Dobby revisited

[Tracy Hunt]

No: HPFGUIDX 83803

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kirstini" <kirst_inn at y...> 
wrote:

<snip>

> Dobby is a Thinking Elf. He's a hippy 
> Elf, an independant, rogue Elf. But where did he learn his 
> alternative morality from? Where has he gleaned the language to 
> tell Harry that his former employers were "bad Dark wizards"? Dobby 
> and Winky both use this phrase, so yes, he could have picked it up 
> from her. But it implies a judgement which was made during the 
> period of employment. Therefore, Dobby would have to have learned 
> from *somewhere* that there was a magic which was "bad" - Dark 
> magic, as practised by his employers. 

<snip>

>Dobby, I conclude, *must* have had some previous experience of other 
moral judgements, 
> and I'm guessing it wasn't from Grandpappa Malfoy. 
> 
> However, the problem I have with all my shiny new theorising is 
> that *Lucius Malfoy* is unlikely to want a second-hand house elf. 
> Unless sweet little baby Draco bit the old one's head off, and the 
> house was getting dusty....but I digress.
> 
> Kirstini, spark plugs a-buzzin'. Just not all in the right order.

Now me (Tcy, with her lone, grimy spark plug):
I agree with Kirstini, I don't see Lucius wanting a "second-hand elf" 
(boy, that sounds like a filk title waiting to happen...but back to 
the topic at hand).  There has been speculation recently that Dobby 
belonged to the Potter family (starting with Kneasy's post # 83483).  
But what if Dobby came to be a Malfoy family elf via Narcissa's 
(Black) family?

If Dobby was originally an elf for the Black family (possibly related 
to Kreacher?), it could explain much of what Kristini questioned 
above.  Dobby's *hippy*, *free-spirit* side could be explained by the 
influence of the outcast members of the Black family (notably 
Sirius).  We could also *blame* Sirius for Dobby's affinity toward 
Harry.  

What if, in his younger days, Dobby  (and other family elves) were 
brought up within the Black household with the intention of serving 
the Black children and their new families as they grew up and moved 
out?  Dobby would have definitely been exposed to both sides of 
the "importance of maintaining purity of blood" philosophies.  He'd 
even be likely to know quite a bit about Harry owing to the many DE's 
in the family and Sirius being so close to James.

This isn't nearly as flushed out as it should be...but I just had to 
put my 1.4 knuts in while I had the thought in my head.  Sorry I 
don't have any canon to support this one...it's just pure speculation 
on my part...so I am prepared to have it torn to shreds...

Tcy (cursing herself because these thoughts always sound better in 
her head)