Hermione after book 5...

[Ginny Malfoy]

I know that Hermione is big on SPEW and "rescuing" house-elfs from what she feels is a life they hate and resent, but I admit, upon reading book 5 again, I was struck by how this equality of the races only seems to extend to house-elfs.

Hermione doesn't seem to feel so passionately about giants. And she definitely doesn't about centaurs...she called Firenze a horse. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE Hermione, but I find her fixation on elf rights peculiar...

Especially since the house-elfs seem HAPPY as they are...whereas the centaurs most certainly do NOT like the treatment they get from humans. I imagine the giants aren't too keen on that treatment either. It just makes me wonder how someone can insist people treat elves as equals, but then regard other half-breeds as just that...half-breeds.

I wonder what's going to happen with Hermione and SPEW...while I can see the merit of what she's doing, it seems to me her pushiness where this is concerned (the house-elves don't seem too happy about it) coupled with her carelessness with other half-breeds may get her into trouble. Those centaurs seem ready to do harm...and some house-elves, like Kreacher, are not as sweet as they seem, as I imagine Hermione learned at the end of book 5...

[Nightfall]

Being muggle born, Hermione sees elf labor as slave labor. Wizards see house elves as happy workers who loved to work. Even Kreacher maybe. He just hated Sirius.
I think she'll get over SPEW and house-elf rights or broaden her agenda and add other races to the campaign.

[Ginny Malfoy]

Being muggle born, Hermione sees elf labor as slave labor. Wizards see house elves as happy workers who loved to work. Even Kreacher maybe. He just hated Sirius.
I think she'll get over SPEW and house-elf rights or broaden her agenda and add other races to the campaign.

I can certainly agree with that. I'd like to add that while Hermione is well-intentioned, she's also coming across as high-handed...that she knows better what the house-elfs want and need than they do. Like Harry, I think she has to be careful that her sense of righteousness doesn't lead her to make some serious mistakes...don't get me wrong...those house-elves that are mistreated deserve better, but it seems the ones at Hogwarts are treated quite well and love what they do...what's more important? Their happiness, or Hermione's sense of justice?

[Mint]

I posted this before but anyway - she just doesn't realize that she is starting in a wrong place. Elfs in Hogwarts are happy - but elfs in evil wizard's families - probably not.

And Nightfall is right. Other creatures are not "used" for anything - only elfs it seems.