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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