Questions tagged [house-elves]
A form of elf appearing in the Harry Potter universe who are typically servants to magical families and act as housekeepers and protectors.
6
votes
1answer
257 views
Why did the house-elves fight without magic?
In Chapter Thirty-Six of Deathly Hallows we have the following passage:
The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed into the entrance hall, screaming and waving carving knives and cleavers, and at their ...
32
votes
4answers
7k views
How did Dobby curse the Bludger?
In Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Dobby tries to keep Harry out of school, and when that fails, Dobby tried to injure Harry so he would leave. We know that he tampered with a Bludger so it ...
10
votes
3answers
558 views
Why do house elves struggle with English grammar?
In the Potterverse we see house elves speak broken English. Winky is the best example
House elves does what they is told. I is not liking heights at all, Harry Potter...but my master sends me to ...
6
votes
2answers
282 views
In Harry Potter, are house-elves being used as nurses?
By "nurse" I am wondering if, for example, Narcissa was the one who was taking care of Draco when he was a baby, or was Dobby the one who changed his diaper and fed him at night?
I can't imagine them ...
1
vote
3answers
345 views
If a house elf’s master dies are they freed?
If a house elf’s master dies and the master has no descendants of any kind, would the house elf be freed?
12
votes
1answer
944 views
Are Hogwarts' house-elves obligated to obey commands from students?
In James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing (part of the fanmade James Potter series involving Harry and Ginny's eldest son), there is this passage in which James' muggle-born friend Zane talks ...
1
vote
0answers
159 views
Why didn't Harry simply Summon Kreacher to bring them food in the Deathly Hallows? [duplicate]
Several times Harry, Ron, and Hermione have had almost nothing to eat:
The fact that Hermione was getting better at identifying edible fungi could not altogether compensate for their continuing ...
33
votes
5answers
7k views
Do House-Elves genuinely enjoy serving a family and love them or would they rather be free
I understand that House-Elves really do want to serve but is it really what they want or would they prefer to be freed? This whole concept is really odd to me and I don't know how it is supposed to be....
4
votes
1answer
817 views
How does the house elves clothes rule work and why?
We know from the question "How did the house elves start serving wizards?" that it is not sure when was house elves enslaved, so we probably don't know the evolution of the rule in the past.
But the ...
-4
votes
2answers
551 views
What would have happened had Harry said yes to Dobby?
From Chamber of Secrets:
Harry wasn’t listening. He made a grab for the letters,
but Dobby jumped out of reach.
“Harry Potter will have them, sir, if he gives Dobby his
word that he ...
2
votes
1answer
235 views
Why couldn't the Ministry of Magic use Veritaserum to question Winky about Barty Crouch Jr.'s Testimony? [duplicate]
Since Winky was present at the testimony of Bartemius Crouch Jr. (in the Defense Against the Dark Arts office), she would have remembered it. In addition, she could confirm that what he was saying was ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Why didn't Kreacher find Harry after Yaxley arrives at the house?
I understand that Harry couldn't summon him because someone from the Ministry could have come along with Kreacher, but I don't understand why Kreacher couldn't find Harry because Dobby found Harry in ...
41
votes
4answers
7k views
Can house-elves be ordered to kill?
If house-elves must obey their master’s orders, can they be ordered to kill?
48
votes
4answers
8k views
Why did Sirius's outlook towards House Elves change drastically from GoF to OotP?
During the trio's meeting with Sirius in his Hogsmeade hideout, Sirius seems to be much kinder towards House Elves.
"Hermione's obsessed with house-elfs," Ron muttered to Sirius, casting Hermione a ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Did Harry free Kreacher accidentally / unwittingly?
Does Harry giving the locket to Kreacher allow him, Kreacher, to be free?
We've seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as well as in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, that presenting a ...
7
votes
1answer
451 views
What are the limits of house-elf apparition?
I know Wizards can't apparate where they want on the Earth, except if they are very powerful but what about a house-elf ? Their magic is different so I was wondering if they can apparate wherever they ...
21
votes
1answer
819 views
Did the condition of house elves really improve after the initial defeat of Voldemort? In what way?
