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

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 162040

a_svirn:
> And since when slave-holders have responsibilities to or for their 
> slaves? Slavery is a one-sided deal: slaves have all the 
> responsibilities, while owners have all the rights. The Harry-
> Kreacher situation being no exception. 

Ceridwen:
I thought it was odd that Harry inherited a slave/house elf, too.  I 
really didn't see JKR going there.

But, the situation exists.  Harry, without asking for it, got 
Kreacher willed to him.  He now has one of two options: give Kreacher 
clothes, or not give him clothes.

If he gives him clothes, Kreacher could, perhaps would, go straight 
to Narcissa or Bellatrix.  The repercussions of this could be far-
reaching, and a disaster for Harry, the Order members, and the WW.  
Kreacher knows too much about Order business and Order methods.  He 
knows who is in the Order.  He could spot Order members who were 
trying to sneak up on his chosen masters, or who were attempting to 
eavesdrop on them.  He knows who does what.  Kreacher's leaving 
Harry's ownership is not a good idea.

If Harry doesn't give Kreacher clothes, he does have a responsibility 
to him.  Kreacher is dependent on his owner for basic needs like 
housing and food.  Whether it is a legal obligation or just a moral 
one, Harry has a duty toward Kreacher as his dependent.

For real life slavery, there were certainly places where it was 
cheaper just to work a slave to death and buy a new one.  The 
Carribean islands where slaves were unloaded and put for sale was one 
place, going back many years to a history course I once took.  But 
the farther from the initial purchase point, as profits were added in 
through each subsequent sale, it became cheaper to properly house and 
feed slaves and see to their other needs.

House elves bring another layer of responsibility to their owners.  
Elves' natures, whether charmed or inborn, mean they want to serve 
wizards and witches.  They fear freedom, from what I get from the 
books.  They wouldn't know how to manage for themselves, particularly 
with some compelling force making them want to work, work, work.  The 
nature of elves, and the fact that there doesn't seem to be an 
employment agency renting them out for catered affairs and temporary 
work - I don't count the relocation office, that seems to just send 
elves to a new master's household - means that the owners are more 
than just owners, they are the responsible parties for all of their 
elves' needs.  If wizards really want to do something constructive 
for the future of elves, they will have to address the fear of 
freedom, and the lack of some sort of employment that will not send 
elves from one place of slavery to another.

I agree with Steve, it isn't the elves that need to be fixed, it's 
the attitude and vision of the Wizarding World.

Ceridwen.