Hermione's Hats

[Robert Jones]

No: HPFGUIDX 88940

David in message 88892 identifies the essential problem with the 
hats: House Elves are not freed merely by contact with their 
masters' clothes (or else why didn't Dobby free himself when he was 
at the Malfoys?) or by intent (since Lucius did not intend to free 
Dobby when he inadvertently threw him a sock).  So how can 
Hermione's hats work?

Second, why hasn't Hermione noticed the problem?  Why hasn't she 
thought this thing to death the way she does everything else?  Is 
JKR using this for something in Book 6?

Bobby