of determination.
"First, I need to talk to the house-elves in the kitchen. I have to understand what they really want."
She turned toward Harry with renewed conviction.
"Do you know where it is?"
Harry shook his head.
"No, but Fred and George must know."
"Perfect."
Hermione didn't waste another second. She stood up quickly and ran off like the wind, determined to find answers.
Harry watched her disappear down the hallway and, for the first time all afternoon, he smiled slightly. However, when his eyes returned to the letter from Sirius, his expression grew serious again.
Something wasn't right.
Harry continued staring at Sirius's letter for a long while, his mind filled with confusing thoughts.
Sirius wanted to return. Not because he had called for him, but because he had heard rumors about Einar. What kind of rumors? Who had sent them?
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Since the incident with the dragon and what Einar had told him about the curse on his forehead, his doubts about Dumbledore had only grown. He had never questioned him before... but now, every time he tried to search for answers about the Horcruxes or anything related to Voldemort, he found nothing. As if someone had made sure to erase all the information.
Einar had told him that wasn't a coincidence.
And the worst part was that it made sense.
But... Dumbledore had been there for him, had protected him since his first year. He had guided him, given him confidence when no one else had.
Could it really be true that he was also hiding things from him?
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
It didn't make sense to keep turning it over. If Sirius really came back, maybe he could ask him directly.
But until then...
Harry stood up with a serious look.
He needed to talk to Einar.
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"By the way, I'm bored, so I'll leave you images for ideas for the main character."
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