Harry Potter: 10 Worst Things Hermione Has Ever Done
3. Tried To Trick House-Elves Into Setting Themselves Free
Hermione was the first of her friends to show some kind of political awareness. In The Goblet of Fire, she learns about the house-elves working at Hogwarts and starts a campaign to set them free.
Harry and Ron aren’t particularly enthusiastic about Hermione’s new fixation, but that doesn’t stop her from pursuing her goals. In The Order of the Phoenix, she even tries to trick the house-elves into setting themselves free.
‘You’re leaving out hats for the house-elves?’ said Ron slowly. ‘And you’re covering them up with rubbish first?’
‘Yes,’ said Hermione defiantly, swinging her bag onto her back.
‘That’s not on,’ said Ron angrily. ‘You’re trying to trick them into picking up the hats. You’re setting them free when they might not want to be free.’
Hermione may have had good intentions, but Ron has a point here. Most house-elves have no desire to be free. They believe it’s their duty to serve their masters, and Hermione’s attempt to deceive them is a disgraceful thing to do.