Hearing that slavery was illegal was a good sign, though technically speaking, that didn't always mean it didn't happen. House-elves were slaves, no question about it, and yet the wizarding community thought it was the most natural thing in the world to have one around at your beck and call. Even Ron had thought as much, until he'd learned better.

"How exactly did they abuse their power, then?" Hermione asked carefully, knowing it must have been dire if some of them had been "taken care of permanently". She didn't know why she asked questions to which she really didn't want the answer, but sometimes her drive to know everything about a given situation could be something of a curse.