Hogwarts Laundry

[zanooda2]

No: HPFGUIDX 163484

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Penny Brooks" 
<pennygbrooks at ...> wrote:

> Who does the laundry at Hogwarts?


zanooda:

I think that, to be freed, an elf needs to recieve clothes from his 
master's hands, not just pick them up from somewhere (the floor? a 
hamper?). They seem to be allowed to handle clothes. Remember, in CoS 
one of the twins says their mother wishes they had a house-elf "to do 
ironing"? In GoF Fake!Moody summons Dobby to the staffroom "to 
collect some robes for cleaning".

What's more, at Hogwarts most of the laundry must come from the 
students, and *their* clothes cannot free the elves, because the 
students are not masters to the elves. That's why I believe 
Hermione's hats and socks were just big waste of time and wool. Even 
if the elves took the hats, they wouldn't get free, IMO.

As for whoever is considered the Hogwarts elves master (the 
headmaster and maybe the teachers?), well, he/they just have to be 
careful not to pass any of their clothing directly to any elves and 
they'll be fine. Always put your clothes away in the hamper! :-)

You know, Penny, we had a short discussion on a similar topic not 
very long ago. I would like to give you a link, but there is 
something wrong with my "search" button (or, maybe there is something 
wrong with my computer skills) and I couldn't find it. If you want to 
try, the name of the thread was either "Hogwarts elves" or "Dobby and 
Winky sitting in a tree" IIRC (and it's a big "if").

Good luck!