[HP] Being a problem student at Hogwarts

"Then I think you all agree with what I say," Dumbledore said after a long silence. "Although Dobby did something wrong, he still deserved death."

"Then how do you plan to deal with this matter?" Tom asked, "If Dobby is required to apologize and compensate, and seek forgiveness from all the victims - he is just a house elf with nothing to gain and no ability to pay compensation; There are many students who have been victimized, so it’s inevitable that someone will recognize it. Wouldn’t it expose what it did to its owner?”

"Dobby won't be recognized," Dobby put in confidently. "A good house-elf won't be seen."

"Then how are you going to explain this?" Tom nodded and then asked.

The house elf looked up at him blankly with wide eyes.

"You go to apologize, and people ask why you're apologizing. You say you bombed the stands, and I'm really sorry for incriminating innocent people. The other party will inevitably ask why you bombed the stands, right?"

Hagrid never worried about such mental matters. He believed that Dumbledore would definitely come up with a proper solution. He just had to obey and do as he was told.

Ron began to think hard.

Hermione bit her lip and said, "Just tell the truth - tell the truth selectively, and don't expose Harry. Just say... Dobby is here to investigate the Chamber of Secrets, how about it?"

Dumbledore nodded: "Dobby found clues about the secret room and accidentally blew up the stands during the pursuit."

"There's no need to explain Dobby's origins." Ron added, "They will naturally think that Dobby is the school's house elf."

"I can advance the compensation for the time being. When Dobby is free, he can come to Hogwarts to take up a job," Dumbledore said. "I will repay the loan with wages."

"Wages!" Dobby's eyes widened in fright, and his whole body started to tremble, but he couldn't help showing a hint of joy on his face, "Are you talking about wages!"

"Yes." Dumbledore spread his hands, "If you don't want to-"

"Dobby would love to!" screamed the peculiar house elf. "Dobby likes to work, but he also wants to wear clothes and get paid... Dobby likes to be free!"

Dobby was so excited that tears filled his eyes: "It's just that Dobby never dared to imagine... that there is such a kind and amazing wizard like you!" He bowed deeply to Dumbledore, his nose touching the ground.

"Okay, so now we have two questions." Tom said, holding up two fingers.

"Problem one, Dobby has a master, and obviously, his master will not agree to let him go free."

"Question two, using the excuse of investigating the secret room is undoubtedly equivalent to the school admitting the existence of the secret room. I'm afraid... people in the school will be panicked."

Dumbledore's calm gaze fell on Tom.

"Yes, I know," Dumbledore said. "Ever since Mrs. Norris was petrified, rumors have spread around the school. Students are deeply disturbed, and parents have written letters one after another."

"So I think there's nothing more powerfully soothing in a critical moment like this than the truth."

"Students have the right to know that the Chamber of Secrets is real and the monsters in it are real threats, but the school will make every effort to protect their safety."

"Then he accidentally bombed the stands and injured students while investigating clues in the secret room?" Tom asked rhetorically.

"Even if the secret room is disclosed, it would not be appropriate to choose this time."

"If you decide to use the school and your personal reputation to vouch for him, why not just say that this stand incident was caused by some magical creature that accidentally entered the school and was captured by Hagrid. The school will deal with the matter seriously. , and check the security around the campus again to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

"As for apologizing, on the one hand, let Dobby personally take care of the injured students until the victims recover; on the other hand, you might as well let Dobby apologize directly - just not in the form of a house elf - maybe you remember What is Professor Lockhart’s skill? Just disguise yourself as some kind of magical creature.”

Tom suggested seriously.

"This is also Professor Lockhart's opportunity to atone for his sins - you probably don't know what 'good things' he did to Harry on the court, right?"

There was no need for Tom to say anything now, and Hagrid sued Lockhart angrily.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.

"Gilderoy Lockhart..." He murmured the name of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

"I know," he said seriously, "I'll talk to him."

"Why don't you let me go and talk to him first, principal?" Hagrid said, flexing his wrist.

"Thank you. If necessary, I will ask you to talk to him." Dumbledore said.

Ron let out a regretful sigh.

"Will we change the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next year?" Tom asked tentatively.

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching contract is signed once a year." Dumbledore replied.

"Why is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's contract signed once a year?" Tom couldn't understand this.

"Ah, it's just a cliché story about a witch who got angry and cursed after failing to apply for a job." Dumbledore said lightly, "It's like a witch who was not invited rushed to the banquet and cursed the other party's daughter to be stabbed to death by a spindle. It's out of style. It’s high, but it’s a bit annoying.”