When Dobby first meets Harry, he mentions how much better life had vecome for house elves after the vanishing of Lord Voldemort.
“Ah, if Harry Potter only knew!” Dobby groaned, more tears
...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Why didn't Dumbledore and Harry bring a house-elf to the Horcrux cave?
Related: Regulus Black and the Horcrux Cave
Why didn't Dumbledore and Harry Potter bring a house elf with them to the Horcrux cave so they could get in and out more easily (given that elves could ...
10
votes
2answers
5k views
What happened to Kreacher post-Deathly Hallows?
The last we see of Kreacher in the books is at the Battle of Hogwarts.
The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed into the entrance hall, screaming and waving carving knives and cleavers, and at their ...
10
votes
4answers
2k views
Why couldn't Dobby just tell Harry what was going on?
In Chamber of Secrets, Dobby went to see Harry a couple of times (first at Privet Drive and then at Hogwarts Castle's Hospital Wing).
Dobby was doing everything he was not told to do viz:
Going out ...
21
votes
1answer
2k views
How does one get a House Elf for a new house?
Is there a canon source of information about how House Elves get to start serving a certain family?
I.e. the Weasley's did not have a House Elf. Fred and George became rich and would like to get one ...
41
votes
3answers
4k views
What happens if a family gives a house-elf two contradictory orders?
As Dobby clearly states, house-elves are enslaved to families, not individuals.
"Your family?"
"The wizard family Dobby serves, sir...Dobby is a house-elf - bound to serve one house and one ...
23
votes
3answers
3k views
Are house elves free in the USA?
When Newt and Tina enter MACUSA, we see a scene of a house-elf being handled over a wand to polish it. Even if it is a "servant" job, a house-elf holding a wizard's wand is seen as outrageous in the ...
4
votes
1answer
830 views
Where do house elves come from?
Just like my other question this has got nothing on it anywhere, where do the house elves originally come from?
0
votes
0answers
65 views
Who first enslaved house elves? [duplicate]
Who first actually enslaved house elves and why did they? There is basically nothing out there to help you.
12
votes
2answers
1k views
Do House Elves have last names?
Do the House Elves share the family name (aka last name) of their masters? If so, what happens if they are freed? For example is Dobby "Dobby Malfoy" or is Kreacher "Kreacher Black"?
If they do not ...
5
votes
1answer
337 views
Why Did Bartimeus Crouch Senior free Winky?
Was it the smart thing to do, considering she could've been hired/enslaved by other wizards and reveal his secret(s), especially the one about his death eater son?
We know Winky did end up in ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
How did Winky meet / know Dobby?
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the main trio meet the Crouches' house-elf Winky. Winky indicates that not only does she know Dobby, she also knows of his freedom as well as his 'wanting ...
41
votes
5answers
8k views
Why was Nick surprised at Hermione's ignorance of the Hogwarts elves?
Nearly-Headless Nick clearly presumes that knowledge of Hogwarts' huge house-elf population should be common knowledge to the average student when Hermione asks about them here:
"There are house-...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
How could Dumbledore summon the House-elf Kreacher in Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 3?
Here is the relevant text from Half-blood Prince:
"You see," Dumbledore said, turning back to Harry and again speaking as though Uncle Vernon had not uttered, "if you have indeed inherited the ...
40
votes
3answers
11k views
Why did Rowling seemingly make light of the house-elf situation?
According to J.K. Rowling, the house-elves are used as an allegory for slavery.
The house elves is really for slavery, isn't it, the house elves are slaves, so that is an issue that I think we ...
22
votes
4answers
2k views
Are House Elves biologically compatible with humans?
In Harry Potter, House Elves exist as short servants to the wizarding world, despite their superior control over magic. As there are no wild elves mentioned, the question of how they came to be ...
39
votes
4answers
6k views
What was the point (out of universe) of house-elves?
When I first read about house-elves in The Chamber of Secrets, I thought they were introduced as a very clear ethical artifact to teach children reading the story about slavery and forced work. The ...
