socks

[Gen]

No: HPFGUIDX 3213

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Peg Kerr <pkerr06 at a...> wrote:
> Joywitch wrote:
> 
> > Although the point Steve makes in the Lexicon that there seems to 
be
> > an awful lot of socks in the HP books really struck me.  Not only
> > Dobbys fascination with socks and the Dumbledore/Erised sock 
remark,
> > but also Uncle Vernon gives Harry an old pair of his socks for one
> > birthday; the pocket sneakoscope gets wrapped in socks.  Doesnt 
Harry
> > buy socks in Hogsmeade for Dobby? (or did I make that up?)  What 
is
> > it with the socks?
> >
> 
> Maybe J.K. Rowling is a secret foot fetishist.

REPLY:

I believe it's JKR's engaging way of mentioning something innocuous 
along the way which later becomes a pivotal or fairly significant 
point. The simple starting point of Uncle Vernon's sock leads to 
Dobby's release at the end of Book 2. Dobby's an important character 
as well, being so critical in Task 2 of the Tournament. The house 
elves have special powers which probably will come in handy in future 
books. Who would have thought a mere sock would have subsequently 
directly and indirectly led on to the events that transpired later.

If I may digress for a moment - something's been on my mind about 
Dobby - I was curious as to how Dobby managed to disappear when he 
visited Harry in the hospital wing, on the night Harry was having his 
bones regrown. Harry was holding on to him but when they heard voices 
approaching, Dobby had somehow vanished. Harry was left grasping his 
fist. We know that one can't apparate or disapparate in Hogwarts, so 
how did he do it ? Indeed, how could he even appear in Hogwarts and 
Privet Drive in Book 2, if he didn't have special abilities ? I 
suspect that they do possess extremely powerful magic but have been 
deliberatly supressed so as not to pose a threat, although it's in 
their nature to be servile. Any thoughts ?

Anyway, back to socks. Dobby's continuing fascination with socks is 
completely understandable, since it was a crummy old sock that freed 
him. Symbol of his freedom from enslavement. What better gift for 
Harry to give Dobby than something he would treasure so dearly ? 
Dumbledore's reference to socks was shooing off Harry's curiousity. 
It's my belief that Dumbledore simply didn't want to answer the 
question, as Harry himself suspected. Shutting up the madly spinning 
sneakoscope - I suppose that was just being practical. Their robes 
are floaty affairs aren't they, so a nice thick woollen sock was just 
what was needed to wrap the noisy thing in.


Gen