Who do the Hogwarts house elves answer to?

[kattfirmin1]

No: HPFGUIDX 70877

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pitaprh" <jwright at a...> wrote:
> 
> Owlery2003 wrote:
  > Depending upon the regularity of his payments being kept up, I'd 
> think Dobby was free to do as he thought best. > 


"pitaprh" <jwright at a...> wrote:

> This could also come back to the idea that some how Harry is 
related 
> to the Malfoys.  There has been some speculation that the reason 
> that Dobby could come to Harry in COS is because he is related to 
the 
> Malfoys.  Like how Kreacher went to the Malfoys in OOP because of 
> Narcissa.  So maybe that is why Dobby still in some ways will take 
> orders from Harry because he is related to the original family 
> who "owned" him.  
> 
> "pitaprh"

When Dobby was freed, he said he went to different wizarding 
families, trying to find work, but no one was willing to pay for a 
house elf.  I got the impression that Dobby could work for anyone 
that would take him.  

I think Dobby had a lot of peer pressure from the other elves not to 
get mixed up in things.  I do think that Dobby does feel a loyalty 
to Harry, and after a lifetime of following orders, it's easier for 
Dobby to "obey"  Harry's orders than for Dobby to be conflicted.

I think it would be cool if after Hogwarts, Dobby went to work for 
Harry.  As a free elf, of course.

Katrina