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Originally Posted by
TakemetotheBurrow 
"They're loyal to their masters, Sir." And lots of others had touched on that as well. It was a sad thing, though, the way they were bound to their masters. Ella couldn't imagine having to do everything someone told her to and then feeling the urge to harm herself if she messed said thing up. It just didn't sit well with her.
"Yes, vhey are. And who, generally speaking, are vhe masters of house elves?" She didn't have to answer this question as Erik was fairly certain everyone in the classroom knew the answer, but he asked it anyway.
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Originally Posted by
LilFox06 She blinked those thoughts away. She raised her hand slowly. "My brother has one." she said.
...really, golden boy Carter Phillips, quidditch man-child extraordinaire, owned a house elf? Vinteren blinked for a moment at this revelation and then gave Anya a nod.
"Interesting." Quote:
Originally Posted by
DaniDiNardo That one was a no brainer as well. "We don't have any at home, Daddy wants one but my step-mum freaks out about everything magic. My grandparents do though!!! They have three really nice ones that make me cookies and sneak me sugar when my grandmum isn't looking." In exchange for her leaving them alone of course.
And somewhere in that rambly answer was a confirmation of Alexa's family owning elves.
"Okay good, vhank you Alexa," Erik cut her off before she could go on about sugar and elves.
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Originally Posted by
Bazinga She looked around the room with his next question. Of course she didn't have any since her mother pretended to be a muggle and her father was a muggle. She grew up muggleborn basically, but Ethan had an elf and that elf hated her being in the kitchen.... It was like offended when she would try to cook or something. "I don't have one, but my boyfriends family does and I've noticed they are very protective of their job. I love to cook and he doesn't like me in the kitchen, because it's his job." She hated that he felt that way, she would cook for him as well if he would let her.
Very protective of their job.
"Good," Erik nodded to the Hufflepuff.
"House elves only haff so many duties to complete and believe vhey are being insulted vhen wizards try to take vhose away from vhem." Quote:
Originally Posted by
lemon She got a 'very good' from the pretty professor AND her own question? Alice ignored the wince and grinned, baring all her pointy pearly whites at the man in a huge smile. He was even making eye contact, first time ever. His eyes, those were really pretty too, did he know? "Um, usually discarded household items, rather than clothing, 'cause that's what's used to free them and they'd consider it shameful." Did he need more elaboration?
"Like pillowcases, tea cozies, towels.." Was that good enough? Could she have more praise?
She was flashing her teeth at him. Oh no, no no no. Erik had
heard things about this Gryffindor's teeth...if he was a wise man he would not encourage the girl to speak up any more, even if her answers were spot-on.
"Correct," he said simply, his eyes moving past her and on to the next person. Tea cosies and pillowcases were enough examples for him.
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Originally Posted by
MaverickMagpie Tobias grinned even wider. "Yeah! Like Dinky and Noodle and Wibble and Flakey and Jigglypuff," he rattled off excitedly, and then he even giggled slightly at what professor man said next. "My name is Tobias Nestor Tempus, sir. My name is funny to everyone."
But he accepted that.
He kinda sorta raised his hand again. "I don't, but my grandfather used to have at least one, and like his dad, and his dad's dad. I don't think they have one any more though because-"
Tobias stopped suddenly and bit his lip. He wasn't sure he wanted to share that particular piece of information and ended the sentence differently than originally intended, but still just as cheerful as before.
"-they just didn't want house elves any more. He told me loads about them though."
Okay, more examples. Examples were good...except Erik didn't find anything funny about the boy's name and merely blinked at all his cheerfulness.
"Vhank you for sharing," he replied to him evenly. There was surely a story behind why the boy's family had gotten rid of their house elves but he wasn't sure they had time for it now.
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Originally Posted by
Charely Potter Instead, he wrote the confirmed and somewhat amusing facts down in his notebook..hmm.. wait, now there was one thing he didn't hear from the others yet, prompting his hand raising. "House elves deserve money for their work." Least that's how Wade figured.
Now this, this was an opinion, not a fact. Erik raised an eyebrow at the boy's answer.
"Vhy do you believe vhat?" he countered his statement.
