With the long-delayed arrival of Goyle and Crabbe, it meant that everyone who knew about this place was finally present.
It was only after Goyle and Crabbe showed up that Draco spoke, gathering everyone together in the great hall.
Pansy and Astoria's antics were entertaining, and Hermione's rare bout of soft, clingy behavior was also oddly enjoyable. Still, the reason they were here had never been to fool around, nor was this base created just to hide someone away.
So, with Hermione standing in the center of the hall, hands on her hips, the first official meeting of this base began…
"Hold on, why are you the one presiding over such an important first meeting?"
"Hm? Actually, I got Draco's approval."
"…Damn it! You beat me to it!"
Well, the moment Draco's name came up, the faint indignation on Pansy's face vanished instantly. Her small face crumpled into a pitiful pout as she looked at Draco with wounded eyes, as if he'd made some unforgivable decision.
As for Hermione, she looked like a victorious general, chin lifted and chest out, proudly glaring at Pansy…
Clink, clink!
Seeing Pansy edging closer to Draco as if she wanted a hug, Hermione promptly tapped the rim of her goblet with her knife and fork.
"Be serious, Miss Parkinson! This is a meeting!"
"..."
"Ahem! Then I hereby announce that the first meeting of our organization is officially in session!"
At first, there was no response at all. Only after Hermione shot a sharp look at Goyle and Crabbe did the previously silent hall finally fill with their overly enthusiastic applause.
Honestly, among everyone present, the ones with the least status and most likely to be used as cannon fodder were probably Goyle and Crabbe…
…
In any case.
Faced with Hermione's unusually serious expression, Pansy finally put away her resentful look. She was actually curious to see what Hermione intended to say.
Hermione paced back and forth in front of everyone.
"Before this, I already learned from Draco how much he values an intelligence network, as well as his idea of recruiting House-elves as its core. As it happens, I have a perfect plan for that."
"..."
"..."
Caught completely off guard by this topic, Pansy and Astoria exchanged looks. To be honest, they didn't think this was a good idea, or rather, not something that could be achieved in the short term.
And besides, was their very first meeting really going to be spent on something this strange?
Still, before Draco spoke up, Pansy and Astoria ultimately held back their objections and decided to hear out this so-called "perfect plan."
"I've had this idea for quite a while now."
Ignoring their skeptical expressions, Hermione waved her hands excitedly.
Draco, who had clearly given Hermione the confidence to speak up, watched with curiosity. Unlike Pansy and the others, he didn't show the slightest hint of doubt, as if he genuinely wanted to hear what she had in mind.
"First of all, I want to say this. I've realized that whether at Hogwarts or elsewhere in the wizarding world, House-elves are not treated properly at all."
"Properly?"
"Don't you think House-elves are treated unfairly? They're basically slaves! Even in the muggle world, this kind of thing has long since disappeared!"
"..."
"To help them, and to make sure Draco's intelligence network can develop smoothly, I think we should start with the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."
"House-elf… what society?"
"The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare! An organization dedicated to securing rights for our House-elf friends. Don't get it wrong again, Parkinson."
Corrected on the spot, Pansy tugged at the corner of her mouth. Looking at Hermione's confident expression, so full of ambition, she suddenly wasn't sure whether she should say something to dampen her enthusiasm.
Astoria, however, had fewer reservations.
"I don't even know whether something like that exists in the wizarding world."
"It's the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare!"
"Alright, but Granger, you haven't really considered whether those House-elves would even accept this… kind intention of yours."
Astoria didn't say outright that it was impossible. Instead, she raised the issue from a more objective angle.
From what Astoria understood, the humility House-elves showed toward wizards seemed deeply ingrained, as if carved into their very souls.
Even leaving aside whether other wizards would agree, the question of whether the House-elves themselves would accept such an arrangement was already a difficult problem in its own right…
Hermione, having grown up in the Muggle world, naturally knew far less about House-elves than the others present. She bit her lip.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure the House-elves accept all of this."
"…Granger, confidence is a good thing, but I hope you won't end up crying and begging Draco for help in the end."
"I won't!"
Hermione shot an indignant glare at Pansy, who never seemed to miss a chance to undermine her. Still, after hearing Astoria's words, the excitement she'd been riding did cool a little.
In truth, just as Astoria had pointed out, Hermione really hadn't considered the House-elves themselves.
Did they even want to change? Would they be willing to accept help like this?
All of it was still an unknown.
Thinking of the House-elves she occasionally encountered, Hermione suddenly felt a wave of discouragement wash over her…
…
Noticing how Hermione's energy seemed to drain away all at once, Draco finally spoke up.
After all, as the core figure of this group, he really should have been the one steering the meeting…
"It seems everyone understands now just how difficult it would be to change the situation of the House-elves."
"Exactly!"
Compared to Hermione's unwilling expression, Pansy was clearly delighted that Draco appeared to be taking her side.
But in the very next moment, Draco's words made Hermione lift her head again, eyes lighting up.
"Even so, I don't plan to give up on the idea of winning over the House-elves. Besides, haven't we already got a friend who can help us get inside their circle?"
"Draco!"
"Sure, the process might be full of problems, and the time it takes to see results could be very long. Whether it'll succeed at all is still unknown. But if we don't even try, how will we know it won't work?"
Even if it sounded a bit like empty encouragement, when Draco spoke seriously like this, there was an undeniable air of conviction about him.
The reactions of the girls present made that much clear…
"If you put it that way, Draco, then we might as well give it a try."
"Starting with that Dobby, perhaps? That could actually work."
"If… if you want to, Draco… to be the Vice President of my Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, I… I wouldn't necessarily object."
"...…"
"...…"
Wait.
Yours?
Vice President?
After a few seconds of stunned silence, everyone suddenly turned to stare at Hermione standing in the center.
So all that talk just now about that ridiculous society… you were the one who founded it?!?