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- "Dobby has no master! Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!"
- — Dobby's pride of being a free elf, and his loyalty towards Harry Potter[src]
Dobby (28 June (year unknown) – March 1998) was a male house-elf who served the Malfoy family. His masters were Dark wizards who treated him cruelly. In 1992, he disobeyed his masters and tried to warn Harry Potter of the plot to have the Chamber of Secrets reopened. He came to know this via the contact between his masters and Lord Voldemort.
At the end of that school year, after Harry had vanquished the memory of Tom Riddle and slayed the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, he tricked Lucius Malfoy into freeing Dobby. Harry accomplished this by placing T. M. Riddle's Diary inside his own sock.[14] Lucius disgustedly ripped the sock off the book and threw the sock into the air, where Dobby caught it.
Dobby suffered a period of unemployment, during which he was often ostracised for having no "proper shame" in regards to being out of work. He was generally pleased to be free, although he did enjoy working as a hobby. Dobby was ecstatic to be out of the abusive hands of the Malfoys, but equally pleased to join the Hogwarts staff. At Hogwarts he could come and go as he liked, did not have many tasks, and those he did have were fairly simple. Dobby requested some compensations for his work and eventually he and Dumbledore came to an agreement.
Dobby went on to work in the kitchens at Hogwarts, for which he was paid one Galleon a week and got one day off each month. He had been accompanied to Hogwarts by his friend Winky (who had recently been dismissed) and so began Dobby's new happy life nearby his closest friends: Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
In 1997, Dobby helped Harry spy on Draco Malfoy along with Kreacher. In 1998, he went on Aberforth Dumbledore's orders to save the lives of Harry and his companions from Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor. During this rescue he was fatally wounded by Bellatrix Lestrange's knife, but successfully Apparated Harry and Griphook to safety at Shell Cottage. Harry dug Dobby's grave without magic in the gardens of Shell Cottage, and carved into the headstone of the grave "HERE LIES DOBBY, A FREE ELF". His death was later avenged by Molly Weasley.
Quick Answers
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Biography[]
Serving the Malfoy family (?–1993)[]
- Harry Potter: "Do they know you’re here?"
- Dobby: "Oh, no, sir, no... Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to see you, sir. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for this. If they ever knew, sir —"
- Harry Potter: "But won’t they notice if you shut your ears in the oven door?"
- Dobby: "Dobby doubts it, sir. Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, sir. They lets Dobby get on with it, sir. Sometimes they reminds me to do extra punishments..."
- — Dobby telling Harry Potter about his miserable life with the Malfoys[src]
Dobby was the resident house-elf of Malfoy Manor, serving Lucius Malfoy, his wife Narcissa, and their only son Draco.[5] They treated Dobby with unkindness and cruelty, often reminding him to perform extra punishments on himself whenever he did something disagreeable to them.[3] The Malfoys were harsh and abused Dobby often.
Dobby was threatened many times during his time serving the Malfoy family and told Harry Potter that he was accustomed to death threats, because he received them 'five times a day' from the Malfoys.[8] Though he always did as he was told, he knew that their behaviour was wrong and he longed to be free of them.[3][5] He is the first house-elf seen to "break free" of his masters' wills, warning Harry of the Chamber of Secrets (Kreacher did this too, however he technically did not disobey any orders, therefore it does not count), and alongside Kreacher, is the only house elf seen who truly dislikes their original master.
