Hermione couldn't believe Hogwarts kept slaves. She'd founded S.P.E.W. to free all house-elves and made Harry and Ron join. She'd expected Cedric to join as well, but he wasn't quite so receptive.
"Hermione," he said evenly. "I don't think you're seeing the whole picture."
" Slavery is wrong. What exactly am I missing?" she asked challengingly. "That the wizarding world is backwards?"
"I can't disagree with that, but hear me out."
She crossed her arms.
"My family has a house-elf. I named her Lampshade when I was three- I was a bit obsessed with Muggle things. She lives with us and is given free reign of the house. We'd pay her, but she'd refuse. House-elves are like extremely sentient cats. She doesn't belong to us; we're her family and we belong to her. She lives with us, eats with us, we've never made her work when ill, and she mothers me more than my mum. There are quite a few women who marry to get the same deal. I firmly agree with you that mistreated house-elves should be freed. But most are delighted to have a family to spoil. Look, your cause is a light in an area that my father's done little for. You just need your own lampshade to refine that light into something so bright, it can't be smothered."
"S.P.E.W. will go further if it's just for aiding mistreated elves," she said finally. "I'll change the bylaws. But can I meet Lampshade?"
"Whenever you want," he grinned.
