Hogwarts elves/ Was:Dobby and Winkie sitting in a tree...

[zanooda2]

No: HPFGUIDX 160291

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> wrote:

> Oh, and one more thing, Dobby says he's proud to keep DD's secrets. 
> That has a new depth given HBP.


zanooda:

Sorry for the change of topic, but this phrase reminded me of one
question about elves that I still can't find an answer to. It has
nothing to do with elves love life (although I agree that there is
more between Dobby and Winky than just friendship).

There is something that I never quite understood about Hermione's
hats-and-socks distribution campaign. Here is the question: in a place
like Hogwarts, who is considered the house-elves' master? The
headmaster seems like an obvious choice. The teachers also can give
orders to the elves (Slughorn makes an elf to taste his wine, elves
serve drinks at his party).
 
But what about students? Somehow I don't believe that students are
considered Hogwarts house-elves' masters. Sure, they give food to the
Trio (and to Fred and George before them), but I don't think they do
it because they have to obey the students' orders. They probably just
do it out of desire to please humans. It doesn't seem believable that
any student can summon an elf from the kitchens and give him any order
and the poor thing will have to obey.

I don't know if I'm right, but if I am, I don't see the point of
Hermione giving her handiwork to the elves at all. If she is not their
master, they won't get free even if they took the clothes. If anyone
could give clothes to someone else's elves to free them, Harry
wouldn't need to trick Lucius Malfoy into giving the sock to Dobby, he
could just do it himself.

Maybe I misunderstand something here, but this aspect of Hermione's
SPEW activities always seemed confusing to me. If it was discussed
before, please point me to a thread, I tried to find something through
"search" and got 1400 results, so I gave up :-)

Thanks,

zanooda