Once more - with questions. part 2.

[Barry Arrowsmith]

The second itch comes, appropriately enough, from
the second book, though key parts of our understanding
on this subject come from the fifth volume. But there's 
a chance, judging by the cover of book 7, that we might
get some actual answers regarding this one.

Yup, it's old Big Ears. Yoda without the brains, Gollum 
without the attitude, that disaster dressed in a dish-rag, 
Dobby, often referred to (around Schloss Kneasy, anyway) 
as "That F***ing Elf". 
It's safe to assume he's not my favourite character.

The Shorter OED provides the following definitions:
dobby
1. a stupid fellow;  a booby; a dunce
2. a spirit or apparition attached to  a particular house or 
locality esp. a household brownie.
[...]

Is that typecasting, or what?
But hold on a second, half a dozen entries before that is:
dob
1. put down with an abrupt movement.
Best thing that could happen to him IMO. Pardon? It's not 
that meaning of 'put down'? Well it bloody-well ought to be.
[...]
3.... betray, inform against.

That sounds as if it might fit the obnoxious little creep, 
but who will he/has he betrayed and how? 'Cos it's a racing 
cert he's done the dirty on somebody.

Most fans take the view that he's betrayed his family 
obligations and is offering aid to the enemy by helping Harry,
yet from what we learn about Winky in GoF and Kreacher in
OoP this is difficult to believe. There is a way that he could 
do what he did and still remain within the bounds of the 
H-F Code of Duty and Ethics, but it's not a popular theory 
among the fans.

A stray thought, probably not relevant, but what the hell -
there's something almost feudal in the relationship between 
H-Fs and masters, complete with parallels of ownership and 
high and low justice. Why, we don't know. Is it an instinct, an
imperative in their nature or is it something more formal, a 
form of contract, perhaps. 'Cos there's the old feudal concept
of diffidatio - if a lord doesn't fulfill his responsibilities, then 
revolt is condoned. I wonder if there's a WW equivalent?

We've surmised that H-Fs generally show family loyalty and 
obey more or less any and all orders. There's a is a bit more 
to this than might appear at first sight and this loyalty can be
interpreted in - not so much different ways, but with different
emphases. It's more than whether they approve of what 
individuals in the family are up to, as is evident with Kreacher
and in the Twinky episode. Crouch Snr has always been rabidly
anti-DE, yet Twinkers, even after being cast out, is obviously 
concerned and almost aggressively protective to the pro-DE 
Barty Jnr in GoF, no matter that he's a baddun and that she's no
longer associated with the family. And it was his fault she got 
the elbow, anyway. 

Kreacher turns this loyalty on its head, constructively 
interpreting instructions so as to cause damage to the head of 
the house, and gives the impression that he'd be happy to see 
Sirius come to a sticky end, preferably before tea-time.

Effectively, one puts the care of individual family members 
above the family ethical code (or lack of one), the other puts 
the code first and duty to the individual second. But whichever
gets priority they seem to care little about anyone or anything 
that isn't directly connected to the family - and in direct 
contradiction to all that "Harry Potter is noble and brave" guff.

All very interesting, but it doesn't help in sorting out Dobby.
Since H-Fs invariably gravitate towards family, what the hell 
is Dobby doing in Harry's bedroom? Harry isn't family, isn't 
anything to Dobby. Or so we believe. But it's not just Privet Drive;
Dobby commutes to Hogwarts a couple of times as well. OK, 
Kreacher managed to sneak out of GP by 'misunderstanding' 
Sirius, but when he did he went to Bella - family. Can't 
imagine Lucius giving instructions that sloppy, not on a fairly 
regular and convenient basis. And if he did, wouldn't Dobby 
head for a 'goody' member of the more extended family? 

That's assuming that the Potters have no (or only distant) blood
connections to the Malfoys and the Blacks. Don't forget that 
Narcissa Malfoy, Dobby's (ahem) mistress is a Black and even
at this early stage of plot development is probably determined
to keep young Draino out of trouble. Conceivably this could 
include keeping Harry as far away from him as possible, 
particularly as Lucius intended to drop the Weasleys, close 
associates of Harry, in deep doodoo. Would Narco order 
Dobby to persuade Harry to give Hogwarts a miss? 
Possible, I suppose, but awfully thin.

Which leaves two alternatives that I can see:
1. Dobby used to be a Potter H-F, got relocated but still 
has residual concerns for the last of the line.
Mmm, could have legs, not very exciting  though, is it?

2. Lucius gave clear orders and Dobby followed them to the 
letter; in other words Lucius is being very, very sneaky and 
playing a very complicated game.
(And it might be film contamination, but I can't forget the
expression on Dobby's face when he dumped the cake -
evil, or what? Not nice at all. Typically Malfoy, in fact.)

Which makes Lucius nasty, devious and thoroughly unprincipled.
What a surprise. 
Fair warms the cockles, that does. But likely? Probably not. 
Pity.

Which leaves us where we started - what the hell is Dobby 
all about?

Kneasy