The house-elf is a species in the Harry Potter book series. They are very loyal to their designated owner who they serve in unpaid employment and take residence in their house or establishment. They do everything they are ordered which causes many wizards to treat them unkindly and take advantage of their good nature.
They are freed from their owners if they are given a piece of clothing. However, house-elves consider it shameful if they are unemployed, paid for their work, go against their owner's demands or speak ill of them. Dobby was an exception, having served a family who abused him and were involved in illegal activities, but other house-elves still look at Dobby with disdain. House-elves have their own branch of wandless magic.
About[]
House-elves are humanoid creatures that are short in height, have large heads, huge eyes and bat-like ears.[1] Because a piece of clothing will set them free, they do not wear proper clothes and instead create clothes out of things like tea-towels.[2] They speak in the third-person.[1] It is difficult to tell the difference physically between a male and female elf, but females tend to have higher-pitched voices.[3]
They also have their own branch of powerful wandless magic.[4] The extent of their powers is limited.[2] They can Apparate in and out of places even if there is an Anti-Apparition charm placed upon it. They do not need to use a wand because their function in wizarding society is simply domestic duties.[2] They are often owned by powerful and rich wizarding families, serving in old, wizarding houses.[1] They are loyal and listen to both the owner and their whole family.
House-elves prefer a life of servitude and consider it an honour to work for their owner. They obey their owner even if they get treated unkindly or ordered to do anything that will cause them harm. They might not want to do what they are told but they very rarely fail to do so. If they even think about going against their owner's wishes or speak ill of their owner, they will punish themselves. However, they can search for loopholes in what their owners say. For example, Kreacher was once simply demanded by Sirius Black to "get out". Sirius meant the kitchen but he chose to interpret it to mean that he had to "get out" of the house even though he knew that was not the intention.
Due to their obedience, house-elves are often treated brutally during their service and some consider house-elves to have little worth, no rights of their own and are viewed like servants with no personal feelings. The best way to secure a house-elf's complete loyalty and service is to simply treat them nicely. Kreacher searched for loopholes in his orders and complained whenever Sirius or Harry were unkind to him. However, when Hermione advised Harry to be nicer, Kreacher responded much better to him.
House-elves are managed by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, where they are typically referred to as "elf" rather than their given name. They will deal with any issues caused by a house-elf.[5]
History[]
At the Ministry of Magic, there is an Office for House-Elf Relocation. According to Newton Scamander who worked there after leaving Hogwarts, it was "tedious in the extreme".[6]
During the First Wizarding War, the life of a House-elf was worth lower than ever. They were thought to be "vermin" but when Harry Potter won the war, the average life of a House-elf improved. For Dobby, it was a beacon of hope that their lived would continue to improve.[2]
Upon being freed, Dobby requested that he receive wages for any employment he was offered in the future. He received a negative reception from other house-elves who did not agree that he should be paid for his work, and did not understand why he was proud to be a free elf. Winky told Dobby that he needed to find a nice family to settle with and that it was shameful to get wages. When she herself was freed for disobeying an order Bartemius Crouch Snr. gave her, she begged him not to and fell into despair.[5]
Known house-elves[]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 10
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 8
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 8
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: About the Author