[HPforGrownups] SPEW how do you do ? (was Re: SOCKS and other presents)

[T.M. Sommers]

No: HPFGUIDX 78616

david_p2002ca wrote:
> 
> Hermione's targets were the elves who were still bound to Hogwarts - 
> those who had not yet been freed.  It does raise an interesting 
> question, though:  could a student free a house elf, or would it 
> require a prefect, professor or even the headmaster - a person in 
> authority at the school - to release a house elf?

I don't think it matters, as far as the house-elfs are concerned. 
Imagine you are a house-elf who does not want to be free.  Further 
imagine that someone is trying to trick you into taking some clothes 
in order to free you.  Do you take the clothes because you think the 
person doesn't have the authority to free you, or do you decide not to 
risk the possibility that what you think is wrong, and leave the clothes?