So we know that in the Magical world, rich families and large buildings like Hogwarts have their own house elves. It seems to be only those with privilege (or large stashes of the galleons) who possess them. However, we also see that house elves in general actually like to serve. This raises several questions I think.

- Does one buy a house elf? Some are handed down through families and some come with the dwellings, but originally? It seems that perhaps they just offer their services... but this doesn't go along with the rich family thing.

- Do they mate and have their decedents continue when they die?

- We have seen that Winky, when fired, went seeking other work. Generally they are unpaid, but this is by choice. They actually find it offensive. It was also her choice to find another family despite her poor treatment at the Crouch's. Do you think it is just purely in their nature as magical creatures, or do you think that they were so oppressed and subjected by wizards hundreds of years ago so that they came to believe that’s how things were?

I might think of more later… *massages hurting brain*

I've wondered about this quite a bit (especially since the house elf rebellion story arc in the MOM RPG, hee).

I suspect that you can indeed purchase a house elf, but most of them are passed from generation to generation as property is passed on as part of the estate. Being that they are living beings, I would presume that they do in fact breed and raise their young, teaching them servitude. In keeping with the comparison that she was drawing to slavery, I'm sure that there exists an entire sub-culture of house elf society, that wizards just don't pay attention to (much as slaves in the Southern US, being normal people who were just opressed, still had culture and community despite being 'owned' by slaves).

I'd like to imagine that there are 'home' lives, elven homes where young are raised away from the view of wizards (can you imagine an infant house elf? The cute of it all!) and taught how to serve their magical 'masters'.

I wonder if they even have culture- much like slaves had their own culture and community with music and dance and art and religion and all of that, I would like to think that the house elves also have such things... in other words, that they're just like anyone else, except that they're being opressed (by cultural conditioning, ignorance, force, or choice, as the case may be).

What do you all think?

I believe it could go a number of ways as far as obtaining a house elf. Some may be bought, some traded, and some handed down amongst family members. I think either of those scenarios are possible and quite likely to happen.

It does seem that elves so quickly and willingly offer their services, but I also think the elves see it as their way of living---their only way of living. In all honestly, what else is out there for an elf (I'm sure there are many potential opportunities, but that does seem to be the popular view most wizards and elves seem to have)? They don't live in the wild the way a number of magical creatures do, nor are they kept as pets and cared for by humans. I think, in some ways, they see this as their way to have a dwelling area, as well a means of having shelter, a minimum amount of food to eat, and a purpose for living. I think they see it as "all that's out there" for them. It is very unlikely they will survive a revolt, and it's equally unlikely that enough wizards will agree to set them all free to create some other sort of life for themselves.

I also see no other way of the species surviving and carrying on outside of mating and having descendents. We've never seen evidence of "baby elves" roaming around, but they've all got to come from somewhere at some point. I think their young are raised to do exactly what they do and then carry on that way of living, as well.

This is a great topic, and one of my favorites for HP.


For mating, look at Kreacher, and the whole family of elf heads lining the wall. I've wondered if the Wizards maybe breed their house elves, much like we do with dogs? Unless it were a big, big house, or a giant property, most houses only have one elf. I could seriously see them getting together, breeding, and carrying on until they can train up the new elf.


Now my personal question is, do you see the house elves as enslaved, despite the fact that most of them are happy?

the time is now: They think they are happy because it is the only life they have ever known and that gives them a sense of purpose. This is how Kreacher and Winky feel. Keracher wants his head plastured to the wall of te Black Family house and Winky is in a state of mentally anguish when her master gave her up. However not all houselfs feel the same about slave labor, Dobby hated it, he did not feel it as a duty to give hom purpose in life, he wanted to be his own person and this is what all slaves had to realize before freedom was even a possibility.

You know, I have a theory about this. I think House Elves were created by blending one creature with another, to create a special servant to do their bidding. I think a LOT of magic was involved in this creation, but House Elves were not original creatures.

I think they were created with the specific purpose to serve in their genetic make-up. So they don't know how to do anything else, because their creators made them that way. Of course, there is always the wayward house elf (Dobby) who is a bit wonky, but isn't that the way with every prototype? They can't fix every glitch in the system.

But I do think that as time went on, they started breeding their house elves to create more and more, so the line would continue and they wouldn't have to create more elves by themselves.

But before they became house elves...they were just like elves right? They probably had to register to be a house elf like an occupation, I think. Like maids I suppose. Cause you cant possibly believe there are 2 different species of elves? One being just elves and another being HOUSE elves. So, I think when they registered to be a house elf, they probably would've accepted the fact that they will be slaves for eternity...because they signed up for it? So that's why some of them are happy to work? Because they have a JOB. lol!! That's what I think.

