[HPforGrownups] Hermione's Hats

[JessaDrow at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 95133

In a message dated 4/4/2004 10:27:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jones.r.h.j at worldnet.att.net writes:
So ... this means that the great Hermione Granger is making a 
mistake when she thinks that the hats she is gleefully knitting and 
leaving around the Gryffindor Common Room will free the House 
Elves.  She is not handing the hats and socks to the elves and so 
they can't be freed.
I believe Hermione's way of thinking is this. In order to free a house-elf, 
they have to be given clothing. The students aren't giving the clothes to the 
elves, the elves hold no ownership over the clothing, they are just cleaning 
them. Herminone's hats on the other hand are meant to be given to the elves, 
there is a difference. And in OOtP, Dobbie makes mention that he's the only elf 
doing cleaning in the tower, because the other elves won't go near the hats, so 
she must be on the right track. Even thought I do find it a bit hard to 
believe it's as simple as all that. Hermione is not mistress of the castle, she is 
merely a student. So I imagine that only Dumbledore and possibly McGonagall 
would be able to release an elf from duty.


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