house elves and laundry

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 88165

> > Eloise:
> > In addition, there is a suggestion( though no more than that) 
> > that they are allowed to take laundry to be processed.
> 
> > Possibly they are allowed to touch clothes that have not been 
> > directly handed (or thrown!) at them.
> 

Bumbledor:
> Just one problem with the above sentence. In book 5, wasn't Hermione making
> hats and leaving them lying around, hidden? If house elves are allowed to
> touch clothes that are not directly handed to them, then why would Dobby 
tell
> Harry that the other elves won't clean Gryffindor common room, due to all
> the hidden hats and stuff?

Excellent observation and in consequence, I can only suggest that my 
suggestion which followed the above which you quoted is the correct one: that there 
has to be the *intent* of giving in order for the breaking of the house-elf's 
enslavement to take place.

Hermione was leaving the hats as *gifts*. Lucius intentionally gave away the 
sock, even if it was not his intention to release Dobby.

~Eloise


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