[HPforGrownups] House elves

[manawydan]

No: HPFGUIDX 58058

Ersatz Harry wrote:

>But you do have me wondering about what happens to a house-elf when
>its master dies.  Given that it's a slave, I suppose it might be
>inherited if there is someone to inherit it, but what if there isn't?

I'm not sure that canon actually establishes that house elves are slaves,
despite what Hermione might think.

My own feeling is that they are attached to the _house_ rather than the
family - it's just that because prestigious houses (such as Malfoy Manor)
tend to remain in the hands of one family, the distinction is confused.

If Winky hadn't been thrown out by Crouch, my thought would be that she
would still be in the house, waiting for the new owner to take over (maybe
it adds to the value - 4 bedrooms, 3 recep, en suite house elf!)

Cheers

Ffred

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