"He is indeed a powerful wizard. So far, I have not found the artifact or method to break his curse. But what he does is-"

"——It only strengthens my idea that his temperament is indeed not suitable for being a teacher."

"I promise that next academic year we will hire a professor who is highly capable and truly cares about his students." Dumbledore continued with a smile, "I have sent several letters to invite the best candidate in my mind, but he still There are some concerns...but I believe he will always agree that Hogwarts is everyone's home."

"That's great!" Hermione said with genuine joy. After this failed treatment, even Lockhart's handsome face could not save him points in Hermione's heart.

Dumbledore also seemed very happy and said: "I think Harry will also be happy about this -" he winked playfully, "I can tell you something in advance: the newly invited professor is A good friend of Harry's parents."

"Great!" Ron said cheerfully, "New school year, new surprises!"

"Sounds great." But Tom always had some ominous premonitions about this. However, seeing that Principal Dumbledore was so confident, Tom suppressed his inexplicable feeling.

"Let's get back to Dobby." Tom changed the topic back, "If Professor Lockhart can help cover up Dobby's identity as a house elf, many issues will be easier to talk about. After all, house elves have always been regarded as Appendages, their behavior is often dictated by their owners. If people think that Dobby is an elf at Hogwarts who mistakenly blew up the stands while tracking clues in the secret room, what will other people think of the school and the principal? Woolen cloth?"

"So defining it as a magical animal that accidentally broke into the school - to a certain extent, it's not wrong. Dobby can also publicly apologize and seek forgiveness from the victims. As for economic losses and compensation, we can follow your suggestions, etc. Dobby will pay with wages after he regains his freedom."

"As for your opinion that students have the right to know about the secret room, why doesn't the school issue a safety notice? Inform students that there is a secret room, remind students to pay attention to safety, and ensure that the school will try its best to investigate the matter. Students who have relevant clues are invited Take the initiative to inform the school.”

Dumbledore thought for a moment and agreed with Tom's suggestion.

So Tom said: "So we still have one problem left: Dobby has an owner."

They looked at Dobby together again.

Dobby shook his head crazily and screamed: "Dobby can't say the master's name!"

"Dobby's master must be very trusted by Voldemort." Dumbledore speculated, "otherwise he would not know the secret of the Chamber of Secrets. How thrilling, such a hidden secret, if Dobby had not heard about it, he would have bravely come forward. If you go out, Harry must be in danger."

Ron reluctantly swallowed the sentence "But the way it saved Harry almost killed Harry" and coughed twice in a strange voice.

Tom glanced quickly at Dumbledore. He thought Dumbledore's words were strange, but he didn't understand what was wrong for a while.

"I feel scared just thinking about it. This time it was thanks to Dobby, but what about next time? Harry is always surrounded by danger..." Dumbledore was still saying.

Tom glanced quickly at Dumbledore's face again, then looked at the house elf out of the corner of his eye - Dobby's face lit up.

"How can I free you?" Dumbledore asked Dobby kindly, "You are the one who knows your master best. Is there any way to temporarily deceive him and make him throw some clothes to you?"

"Dobby doesn't need it!" Dobby said loudly with his head held high, "Dobby's will is free - Dobby is willing to continue to serve his master for Harry Potter and to find out more information!"

"Ah." Dumbledore looked surprised.

"No, it's too risky for you," Dumbledore said.

But the house elf seemed to have made up his mind. He bowed to everyone in the office and said sharply: "Dobby, thank you, kind gentlemen and ladies. Dobby must go back, otherwise he will The master discovered...Dobby will come tomorrow! Dobby wants to apologize to the injured gentlemen and ladies."

After saying that, it hurriedly disappeared from the office with a "pop".

Dumbledore sighed as if he had a headache and said, "Okay, that's it for today. It's already very late, children, you should go back and rest."

Hagrid scratched his head and walked out obediently. Ron and Hermione packed their things, said goodbye to the principal and walked out. Tom deliberately paused, and at the end looked at Dumbledore expressionlessly and said, "You did it on purpose."

Dumbledore's blue eyes looked at him calmly through the round lenses.

"Yes. We need more eyes and ears. And," Dumbledore asked rhetorically, "how can you be sure that everything it says is not really the instruction of its owner?"

"Look, a house elf who has served the dark wizard family for generations, still yearns for light and freedom, overhears his master's secrets, and bravely runs out to protect Harry Potter even if he has to inflict cruel self-punishment. Being willing to sacrifice everything for the future of the wizarding world - sounds so wonderful and in line with our expectations, doesn't it?"

"Trust... is a very heavy thing. Being cautious is not a bad thing."

He stroked his strange-shaped wand with a sense of loss, and sighed: "Time will tell everything, don't be impatient."