[HPforGrownups] Re: House Elves (was What HP Character Scares You Most?)

[yellows at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 59104

In a message dated 6/1/2003 12:42:35 PM Eastern Standard Time, Melody writes:

<<Then there is the whole house elf misunderstanding.  Even though the
> elves do not want it, she still believes she is right and will not
> listen to anyone that disagrees with her.  She does not even listen to
> the elves.  She just assumes, because she was born a muggle and
> nothing should be enslaved in the muggle world, that the same should
> hold true in the wizard world and with magical creatures.  House elves
> are not humans, and yet Hermione treats them as if they are.
> Hermione, once she has a strong reaction, does not waver from it no
> matter how many try to show her she could be wrong.>>

I know you were writing about your Hermione fears, but this brought up 
another question for me. What *is* right for the house elves? It seems that, under 
Dumbledore's employ, they are welcome to whatever they like. When Dobby 
requested pay and time off, Dumbledore offered more than Dobby wanted. So, I can 
assume that the other house elves would be welcome to the same if they asked for 
it.

But, under the employ of someone like Malfoy, or maybe even Crouch, the 
conditions seem less tolerable. Yes, I'm a Muggle, so maybe I'm trying to impose my 
Muggle-beliefs on the house elves just like Hermione does, but it simply 
*can't* be right to kick your servants around and treat them like dirt the way 
Malfoy did Dobby.

Could their reluctance to be freed go back to some cultural restriction that 
was placed on them, perhaps by wizards, long ago? Maybe it's a legend made up 
for them: "Once upon a time, there was a NAUGHTY little house elf. He didn't 
love and adore his master. So he got FREED. See how NAUGHTY he was?" Or maybe 
it's a spell a wizard put on them all.

Whatever it is, what if, because of that restriction, house elves do their 
best to work all the time and never be freed, lest they are looked down upon by 
others in their community?

Brief Chronicles


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