During the 1985–1986 school year, Dobby befriended Jacob's sibling.[15]
Re-opening of the Chamber of Secrets[]
Dobby knew of the plan to reopen the Chamber of Secrets during Harry Potter's second year at Hogwarts. Presumably, this was because the Malfoys saw Dobby as an insignificant slave, and because they knew that house-elves were not able to break the commands of their masters, never believing he would try to interfere.[3] Dobby spent the summer of 1992 spying on Harry. On the day of his twelfth birthday Harry thought he saw eyes peeking from with the hedges.[16]
Dobby went to the Dursley house to warn Harry not to go back to school, revealing that he had been intercepting his mail. The withholding of Harry's letters from his friends was done in an attempt to convince him that his friends had abandoned him. Harry adamantly refused to comply, stating that Hogwarts was his home. Dobby then performed a Hover Charm on Aunt Petunia's pudding and dumped the pudding on top of Mrs Mason's head. This use of magic was detected by the Ministry of Magic through the Trace.[3]
Mafalda Hopkirk of the Improper Use of Magic Office sent Harry a warning letter for the apparent transgression by an under-age wizard, informing the Dursleys that Harry was not allowed to use magic outside of school.[3] Harry was then locked in his room.[3] However Ron, Fred, and George Weasley came in their dad's enchanted flying car to free him from the Dursleys.[17]
Unfazed, Dobby covertly watched Harry Potter and magically sealed the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, preventing Harry and Ron from reaching the Hogwarts Express.[8] This too failed, as the two used the flying car again to get to Hogwarts instead. This, however, almost caused Harry's and Ron's expulsion from Hogwarts, due to their damaging the Whomping Willow after arriving late at the school.[18] Dobby was so shocked to hear that they managed to return to Hogwarts that he accidentally allowed the Malfoys' dinner to burn, for which he was punished.[8]
Lastly, Dobby tried his most risky and dangerous plan by tampering with a Bludger to make it attack Harry during a Quidditch match, hoping to send him back to Privet Drive injured, but alive. This plan could not have been too well thought-out, because, under normal circumstances, Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, would have been able to mend Harry's injuries instantly. However, an unfortunate blunder by Professor Gilderoy Lockhart resulted in Harry losing all the bones in his right arm. Madam Pomfrey was able to regrow the bones by using Skele-Gro, but it took an entire night.
While Harry was in the Hospital Wing recovering, Dobby appeared and admitted his acts, enraging Harry to the point that he threatened to strangle him. Dobby implored Harry to leave, accidentally admitting that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened before. Harry demanded to know who had opened it last time, but Dobby refused to reveal any more information and Disapparated when he heard someone coming.[8]
A free elf (1993–1998)[]
- Lucius Malfoy: "Come, Dobby. I said come."
- Dobby: "Master has given a sock, Master gave it to Dobby."
- Lucius Malfoy: "What's that? What did you say?"
- Dobby: "Got a sock, Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby — Dobby is free!"
- — Dobby's liberation[src]
Near the end of Harry's second year, Lucius Malfoy came to the school with Dobby to see if it was true that Headmaster Albus Dumbledore had returned. Here, realising that Dobby belonged to the Malfoys, Harry stuffed Tom Riddle's Diary into one of his socks and handed it to Lucius. Lucius ripped the sock off the diary, only for the sock to be caught by Dobby.[5] This act freed Dobby from the Malfoys.[14]
When Lucius tried to attack Harry in retaliation, Dobby blasted him backwards down a flight of stairs. Although house elves are treated as low-class slaves, they have very powerful magic, and even some beyond wizard ability. Harry's only request in return for granting Dobby freedom was for Dobby never to try to save his life again.[5]
Working in the kitchens[]
- "Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off, but Dobby beat him down, miss... Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn't wanting too much, miss, he likes work better."
