House Elfs - why DID Dobby help Harry?

[dcyasser]

No: HPFGUIDX 81957

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kneazle255" <kneazle255 at y...> 
wrote:
> 
> Kneazle255:
> i have questions about Dobby's motivations in CoS.  There is no 
overt reason why Dobby would think Harry was in any particular 
danger. Dobby knows about the diary. The diary's purpose is to kill 
> muggleborns. Harry is not muggleborn. Why does he assume Harry is 
in mortal danger?
> 
> Lucius' apparent purpose is to get DD out of Hogwarts and 
discredit the Weasleys.  There is no hint that Lucius knows that the 
diary has its own will or that it is capable of bringing Riddle 
back. I think Lucius would have used the diary differently if he 
realized it was a means to bring back his Dark Lord.)
> 
> If Dobby knows what Lucius knows and no more, his motivations 
don't make sense. He has to know more than Lucius.  He WOULD know 
more if he were orginally a Potter elf.
> 

Just yesterday I was reading Dobby's warning in CoS and this leapt 
out:

"Harry Potter must stay where he is safe. He is too great, too good, 
to lose." Later same page he says "Harry Potter must not put himself 
in peril. He is too important, sir!" (US hardcover p.16)
This screams to me that Dobby knows about the prophecy. Why else 
whould Harry be too important to lose? Sure he's a nice reminder of 
Voldemort's defeat, but that wouldn't make losing him now 
disasterous, only unpleasant.  Nope, I think Dobby knows it is vital 
that Harry sticks around, and that's why he risked coming to warn 
him. 
Dobby knows, from Lucius, that Tom Riddle's diary will be used to 
possess someone at Hogwarts and release the basilisk. Dobby knows 
the connection between Tom Riddle and Voldemort. Perhaps Dobby knows 
more than Lucius does about the magic in the diary, and realizes the 
Riddle could come back physically. That creates a direct threat for 
Harry.  I think this knowledge is simply a part of house elves 
having more powerful magic, and perhaps a deeper understanding of 
magic, than wizards. Let us not forget that Dobby stopped Lucius 
cold at the end of CoS twice - first when Lucius lunged at Harry, 
and a moment laterwhen Lucius pulled his wand . 

Harry, for his part, asks the same question of Dobby.
"But why are you warning *me*?" A sudden, unpleasant thought struck 
him. "Hang on - this hasn't got anything to do with Vol - sorry - 
with You-Know-Who, has it?" (US hardcover p.16) 

Harry knows at this point that Voldemort is a threat to him - he 
just doesn't know how much of a threat.  Dobby does. And Dobby will 
go to any lengths to protect Harry, and therefore the whole WW (EW?) 
from Voldemort.  

Plus, Dobby really, really, really likes Harry.    

Now, if Dobby knows, does Lucius know?

cheers
dc