"Do house elves vhemselves vant payment for vheir work?" Quote:
Originally Posted by
lazykitty Yes, Sky had been here the entire time. But was also still determined to not be a parrot. So, she'd glossed right over the first question, letting the others repeat each other if they wished. But the second question, well that was more personal and she couldn't let the others answer for her. So, here it goes. "No, my family doesn't have any elves at home. We believe in the muggle way of doing things, unless it's a situation where it's to our benefit to use magic. Or in an emergency." Besides, using elves just meant you were arrogant and lazy.
This was an interesting answer, one Erik would have liked to poke at more. Was the girl saying that her family was a load of Muggles or did they not own house elves for moral reasons?
"Vhank you for sharing," was all he said instead. They could delve more into the debate of owning house elves later.
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Originally Posted by
Team ronmione House elves had to follow orders from their owners, Tag knew that. Oh! And he knew something else about them. He wasn't sure if anyone else had given out this answer, so he raised his hand and said "They can only be freed if their owner gives them some sort of piece of clothing. Whatever it is." Otherwise, that basically meant 'no clothes, no freedom'. An that's such a shame to those poor house elves because, Tag wondered, who would, those who had house elves, be kind and considerate enough to give them some clothing. Hopefully some people did give their house elves clothing. He would. It just didn't seem right.
"Correct," Erik nodded to the small Gryffindor. Even a sock could free a slave, if given by the right person...
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Originally Posted by
Govoni Hmmm. Why was the Professor asking him that all quiet-like? Dylan just kinda looked at him curiously for a moment and then carried on with answering. "Well, yes, sir. It's in all the books...'.....any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws'...House elves aren't stupid. They know our laws and their rights...but they still remain loyal to whatever families they serve..."
Seemed a little silly...but when the House Elf race had only known one way of living for so long...It had to be hard to accept change. "They also consider it disgraceful to get paid....or, at least, I'd read that somewhere."
"...And no, my family doesn't own House Elves. Their faces creep me out."
Erik listened respectfully to the Slytherin's answer before speaking.
"Do house elves have some representation in vhe Ministry?" Erik was curious to see what he knew.
"Vhe law says vhey have sufficient intelligence to know vheir rights, but why vhen do vhe elves not take advantage of vhem?"
Like he said, they considered it disgraceful to be paid...why was that? Erik looked to the rest of the class to see what they thought too.
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Originally Posted by
CassiopeiaAKTF So his answer was a direct and simple "No"
No house elves in this one's family. Okay then, Erik acknowledged him with a curt nod...
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Originally Posted by
xXxPandora When the man asked the class if they had house elves in their homes, she hesitated for a while. They didn't have one in their house, but her Grandmother did. With this, she raised her hand up in the air. "My family doesn't own a house elf sir, but my Grandmother does. Usually, she sends her house elf to clean my house at least thrice a week since no one is basically living there while I'm at school." She'd explain more on why no one else was living in that house but she didn't deem it necessary. Those who knew why would know why....and those who didn't....well, too bad for them.
Okay and another interesting personal student answer...
"Vhat's kind of your grandmother, and her elf, to do..." Erik supposed.
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Originally Posted by
Emzily Theo didn't know MUCH about house elves, other than they were a little annoying. But they cooked the food and cleaned, so they weren't THAT bad. Hogwarts certainly seemed to have struggled without them this year. He raised his hand, "They speak in their own language." Kinda anyway.
Did they? Erik tilted his head to the side slightly and studied the Slytherin who had said this.
"Vhat language is vhat, Mr. Kinsley? Care to give us an example?" Here he was, thinking all along that they spoke the language of their masters...
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Originally Posted by
Tegz As for house elves... West put his hand up. "We have one called Chaucer. He's been coming here and helping out a bit when my dad can spare him." He volunteered.
Chaucer, fascinating name for a house elf. Erik quite liked the name.
"And vhat's nice of him to do. How long has Chaucer been vith your family?" Quote:
Originally Posted by
the fastest seeker She stuck her hand up perkily and spoke, "My grandmother did have a house elf but she died," Cassia didn't remember much because she was like three years old. No one could have solid memories from that age?
But then she paused and added quickly, " The house-elf died not my grandmother," Just to clear everything out. Her grandma was VERY alive.