- — Dobby explains to Hermione how he negotiated his salary[src]
After becoming a free elf, Dobby struggled to find work, as he wanted to be paid, which was uncommon for house-elves.[19] Eventually, he was hired by Dumbledore to work in the kitchens of Hogwarts for a Galleon a week and one day a month off. Hermione Granger was initially indignant at the amount of pay, but Dobby explained that he requested that amount, as Dumbledore had offered ten Galleons a week and weekends off. It was just before this time that Hermione formed the organisation called S.P.E.W, which Ron often derisively called "spew".[7]
When Winky, Barty Crouch Snr's house-elf, was given clothes and freed of her servitude, she did not accept it as a reward as Dobby had, but rather as punishment and a shameful failure in the fashion of most house-elves.[7] She took up work at Hogwarts as well, but she became a heavy drinker of butterbeer, and Dobby took care of her.[20] For a time, Dobby was the only Hogwarts house-elf who would clean Gryffindor Tower, because Hermione had hidden woollen hats and socks in with the rubbish with the intention of freeing them. The Hogwarts house-elves refused thereafter to clean the common room, as they viewed the hidden clothes to be insulting.[10] This was a delight for Dobby, though, because it allowed him to see Harry and his friends,[10] including Ron Weasley, whom he called Harry's "Wheezy."[9]
During the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, Bartemius Crouch Jnr, who was disguised as Alastor Moody, tricked Dobby into stealing a helping of Gillyweed from Severus Snape's storeroom to give to Harry Potter.[21] This allowed Harry to breathe underwater and retrieve Ron Weasley and Gabrielle Delacour from the lake.[9]
Friendship with Aberforth Dumbledore[]
Dobby continued to work in the kitchens at Hogwarts, but was an outsider among the other elves in the castle. Over the course of his employment at Hogwarts, Dobby became close friends with Aberforth Dumbledore and spent much time at Aberforth's home in Hogsmeade. Aberforth seemed to have a close attachment to Dobby, since he felt very sorry when he learned of his death.[13]
Dumbledore's Army[]
- "Dobby knows the perfect place, sir! Dobby heard tell of it from the other house-elves when he came to Hogwarts, sir. It is known by us as the Come and Go Room, sir, or else as the Room of Requirement!"
- — Dobby telling Harry Potter of the Room of Requirement[src]
In 1995, when Dolores Umbridge banned all clubs at Hogwarts, Harry half-heartedly asked Dobby if he knew of a secret place in which they could have meetings for Dumbledore's Army; Dobby subsequently told him of the Room of Requirement and how to get into it. He knew of this secret room, because he had used it frequently to hide Winky after she became drunk from Butterbeer. Harry successfully made use of the room and thus was able to start holding Dumbledore's Army meetings.[10]
When Marietta Edgecombe betrayed Dumbledore's Army to Professor Umbridge, Dobby immediately warned Harry that the Inquisitorial Squad was going to attack, even though the house-elves had been forbidden to tell anyone, but he told Harry as he was far more loyal to him than to Umbridge or Hogwarts in general and also a free elf that was not forced to obey. When he heard, Harry ordered Dobby not to punish himself for disobeying a direct order from Umbridge. Despite Dobby's warning, however, Harry and the other members were still caught and punished.[11]
Spying on Draco Malfoy[]
- Harry Potter: "I want you to tail Draco Malfoy. I want to know where he's going, who he's meeting and what he's doing. I want you to follow him around the clock."
- Dobby: "Yes, Harry Potter! And if Dobby does it wrong, Dobby will throw himself off the topmost tower, Harry Potter!"
- — Harry gives Dobby and Kreacher a long-term task[src]
On Harry's orders, Dobby, along with Kreacher, formerly the House of Black's house-elf who now belonged to Harry, tailed Draco Malfoy and helped Harry learn that Draco was using the Room of Requirement. Kreacher insulted Harry and stated that Draco would be a better master.
Dobby physically fought Kreacher and knocked out several of his teeth and tearfully told him that Harry was a great wizard and that the Malfoys were not good masters for a house-elf. Dobby felt that helping Harry was an honour and didn't even sleep on his job until Harry (not knowing this) said he could.[12]
Malfoy Manor and death[]
- "And then with a little shudder the elf became quite still, and his eyes were nothing more than great glassy orbs, sprinkled with light from the stars they could not see."
