Dani raised her hand. "Well, if you go down to the kitchens the House Elves are really nice and give you food." She didn't really know anything about them. She thought for a moment. "And they bring it really quick. Super fast. It's like fast food." She smiled at the House Elves, hoping she hadn't offended them in any way.

Anna had mentioned Dobby, and Daphne instinctively, tugged on her hair. There went the most obvious answer. "It's true that house elves seem to have a fierce loyalty towards the wizards they serve," stated the blond redundantly. "And it's true, as history proves it, that to a certain degree they have self-will enough to betray their masters considering their treatment. If that is all true, then it means they are capable of knowing right from wrong. Therefore, can't they be trusted to judge for themselves whether they are free or not?"

UGH. Why did she feel like she was beating a dead hippogriff?

"I believe Helga Hufflepuff was just killing two birds with one stone. Hogwarts clearly needed someone to help tend after all the students concerning food, laundry and cleaning. The house elves needed a place where they could still work with a free conscious, without mistreatment or the worry of having their pride wounded."

Satine had never had a house elf or even seen a house elf before this lesson. She had heard of them and thought that they were fascinating and amazing creatures. She was just in awe of their whole culture and really hated the way some wizarding families treated them. Her family had never had one because her mom had grown up in a family that thought it unfair to keep an elf in servitude to their bidding, so thus, her mom felt the same way and so did Satine. But she did have a friend that was a couple years younger than her that had a house elf that was the girl's best friend...not a servant to the family but just an equal friend.

Satine raised her hand, "I think the house elves are just amazing....and should be respected and treated fairly." she said with a smile and surety eventhough that wasn't the question the professor had asked, she just wanted to the elves to know that they were important...

William frowned. Did he know anything about the house elves at Hogwarts? "I've only been here for under two years obviously so I don't know much, but I do know the House elves at Hogwarts are some of the most loyal elves I've ever seen. Not only do they care about serving their masters, ei us and the wonderful professors here, but they also understand what's going on. My cousin used to say that if you were ever lost, just go down to the kitchens and ask a House elf. She was very fond of Schmoop and I can see why. All you had to do was ask nicely, give them respect and they'd respect you by giving you the information you wanted, like say where a certain classroom was." he turned his head, smiling at Schmoop before turning his attention back to the discussion at hand.

"House Elves at Hogwarts know more than anyone about what's going on in the school. They don't get enough respect, which they should. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be wide awake and willing to learn." Or at least I wouldn't be anyway he thought to himself. "I haven't heard of anything though I do seem to remember my cousin telling me about a professor who was not happy with the elves for some reason. I don't know the details though. the House elves here are more about giving us the nutritious meals we eat everyday, they're also about giving us the courage to go do things we normally wouldn't do." he finished his reply off writing as he said his peace.

"House elves have different magic to us. Though it is important to note that their food is still not conjured from nothing, it is just prepared in a blink of an eye, so to speak." Ethan nodded at Dani.

"Excellent points Daphne. They are capable of making that judgement by their standards, not necessarily by ours and of course that is what it comes down to; whose standards of freedom are being applied? And certainly pride is a big thing with house elves though many would be surprised to hear it. They take great pride in their work and if you tried to stop them from doing it, or did it yourself when they want to do it, it may injure their pride." Truebridge told the Gryffindor.

"And what do you think being respected and treated fairly entails, Satine?" Ethan encouraged her to think further.



"Very well put, William. It sounds like you appreciate what they do." Ethan nodded at the Ravenclaw.

"Apart from Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic does much to support house elves." He turned to Georgia Mayes, "Perhaps you could tell us a bit about what your division does in relation to house elves, Georgia?" Ethan inquired.

He looked around at the elves. "I don't know about the students but I'm getting a little hungry and thirsty, perhaps this is a class that requires some sustenance?"

Satine thought about the professor's question for a few minutes, "Well, I've heard stories about the elves being beaten and being forced to do things they didn't want to do..." she couldn't really think of the perfect way to put it but then another thought came to her mind..."Professor, isn't it kind of crazy that the wizarding community and the muggle community have both had issues with the concept of slavery and both have had upheavals and major wars over it?"

Dani raised her hand again. "The elves have their own magic that is arguably just as strong as ours, so why do we deny them wands?" It had never made sense to her. "I mean they're already almost as powerful as us, would it be such a shame to make them equals?" She was not a fan of segregation. It just wasn't fair. She pouted at the professor like it was his fault.

Oh she existed in his little world?

Well I guess I should be honoured, she thought petulantly.

She decided to pretend it was not Ethan Truebridge who spoke but just some bodiless voice that asked her to talk about her job.

