Are house-elves _slaves,_ as such?

[Eric Oppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 102588

I was thinking about house-elves (WAAAY too much time on my hands---not
enough to read!  Write, JKR, write!) and it occurred to me that house-elves'
servitude is not really slavery _eo nomine._

Apparently they are bound to a particular place, or house, instead of being
_owned_ by a master.  While a master can free them by presenting them with
clothes, they don't seem to be able to be bought and sold, as they would be
were they true slaves.  I would say that their condition more resembles
serfdom, as practiced until the 1860s in Russia.  Russian serfs could not,
at least in theory, be forced to leave their land---to force them out
required that they be first freed.

While there are certainly resemblances between slavery and serfdom, a serf's
condition is better in many ways.  A serf cannot be bought or sold (again,
at least in theory, although I am not sure how well this was adhered to in
pre-1860s Russia) and has more rights vis-a-vis the master than a slave.

If house-elves _were_ slaves, pure and simple, what would prevent Winky from
being sold to someone really nasty, or Kreacher from being sold to Molly
Weasley or someone else trustworthy?

"A house-elf?  Oh, Sirius, I've always wanted one!  But---but I can't afford
him!"

"Make me an offer, Molly.  He's all yours for ten Sickles!"

"Done and a bargain!"  *Molly gives Kreacher an ominous smile*  "Guess what,
Kreacher---_I_ am now your new mistress!  No more lollygagging---it'll be
work, work, work from morning to evening!"

*drops the subject, wondering where house-elves come from---do they have
"reproduction dates" with other house-elves, or do households with enough to
breed find ways to "place" the offspring?*