[HPforGrownups] re: Wizard Guardianship / House Elves / Godric's Hollow /breaking a Memory Charm

[Amanda]

No: HPFGUIDX 37146

> > Catlady wrote:
> > > The house at Godric's Hollow in which James and Lily were living
> > > in hiding, until it was blown up as a result of Voldemort's
> > > attack on the Potters, was a Muggle house.
>
> > Upon what evidence do you base this assertion? I'm really curious
> > about this.
>
> The evidence is because of the Celluloid-Thing-That-Must-Not-Be-
> Named. It showed the Muggle house. It was a sadly ordinary Muggle
> house, not an old castle nor even an old cottage.

I may give you this one, although I point out that the CTTMNBN is not
infallibly a reflection of JKR's intentions or thoughts--the example leaping
out at me is Hagrid's hut, which JKR manifestly intended to be wooden, but
which the CCTMNBN has of stone. So I'm not entirely convinced. In any
case....

The fact seems to be that house-elves are unlikely to be attached to such a
house, whether it is Muggle or magical down to the wainscoting; they live in
old manors and castles, yada, yada. Okay. BUT, you didn't answer why
house-elves couldn't live in Muggle old manors, castles, etc. They would not
necessarily be perceived as what they are; their effects would be considered
luck or happy coincidence, etc., but they could be there. In JKR's world,
their attachment to such Muggle places could well have given rise to some of
our fairy tales.

--Amanda