1
vote
0answers
90 views
How did the house-elves become enslaved to wizards? [duplicate]
House-elves are magical creatures, that are bound to serve their wizard masters until death, unless they're given an article of clothing. How did they become enslaved? Did wizards create them? Are ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Why did Harry and Co. completely ignore the existence of Kreacher?
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione are hiding from Voldemort's supporters in Deathly Hallows, they keep complaining that they have no food, and that Hermione sucks at cooking. Harry even bemoans the fact ...
19
votes
4answers
9k views
Why weren't house elves used in the war against Voldemort?
House elves seem to be inordinately powerful, if they are doing it for their masters.
For example, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, after Kreacher has recounted his experiences in the sea ...
8
votes
1answer
461 views
House elves - who taught them to do house chores?
Did House elves have families?
Who taught them how to cook or clean houses?
3
votes
1answer
15k views
What happens to Kreacher after Yaxley breach Grimauld's Place secret? [duplicate]
Kreacher is the house-elf of Grimmauld Place. From the death of the last black inhabitants, he was left alone until Sirius moved in. Then his ownership passed on to Harry.
Harry had him work at ...
16
votes
2answers
3k views
Do Goblins and Elves use different spells and charms than witches and wizards?
Filius Flitwick is a part-goblin, part-wizard teacher of charms at Hogwarts. Thus, we can assume that goblins and elves may cast same charms and spells as witches and wizards. But it is mentioned ...
18
votes
1answer
2k views
Did the Malfoys replace Dobby?
It is known that Dobby was the house-elf (servant) which belonged to the Malfoy family; until he was set free by Lucius (as set-up by Harry with a sock in Tom Riddle's diary) in Harry Potter and the ...
13
votes
1answer
4k views
How did Aberforth Dumbledore know to send Dobby to help Harry at Malfoy Manor?
When Harry needed help escaping Malfoy Manor, Aberforth Dumbledore sent Dobby to apparate them out of there:
... the mirror fragment fell sparkling to the floor, and he saw a gleam of brightest ...
6
votes
2answers
5k views
How did Aberforth Dumbledore know to send a house-elf to help Harry at Malfoy Manor?
When Harry needed help escaping Malfoy Manor, Aberforth Dumbledore sent Dobby to apparate them out of there:
... the mirror fragment fell sparkling to the floor, and he saw a gleam of brightest ...
8
votes
2answers
12k views
Why are House Elves all deemed to be servants or slaves to Wizards? [duplicate]
How come House Elves in the world of Harry Potter (such as Winky, Kreacher and even Dobby) are forced to work as servants to Wizarding families?
13
votes
4answers
966 views
Are there any more free elves in Harry Potter?
Are there any more free (born free) elves in Harry Potter? What is their place in the society? They have their own brand of powerful magic. What do they do for their living? Moreover, I find no ...
29
votes
2answers
7k views
How did the house elves start serving wizards?
How/Why/When did the house elves start serving wizards? I tried on my own to find the answer but I couldn't find anything relevant to my subject but I am bad at searching.
18
votes
3answers
10k views
How do house elves breed?
Winky states in Goblet of Fire that that her mother and grandmother served the Crouchs before her. In Grimmauld Place, the heads of the house elves on the wall all share the same nose as Kreacher, ...
5
votes
1answer
525 views
Limits of house-elf apparition [duplicate]
Was Dumbledore aware of house-elf magic? If he was aware of house-elf Apparition, he should have gone to the Cave with Dobby. It seems nobody in the story made use of elf Apparition fully (it isn't ...
31
votes
2answers
5k views
Are there other types of Elves in Harry Potter?
In the Harry Potter universe, we obviously know of House-elves. They have their own brand of powerful magic etc.
In general I love the thought of Elves as beings, ergo:
Is there any mention of other ...
43
votes
5answers
5k views
Why are house-elves associated with rich families, if they are not paid?
In the second book, when Harry tells the Weasleys about Dobby, Fred says that "whoever owns him will be an old wizarding family, and they'll be rich", and George adds that house-elves "come with big ...
8
votes
3answers
662 views
Could a house elf be made into a Secret Keeper?
They are already extremely loyal to their master(s);
They are certainly capable of telling the secret to their master(s) after the charm is cast and are almost completely unable to betray them;
They ...
