Note that as long as Dobby was the slave of the Malfoys, his attempts to help Harry failed: cf. He is devoted to Harry Potter and also to Ron Weasley, who he refers to as Harry’s “Wheezy.” Dobby is particularly fond of socks and used his earnings to buy yarn and knit them himself ( GF23). He is quite short, like all house-elves, coming only up to Harry’s navel ( GF21). Dobby later went to work at Hogwarts, where he actually received payment for his labors ( GF21).ĭobby has huge, green, tennis ball-sized eyes and a long thin nose like a pencil ( CS1, CS2). He desperately wanted to be free and eventually Harry Potter managed to trick Lucius Malfoy into giving Dobby an old sock. They hear and see things, as Dobby said ( GF26) and can use their powerful magic and this information for doing bad (Kreacher), neutral (Winky) or good (Dobby).Ī house-elf named Dobby, who served the Malfoy family, took a more enlightened view than most. The role or function of the house-elves is very important. The house-elves are also the chefs of the castle and they create wonderful meals in the huge kitchens. They lay the fires, do the laundry, light the lamps, and do countless other such tasks. There are over a hundred house-elves at Hogwarts, the largest number in any dwelling in Britain ( GF12). For most house-elves, this would be the ultimate insult and they would be shamed forever. If their owner gives them an article of clothing, it breaks the “enslavement” and the house-elf is free. Neither male nor female house-elves wear clothing (and they would consider it shameful to do so) instead, they cover themselves in towels, tea cozies, or pillowcases.
It is difficult for an inexperienced human to tell the difference between male and female house-elves, although the females generally have higher, squeakier voices ( GF8).
House-elves are apparently very happy with this arrangement and consider it a matter of pride that they serve faithfully and do not betray their families.Ī house-elf is a short creature with large bat-like ears and enormous eyes. They are “bound” to the family of the house, which means they do all manner of menial tasks for them until they die. House-elves are small humanoid creatures who inhabit large houses belonging to wealthy Wizarding families.
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