House-elves are bound to the family of the house, which means they do all manner of menial tasks for them until they die. They are never given the opportunity to pursue their own interests nor even have their own lives free of servitude! Many house-elves are apparently very happy with this arrangement and consider it a matter of pride that they serve faithfully and do not betray their families, but there are house-elves that are desperately unhappy bound to a life of service and prostrating!

One of my contacts was able to secure me an interview with a freed house-elf now working at Hogwarts. Dobby gave me permission to share this interview with the public. I think the interview makes it abundantly clear that S.P.E.W. is in the right.

Thank you for sitting down with us today, Dobby.

Oh, yes, miss! Dobby is happy to sit down with friend of Harry Potter's! 'Twas kind of you to bring socks for Dobby, miss! Dobby isn't having any blue socks or socks with ducks!

Of course, Dobby; they don't fit me anymore, anyway, and I thought you might like them. I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

Well, miss, Dobby is always here to serve.

You can call me Hermione, if you like, Dobby. I'm not your master, so you don't have to call me "miss."

If that is what miss wishes...

Er. Well, onto more important things. I have just a few questions here about you and house-elves that I'd like you to answer as honestly as possible.

Dobby shall try to answer as truthfully as possible!

Thank you. Is it true that your old master abused you?

Oh, miss, Dobby - Dobby can't -

Is it true that he used to issue death threats to you?

Dobby was treated like - like vermin, miss - Dobby shouldn't say that -

DOBBY, please, put down the kettle! Let's talk about something else, shall we?

Dobby is sorry, miss.

No, no. It's all right. Anyway... as I understand it, Dobby, you had trouble finding work when you were set free.

Oh, yes, miss friend of Harry Potter's. They all says that Dobby has ideas above his station, miss. No one hires a house-elf for pay except Professor Dumbledore.

Why wouldn't they pay you?

They says house-elves is not to be paid, miss! House-elves is to work for a family, and they is not to want things other than what their family gives to them. Most wizards doesn't want a house-elf who wants paying, miss. "That's not the point of a house-elf," they says, and they slammed the door in Dobby's face! Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid. Dobby likes being free! Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, miss, if Dobby wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, miss, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!

That's not very much!

Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off, but Dobby beat him down, miss... Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn't wanting too much, miss, he likes work better.

So you're free to negotiate with Dumbledore about your wages, unlike with your old master.

Oh no, miss, no. 'Tis part of the house-elf's enslavement, miss. We keeps their secrets and our silence, miss. We upholds the family's honor, and we never speaks ill of them - though Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this. Professor Dumbledore said we is free to - to - He said we is free to call him a - a barmy old codger if we likes, miss! But Dobby is not wanting to, miss. Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, miss, and we is proud to keep his secrets and our silence for him.

Dobby, are you aware that your grammar is incorrect?

... What is you meaning, miss?

What I mean is simply... if someone were to offer education to house-elves, would you be interested in pursuing that? After all, if you can be taught to make complicated recipies and memorise schedules and take care of children, you should be able to at least speak with proper English. If you were to acquire an education, I am sure people would see you as more suited for other positions.

Ooh... yes, miss! Dobby would like to do more than polish silver, but that is the place of a house-elf. If Dobby were to get qualifications, perhaps wizards would be more likely to hire Dobby, miss!

Exactly what I was thinking. Do you have any areas of interest you'd like to study?

Dobby likes socks, miss! He has a collection!

Does Dobby like things other than socks? I mean, are you interested in... history, or Potions, or scholarly things like that?

Oh, but... Dobby is not allowed to pursue his own interests, miss. Always work to do, miss. Dobby is to wash the tables in the Great Hall, miss, then he is to wash Headmaster Dumbledore sir's socks, then he is to help light fires, miss, and change sheets in the hospital wing, and then he is to brew Professor Sprout's morning tea, and then he is to-

I see, Dobby. I had better let you get back to work, then.

Yes, miss. Is you wanting some more tea?

That's all right. Thank you for taking a moment to talk to me. I believe I'll talk to Winky next.

Miss... Dobby is not meaning to be disrespectful, miss... but Winky is not liking you, miss, she is not wanting to talk to you.

But why? I'm only trying to help her.

Winky isn't wanting help, miss! Winky is only wanting to work for Hogwarts. She isn't wanting pay or holidays. She says, "Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not yet getting paid! Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed! You is ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dobby! Oh the shame, the shame!"

If she still feels that way, perhaps it's best I leave her alone, then...

Yes, miss. Miss is welcome to come back anytime for tea. Dobby is always happy to help.

Thank you again, Dobby.