[HPforGrownups] House Elves and Clothes

[T.M. Sommers]

No: HPFGUIDX 65628

Rachael wrote:
> 
> House Elves can only be freed by getting clothes from their master
> (s), so what about laundry?  I was under the impression that Elves
> did the laundry at Hogwarts and that Dobby, since he was able to iron
> his hands without anyone noticing anything funny, did the Malfoys'
> laundry, ironing, etc.  If a wizard hands a stack of dirty clothes to
> an Elf, does he have to precede that action with a statement of, "I'm
> not freeing you, I'm giving you work."?  Obviously to free the elf,
> nothing has to be said along with the clothes or Dobby would not be
> free.  Any suggestions other than I need to stop obsessing over Harry
> Potter so much that I wonder about trivial things like this?

I think it depends a lot on the desires of the elf and the intentions of
the wizard.  From Kreacher's actions, it also appears that elves are
free to interpret ambiguous statements or orders in their own favor.  In
most cases, the elf doesn't want to be free, and the wizard doesn't want
to free the elf, so there is no problem with handing them laundry.  If
there is any ambiguity, the elf will resolve it in favor of not being
free.  An unambiguous statement from the wizard that the elf is being
given clothes, however, can't be ignored.  Dobby, unlike other elves,
wanted to be free, and so took advantage of Malfoy's ambiguous action to
declare himself free.  And since Hermione intended to free the elves,
they wouldn't touch the hats.