CoS 18: Dobby's Reward

[jerrichor]

Welcome to the second installment of the Grand Online Book Discussion, in which we discuss the second book in the Harry Potter Saga: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Over the course of February's 28 days, threads dedicated to the 18 Chapters of the book will be created.

Each thread will open with a chapter summary exploring a theme of the plot. Guide question/s will be posted at the end of the paragraph, and the discussion will revolve around that plot point. As the discussion progresses, discussion leaders Echo (jerrichor) & Claire (MIASelene) will see to the orderly flow of thought in the thread. As we see fit, we will also contribute to the talks and raise follow-up questions to spice up this activity.

Healthy discussion is encouraged, and all opinions will be respected. Let's keep everything logical, smart and teasing for our brain matter.

Chapter 18: Dobby's Reward
Harry tells his story to Dumbledore, McGonagall, and the Weasleys. Ginny and Lockhart are sent to hospital, when Lucius Malfoy arrives with Dobby, and Harry tricks Lucius into freeing Dobby. Hogwarts parties in the middle of the night, those who've been petrified come back to consciousness and Hagrid returns as gamekeeper. Examas are cancelled and soon, it's time to walk back through the gateway to the Muggle world...

~ Here is another case of Harry getting rewarded for breaking Hogwarts rules... Do you think this is a case of "The end justifies the means" or should Harry still be reprimanded for some of his actions while still getting the Special Award?
~ What might Lucius Malfoy have done to Harry if Dobby had not intervened?
~ If House elves are so magically powerful, how do you think Wizards were able to enslave them?
~ After the sacking of his father, Draco Malfoy was said to have looked "resentful and sulky" (CoS, p.340), not strutting bossily anymore around the school. Do you think his proud demeanor was founded purely on his father being a Hogwarts governor??

[doc_ardyey]

Here is another case of Harry getting rewarded for breaking Hogwarts rules... Do you think this is a case of "The end justifies the means" or should Harry still be reprimanded for some of his actions while still getting the Special Award?
The end justifies the means always interfere with corrective actions. But yes, this is one of the many (not the few) instances in which Harry was more than praised than reprimanded. (This is a difficult question). If I were at Hogwarts at that very moment, I couldn't even think to punish a "saviour" who did it for "LOVE".

What might Lucius Malfoy have done to Harry if Dobby had not intervened?
He could have killed Harry? Imperio? Crucio? Avada? Who knows, but it boils down to this... Malfoy-Potter feud intensified.

If House elves are so magically powerful, how do you think Wizards were able to enslave them?
I'll get back to you on this one.

After the sacking of his father, Draco Malfoy was said to have looked "resentful and sulky" (CoS, p.340), not strutting bossily anymore around the school. Do you think his proud demeanor was founded purely on his father being a Hogwarts governor?
Draco is still building his own name in the school. For all we know, some might even tag him as the Governor's son. Like in the muggle world, there is some identity crisis for students who are sons and daughters of faculty. That's why they tend to be bossy. This might be the same case for Draco. This may change as the books or the series go on.

[allanwhistletop]

Here is another case of Harry getting rewarded for breaking Hogwarts rules... Do you think this is a case of "The end justifies the means" or should Harry still be reprimanded for some of his actions while still getting the Special Award?
I don't believe in "The end justifies the means" to all extent, but somehow Harry deserves the reward even he broke a lot of rules. It's like you have to stand up for what is right, and do what is needed, and I think Harry felt he needed to do something even to the expense of him being punished in the end. Anyway, it's not like Harry killed anyone nor did anyone harm while rescuing Ginny. However, I would like to point out that Harry still deserves to be reprimanded or warned about doing such crazy and dangerous things, and then still have the reward.

What might Lucius Malfoy have done to Harry if Dobby had not intervened?
I think he would have done some sort of a jinx, but I don't think Lucius would be able to harm Harry that much since Lucius is still inside Hogwarts after all. Dumbledore is just a few meters away in his office, and there are faculty all over the castle. One bad thing that would happen to Harry, or to any student for that matter, would alarm the teachers and catch Lucius for that act. The Malfoys would be greatly affected if that happens since Lucius may be sent to Azkaban, or lose their wealth, if Lucius was caught. But, it is still possible that Lucius would harm Harry gravely, though very remotely possible.

If House elves are so magically powerful, how do you think Wizards were able to enslave them?
Simple! Elves, like humans, would want to survive in the wizarding world. I would take note that they are more human like than animal, so they need food and shelter. However, without money, the elves wouldn't be able to fend for themselves since jobs are mostly taken up by humans while I think they don't resort to animal like behaviour to get by. Magic would not be able to conjure food or money so, the elves ended up taking whatever job that would have been offered to the point of enslaving themselves to a wizarding family so that they have some sort of place to live and eat. Well, that's just me speculating what happened.

