House Elves' enslavement (long)

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 114684


Debbie wrote:
<snip>
> It's my theory that Dobby was formerly the Potters' elf and that 
he 
> was "relocated" to the Malfoys after the Potters' home at Godric's 
> Hollow was destroyed and his masters killed.  Dobby's devotion to 
> Harry is extraordinary and doesn't seem fully explainable by the 
> explanation Dobby gives --  that house elves were miserably 
treated 
> while Voldemort was out and about, and that Harry's triumph was 
> a "beacon of hope" for house elves.  Dobby shows Harry the loyalty 
> of a "heart master" although Harry is unrelated to Dobby's legal 
> masters.  If the Potters are *his* family, though, that would 
> explain his loyalty to Harry, even though he is bound to obey the 
> Malfoys and keep their secrets.   
> 
> I've even found some canon to support it.  When Marietta rats on 
the DA and Dobby comes to warn everyone, he says "Dobby has come to 
warn you . . . but the house-elves have been warned not to 
tell . . ."  Dobby doesn't want to provide the details -- house-elf 
guilt must run deep -- but he finally confirms that Umbridge is 
coming.  This confirmation implies that either Umbridge's warning 
was not a direct order or that, as a free elf with an employment 
contract, he was free to disobey.  However, he still feels guilt 
about disobeying anyone with authority at Hogwarts, and attempts to 
punish himself.
> 
> The interesting thing is what happens next.  As Dobby attempts to 
do injury to himself, Harry says "Dobby -- this is an *order* -- get 
> back down to the kitchen with the other elves and , if she asks 
you whether you warned me, lie and say no! . . . And I forbid you to 
> hurt yourself!" Dobby's reaction?  A big "Thank you, Harry 
> Potter!"   
> 
> It almost seems as though Dobby was waiting for Harry to order him 
> not to obey Umbridge.  As a free elf employed at Hogwarts, I don't 
> think he was magically compelled to obey Umbridge.  However, Dobby 
> felt that he needed to punish himself *until* Harry gave him an 
> express *order* which he hastens to obey.  It may be simply 
> the "heart-master" syndrome kicking in.  But it might be more.
> 
Hannah: I never bought the theory that Dobby was the Potter's house 
elf, but you do make a good argument and I'm half-persuaded.  I 
think he would have been inherited by Lucius along with his mansion, 
piles of gold, dark arts memorabilia etc.  They seem to be tied to 
old families and old properties.  I suppose Dobby could have been 
the house elf of James' parents, and was then inherited by him.

I don't understand how Dobby came to be relocated to the Malfoys.  
Surely they would already have at least one inherited elf? Would 
Malfoy really want to buy an elf that used to serve the Potters - 
maybe he would, perhaps that was why he did.  But the way Dobby 
talks suggests that he was maltreated when LV was around, and I 
can't believe that James or Lily would have done this (if they did, 
it goes against his loyalty to and apparent love for Harry).  

He remembers how it was, being treated like vermin (paraphrasing 
here).  He may just be speaking about elf friends, but it always 
seems to me that it's bitter experience, and that is what drives him 
to risk so much to warn Harry.  He also says that he is *still* 
treated like vermin (my emphasis).   

I find the canon supporting your argument quite persuasive, but the 
trouble is we know so little about actual house elf rules.  Dobby is 
a bit of a law unto himself, and I believe all house elves have more 
autonomy than wizards like to think.  It seems to me that the reason 
house elves are still enslaved is their own attitude (I don't mean 
that as a criticism of them), in that elves who are really unhappy 
seem to be able to find ways to disobey their 'master,' and their 
main obstacle is convincing themselves they are in the right. 

When Harry tells Dobby not to punish himself, Dobby is only too 
happy to take that as an order he must obey.  He obeys because it 
suits him.  I don't know if it's a sign that the Potters are Dobby's 
original masters.  Or maybe the elves have to obey students of 
Hogwarts as well as staff?

Hannah