"The Being Division handles the needs of creatures deemed to be of sufficient intelligence to understand, abide by, and participate in the creation of wizarding law," she said, casting a dark sideways glance at Truebridge. "The way we manage the needs of house-elves is pretty much exclusively through the Office of House-Elf Relocation."

Tetrus had told her to play up the Ministry as if it were a fun place to work. Well her job was fun - except for the present moment - she enjoyed bossing around people and giving them nasty nicknames and generally getting things done properly with the added perk of scaring the living daylights out of people. But how to make it fun for children?

She decided not to even bother.

They probably weren't smart enough to understand half of what she was saying anyway.

"The Office of House-Elf Relocation's day to day tasks are to address questions or complaints of any house elf we should come across. They are our first priority. If a house elf finds the will to be relocated, we will facilitate a new, more suitable arrangement for the elf in question. This can sometimes mean merely addressing the concerns of the house elf and investigating their working atmosphere, making improvements if possible, and allowing them to remain where they are. In other instances we arrange for the house elf to leave the home they currently occupy in favour of one that better compliments their needs. Very occasionally we provide intervention services, but since abuse of an elf has to be reported before anyone can investigate, and so rarely does an elf find it in themselves to do so, this is a less common function of the office. Other tasks also include finding new work for freed house elves, and general liaison efforts with house elves to cultivate the best possible understanding between humans and elves."

Most likely, George sounded like a text book, or a very very boring tour guide, but she didn't care. She suspected nearly all the children weren't even listening to begin with.

Cretins.

Argyle tries to listen to what the Ministry Mistress is saying, but the Ministry Mistress uses such big words Argyle isn't sure what Ministry Mistress is saying. Argyle would interupt the Ministry Mistress, but that would be rude. Argyle does understand Master Truebridges request for something to eat. Argyle had already baked and frosted hundreds of chocolate and vanilla cup cakes this morning. Argyle snaps her fingers and several trays of cup cakes appear on Master Truebridge's desk. Then Argyle snaps her fingers and a wash tub full of butter beers and ice appear next to Master Truebridge's desk. Then Argyle raises her hand. "Excuse Argyle, Ministry Mistress, I'm sure you're speech is very important, but Master Truebridge requested refreshments. Master Trubrige may Argyle answer the young lady's question?"

"Please do." Ethan nodded, "Thank you for the refreshments. Everyone may help themselves and I do hope you are listening to Georgi... Ms Mayes. If anyone has any questions for her at all relating to house elves, or questions for the elves, now is the time to ask."

Dani grabbed a cupcake and then went and sat down on the floor next to the House Elf. She liked House Elves. "Please do explain." She waited patiently and took a bite of her cupcake, looking at the Elf expectantly. She really really really wanted to know.

"Thank you master Truebridge. House elves don't need wands to perform magic. Our magic is different than wizard's magic. That's why house elves can aparate within Hogwarts when wizards can't. Argyle thinks of what magic Argyle wants to perform and snaps Argyle's fingers. Argyle would not know what to use with a wand although it would make a good stirring stick when Argyle makes treacle tarts."

Dani smiled at him. "Really? Is it anything like wordless spells?" She was fascinated. She took another bite of cupcake. "So really, technically you guys would be stronger than us because you can do whatever you want and we're limited by vocabulary. Wow." She was awed by her new conclusion. "That is so cool!"

Argyle sits down next to the girl. It's nice to talk to the young witch. Usually the students just want something to eat. "Elf magic isn't really stronger than wizard magic. Elf magic is just different. There are spells wizards can perform that elves can't."

Dani smiled when the Elf sat down next to her. "But you just have to snap. I remember when I lost my wand it was the scariest day ever. Without it I felt completely useless. At least your magic isn't determined by a stick." That's right, she was jealous.. of a House Elf. She licked some frosting off of her finger. "These are really good by the way."

Fyo raised his hand. "What about sanctuary, ma'am?" He asked, slightly wide-eyed. This was... lots of information. He enjoyed it, though. "What if a house-elf wants to be free - or get paid - and comes to you to claim sanctuary, or for help in finding a paying job? Are they given protection, then? Do you look for a place where they'll be given wages?"

Raiden raised his hand slowly, eyes on the house elves instead of on the speaker lady. They were really friendly and stuff; he'd never talked to them before, never having been down to the kitchens. He'd have to make a point of going down there more often now.

"Uhm... Miss Mayes?" He bit his bottom lip. "How do Wizarding families make House Elves their slaves? I don't understand how... that could even happen."

Diane raised her hand, again addressing the older woman, "Wouldn't it be more effective to visit house-elves in their current dwellings, say, once per month? To check on them. And, what are the signs of elves mistreatment?" If malnutrition, lack of warmth, no dental help and, as far as she could tell, lack of education weren't indicators enough, then they should have another parameters for judging. Wonders if it is... beatings.