After the sacking of his father, Draco Malfoy was said to have looked "resentful and sulky" (CoS, p.340), not strutting bossily anymore around the school. Do you think his proud demeanor was founded purely on his father being a Hogwarts governor??
I think that would have been partly the reason why Draco was resentful. Aside from Lucius' sacking, the failure of the Heir's plot and Harry catching the Heir which adds insult to injury provided more sulkiness and disbelief in Draco. I think in that time frame, Draco would have lost a part of his bossy manner because of all the things that I have stated above, but eventually he would still be the same bully in the future.

[DADAProfAE]

~ If House elves are so magically powerful, how do you think Wizards were able to enslave them?

I don't think the elves are under any kind of spell that magically binds them to wizards/witches. I think it's the product, the effect of centuries' worth of enslavement. They have suffered from the manacles of unfairness, of slavery, that they don't know how it is to live unfettered. This is something that they have inherited from their forefathers, something that they consider as de jure, a way of life for them. Unfair, indeed. We've seen how an elf (like Dobby) can go against the wishes of his masters if he wants to, and can practice his own brand of magic if need be. Even before he was freed by Harry, Dobby's been doing things outside of his masters' knowledge, so clearly, there's no strict and self-activating bond between an elf and a master wizard. Dobby in this regard is a trailblazer, a maverick, an elf way ahead of his peers.

[Caito_Kid]

i hope you forgive me for posting a bit late
i just had the chance to reread COS so, i'm going to post some of my thoughts about it...

~ Here is another case of Harry getting rewarded for breaking Hogwarts rules... Do you think this is a case of "The end justifies the means" or should Harry still be reprimanded for some of his actions while still getting the Special Award?

For me, RULES are made for the safety of everyone...Harry broke the rules so as to save Hogwarts, he didn't do it because he wanted the reward. I think the end justified the means here.

~ What might Lucius Malfoy have done to Harry if Dobby had not intervened?

Lucius would have done anything to hurt Harry badly...but not kill him. I'm sure he doesn't want to ruin his name and end up in Azkaban for that.

~ If House elves are so magically powerful, how do you think Wizards were able to enslave them?

I have no idea...but i'll go with allanwhistletop's answer. Maybe the first elves made a contract with the wizards centuries ago, the elves will serve the wizards in exchange for food and shelter.

Even before he was freed by Harry, Dobby's been doing things outside of his masters' knowledge, so clearly, there's no strict and self-activating bond between an elf and a master wizard. Dobby in this regard is a trailblazer, a maverick, an elf way ahead of his peers.

I don't completely agree on this one though. Dobby would have to punish himself for every disobedience he makes so I think there is this strict bond between the two. Though an elf can go against his master's will, the consequences for that are brutal.

[willow731]

Here is another case of Harry getting rewarded for breaking Hogwarts rules... Do you think this is a case of "The end justifies the means" or should Harry still be reprimanded for some of his actions while still getting the Special Award?
I agree that in special situations, especially life and death situations, rules can and should be broken to protect the innocent and save lives, for the common good. But while I think that Harry and Ron deserve the Special Award, he and Ron should still be reprimanded for some of their actions in this situation.

It's not like in Sorcerer's Stone where they have no one else to turn to and time is running out fast. Here, they could have easily told Prof. McGonagall what they found out and suspected about the Chamber of Secrets, instead of waiting for so long in the Gryffindor Common Room and then running to go to Prof. Lockhart when they know how much of a dud he is. They have plenty of time to go to an authority figure, someone who has more knowledge, skills and resources than they do to handle the basilisk.

If they had done that and still got no results, then I fully support letting him go scot-free for this. Because then they could truly say, if we don't do this, who will?

If House elves are so magically powerful, how do you think Wizards were able to enslave them?
Dobby's line in Chapter 2 (CoS, p.14) that he is "bound to serve one house and one family forever" makes me believe that house elves are indeed bound by magic to the wizard house/family that they serve. But I think it is of a brand of magic not cast by wizards/witches. I think it is of the same kind as the protective magic invoked by Lily's sacrifice for Harry (in that it is not activated by simple spellwork).

I have no idea how it started or how the magic enslaving them was invoked, but, I think, the magic binding the house elves grew so powerful through the centuries because they allowed it to. They accepted it, they didn't challenge it, until it became their way of life. I agree with DADAProfAE's comment about it being "the product, the effect of centuries' worth of enslavement" that they have no idea how else to live or are too afraid to try and imagine a different way of living that hardly any elf try to question it. However, I still think a powerful brand of magic is involved, because Kreacher could never disobey a direct order from Harry. If I remember correctly (sorry, I don't have my book with me) but in Half-Blood Prince, when Dumbledore and Harry were discussing ownership of Kreacher passing on to Harry, Kreacher was thrashing about so loudly, but when Harry ordered him to stop screaming, Kreacher's screams suddenly became silent, he was still shouting but no sound came out.

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