If just picking up a piece of clothing, even if it isn't intended for the house elf will free a house elf then can they do laundry? If not what is the point of a house elf if they can't do one of the most despised jobs in maintaining a household?
-
Re: Can house elves do laundry?
Tue, September 19, 2006 - 6:15 AMI think that simply picking it up is insufficient. It must be given to them to set them free, so I guess you gotta be careful at whom you shove a laundry basket to take it downstairs. -
-
Re: Can house elves do laundry?
Tue, September 19, 2006 - 8:46 AMI thought the same thing, that's why when Hermione was leaving all those hats and stuff out for them I just kinda shook my head, 'cause she wasn't really *giving* them to them, she was just leaving stuff around. -
-
Re: Can house elves do laundry?
Wed, September 20, 2006 - 9:12 PMi dont think just picking up a piece of clothing was all that was needed to free a house elf. the clothing needs to be handed to the house elf by their masters. if it was just as easy as hermione believed it to be, then dobby could have be free from the Malfoys at any time he wished. -
-
Re: Can house elves do laundry?
Wed, June 20, 2007 - 11:16 AMIf I recall correctly, in one of the books it mentions the boys going into their dorm and they have clean robes on their beds. So, I'm assuming that they can do laundry as long as the clothes are not given to them to do. Just let them lay around and it'll be done. -
-
Re: Can house elves do laundry?
Wed, June 20, 2007 - 11:28 AMGenerally my thoughts are that Hermione is mistaken in believing that leaving hats lying around will free the elves and that the elves themselves are mistaken in believing that picking up those hats will free them. It seems unlikely that a guest in a house would have the powers to free a slave, and likewise, I doubt that Hermione has the power as a student at Hogwarts to do the same. She just has the elves spooked because, let's face it, they're not that bright.
-
-
-
-