I don't they it is fair for house elves to be slaves, and to be extremely obedient all of the time. It is fair that they get fair pay and have breaks and days off.

And, if they are happy doing what they are doing; like working for a master, or at Hogwarys. Then they should do it, by all means. I think they should be able to be free from their master, not just by cloths. To actually give them free will would be a pretty good thing. like Dobby, when he was at the Malfoy's, it reminds me of enslavement of African Ameicans, just because they were black, they were slaves. For the Elves, just because they are elves, they are slaves.

So jobs, yeah; but slavery, no.

House elf loyalty to there master is not some thing I think happened over night. In the beginning it may have been what you could call slavery but after many generations thats the only life they know and to take them away from that is like taking them away from there home. If something wrong like slavery goes on long enough the victims may no longer feel like victims cause they feel that is there place in society cause thats the only place they know. Yes there are some revelutionaries in the house elf case Dobby but they are few and far in between cause the house elfs feel there only place in the world is to serve their master.

As far as being rich goes, I think that house elves must be very expensive to buy, unless it is being handed down through inheritance. I think that once, they were free and lived secluded lives from wizards but then when wizards found them, the wizards assumed that they were better than the elves. They then put several spells on the elves (possibly the Imperius curse) to force them to to do the wizard's bidding. After thousands of years of this, the elves have been brainwashed to believe that this is what they were meant to do. The reason they enjoy work is because they feel that that is what they were born to do. They feel that they have no reason to live if they don't have housework to do.

I've never really given much thought as to how house elves became well, almost like slaves. But, I have thought about a few other points you've raised...
Like, are they really slaves? I mean. Yes, by definition. They are not paid or rewarded in anyway for their actions, and are looked down upon. But, the vast majority of them are extremely glad to be in this position. If someone truly loves to work, then why would you force them to stop working? It is even directly shown in the novel, in these cases, that the house elf in question can become extremely depressed. I believe that if treated correctly and if the elf isn't unhappy, well...it's probably wrong to ask them to stop working. Especially when the result is such an unhappy elf. It seems to be that Dobby truly was an oddball, but in the end his wish did come true. We cannot be sure if others exist like Dobby did.
As for if they breed or mate, I think they do. Mostly because of how Kreacher wants nothing more than to have his shrunken head hanging, the same way his mothers did. I think it is definitely an interesting point to bring up though, if the wizards would breed them or if they mated themselves.

Honestly it sounds strongly like both.
I think it was in their nature as magical creatures to look for it.
But idk i keep thinking of Dobby and when he was finally free, he didn't go LOOKING for any more families and began his life as a free elf.
I read somewhere in the book or by Jk that elfs have more power than wizards.

So that brings me to the question of
"why haven't the elfs taken over?"
Remember when Dobby threw Lucius back when lucius tried to curse harry in the second book?
anyone agree?!

I don't think the elves have taken over because they just seem way too peaceful and nice for that. The image that the elves have given is that they're eager to serve and make people happy. When Harry, Ron and Hermione first entered the kitchens, all the house-elves scurried away to get food and provide the trio with what they wanted.

When Dobby told Harry about how he wanted to be paid, the elves all turned away...maybe it's because they like working and the elves who want to rebel against what they're taught or the wizards they serve are considered strange. When Dobby said that the Malfoys were bad wizards, Winky was quick to admonish this and said he was bad.

I think it simply isn't in their blood to be evil and nasty or use their magic for anything other than protecting people or serving them.

According to the books, the house elves want to be enslaved. Besides Dobby, elves become distraught when they're given clothes.

There are two possibilities as to how elves were enslaved in the first place. In my opinion, they either were bought long ago and kept in the family, as they are. Or, the ancestors of the family who possess the elf simply forced them to work.

Then again, considering the fact that house elves seem to very much respect their wizard families and want to be in their service, maybe they were the ones who offered to work for certain families. But that wouldn't match up with the point that it seems only rich families own house elves. Maybe this is just because they are snooty and want someone to boss around while poorer families are more gracious and turned down the house elves' offers.

I agree. The house elves didn't want their masters to give them clothes (besides Dobby). And way back when the house elves weren't enslaved, most of the wizard population was pureblood. As time went on and wizard blood began to mix with Muggle blood, they weren't viewed as worthy enough to own a house elf, and the pureblood families didn't let them have their house elves.

I think house elves would have liked a bit more freedom but Hermione's ideas were a bit much. It would have needed to be a gradual thing. A scattering of rights, benefits and the like before eventually coming round to the idea of freedom.


