Snape's face was so dark it could almost drip water.
"Remus Lupin is a complete waste; he was right there and didn't protect the person..."
Amid the angry curses of the Professor of Potions, the causes and consequences were quickly explained. Professor McGonagall rubbed her temples and asked with concern, "What does Dumbledore think?"
While the two were discussing in the staff lounge, they did not deliberately lower their volume and did not notice that the House-Elf, quietly polishing a candelabra in the next room, had stopped its actions at some point, silently listening with its ears perked up.
Shortly after, the two professors hurriedly left the lounge. The House-Elf quickly finished its work and apparated directly to the kitchen, finding the House-Elf Zoe who was washing dishes.
He grabbed his little companion and said in a low, soft voice, "Have you heard, Zoe..."
The news quietly spread among the House-Elf community.
"What should we do?"
"There's no way..."
"We are the House-Elves of Hogwarts."
"Without orders, we can't leave..."
"We need to find a way for those students staying behind to give an order..."
"Maybe Professor Trelawney would let Maki buy wine for her."
"What's the use of that? Vid Gray is definitely not in Hogsmeade."
"Wine can be bought anywhere! We could go to Austria or Germany to buy!"
"Is Maki crazy?" the companion said in horror, "A House-Elf like that would be executed!"
"Maki's not afraid!"
"Dumbledore wouldn't!" Zoe said, "He's not Professor Dipet."
"But... but... that's against the rules!" The other House-Elves appeared very frightened.
"Wait!" Maki raised a palm, gesturing for the other Elves to be quiet, then perked his ears and listened carefully, whispering, "I think I heard Dobby's voice."
"Dobby?"
...
Dobby had just apparated next to the castle and was walking along the corner of the wall inside.
He looked a bit downcast, wearing clothes like a worn-out burlap sack, but on his head, he wore a brand-new, deer-shaped hat.
It was his Christmas gift from Vid that he received this morning.
Dobby walked along, worrying to himself:
"Oh... Dobby still can't find work, wizards don't want to pay House-Elves wages... If Professor Dumbledore doesn't want to hire Dobby either, maybe Dobby will have to go find Vid Gray, Mr. Gray would surely be willing to give Dobby a job..."
"But Vid Gray is Dobby's friend, Dobby doesn't want to trouble him... Vid Gray even saved Dobby before, Dobby shouldn't ask for payment from him... but Dobby wants payment..."
He clutched his hat with both hands, his big eyes looking out into the distant sky.
"Wanting payment, to be able to buy gifts for friends... wanting to wear clothes, clean, decent clothes... and wanting, wanting..."
He seemed to feel he was being too greedy, even though he was alone, he still said very softly:
"Wanting a day off, to be able to play freely... even if it's just one day a year..."
As soon as he finished speaking, a House-Elf appeared with a "pop" in front of him, and Dobby jumped back two steps in fright.
Immediately followed by consecutive "pop pop pop" sounds, ten, twenty, dozens of House-Elves suddenly appeared, surrounding him, all looking at him with burning eyes.
Dobby was so shocked that he kept retreating, pressing against the wall as if he were almost a flat sheet, shaking his head in panic and saying, "No more, no more, Dobby doesn't want so much..."
He saw Maki, recognizing this was the House-Elf who had given him food before, and lowered his head in shame, saying, "Dobby isn't here to cause trouble this time... Dobby just wants to find a job..."
"Dobby!" Maki grabbed his arm and asked, "Does Dobby still remember the help Vid Gray gave him?"