- — Dobby's death[src]
Captured by a group of Snatchers led by Fenrir Greyback, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dean Thomas, and the goblin Griphook were taken to Malfoy Manor. There, Bellatrix Lestrange saw that they were carrying the Sword of Gryffindor, and she stopped Lucius Malfoy from summoning Voldemort, afraid they had been in her Gringotts vault. Keeping Hermione upstairs for interrogation and torture, Bellatrix had the others imprisoned in the locked cellar, where they encountered Luna Lovegood and Garrick Ollivander, who were also being held there. Though the new arrivals were tied up, Luna found a nail with which she was able to cut their bonds.[2]
Desperate at hearing Hermione's cries of pain from above, Harry frantically fidgeted with the fragment of the two-way mirror Sirius Black had given him years before and saw a sky-blue eye looking out of it at him. Harry pleaded for help from the owner of the eye, Aberforth Dumbledore, and soon Dobby, sent by Aberforth, Apparated into the cellar. As he was able to Disapparate to and from the Manor, Harry instructed him to first take Luna, Dean, and Mr Ollivander from the cellar, then return. He did so, bringing the three to Shell Cottage, the home of Bill Weasley and his wife Fleur Delacour.
From upstairs, where she was now questioning Griphook about whether or not the sword was the real one, Bellatrix heard the noise of Dobby Disapparating and sent Peter Pettigrew to investigate. Harry and Ron managed to overpower Pettigrew when he hesitated, reminded of his life debt to Harry, and his own magical silver hand gifted to him by Voldemort strangled him to death.[2]
Attempting to rescue Hermione and Griphook, Harry and Ron were forced to surrender when a disarmed Bellatrix threatened to cut Hermione's throat with a silver knife. Dobby announced his return by causing a chandelier to fall on Bellatrix. Dobby also disarmed Narcissa Malfoy and informed Bellatrix that he had no masters, as he was a free elf. Harry seized the wands Draco Malfoy was holding and used a stunning spell on Fenrir Greyback. Ron grabbed Hermione and they Disapparated to Shell Cottage, while Harry also Disapparated with Dobby and Griphook.[2]
As Harry Disapparated, Bellatrix threw her silver knife at him. Harry, not knowing where he was heading, was relieved to find in the midst of his Disapparition, that he could feel Dobby alongside, his fingers gripped tightly in his hand. Arriving at Shell Cottage, Harry discovered that Dobby had been fatally wounded by Bellatrix's thrown knife, which was protruding from the elf's chest. Dobby died moments later in Harry's arms, a peaceful smile on his face, his final words being Harry's name.[22]
Post-mortem[]
- "HERE LIES DOBBY, A FREE ELF."
- — Epitaph on Dobby's grave marker[src]
Harry, deeply grieving, decided to bury Dobby and dig his grave by hand without using magic. Ron and Dean joined Harry and laboured with him in digging the grave. They placed Dobby's body in the grave, wrapping him in a jacket and giving him socks, shoes and a hat. Standing over Dobby, Luna gently closed his eyes and thanked him for rescuing her and the others. Bill Weasley filled in the grave, while Harry used Draco's former wand and carved "HERE LIES DOBBY, A FREE ELF" on a flat rock he placed on the burial mound.[22]
Griphook was positively affected by Harry's display of humility and love for the house-elf, aiding him in his decision to help Harry retrieve a Horcrux from Gringotts Wizarding Bank.[23] His death also helped close Harry's mind from Voldemort and gave him greater control over when he could access the Dark Lord's thoughts. Kreacher, Harry Potter's own inherited house-elf, led the house-elves of Hogwarts in the Battle of Hogwarts, moved by Harry's good treatment of house-elves. Dobby's death was later avenged when Molly Weasley killed Bellatrix.[24]
Over a decade later around his birthday in 2011, Dobby was remembered by Winky as a S.P.E.W. activist and a good friend.[25]
In the years since Dobby's death, Harry continued to regularly visit Dobby's grave at Shell Cottage to pay respects to the elf, bringing along a new pair of socks to leave at the grave each time to let Dobby know how much he was missed.[26]
Physical description[]
Dobby was a house-elf, much shorter in stature than humans, standing only about 3 and a half feet (1.06 m). He had large, tennis-ball-like green eyes,[4] a pencil-like nose and long,[27] bat-like pointed ears[4] and brown skin.[5] Before he was given freedom, he wore a body-covering pillowcase. Later at Hogwarts, he wore a mismatched variety of jumpers, shorts, and socks.
