Winky and Houseelf mistreatment

[uncmark]

No: HPFGUIDX 37139

Concerning Winky's treatment
Grey Wolf wrote:

> notice that, appart from forcing Winky to go to high places, she's
> never been mistreated, and that was *her* idea in the first place

catlady_de_los_angeles" wrote:

> It seems that Winky had a fair amount of *power* in the Crouch 
> household. Junior's narrative includes: "I was always with the 
> house-elf.... She persuaded my father to give me occasional 
> treats.... Winky talked my father into [allowing me to attend the 
> Quidditch World Cup]." Also, she kept interjecting: "Say no more, 
> Master Barty, say no more, you is getting your father into 
> trouble!" Her Master, Senior, does what she wants, and she sccolds 
> her Master, Junior.

I'm not sure what wizarding law is for conspiracy and accessories, 
but there are the UNFORGIVABLE curses which according to the Harry 
Potter lexicon are "known as Unforgivable because using them on 
another human being can result in a life term in Azkaban." 

Crouch Sr. used Imperio on his escaped son not once but SEVERAL times 
over the course of a decade. Even if he had blanket permision to use 
the curses in his hunting of Death Eaters, I don't think the coverage 
would extend to his use ogf the spell on Crouch Jr.

PLUS there is the mater of conspiracy of the Jailbreak AND harboring 
a fugative for over a decade. Does Azkaban take elves? What is 
Winky's defense "I was following master's orders!"

How's this for a subplot for future books. While ignoring the 
Voldemort problem, Fudge tries to show he's tough on crime and sets 
about publicizing his peosecution of crime. He shows the soul-drained 
Barty Crouc and then puts Winky on trial for her part in the 
jailbreak, harboring a fugitive, and accessory to the Imperio curse. 
HRH defend her in court and the elf community revolts in her support.

Uncmark