The Return to Hogwarts

Hermione didn't know what kind of magic Professor Blaine was casting, but it was clearly a healing spell. She noticed that Rega's furry, pale body was regaining color at a visible speed, and the ashen look in her lantern-sized eyes was gradually fading, replaced by a bright light.

"Oh, it looks like it's working, Professor!"

Hermione exclaimed with delight as she placed her palm against the back of Ragnarok's head. She could feel the little elf's body, which had lost its temperature due to bleeding, gradually warming up, and she could even feel the vitality rapidly returning to that frail body.

"You have to rely on yourself, little one—"

Professor Blaine did not interrupt the spellcasting; he looked into Rega's eyes and spoke.

Finally, five minutes later--

With a high-pitched, sharp, and agonizing howl, a tiny creature slid off the mat and onto the floor.

Chapter 529 Tragic Fate

2023-10-12

The newly born house-elf was about two or three times the size of a goblin, with soft, creamy-white fur and pinkish skin. This little creature, which had endured many hardships before finally being born, rolled off the mat onto the ground. Its eyes were closed, and it seemed to be fast asleep.

"Oh--"

Looking at the adorable little creature, Hermione's tears welled up instantly. She covered her mouth, large teardrops clinging to her eyelashes, as if witnessing a miracle, and said through suppressed sobs,

"That's incredible!"

Amosta remained silent, his expression serious as he stared intently at the newborn house-elf.

"Is it a little girl?"

Hermione exclaimed excitedly.

"It looks exactly like its mother!"

Amostah glanced at Hermione, pursed his lips helplessly, then squatted down, extended a finger, and poked the elf's belly with some force.

"Oh, it's resting!"

Hermione immediately glared angrily at Professor Blaine.

"Don't touch it!"

A few black lines appeared on Amosta's forehead. He continued to poke and rub the little elf's belly with his fingers, but the little elf's eyes remained closed and it did not react at all. Moreover, its pink and translucent skin gradually turned red and then turned into a deep purple.

Hermione frantically tried to pry Professor Blaine's hand away, but he blocked her with his elbow.

“Look closely, Miss Granger—”

Professor Blaine said in a deep voice,

"This little elf isn't sleeping, it's suffocating—"

asphyxia?!

Hermione paused, then quickly looked closely at the little elf lying on the ground. Upon closer inspection, she noticed something amiss: the newborn elf's chest wasn't rising or falling at all!

Could it be that all their efforts were in vain, and in the end, they still couldn't save the poor house-elf mother and son? Hermione was pale, looking as if she had been struck by lightning.

At that moment, the house-elf Riga, who had just escaped death, weakly got up. Her large, lantern-like eyes flashed with many emotions: confusion, fear, and pleading. In the end, she remained silent, just staring blankly at Professor Blaine.

To be honest, Amosta really didn't know how wizards dealt with this situation. Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end, he decided to use the Muggle method.

"I'm not sure if I can save it--"

Hermione heard Professor Blaine say this to Rega, and then she saw Professor Blaine brush away the sticky liquid from the corner of the elf's mouth. Then, Professor Blaine grasped the newborn elf's body, picked it up, turned it over, and patted its back with his other hand, pausing occasionally to rub it.

"This is a Muggle method!"

Hermione, who came from the Muggle world, had seen similar educational programs on television before. After watching a few glances, she immediately recognized it and exclaimed excitedly.

"Will it work, Professor Blaine?"

Amosta answered the first question with his nostrils, but remained silent about the second, focusing intently on his work and ignoring Hermione's incessant chatter about shows she'd seen on television.

Inside the decaying and dilapidated classroom, rustling sounds never ceased; death and life alike seemed to eagerly await their final fate. Hermione had never experienced such a long and agonizing wait. She stood by, anxiously watching Professor Blaine attempt to save her, unable to offer any assistance.

The newborn elves remained motionless. By the end, even Hermione's orange eyes were filled with despair. Filled with sorrow, she turned her gaze to Rega, who was staring at the newborn elf hanging on Professor Blaine's hand as if under a petrification spell.

