Dobby revisited

[leb2323]

No: HPFGUIDX 83508

Kneasy: (with much snipping)
> 
> So why did Dobby seek out Harry?
> 
> Is Harry part of the extended family that is centred on the 
household that Dobby serves? According to the known rules that govern 
House Elves, he must be. Strangers are of no concern to a House Elf, 
only family. Additionally, it makes no sense for Dobby to have 
received instructions from Malfoy to warn Harry. Aged twelve he
didn't have the notorious 'pest' factor he later becomes famous for. 
No one would suspect he could cock-up Tom Riddle and a Basilisk at 
that age. So why would Malfoy warn him off? I don't think he would, 
but Dobby might in the right circumstances; if family ties were 
involved, for instance.
> 
> Note that Dobby doesn't seem to be concerned about what might
happen to the rest - Ginny can die, Hermione, Colin and the others
can be petrified, the Basilisk can rampage to its hearts content,
just so long as *Harry* is safe. Dobby was not interested in 
preventing Tom Riddle from re-birth and all that that could mean, he 
was only concerned with keeping Harry out of it. Note also he will  
not betray Malfoy's  dastardly plot in any way ( for Malfoy is
family) except where it touches on Harry. Throughout the book runs
the same thread - Harry must be removed from danger and bugger 
everyone else. The blinkered view of dedicated and compulsive family 
retainer.
> 
> Even after manumission Dobby still shows an interest in Harry's 
welfare, rather as Winky does with the Crouches - her family no 
longer, but habits of a lifetime are hard to break.
>
> JKR has famously said that she nearly gave the game away in CoS.  
The 'why' of it all. Could this be part of it? A critical connection 
that was unsuspected, with the behaviour of Elves the linking clue 
through three books?
> 
> So far, we know nothing about James' family, except they were rich 
and pureblood. Doesn't that seem odd? And doesn't James Potter seem a 
very odd sort of name for an old wizarding family?



>>Annemehr:  (also with much snipping)
>>The fact that Dobby punishes himself convinces me that he *was*
breaking the rules as he knew them. Malfoy must not have said
anything that could be construed as "visit Harry" or even "leave the 
house" IMO. So I conclude that Dobby went to greater extremes than 
Kreacher did to visit someone outside the house. And now I join you
in considering *why* he was so compelled to warn Harry.
>>
>>It is certainly easy to suppose that Harry may be related to 
the Malfoys in some way, and that Dobby knows this and wants to 
protect him. From the text, I don't think we can reach any 
conclusions, unless Dobby just takes the whole thing very personally 
-- that Harry is responsible for the defeat of his hated master's 
Master. But I think there is a hint in ch. 10 of CoS:
>>"'Oh, is that all?' said Harry angrily. 'I don't suppose you're 
going to tell me *why* you wanted me sent home in pieces?'
>>"'Ah, if Harry Potter only knew!' Dobby groaned, more tears 
dripping onto his ragged pillowcase. 'If he knew what he means to us, 
to the lowly, the enslaved, we dregs of the magical world! [...]'"
>>
>>I think this is a hint for the future that House Elves (and 
others? Goblins, Merpeople, some Centaurs even?) see some 
possibilities in The Boy Who Lived that don't even enter the general 
mindset of the Wizard population. I think Dobby was telling Harry the 
truth but barely scratched the surface of it. Of course, this
wouldn't preclude that James was related to Lucius or Narcissa in
some way, too.
>>
>>Kneasy certainly has a point. Dobby feels a *very* strong 
connection to Harry Potter, such as a House Elf might feel for a 
family member. While this may turn out to be true, and eventually
give Dobby a reason to attach himself to Harry in the next two books, 
I can't help but feel that there is more to it as far as non-human 
magical beings are concerned.

leb:
There is just as much chance that I read this somewhere else on the 
board than it came from my own for the moment flu-riddled mind but .
. . what is the liklihood that Dobby once served the Most Noble House
of Potter and was only assigned to the Malfoys by the house elf 
relocation branch of the MoM upon the death of James.  Dobby would 
still be tied to the service of the Potters in some way but would
have primary loyalties with the Malfoys.  This would also explain why 
he was compelled to help Harry but didn't even consider danger to the 
others around Harry.

Had Dobby served the Potters then he would most undoubtedly be aware 
of the prophecy as well and know that Harry was possibly the one 
foreseen to defeat LV and thereby help the lowly, the enslaved, and 
the dregs.  

Hmmm. Could be.
leb