S. P. E. W.

name=Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare| headquarters=Gryffindor common room or Hogwarts library| leader=Hermione Granger| intentions=To promote better conditions and freedom for house-elves.| enemies=Those who oppose greater rights for house-elves.| appearance=Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire| }} The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, or S.P.E.W., is an organization created by Hermione Granger, who is also the only active member. Hermione forms the organization after seeing Winky abused and ultimately freed by Barty Crouch, Sr. at the Quidditch World Cup, with the short-term goal of securing house-elves fair wages and working conditions: "Our long-term aims include changing the law about non-wand-use, and trying to get an elf into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, because they're shockingly under-represented". The membership fee is 2 Sickles, which goes to fund the leaflet campaign, and members receive a S.P.E.W. badge in exchange. Hermione was going to put Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status on the badges, but it wouldn't fit.

The organization is viewed by many students at Hogwarts as something of a joke, and by the Hogwarts house-elves as an insult: when Hermione begins knitting hats, scarves and other items of clothing for the Hogwarts house-elves and hiding them under rubbish, Harry learns from Dobby that the other house-elves refuse to clean Gryffindor Tower. Nevertheless, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Hermione says that she wants to do something worthwhile like continuing with S.P.E.W. Even Rubeus Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, refuses to join, saying:

"It'd be doin' 'em an unkindness, Hermione…It's in their nature ter look after humans, that's what they like, see? Yeh'd be makin' 'em unhappy ter take away their work, an' insultin' 'em if yeh tried ter pay 'em . . . I'm not sayin' there isn't the odd elf who'd take freedom, but yeh'll never persuade most of 'em ter do it - no, nothin' doing, Hermione."

Besides Hermione, the only known members are Ron Weasley (treasurer), Harry (secretary) and Neville Longbottom, all of whom joined unwillingly or bought badges to cease her constant promotion of the society. Other members, if they exist, have not been specifically named. S.P.E.W. was (apparently) finally discontinued in the summer between Harry's fifth year and Harry's sixth year. Nevertheless Hermione continued to care deeply about Elfish rights, convincing Harry to treat Kreacher better in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and later, Ron may be considered to have become pro-active in S.P.E.W. in the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when he wants to protect the house elves, Hermione suddenly throws herself at him and kisses him.

Rowling provided additional details about S.P.E.W. in an online interview after the release of Deathly Hallows:


 * Katieleigh: Does Hermione still continue to do work with S.P.E.W. and is life any better for house elves?


 * J. K. Rowling: Hermione began her post-Hogwarts career at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures where she was instrumental in greatly improving life for house-elves and their ilk. She then moved (despite her jibe to Scrimgeour) to the Dept. of Magical Law Enforcement where she was a progressive voice who ensured the eradication of oppressive, pro-pureblood laws.

In the films based on the books, the subplot of Hermione and S.P.E.W. was cut due to time constraints.