The house elf had died, not the grandmother...heh. Erik almost smiled at that.
"Good to know, vhank you for sharing, Cassia." Quote:
Originally Posted by
jrtpuplvr Asher was surprised to hear that there were still families that had House Elves. He didn't think people did that anymore, large places like Hogwarts maybe, but not households. "We do not have a House Elf. My mom says that's why she has children. To do the chores around the house."
...
"Vell, vhat a smart mother you haff." Erik's mouth was definitely curved into a smirk now.
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Originally Posted by
Meizzner Nigel raised his hand at the question. He did not really like talking about what goes on at his house. But it was true that he had a house elf.
"We have one.Does the housework, keeps secrets and is an excellent cook."
"Keeps vhe secrets...vhat is a good point to make about house elves..." Erik would know that they were excellent secret-keepers, all the more excellent because of their undying loyalty.
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Originally Posted by
hermionesclone Did he have a house elf? "Erm... we don't have one in the Summers household," Because, well, his Dad wasn't exactly magical. It would just be weird. "And Professor? Don't they usually work for old wizarding families?" And were there still that many old wizarding families around? And if there weren't... did that mean that not many house elves were in employment? Especially since the ones that had been at Hogwarts, apart from Toddles, were gone too. Or... was he just thinking too much on this?
It was probably the last one.
"Yes, vhey are typically found vorking for old wizarding families. Vhat is a good point to make, Mr. Summers." One he was surprised no one had brought up sooner.
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Originally Posted by
PotterHeadforLife "They're super loyal to their master... and like Alice and the others said, house elves can only be freed if their master presents them with any type of clothing." But somehow Kat wasn't too convinced by the 'loyalty' part because if they really were... where in Merlin's beard did the other Hogwarts elves go?
Logical question. They can't just retire like what they claimed in the Daily Prophet. Hmm.
Moving on to the next question... "We don't have a house elf, Sir," Kat said with her hand raised. Because that was what they were supposed to do, right? Raise their hand when they answer? "My aunt does, though. It does the chores and helps the family members out with whatever they can offer." Typical house elf.
"Good points to make," Erik replied to the first part of her answer. And to the second part,
"Vhank you for sharing." Another one whose family had an elf. Interesting.
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Originally Posted by
DJ ExpelliarMOOSE Oakey kept quite for the first question that Vinteren asked, his mind wandered and someone clung to thoughts of Kurumi and her obsession with the Elves in Hogwarts."My Family used to own one. Cheez, was under servitude to Grampy Gunter until he passed. Then she was meant to serve under my Guardian but he freed her instead." Had he just openly called a man he never met in his life Grampy? Well that was a first.
Grumpy Gunter and Cheez the house elf...it was difficult not to smile at this answer too. But Erik instead gave the Head Boy a serious nod.
"Vhank you for sharing, Oakey." Quote:
Originally Posted by
AlwaysSnapesGirl So now the question went to who had one in their family. Penelope mentally debated for a moment whether to answer this one. Her grandparents had them, but she didn't really feel like talking about them...but then again, she wouldn't be talking about them, just their house elves. And the elves were some of the only things she liked about that house, since they were actually nice to her and all that. So she finally raised her hand. "My grandparents have a few."
"Vhank you for sharing..." Erik replied to the last student to volunteer out loud...oh, were there no more? No? Okay then, moving on...
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Originally Posted by
Deniiz Loyal? Loyal?! Forrest wanted to LAUGH at those who said loyal. Laugh BITTERLY too. So far, the house-elves had been the most disloyal creatures he had met in this world. But who cared as long as there was ice-cream? Ice-cream... he needed that...
Back to the class.
He raised his hand in the air to answer. "There must be several breeds though, since Hogwarts elves aren't very loyal." He still wasn't impressed with them at all.
To this. Erik couldn't have asked for a better transition than if he had paid the Hufflepuff boy to speak up.
"Vhy do you say vhat?" he inquired, fixing his blue eyes on the lad and standing up from his desk. He moved over to the chalkboard, his eyes sweeping the rest of the room, and then lazily pointed his wand at the board so it would start taking down their descriptions of house elves up to now.
"Does anyone really know vhy, or how Hogwarts' house elves came to be missing? Or vhere are vhey now?"