Cough cough--

Just as a dark despair was about to completely engulf Hermione's heart, she suddenly heard a soft cough. After a moment's pause, the movements became more intense. Professor Blaine made Hermione realize that the sound she had just heard was not a hallucination!

Ugh!

The innocent sound of vomiting echoed like heavenly music, making Hermione, who was standing out of the dimly lit classroom, feel as if the whole world had lit up.

"Alive!"

Hermione let out a loud cheer, jumping up and down with joy, tears streaming down her face.

But strangely, Professor Blaine didn't seem particularly happy. He squinted at the house-elf in his palm, whose life had finally been saved. A dark light flickered in the pale purple pupils, but no one noticed.

"for you--"

Amosta bent down and returned the little elf to its mother.

The little elf named Ruijia held her child in her arms. She still seemed unable to shake off her shock and fear. After instinctively taking the child, she remained dazed and bowed her head.

"It needs a piece of clothing!"

Hermione gasped for breath. She looked around and, apart from the curtains riddled with wormholes, couldn't find anything to wear. Biting her lip, she pondered for a few seconds, then took out her wand and used a cutting charm to cut a piece of cloth from her robe. She carefully covered the newborn elf with it, but to her surprise, Professor Blaine saw this and frowned.

"Respected landlord—"

Suddenly, a very young and timid voice rang out in the classroom. It was the voice of the newborn elf, who struggled to fall from Riga's arms to the ground. It stumbled several times and almost fell while trying to stand for the first time, but it managed to straighten up, holding the piece of cloth Hermione had given it, and bowed respectfully to Hermione.

"Wow, it can talk!"

Hermione was startled and exclaimed in surprise.

"Unlike human infants, some magical creatures are born with full consciousness and racial skills, and they transmit experience through blood ties—"

Amostella looked at Hermione, whose worldview had been turned upside down, and said calmly.

"That's amazing!"

Hermione spoke with great enthusiasm, but suddenly, realizing something, her expression changed abruptly. She took two steps back, somewhat startled, and stared in horror at the newborn elf.

"I...I...you've got it wrong, little guy, I'm not your master!"

“Oh, I’m afraid it hasn’t made a mistake, Miss Granger—”

Professor Blaine said calmly,

"House-elves only receive clothes in two situations: first, when they are fired by their original owner, their owner gives them a piece of clothing; second, when they recognize a new owner, they receive one. Normally, this piece of clothing will accompany the house-elf for its entire life. So, congratulations, Miss Granger, you have acquired a house-elf."

"No!"

Hermione cried out in alarm.

"I don't want to! I don't need house-elves, and I don't want to be the master of anything!"

Before Hermione could finish speaking, the little house-elf, barely able to walk, collapsed at Hermione's feet, emitting humble sobs and pleading sounds.

"Master, please don't send me away, I belong to you."

Just then, something else happened that caught Hermione completely off guard.

The house-elf Riga looked intently at the child kneeling at Hermione's feet, took a few deep breaths, and asked with utmost respect,

“Great Professor Blaine, and esteemed Miss Granger, is there anything I can do for you?”

"what?"

Hermione cried out.

"Service? Oh, I don't need it. Wait, you need a break, Reja. Are you planning to keep working? And your children too!"

"there is none left--"

Professor Blaine spoke in a calm voice.

So, Rega bowed respectfully to Amosta and Hermione, and with a crisp bang, the house-elf Rega disappeared from the dilapidated classroom.

Where did it go?

Hermione stared in disbelief, speaking in a babbling tone.

"Perhaps she'll go back to the kitchen to tend the stove, perhaps she'll go clean, or maybe she'll do the laundry for the students and staff of this castle—"

Professor Blaine pursed his lips and said in a complicated tone.

"But its child."

Hermione opened her mouth, but the words were practically squeezed out of her throat.

"Hehe, Miss Granger--"

Professor Blaine masked his inner turmoil with a complex laugh.

"You don't actually think that house-elves have the same tradition of caring for their young as humans, do you? Oh, of course--"

Professor Blaine looked down at the newborn house-elf who was clinging tightly to Hermione's shoelaces.

"If their offspring don't find owners immediately, they will help look after them until the cubs find a wizard willing to take them in."