I also had my nose rubbed in the fact that Magical Britain has, in its very midst, a powerfully magical race that everybody overlooks. Yes, I'm talking about the house-elves. I'd known about them in an abstract way, but this was my first sight of one face-to-face. I was fascinated, and rather shocked at how callously they seem to be treated by many wizards. I resolved to find ways to free them, especially without their "masters'" knowledge, because they'd be so useful in so many ways.