Despite the obvious slavery thing I always thought of them as more house proud servants than slaves. Like in a manor house in the late 19/early 20th century with valets and lady's maids etc. A sense of pride and worth in being a good servant.

i think house elves were just made that way and they enjoy doing work cause it is in there nature and they just do it because thats what there parents did and that is what they were ment to do because in the blacks house they have all the dead house elves heads monted on the wall which means that they reproduce and that they stay at the same house there parent does when the parent dies but those are just my thoughts

I do believe that house elves can be purchased, but I also believe that most of them are handed down to the next generations, sort of as possessions (that's how most wealthy wizarding families see them). I do believe house elves breed, and I do believe it is in their natures to want to serve. I don't believe it was a product of oppression, or house elves would not view it as an insult to be paid for their work, or to get time off.

I love the topic!

I think that whether or not they are bought all depends on where they come from. If the Malfoy family were giving a house elf up, I think that they would make the receivers pay. In a case like Winky's (where she is fired and then goes looking for a new family), however, the family wouldn't have to pay. That probably doesn't happen often, and because of that usually only rich families can have house elves.

I do think that they mate and their children continue serving the same family. I think that that was what happened with the Black family.

The last question is hard. I think that they do just think that that's the way it is. Dobby managed to realize that it doesn't have to be that way. On the other hand, maybe it is in their nature to think like that and Dobby is a black sheep in a field full of white ones.

I'd have to agree. This makes complete sense. I don't think the action of serving and or their willingness to serve was something they obtained or learned..I do have to agree I think it's part of their genetic make-up..Like how a dog is "mans bestfriend" and is extremely loyal to its' master.

As for how families get house elves..I'm not sure. I think it's safe to assume that the families either: 1. were given the elf from their ancestors and kept the elf to continue the work in the family, 2. the families might have bought the elf...((If they had, I wonder where they buy them from? Is there like an "House Elf Shop" like there are pet stores so they can buy them? And if they did buy them, I wonder how much they pay for them?)) 3. The families could have traded something for an Elf. Like an item of value, or swapped an elf for lets say an owl or maybe a very valuable piece of jewerly. 4. Maybe they just randomly found a "stray" Elf and took the elf in their household.
^^That's an extremely good question. I wonder if J.K Rowling has every said anything about where they come from? I can't remember ever hearing anything like that... could be wrong..

As for the question about mating.. Dobby and Winky.. From that in the books I can only assume that they do.
And I'd assume that if the do mate their "kids" would probably continue serving whoever their parents were serving because it would be in their nature/genetic make-up to keep doing that.


Those are very good questions!
::mind hurts, going offline to relax it::

I think it's strange how only the rich families seem to have them when they don't have to pay them, but possibly it is a case of the richer families being a little up themselves and too lazy to clean, cook etc on their own? Also maybe having house-elves gives the family a feeling of power and being better than everyone, with the authority they exude over the elves.

I also think that they do mate, and that their descendents continue when they die as I vaguely recall something in either OotP or DH where, while they are at Grimmauld Place, something is mentioned about the heads of Kreacher's descendants stuck to the wall. Does this rin a bell for anyone else?

To me Winky always seemed desperate, she had been shamed when she was freed by Mr. Crouch and therefore, felt the need to find somewhere else so as to feel like she was still "doing her duty". I also think that while cleaning and that sort of thing is clearly in their nature (look at Dobby) they also were oppressed and subjected by wizards hundreds of years ago, that the message has become imprinted in them now.

Also I have a theory that the first house-elves were not house-elves but just ordinary elves. Some sneak realised that if he could make them clean things, cook etc and not pay them for it he could receive a lot of money. Therefore he caught as many as he could and then tricked them into obedience and thinking he was their master (similar to Imperiourising them) and trained them up. I believe he then sold them (generally to wealthy families who could afford the high prices he was charging) to make his money. They were now house-elves. And then my theory that they mate and would have just continued their parents work once their parents passed.

I would say that perhaps only free elves mate as ones in employment in homes will usually be the only ones and will not come into much contact with other elves?
However possibly wizards buy elves off each other? Kind of like when someone's dogs has puppies and they sell them to other people?

I agree, house elves could be 'acquired' in lots of ways. Didn't Winky and Dobby look for work? I think house elves do mate, and some are bred, some are born naturally. Can you imagine how cute baby house elves would be?

House elves like to serve only because they are brainwashed like Hermione said. If it was in there nature to want to serve then Dobby wouldnt of been so happy to be free its horrible what they do to the house elves. And yes they definatley mate and have their kids continue working for the family just look at sirius wall with all the heads of dead house elves S.P.E.W. was a great idea. Noone should work for free.

I'm not completely sure. You could classify House Elves as slaves, because they do unpaid work and are treated like slaves were. On the other side, they do like their work and don't want to earn money and I'm guessing you can't say that about slaves...