elves and laundry

[Catherine Peisher]

No: HPFGUIDX 33718



>Now, if
 freeing an elf can happen as inadvertently (on
Malfoy's part) as it
did to Dobby, how can elves do any of these jobs
handling clothes?  I
thought one had to be careful not to pass them
even a sock.



I don't know about the Malfoys.  But I think for other households its not an
issue.  Dobby is evidently the 'weirdo' of the breed as Hagrid puts it.
Most Houselves don't want to be freed.  So handing them some clothes to wash
is simply that.  For someone like Winky, who loves serving her master it
would take a "Winky you're fired, this means clothes" for her to leave.
The Malfoy family is probably well aware that Dobby wants his freedom and
will be devious to get it.  I don' think intent has anything to do with it
because Lucius did not intend to free Dobby.  He dropped a sock.  Any other
house elf would probably pick it up and fold it.  The Malfoy's must be
carefull.  They have mistreated their elf and he wants out.  Maybe
(unlikely) that laundry is one of the few chores that the Malfoy family does
for themselves.  Or, as in the muggle world there are dry cleaners for
people who don't have a maid and don't care to starch and press clothes or
have special clothing that can't be washed.  I'm sure the Malfoy's can
afford to have a laundry service.


Catherine