House Elfs?

[Kim]

No: HPFGUIDX 82057

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "zihav" <lynch at a...> wrote:
> Greetings:
> 
> I've been wondering, we know how to dismiss a house elf, but how
does 
> a wizarding family go about getting a house elf? We know that Ron 
> states in CoS that it's an old wizarding family with lots of gold, 
> but is that the only requirement? I think it would be pretty funny
if 
> Hermione ends up with a House Elf (Winky) and can't bring herself
to 
> dismiss her becasue she's now happy again. Ron and Harry would have 
> tell her that she would treat Winky better than anyone else.

On page vi of "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them", supposedly
written by Newt Scamander, but actually one of the two Comic Relief
fundraiser books written by JKR, it says:

"Newton ("Newt") Artemis Fido Scamander was born in 1897.  His
interest in fabulous beasts was encouraged by his mother, who was an
enthusiastic breeder of fancy Hippogriffs.   Upon graduation from
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mr. Scamander joined the
Ministry of Magic in the Department for the Regulation and Control of
Magical Creatures.   After two years at the Office for House-Elf
Relocation, years he describes as 'tedious in the extreme,' he was
transferred to the Beast Division, where his prodigious knowledge of
bizarre magical animals ensured him rapid promotion."

So, there is an Office for House-Elf Relocation.   Perhaps it is like
an employment agency that matches elves with potential wizarding
families?    How awful in personality would a House-Elf have to be in
order to be placed with the Malfoys?   Or maybe it's a random process,
resulting in an ethical Dobby stuck under Lucius's iron thumb...

---Kimberley