Who originally owned Dobby?

[bambalita]

No: HPFGUIDX 174618

 jellocat:So why did Dobby care about Harry at all, then? Isn't that 
off the charts for a house elf to be?
 
Bambalita:
I agree with Juli as to why Dobby cared for Harry.  He was grateful.

Dobby WAS a pretty off the charts house elf.  I think it was just his 
personality.  The other house elves were embarassed of him wearing 
clothes and flaunting his freedom. Remember when Winky was freed from 
the Crouches in GoF, The House-Elf Liberation Front chapter, She 
said, "Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not getting paid! 
[referring to Dobby getting paid to work in Hogwarts] Winky is not 
sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!" 
And when Dobby was talking to Harry, Hermione and Ron about his 
freedom and getting paid the other house-elves "all looked away as 
though Dobby had said something rude and embarassing."  

jellocat: He was "owned" by the Malfoys - aren't house elves supposed 
to show loyalty only to their masters?

Bambalita:
I think Dobby was "loyal". When he tried to tell Harry why he was in 
danger he kept beating himself up over it...so he was being loyal to 
the Malfoys by not saying who was involved only that Harry was in 
danger.