Chapter 288: The Office for the Relocation of House-Elves
Speaking of the 'Office for the Relocation of House-Elves' (hereinafter referred to as the House-Elf Office), it originally belonged to the 'Office for Misinformation' (or Office for Aberrant Species). This office was on the same level as Lockhart's 'Office for Beasts,' although these two offices frequently tried to seize each other's authority.
They would fight for power but shirk responsibility, always pushing the blame onto the other when accountability was required.
During one of Lockhart's visits to the Ministry of Magic, Umbridge suggested, as a gesture of flattery, that a new House-Elf department be established under the Office for Beasts as a gift. This proposal was endorsed by the then Minister for Magic Fudge, as well as Dumbledore and Scrimgeour, who were present at the time. (Chapter 107)
The current problem was that the Head of the House-Elf Office under the Office for Beasts was a member of the Yaxley family, who lost his position during the time when the Pure-bloods were widely criticized.
This meant the House-Elf Office under Lockhart's nominal Office for Beasts was an empty shell, and the original House-Elf Office under the Office for Misinformation lacked a main official.
Now, with the war in progress, extraordinary measures were taken. Without waiting for Fudge to arrange it, Umbridge directly approved the merger of the two House-Elf Offices. The new combined office was made independent of both the Office for Misinformation and the Office for Beasts and placed directly under the authority of the Minister for Magic's Office.
In this situation, no one raised any objection. This arrangement ensured that Fudge could prevent the House-Elves from posing a threat to the war effort, Lockhart gained effective power, and all the office employees received a significant promotion, making everyone happy.
Umbridge led Lockhart to the office on the fourth underground floor to familiarize himself and then left immediately. As the Undersecretary responsible for the Minister for Magic's actual duties, she had far too many things to attend to during this period.
The House-Elf Office had only three employees.
A plump woman with a gentle and shy smile. Lockhart had met her during a previous visit to the Ministry; she was a fan, and a photo with Lockhart was still posted at her workstation.
An old man reading a newspaper, who looked dazed and frail but was the most experienced and efficient senior staff member, serving as the department's main artery.
A middle-aged man with a peculiar clear gaze, wearing a Puddlemere United Quidditch jersey (the team that won the Quidditch World Cup 22 years in a row). He seemed to be a Quidditch fanatic, with a magical poster promoting the World Cup, which was months away, displayed at his workstation.
All three welcomed Lockhart's arrival. They were more than welcoming. Umbridge had just informed them that they could register their rank promotions after work, and their salaries and benefits would soon be raised another level. As for their former boss, the old Yaxley was stiff and unpopular, fond of pure-blood posturing. Who was he? No one cared to remember him.
"What does our department usually do?" Lockhart asked curiously.
The clear-eyed middle-aged man looked embarrassed and stammered, unable to answer. In truth, this was a dead-end office with nothing to do. Lockhart knew this; Newt had worked in this department for two years and called the experience "extremely tedious."
The plump woman, however, said mysteriously, "Our department has always been included in the invitation lists for pure-blood family galas. Everyone shows us respect." House-elf relocation wasn't usually needed, but when it was, it was very important, and people recognized the employees' social status.
The old man beside her rolled his eyes, coughed, and clarified, "Currently, our office is in charge of 109 masterless House-Elves. Our usual work is to act as an intermediary between House-Elves and pure-blood wizards, earning high commission fees."
"Really?" The plump woman was straightforward and paused. "We introduce House-Elves to them?" She had worked there for five years; how did she not know this?
The old man looked somewhat helpless. "Due to the war, too many pure-blood families have fallen. The available places for House-Elves in society are decreasing, not increasing."
"I suggested to the Ministry of Magic that they be put to better use, or sent to the three major European magical schools, but I haven't heard anything back."
Lockhart understood. This was an employee genuinely committed to House-Elf relocation work but was politically naive. Lockhart nodded, gaining a general understanding of the staff and their work.
He issued his first command: "Call all 109 House-Elves to the department..." He gestured to the old man. "You will read the Wartime Regulations to them."
"Wartime Regulations?" The plump woman was shocked.
"Wartime Regulations?" The middle-aged man was bewildered.
"Wartime Regulations?" The old man was stunned, looking at Lockhart anxiously. "Boss, is the war starting again?"
Lockhart smiled, reassuring them, "Do your jobs well. I believe I can offer you all protection."
Immediately, the expressions of all three became respectfully earnest. Although these three had become employees of a powerful Ministry of Magic department, their individual magical ability was likely among those who "can't even cast a Shield Charm." In fact, this was the norm; too many wizards had lost their magical environment in life. They didn't need magic, so magic naturally drifted away from them.
Despite their apparent inability to get things done, these three were extremely familiar with the internal procedures, formalities, and documents of the Ministry department. The moment Lockhart gave the command, the one who needed to contact other departments went to contact them, and the one who needed to retrieve files went to retrieve them, all moving swiftly.
Lockhart stood alone in the office, drawing his wand. He narrowed his eyes, carefully sensing the Sociality of his individual self and the collective, feeling that subtle, mystical connection.
He commanded, "I need the registry of House-Elves!"
Magical power surged, being summoned from the chaos by his Self-Will, rapidly influencing the material reality.
Soon, a cabinet by the wall automatically opened, and a book flew out, gently landing in his hand.
This appeared to be a brief report. It listed the House-Elves' names, origins, and current locations. There were virtually no purely wild ones; they were almost all Elves whose masters had died and who had no inheritors. Some were even still holding vigil in empty castles, waiting day after day for death to come.
The war between Voldemort and Dumbledore was so brutal that there were many such House-Elves after the fall of many pure-blood families.
Lockhart even saw the Carrow family's House-Elves on the list. His fairy tale book originated from this family. It was only then that he learned the last member of the Carrow family, Amycus Carrow, whom he had discovered at Hogwarts, had been sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss and had his soul sucked out, signifying his complete death. With this, the Carrow family's House-Elves had completely lost their master.
House-Elves need masters. They were all waiting for the Ministry of Magic to assign them new ones. While this may sound cruel, as if they were born to be oppressed, even humans try every means to make themselves valuable. If House-Elves were no longer needed for work or no longer needed masters, such dangerous creatures would absolutely be placed on the Ministry of Magic's list for high control or outright slaughter.
109 masterless House-Elves could easily form an army capable of destroying any Ministry of Magic! That would be a disaster for humanity, and ultimately, a disaster for the House-Elves themselves.
So... should this power, this overlooked force, be seized by him while the opportunity was ripe?
Lockhart tapped his fingers on the desktop, pondering the question. The Dueling Club was expanding its projects, and he truly needed some power to support it.
His gaze was subtle as he looked back at the vengeful fairy floating behind him. He asked, "Can you manage these House-Elves and ensure their loyalty?"
The vengeful fairy nodded. "I have the help of the Ghost Ship."
The Ghost Ship...
Lockhart was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Unless absolutely necessary, don't go to extremes. All living beings should have their freedom."
"Understood," the vengeful fairy replied shyly.
..........
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