Attack on Hogwarts - the Fifth Column?

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 107630

LadyMyneh: "> Just a thought bringing together two threads of this
discussion- if House Elves can Apparate (or something similar) into
Hogwarts, is it possible that they could be used, not for defense, as
has been suggested elsewhere, but in the cases when they're owned by
evil families, actually forced to attack and sabotage the grounds?
That would certainly give Hermione's cause some support, since free
house elves might not be able to be forced to do such a thing."

Right on.  It could also be that attacking somewhere is more than a
house elf can be made to do.  Actually, there's a potential fifth
column already in the school in the form of Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and
who knows how many others, many in Slytherin.  These would be like the
Trojans in the horse, ready to open the gates and let the main body
in, either physically or magically. (We could call them the Offensive
Association, the "OA," probably with Draco in the lead. Nice symmetry.)

That's a good reason for Dumbledore to let all the Slytherins remain
in school and treat them well.  They'd be a built-in early warning
system; Either they'd start engaging in suspicious activity, some
parents would start taking their children out of the school, or
someone would have a qualm of conscience and flip or maybe just have
loose lips.  If house elves are involved, one or more, knowing
Hermione's reputation, might do a Dobby and give a warning.  Word
seems to travel fast among house-elves.

An attack on Hogwarts is almost inevitable sometime, but I'd place my
bet on Book 7 for when it would happen.

Jim Ferer