"I just would like to hear their ancient history, if they may?" she turned her eyes to the house-elves, waiting for one of them to respond.

"Part of our mandate is to not carry a bias for or against any wizard who keeps an elf. If a house elf were to come to us seeking these things we first assess if they are unhappy in their work, or they are merely unhappy in their household, if it's the latter, we try lots of different approaches as the situation warrants, sometimes a simple notice of complaint can be enough to help rectify the situation from whence they came. Other times we lay fines. Or intervene to accomplish the house elves freedom. We cannot, without showing cause, stop a household owner from retrieving an elf that serves them. But the elf can refuse to go. At which point we open the discussion on how to resolve the issue at hand."


George's boots remained firmly on her feet. But only just.

"I'm not sure how many times I have to say this for some of you to understand," she said through gritted teeth, "House Elves are NOT slaves. They agree to work in a household and the household agrees to keep them. So you are quite right, it could NOT happen. But based on their loyal natures, house elves form attachments to households and the people in them; they will serve their household until the day they die, it's a mark of pride for them. It's not slavery, it's a species acting as it is in their nature to act. And while some wizards take advantage of this loyalty, not all people who keep house elves treat them viciously. And many house elves are content with their lives in this kind of servitude. In fact the idea of freedom, the way we see it, is a matter of deepest shame, it is failure and being unwanted, unnecessary, and without purpose, by their perspective."

This child was getting on George's LAST nerve.

"First of all, young lady, do you have ANY idea how many house elves their are in Britain?" She responded, "And second of all, we don't visit them because they don't ask to be visited. It's meddlesome of us, even to the perspective of an elf. After you get shooed out of your hundredth kitchen by a vexed house elf you might learn that most like to be left to go about their business. And anything that prevents them from caring for their household is most unwelcome. So instead we wait for them to make the first move, and ask for our help before we force it upon them."

Fyo nodded, hand still in air. Stupid habit. "But -" he was just beginning to realize something. "If a house-elf refuses to go, don't you just let him or her leave, ma'am?"

'Discussion on how to resolve the issue at hand?' That made it sound like the house-elves were captives, who were not allowed to.... you know. Just leave if - and when - they wanted to leave, because of mistreatment.

Jack was busy taking notes. He never had a House Elf, his family being of modest means. Strange questions raced through his mind...

'Are there any House Elf Musicians? I mean, is playing music ever a requirement, and if it is, what instruments do you play? Or do you sing? What about other types of performing? Dancing? Acting? Stuff like that.'

"Thank you. It's an old family recipe."


Argyle is perplexed by the wizard's question. "Why would a house elf want or need to do things like that? Argyle is perfectly happy working in the kitchens here at Hogwarts."

Argyle also listens to the answers the Ministry lady gives to the children's questions. "Argyle does not know for sure, but most house elves are happy with their families. The professors and students here are Argyle's family. Argyle loves them, so Argyle has no need for the Ministry Lady. Children do not understand that Dobby's story is the exception to the rule and not the norm."

"You will have to ask Master Truebridge about that. Argyle is a guest professor in Master Truebridge's class. Argyle cannot discuss things Master Truebridge does not want discussed. Argyle is also not sure if House Elves' History is also History of Magic. Master Truebridge?"

Jack thought maybe the House Elf misunderstood him,

'Maybe I didn't ask the question correctly. I don't mean it as an insult, I was just wondering if duties ever included things other than keeping the household and cooking and such. Like, are House Elves every asked to entertain their families as one of their duties? Playing music or singing for their families?'

"While I don't at all mind such discussions, we are running out of time and it sounds to me like Diane would prefer to know more about house elf history than wizarding history? Diane, I have a few books you are more than welcome to look through if you wish to do more research on the matter, and the house elves may be willing to talk to you about it outside of class too, you too Jack, if you wish to pursue the avenue of house elf... arts."

Ethan cleared his throat, "In any case, unfortunately the lesson must come to an end now, don't forget to thank the house elves and Ms. Mayes for coming to talk to us. Finals start soon, so I suggest you read over your class notes for the term in preparation for that, but otherwise there is no homework for this lesson."

George really felt like she was repeating herself now.

"We have to have a VERY good reason, and proof to just remove a house elf from their household, and even if we were to do so, it's not just in our hands." George explained, AGAIN, "If they do not wish to return, it becomes our job to find a way to make a climate they can accept within the household, or ask the wizard family to release them. A house elf of course, if they truly believe they can, can abandon their household. But house elves with that level of autonomy are very rare. There is wanting to leave, and believing you can. At the end of the day, either the house elf has to believe they can leave without being formally released of their agreement or the household has to formally release them, to simply tell them they can leave means nothing to them."

Oh thank Merlin it's over.

That's right, no more questions.

Rotten little stupid children.