Kreacher the Plot Device Elf (was: Potter...wealth - ...Nature of Elves)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 161760

> >>Steve:
> > Keep in mind that it is house-elves who have set the 
> > standard for service, loyalty, and fealty. Kreacher 
> > provides none of those things, he falls far short of
> > the common standards for house-elves, and in that
> > sense, he is both worthless and dangerous. 

> >>Magpie:
> But so do Dobby and Winky who, like Kreacher, prefer to choose    
> whom they wish to serve. Dobby ran away from the Malfoys and      
> actively worked against them. Winky sits in the Hogwarts kitchens 
> and drinks.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that we've yet to see a 
worthless house-elf.  I'll also say that we've yet to see a house-
elf that *isn't* dangerous.  I'll *also* say that we have seen that 
for house-elves, loyalty is strictly in the eye of the beholder.  
And they're the beholder.

Winky, I'm betting, still considers herself Mr. Crouch's house-elf.  
Her loyalty has never wavered. Kreacher considers himself Mrs. 
Black's house-elf, and he's been loyal to her even after her death. 
Dobby is odd in that he's not loyal to his assigned wizard (Lucius), 
but he's certainly shown himself loyal to his chosen wizard 
(Harry).   

And all three elves have shown themselves capable of great feats in 
order to serve and protect those they love.  (And it does seem that 
for house-elves, love and loyalty go hand in hand.)

But here's the thing, magic contract or no, you cannot *force* a 
house-elf's loyalty.  Winky does not consider herself a Hogwarts' 
house-elf; Kreacher doesn't consider himself Harry's house-elf; 
Dobby didn't consider himself Lucius's house-elf.  And all three do 
(or did) their best to *not* serve those they don't (or didn't) want 
to serve, cleverly working their way around the magical contract's 
compulsions.
 
> >>Magpie:
> None of them are as subservient as they seem on the surface. It's 
> one of the odd things about house-elves that I don't know if JKR  
> planned or not, that she introduces them with Dobby who's         
> basically just another character whose loyalty to Harry is kind of 
> for laughs. But since then it seems like most house-elves have a   
> strong emotional bond to their masters. It becomes more clear just 
> how different Dobby is, and why they can't understand him.

Betsy Hp:
Do we ever learn how Dobby became Lucius's house-elf?  Because if 
you compare CoS Dobby to HBP Kreacher, those two seem an awful lot 
alike.  Could Dobby have been willed over to the Malfoy's against 
his personal wishes as Kreacher was with Harry?

(I'm suddenly wondering if Kreacher will start popping into Draco's 
bedroom, speaking ill of his master and then running into walls. <g>)

> >>Magpie:
> Of course, this brings up the question of what happens when       
> they're too old to do anything. The Blacks seemed to honor the     
> elves by beheading them and mounting them on the wall, but what    
> happens at Hogwarts? Is there a retirement wing? Do they get      
> lighter and lighter tasks until they drop dead?

Betsy Hp:
>From what we've seen of House-elves, they'd hate to not work if 
they're working for someone they love. So I'm betting on the 
work 'til they die option.  But I'm also pretty certain that's what 
makes them happy, and also that with their magic it's not as 
physically draining as house work is for us non-magical beasts.  So 
it's probably not as horrifying as it sounds.

Betsy Hp (who'd love a house-elf, but only one who loves me.  The 
other kind are too damn scary! <g>)