Socks became his favourite clothing after he was freed by Harry's sock. He preferred colourful, mismatched socks. When Hermione Granger began hiding clothes she made around the Gryffindor Common Room in an attempt to free the Hogwarts house-elves, Dobby kept the clothes and began wearing them, as the other elves thereafter refused to clean Gryffindor Tower.
Personality and traits[]
- "Harry Potter, Dobby has come to rescue you."
- — Dobby's loyalty to Harry Potter[src]
Dobby was a brave, loyal house-elf, willing to put himself in dangerous situations when he knew it to be the right thing to do.[3][2] He was also very loyal to the few friends he had. He considered himself to be a good house-elf, though other house-elves seemed to find his desires and proclamations of being a free house-elf to be shameful. Despite this, he was still a hard worker. When he went to work at Hogwarts he refused Dumbledore's original offer of ten Galleons a week and weekends off, opting instead for one Galleon a week and one day off per month. He explained to Harry, Ron, and Hermione that he liked freedom very much, but he liked work better. Although he enjoyed his freedom, he still showed some nature of a House Elf, showing some form of either disgust or fear in the sign of a little shudder at the sign of too much riches and leisure, such as those of a truly sustainable wage and work schedule, which Dumbledore originally offered. Dobby thought of Harry as his best friend, and Albus Dumbledore as his rightful and true master.
- "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"
- — Dobby defending Harry from being attacked by Lucius Malfoy[src]
Because of his loyalty to his friends, Dobby tried everything he could to save them if they were in danger, even if it hurt them, and once attempted to seriously injure Harry Potter, hoping that if he was hurt badly enough he would be sent home (this led to Harry asking Dobby to never try to save him again after setting him free). He did not make the rogue Bludger chase Harry out of malicious intent, but because he was trying to save him from Lucius Malfoy's plot to open the Chamber of Secrets.[8] When Harry found out, he was furious but Dobby explained why he had tampered with the Bludger,[8] and by the end of the year Harry had forgiven him.[5]
Regardless, Dobby displayed a lack of foresight and common sense in his efforts to keep Harry from returning to Hogwarts in that by doing so he was putting Harry in danger in the long run by essentially ending Harry's education, which would have left him vulnerable to his enemies. Not only that, he was unintentionally insensitive to the wishes and feelings of Harry, who loved Hogwarts and his friends, and Dobby was essentially trying to cut Harry off from the things in his life that gave him real joy and purpose.
- "Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid, Harry Potter.... Dobby likes being free!"
- — Dobby's love of his freedom[src]
One most noticeable trait was his capacity to self-harm whenever he believed he had done something wrong, usually using something to hit his head with and going as far as to iron his own hands. Dobby clearly had a strong conscience, and punished himself even when he had done "wrong" things that house elves should not do, even if they were for the right reasons.[3]
Dobby's favourite gift to receive was socks, likely because he was freed from his enslavement to the Malfoys with a sock.[5] He would get confused when he would get two of the same style as he preferred to have two brightly coloured or patterned mismatched socks, and would often give socks as gifts as well.
Dobby referred to himself in the third person and tended to get his verb conjugations mixed up. Examples of his strange speech pattern include "I has seven now sir"[28] or "Dobby must punish himself most grievously for coming sir".[3] Dobby also referred to Ron as Harry's "Wheezy."[9]
He was extremely devoted to Harry after he freed him in 1993,[5] helping him out on several occasions, ultimately at the cost of his own life.[2] He also tried to help Winky after she was dismissed by Crouch, getting her a job at Hogwarts as well,[7] and looking after her whenever she became drunk on butterbeer.[20]
Magical abilities and skills[]
- "With a crack like a whip, Dobby vanished."
