house elves

[imamommy at sbcglobal.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 102761

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

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

> 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...)

imamommy:

I've wondered about the possiblity of Dobby becoming Harry's house
elf.  It seems that he is bound to Harry by love, which seems to be
the overpowering theme of these books.

Finwitch:

> 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

imamommy:

Here, here!  She's *offending* them, or pity's sake.  I don't think
many elves will rally to her cause, and it's going to be tough to
champion a cause for people who are against it.  

I really would like more on the historical roots of this practice. 
Perhaps one of Professor Binns' upcoming lectures?