house elves

[Susan]

No: HPFGUIDX 102732

 "antoshachekhonte"  wrote:
> 
> I agree that the status of house elves in the books makes me more 
than a little queasy. I 
> think the thing we need to consider is what their nature actually 
*is*. 
> 
> Are they simply magical creatures whose reason for being is to 
serve a particular house or 
> family? If so, they are not truly enslaved, though they are clearly 
much abused by 
> wizarding folk, who take their service very much for granted.
> 
> On the other hand, are they powerful magical creatures whose desire 
for praise, etc, has 
> allowed them to be drawn into a devil's bargain with the wizarding 
community? This would 
> be enslavement, and pretty reprehensible.
> 
> It seems to me that the destruction of that ridiculous fountain in 
OotP signaled a change in 
> the attitudes of some, at least, of the wizarding community. Here's 
what Dumbledore has 
> to say in Chapter 37, The Lost Prophecy: 'Sirius did not hate 
Kreacher,' said Dumbledore. 
> `He regarded him as a servant unworthy of  much interest or notice. 
Indifference and 
> neglect often do much more damage than outright  dislike ... the 
fountain we destroyed 
> tonight told a lie. We wizards have mistreated and  abused our 
fellows for too long, and 
> we are now reaping our reward.' 
> 
> Perhaps, led by Dumbledore and Arthur Weasley, who seemingly alone 
in the wizarding 
> world consider non-wizards/witches to be equals, the WW will go 
through a 
> transformation of its view both of what constitutes civil rights 
and what constitutes 
> freedom.

Susan now:
So I finished rereading CoS, and I truly hope this hasn't been 
brought up before, but after Harry frees Dobby, they talk for a 
minute, then (paraphrase) a loud crack (the same way JKR describes 
apparating) and Dobby *disappears*.  

They were standing in the hallway outside DD's office.  Did Dobby 
just disapparate?

If so, then house-elves are immune to the spells and charms that make 
it impossible for _witches and wizards_ to dis/apparate on and off 
Hogwarts grounds?

If so, then wouldn't it be a very good idea for DD et al to secure 
house-elves' loyalty to their cause?  If house-elves en masse decided 
to support LV, then it seems to me that LV would have a really easy 
time capturing the school, where DD and HP just happen to be.  At the 
very least, evil house-elves being able to apparate onto school 
grounds would definitely compromise Hogwarts' security.

Any thoughts?

Susan :-)