- — Dobby Apparating[src]
- Apparition: As a house-elf, Dobby was able to Apparate,[3] even inside places that normally forbade Apparition such as Hogwarts[11] and Malfoy Manor.[2]
- Levitation: Dobby displayed the ability to levitate a pudding when trying to stop Harry from returning to Hogwarts. The Ministry referred to this as the Hover Charm, mistakenly believing that Harry cast the charm.[3]
- Magical tampering: Dobby also displayed a talent for magically tampering with objects. This was shown when he tampered with a Bludger forcing it to chase Harry hoping that if it hurt him badly enough he'd be sent home. Naturally Dobby was not intending to kill Harry; in fact he was trying to save him from Lucius Malfoy's plan to open the Chamber of Secrets. Also, he tampered with the barrier that leads to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, a very powerful magical barrier.[8]
- "There was a loud bang, and Mr Malfoy was thrown backward. He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below. He got up, his face livid, and pulled out his wand, but Dobby raised a long, threatening finger."
- — Dobby using magic to assault Lucius Malfoy[src]
- Magical blasts: By clicking his fingers, Dobby can release powerful blasts of magic at other creatures or wizards and witches. He performed this ability in 1993, when he magically blasted his former master Lucius Malfoy away from attacking Harry Potter, sending him flying down several flights of stairs.[5]
- Disarming: Dobby displayed the ability to disarm wizards and witches of their wands with a snap of his fingers, much like the charm itself.[2]
- Overall ability: Overall, Dobby had a very great amount of magical skill. Although house-elves are generally treated very poorly as slaves, they do have very powerful magic, perhaps even beyond that of witches and wizards. House-elves do not need possession of a wand to cast spells or perform magical actions, as most wizards and witches do. In addition, boundaries are put on the Apparition of witches and wizards in certain areas, but this does not apply to house-elves, so in this sense, they have much greater power than that of wizards (as far as Apparition goes). They also can do magic without wands, something only the most powerful witches and wizards can do. Dobby could disarm with a snap of his fingers, send strong blasts to stun and disable opponents, and very efficiently perform charms like those of witches and wizards such as levitation and also tamper with magical objects. Dobby even managed to save Garrick Ollivander, Griphook the Goblin, Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter from a mansion full of some of the most powerful Death Eaters, even if it was at the cost of his own life—Dobby sacrificed himself in order to get Harry and his friends out of a situation in which they surely otherwise would have died. Without Dobby, Harry would not have lived, and Voldemort never would have been defeated. That being said, Dobby played a very significant role in the defeat of Voldemort, although sadly he was hardly ever recognised, probably partially due to the fact that he is a house-elf. Although quite small and humble, when put into perspective, Dobby was extremely powerful and was very heroic in his contributions to the wizarding world.
Possessions[]
- "He was holding up Harry’s disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure."
- — Dobby being freed with Harry's sock[src]
- One of Harry Potter's socks: This sock once belonged to Harry Potter and was inadvertently given to Dobby by Lucius Malfoy (his master). Harry tricked Lucius by presenting him with Tom Riddle's diary, having shoved the diary inside his sock.[14] When Lucius took the diary out of the sock, he threw the small and dirty piece of clothing away and Dobby caught it, rendering him free.[5] Dobby kept this sock on until the day he died.[2]
- An old pair of mustard yellow socks from Harry Potter during Christmas 1994.[28]
- A pair of violet socks from Ron Weasley during Christmas 1994.[28]
- A jumper from Ron Weasley during Christmas 1994.[28]
- Some socks from Gladrags Wizardwear during after Triwizard Tournament's second task.[29]
- Many scarves, socks, and hats made by Hermione Granger.[10]
Relationships[]
Harry Potter[]
- "Harry... Potter..."
