house elves

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 102411


> imamommy:
> 
> Hermione's attitude on the subjuect of house elves seems to me to 
be 
> not accounting for the whole picture.  Her methods only offend and 
> infuriate the elves.  My theory is that there is a logical reason 
> behind the way that house elves serve humans.  I think there is a 
> piece of missing backstory here that would clarify why things are 
> the way they are.
> 
> I find it especially interesting that Hagrid defends 
> the "eslavement" of the elves. If anyone were to speak up for these 
> creatures, I would expect it to be him.  And DD says that Kreacher 
> is "bound by the enchantments of his kind" (I'm not sure if that's 
> the exact quote, butI think it's pretty close).  It seems to me 
that 
> there is something besides mean wizards that keep house elves 
> working for wizards.  

Finwitch:

OK, everyone knows the hard-working elves of Santa Claus/Father 
Christmas... (who's obviously moving by magic and using a Time-Turner 
so there to the theorists trying to count how fast he had to be 
going!)

So, it seems that this embodiment of goodness has something like 
house-elves!

---

They come by ancient houses...

they're bound by enchantment of their kind.. (doesn't sound like a 
wizard put the spell, but that the elf did it!)

They're to (ideally) serve one family and one house for ever (says 
Dobby).

------

Obviously there *can* be a change, though - but elves like Winky 
don't take it well.

(And, by the way Dobby acts, Dobby could be Harry's personal house-
elf!)

Kreacher is also one who LOST that family, (except that Sirius came 
back) - but he is there, in the house... (not doing anything until 
Sirius came... absolutely depressed, wasn't he?!)

Dunno, maybe Dobby WAS a Potter house-elf, but since all the Potters 
died and Harry went to live with Muggles (and the house exploded) he 
ended up with Malfoys. Still, Dobby's bounded to Harry - the last of 
the Family... (which is why he *could* leave the house! unless we're 
to find that Harry's related to Malfoys...)

Anyway, I think a house-elves can't be happy unless serving wizards 
and witches... but if they *lose* a family/house they were happy, 
they'll let all go, and lose all will to live etc. They NEED work. 
(and get terribly upset if someone tries to take their work away from 
them!)

What made them that way? It seems like some of them (like Winky) are 
born to it.

And um... well, if they were made in ancient days for the purpose of 
serving - well, they still have this *purpose* in their lives!

Hermione and her SPEW - well, if she was to truly help the elves 
free, to get well-treated, respected etc. Why, I ask, why did she NOT 
give the elves some respect by asking what they want instead of 
coming up with things like "pay, clothes, retirement...". After all, 
that's what the conditions of work with Guilds/Unions was about: What 
the Workers wanted and then a compromise with the employers to get 
some of it. Hermione begins her SPEW and protests without speaking to 
anyone involved...

-- Finwitch