Q's about house-elves

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 98138

Franzi:
> 
> > 1. In OoP after Dobby warned the DA members that Umbridge is on 
her way he
> starts to punish himself. But since he is a freed house-elf there 
should be
> no need to do so. Is it just the old habit? (Sounds more like 
Winky to me.)

Amanda:
> 
> But he isn't free. He's taken a job at Hogwarts. Even if he's 
paid, he's
> bound now, presumably to the "family" (administration) that owns 
the "house"
> (Hogwarts). Umbridge is a member of the family--the highest-
ranking at the
> moment--and as such, he is bound to obey her. Even if he's paid, I 
presume
> the ground rules would stay the same.
> 
> ~Oldest!Amanda

Alas, in this case, extreme age does not appear to confer 
infallibility.

It is clear from GOF that Dumbledore has not taken Dobby on the same 
terms as other House-Elves.  He is an employee, not a slave (in COS 
Dobby refers to the general condition of House-Elves as 
enslavement).  We can't deduce anything about the other terms of his 
contract (I don't mean there's a written contract, just that his 
agreement with Hogwarts is de novo) from the terms of normal House-
Elf enslavement.  We know that Dobby and Dumbledore discussed terms, 
not only of remuneration, but of employment, because Dumbledore told 
Dobby he can call him a barmy old codger - something that would 
cause self-punishment under the existing system.

So why does Dobby try to punish himself?  The obvious explanation, 
as Franzi says, is that old habits, particularly habits of thought, 
die hard.  We don't need to suppose that Dobby is magically 
compelled (as it seems House-Elves usually are) to punish himself, 
for it to be credible that he does.

David