Hermione's Hats -Elves Clean Clothes - Quote

[amanitamuscaria1]

No: HPFGUIDX 89055

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
> > >watercolourstain writes :
> > > That's not quite true is it, because the house elves were 
> > > "insulted" and they refused to clean the Gryffindor tower for 
> > > "fear" of finding one of the hats and being freed. snip
> > 
> 
> > AmanitaMuscaria now: 
> > 
> > No, the houseelves aren't frightened by the clothes, they are 
> > insulted, though. (UK OotP pg.341-2)
> > 
> > ...edited...
> > 
> > Cheers. AmanitaMuscaria
> 
> 
> bboy_mn:
> 
> Just going to jump into the conversation here with a quote from 
Goblet
> of Fire-
> 
> - - - Quote - Gof Am Ed HB pg 677 - - -
> 
> Crouch!Moody speaks to Harry...
> 
> "You told me at the Yule Ball a house-elf called Dobby had given 
you a
> Christmas present. I called the elf to the staffroom to collect some
> robes for cleaning. ...etc..."
> 
> - - -end quote- - -
> 
> Now one could argue that Dobby was already free, so he could come 
and
> collect the robes without worry of freeing him again. But I don't
> think Fake!Moody had that much knowledge about Dobby. To him, Dobby
> was just another elf. But that didn't stop him from calling Dobby to
> collect some robes for cleaning.
> 
> I still stand by the postion, that Hermione was and is hopelessly
> misguided. She was struck with an impulsive idea that she didn't 
think
> through. If there is one word that describes Hermione's efforts on
> behalf of the house-elves it is 'misguided'.

AmanitaMuscaria now:
 I agree with you on the Hermione issue - she's very definitely 
headed for a fall here. She's epitomising the worst sort of muddied 
liberal thinking, that strives to give someone something they're not 
asking for, but which seems 'right' from the giver's point of view. I 
can't see JKR allowing her to get away with that ...
And I'd forgotten that particular passage - Dobby merely tells Harry 
that the other houseelves are not amused by Hermione's attempted 
deceptions.

> What do you think all the elves would do if they were suddenly 
free? 
snip
AmanitaMuscaria now:
I wonder what houseelves' magic might suit them for. They are 
powerful magical beings, and seem a bit wasted doing housework. I 
wonder if they originally started out as bodyguards/protectors? It's 
certainly what Dobby seems to want to be for Harry, if somewhat 
misguidedly at times.
Cheers. AmanitaMuscaria
 
> The elves really are happy with what they do, and take pride in 
having
> served generations of a family with generations of there own elfin
> family. 
snip 
> The elves are fine, it's the wizards who need to be fixed.
> 
> Just a thought.
> 
> bboy_mn