Houseelves loyalty

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 159593

Random 832:
> Why? They're house elves, not family elves, and it's never been 
ambiguous that it refers to "house" literally as in the place itself, 
not "house" as in bloodline/clan/whatever. The line I quoted above is 
probably the clearest textual evidence one way or the other, but the 
fact that they're based on the Brownies of myth strongly supports 
this view, as is the fact that Harry inheriting Kreacher was used as 
a test as to whether he'd inherited 12GP. If there was a chance that 
he might have inherited 12GP but not Kreacher along with it, it 
wouldn't have been a very useful test. If there was a chance of the 
opposite (inheriting Kreacher but losing 12GP), it would even have 
been dangerous to rely on that test.

Ceridwen:
I was under the impression that testing to see if Kreacher was really 
Harry's was a test of the validity of Sirius's will, not merely of 
his ownership of #12.  Both Kreacher and #12 are willed to Harry.  If 
one is valid, then the other would be valid as well.  It would be 
more sensible to summon Kreacher if possible, than to traipse over to 
#12 when it could be that Bellatrix has inherited through some sort 
of entailment (property could only be passed on to blood relations, 
for example) and was now ensconced as Mistress of the House.  The 
Order had temporarily moved headquarters because of this possibility, 
if I recall right.

Of course, I could very well be reading this wrong.  *g*

I have only read one story about a brownie.  But I recall that the 
householders were worried that the brownie might get it into his head 
to leave.  House elves are tethered to whatever it is they are 
tethered to, and can only be released by being given clothes.  I can 
certainly see where they have come from the brownie story or legend, 
but there are significant differences in the Harry Potter series.

Random 832:
> One would assume that if they did (for whatever reason) move, they 
wouldn't buy a house that was small enough to lack elves unless they 
had to (and, if they did have to, e.g. the debt theory above, then 
they'd just have to live without having any)

Ceridwen:
The Malfoys, or at least Lucius, have always reminded me of an up-and-
coming family rather than a very old, established family.  Not that 
Lucius is the first of his family to have money and position, but 
that the bloom hasn't left the rose yet.  Lucius seems to be active 
and dynamic in his social roles and obligations, making at least the 
show of concern for the well-being of the students in his role as a 
governor of the school.

I've read the theory that Lucius has been strapped for money since 
CoS, too, and it is an interesting idea.  Greasing the wheels, being 
seen as some sort of patron, requires a lot of money.  Either there 
is a business connected to the fortune - manufacturing, trade, 
farming - or Lucius is spending beyond his means when he provides the 
best brooms for the Slytherin team among any other expenditures.  
This is a future investment, not one to bring quick cash.  The theory 
that I read also suggests that he has found some way of supplementing 
his income, although it may not be enough to bring the fortune back 
up to suitable levels.

I can see Lucius doing what he needs to do to maintain his position 
in the WW, even to the extent of living in a smaller home and without 
house elves.  I had a harder time imagining Narcissa in the same 
position before HBP.  Now, I think it's possible that she too would 
do whatever is necessary for the family.  I think it would be harder 
on Draco, since he probably wouldn't have much of a say in the 
matter, and only an imperfect idea of why it would have to be, if the 
Malfoys keep anything from him.  While he seems to know a lot about 
his father's business, his parents might try to shield him as much as 
possible from this sort of harsh reality.

Ceridwen.