House Elf question?

[Tammy]

No: HPFGUIDX 131254

> > Brent said:
> > Who or what cleans the student clothing if the elves can't even touch 
> > it without being freed?
> 
> JLV:
> Actually, I'm sure they can touch *other people's* clothes, 
> particularly if they're being worn. Anyway, the house elves could 
> probably use their 'special brand of magic' to clean clothes, towels 
> and sheets which doesn't involve actually picking up any clothes. 

Tammy:
If merely picking up clothes could free a House Elf, Dobby would have
been free years ago. I can't see Narcissa cleaning the blood off of
Lucius' DE robes - Perhaps they can pick up clothing left aside, and
it's only if they are "given" clothes that they are freed. 


> 
> > Brent:
> > Hermione put elf hats and socks out and they 
> > would not even clean the common room anymore so I can't see them 
> going 
> > to get them to be cleaned.
> 
> JLV:
> Hermione didn't leave the hats out to be cleaned, she (1) disguised 
> them as rubbish to trick the elves and (2) intended to give the clothes 
> to the elves to free them. I think that as the elves are a proud 
> specie, they were mortally affronted by Hermione's behaviour and 
> perhasp even refused to clean them up on principle. It doesn't follow 
> that they can't touch clothes. It may be that Hermione was mistaken in 
> thinking that the hats would free the elves (in fact I wouldn't be 
> surprised if she was - she's not showing great judgment here).
> 

Tammy:
My concern about Hermione trying to free the House Elves is whether or
not Hermione has the authority to free them. I think she's being
awfully arrogant to assume that as a mere student of Hogwarts that she
has the right, power, and authority to free any of the Hogwarts House
Elves. I mean if anyone could just walk in and free a House Elf, think
of the possibilities. If you want to know what's really going on at
Lord Voldemort's house, just walk on up and give his House Elf a sock!
*Poof* you've freed the elf, and you can now interrogate the House Elf
for information. 

I would guess that the only ones with the power to free the Hogwarts
House Elves would be the higher ranking professors - Dumbledore
definitely, probably Minerva, and then possibly the remaining three
House Professors, Sprout, Snape, and Flitwick. 

-Tammy, who thinks that 25 days, 15 hours, and 39 minutes is far too
long to wait for anything.