Harry the House Elf
Ali
Ali at zymurgy.org
Thu May 8 09:54:30 UTC 2003
No: HPFGUIDX 57320
Harry the House Elf- some of the ancient magic surrounding Harry at
4 Privet Drive
Before you think I've gone off my rocker, I don't think that Harry
really is a House Elf. But, I do feel that an element of his
protection lies with the clothes he receives from the Dursleys.
Voldemort tells us that Harry was
"Protected in ways devised by Dumbledore long ago
Dumbledore
invoked an ancient magic, to ensure the boy's protection as long as
he is in his relations' care" p 570 GoF UK edition.
To counteract some of the argument that Mrs Figg is Harry's secret
keeper, we know that wizards did try and see Harry before he even
knew he was a wizard; this surely would not have been possible if
the secret was locked only in Mrs Figg. From the little we have
heard about the Secret Keeper magic, it was not dependant on
somebody else's care, only on them keeping strum. Thus, whilst I am
sure that Mrs Figg is and will be significant, I don't think that it
is because she is Harry's Secret Keeper.
A quick glance at the Dursleys tells us that they hate magic, and
their dislike of Harry seems genuine. An element of the ancient
magic might well therefore work because they are "caring" for Harry
against their will. After all, it does seem that Harry's protection
at Privet Drive is multi-layered. However, I am interested in the
clothes that they give to Harry.
The Dursleys are socially aspiring, curtain twitches who cannot
stand appearing out of place. Harry's hair is a constant annoyance
because it is so unkempt, and Harry's Aunt and Uncle are prepared to
pay out constantly for haircuts: "Harry must have had more haircuts
than the rest of the boys in his class put together" PS p.20 UK
edition. Vernon is even careful not to punish Harry over the snake
incident whilst Piers is still in the house, and however much he
might threaten corporal punishment, we have never been told that he
has carried through his threats – presumably, because that would
risk leaving visible marks (and/or incur the wrath of the WW). And
yet, Harry is a constant and visible oddity because of "his baggy
old clothes".p.27 PS.
If Petunia is so anxious for the family to appear "normal", why not
buy Harry cheap second hand clothes that fit? She is prepared to
spend money to have Harry's hair cut, so why not buy a few cheap
items of clothing? Why dye Dudley's old clothes so that Harry's
uniform will look like "elephant skin". Even in GoF JKR reminds us
that the Dursleys are still giving Harry Dudley's hand-me-downs:
Vernon says "You stand there, in the clothes Petunia and I have put
on your ungrateful back" –
"Only after Dudley has finished with them" said Harry coldly. P.34
UK edition.
I believe that Harry's safety is somehow linked to the Dursleys
giving him their cast off clothes and just as a House Elf is freed
when they are given clothes, the link protecting Harry will be
broken when the Dursleys give Harry new clothes regardless of
whether or not Harry is in their care.
Of course, Harry does buy new clothes, and is given jumpers by Mrs
Weasley and socks from Dobby. But, the protection which the clothes
cement is when Harry is in the Dursley's care. I imagine that this
protection weakens the longer he is away from his family regardless
of the clothes he is wearing, but that Dumbledore had felt confident
that he could protect him whilst at Hogwarts. When this proved not
to be so, Harry would have to return to the Dursleys for a
protection top-up and more baggy horrible clothes.
Ali
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