Freedom for House-Elves (long-ish) (Was: Kreacher the Plot Device Elf)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 161997

>random: 
> To keep this vaguely on-topic, what's the alternative for them? We
> don't know that House Elves are fully happy with 100% of the 
present
> situation, just that, by and large, they're not buying what 
Hermione's
> selling.
>
a_svirn:
That's because she doesn't sell anything at all. She only tries to 
trick them into loosing their present position without offering any 
alternative. Besides, Hogwarts elves are probably the most contented 
lot there is. It wouldn't make sense for them to exchange the 
security of Hogwarts for
 basically nothing. 

As to what's the alternative, I think, the answer is pretty clear: 
the alternative to slavery is freedom. Of course, freedom and 
liberty are "the most abused words" and so on, and if their freedom 
would mean being homeless und unemployed they wouldn't be at all 
thrilled. Who would? As a budding politician Hermione should have 
made sure that liberated elves would have had a chance for 
employment and dwelling in what seems to be their natural habitat – 
human residences. It's not an easy problem to solve, and certainly 
not the least because old habit die hard (on both sides). Probably, 
it should be done gradually. Basically, I'd say that they must have 
a fair choice: if they want to stay with their masters, fine let 
them stay, but if they want to find another master, like Kreacher, 
or a paid employment like Dobby they must have a right to do it. And 
the first requirement for that is to lift whatever enchantments that 
bound them to their masters magically.