Winky is a character and house-elf in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Biography[]
Earlier life[]
Winky was the loyal servant of Bartemius Crouch Snr. and his family. She did not approve of the freed house-elf Dobby when he started demanding wages for his work and told him he should find a nice family to settle with. In her opinion, he would end up in front of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures if he carried on.[1]
Quidditch World Cup[]
During the 422nd Quidditch World Cup final, Winky was sent to the Top Box by Barty ahead of him while he was busy so she could save a seat for him. Harry Potter was already there and at first glance, he thought she was Dobby. She revealed that she wasn't Dobby but she did know him. She told Harry that she did not think he did Dobby a favour by freeing him and that he was getting ideas above his station like getting paid for his work.[1]
Harry thought that Dobby ought to be getting paid but Winky was horrified by the idea of a house-elf getting wages. Harry told her that Dobby should be having fun but she replied that they should do what they are told. She did not like heights and was uneasy about how high the Top Box was, but she was there because Barty had asked her to and would not return to the tent like she wished because she was a "good house-elf". She turned and hid her eyes so she did not have to look at the edge.[1]
That night, there was an the attack by Death Eaters on the campsites. Winky was ordered by Crouch Snr. to stay in their tent. However she was afraid and disobeyed the order, and left to flee into the forest nearby. She briefly ran past Harry, Ron and Hermione and looked like something was holding her back as she pushed herself forward and cried that there were bad wizards about. She discovered Harry's wand on the ground and picked it up, right after it had been used to produce the Dark Mark by Barty Crouch Junior. Winky was not allowed to carry a wand by law because she was not human. Shortly after, Ministry officials which included Crouch Snr., arrived at the scene and used Stunning Spells to try and apprehend the culprit. Winky was struck and knocked unconscious.[2]
Her body was discovered by Amos Diggory who brought her to Crouch Snr. and the others. He also realised she was holding a wand and suspected her of producing the Dark Mark. Crouch Snr. was very embarrassed but agreed to letting Amos wake her up for questioning. Winky denied responsibility but Amos proved that the last spell produced by the wand did indeed produce the Dark Mark. Arthur Weasley and Hermione Granger defended her and pointed out she could not have known how to use the spell.[2]
Crouch Snr. was insulted by the implication that he would have taught his house-elf to conjure the Dark Mark, especially after his lengthy career of punishing those who use Dark Arts, which Amos apologised for. Arthur pointed out she likely discovered the wand after the culprit used it and left. She pointed to where she discovered it and Amos realised she might have seen who did produce it. When she denied witnessing anything, Crouch Snr. intercepted and requested that he deal with her behaviour accordingly.[2]
Crouch Snr. told her that she would be punished for disobeying him. Winky fell into despair and started begging Crouch after he stated his intention to free her by giving her clothes. She clutched at her tea towel and latched onto him while sobbing, but Crouch Snr. told her and Hermione (who was still defending her) that he had no use for a disobedient house-elf with no regard for his reputation. After she was freed, Winky was left crying so hard that her sobs echoed around the silent clearing.[2]
Appearance[]
Winky is a tiny creature with huge dark brown eyes and a nose like a large tomato. Like all house-elves, she has short legs, big bat-like ears and wears a tea-towel which she has draped like a toga. She has a high-pitched voice.[1]
Trivia[]
- Winky is the first house-elf that Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger ever meet.[1]