- — Dobby's last words to Harry Potter, as he died in his arms[src]
Dobby and Harry Potter had a very strong relationship. Dobby loved and respected him very much to the point where he considered Harry to be his best friend. When Harry first met Dobby, he was a bit confused by the elf's devotion to keeping him safe from harm. Harry was furious when he found out Dobby was intercepting all of his friends' letters to him, and demanded them back while refusing to promise him to stay out of Hogwarts.[3] Throughout the year, when Dobby made attempts to drive Harry away from Hogwarts, causing some rather unpleasant results on the way, Harry made some threats that were never followed through.[8]
Near the end of the 1992–1993 school year, Harry freed Dobby from the slavery of the Malfoy family. Lucius became angry and intended to attack Harry but Dobby protected him by using a defensive spell. Dobby may have realised that he underestimated Harry Potter, when Harry managed to stop Lucius's plot and survive the Chamber of Secrets.[5]
- "Harry Potter freed Dobby! Harry Potter set Dobby free!"
- — Dobby's gratitude towards Harry for liberating him from the Malfoys[src]
Dobby was appointed to work at the kitchen of Hogwarts Castle in the paid service of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, though even as a free elf, his loyalty always laid foremost with Harry. When Harry visited the kitchens and therefore Dobby, Dobby hugged him so tightly that Harry felt as though his ribs might crack. Dobby also asked if it would be alright if he visited Harry from time-to-time, with Harry responding with an of course.[7] Dobby visited Harry on Christmas day and presented him with a present, socks and when Harry tried them on Dobby's eyes misted with tears.[28] In 1994, Dobby also provided Harry with Gillyweed for the second task of the Triwizard Tournament.[9]
- " [...] something small hurtled toward him from the middle of the room, squealing, "Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!" Next second all the wind had been knocked out of him as the squealing elf hit him hard in the midriff, hugging him so tightly he thought his ribs would break."
- — Dobby greeting Harry in 1994[src]
In 1995, Dobby told Harry about the Room of Requirement and how to get inside. It is a secret room inside Hogwarts castle and cannot be seen even on the Marauder's Map. Harry and his friends used the room in Dumbledore's Army's meetings and practises.[10] When Marietta Edgecombe betrayed Dumbledore's Army to Professor Umbridge, Dobby immediately warned Harry that the Inquisitorial Squad was going to attack, even though the house-elves had been forbidden to tell anyone, as he was far more loyal to Harry Potter than to Umbridge or Hogwarts in general. When he heard, Harry ordered Dobby not to punish himself for disobeying a direct order from Umbridge.[11]
- "Dobby will do it, Harry Potter. Dobby would be honoured to help Harry Potter!"
- — Dobby's willingness to help his friend Harry Potter[src]
In 1996, Dobby had a fight with another house-elf, Kreacher after Kreacher insulted Harry.[12] In 1998, when Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Dean Thomas, Mr Garrick Ollivander and the goblin Griphook were captured and taken hostage at the Malfoy Manor, Dobby Apparated there to rescue them. As they attempted to Disapparate to Shell Cottage, Bellatrix Lestrange threw her silver dagger, mortally wounding Dobby in the chest.[2] Arriving at Shell Cottage, the house of the newly-wed Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, Harry discovered Dobby's wound and cried out for help as Dobby died in Harry's arms, leaving Harry devastated. He dug a grave without using magic and held a small funeral for Dobby in the garden of Shell Cottage. Dobby's epitaph read "HERE LIES DOBBY, A FREE ELF".[22]
Malfoy family[]
- "You've lost me my servant, boy!"
- — Lucius Malfoy to Harry Potter, after he freed Dobby[src]
Dobby was the house-elf of the Malfoy family.[5] Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco Malfoy treated Dobby cruelly and were very sadistic to him.[3] He frequently had to punish himself and received death threats several times a day.[8] Dobby feared them, but did everything they ordered him to. In 1993, Harry Potter freed Dobby by tricking Lucius into unknowingly giving Dobby a sock. Lucius became angry and attempted to attack Harry, but Dobby blasted him down a flight of stairs and forcefully told him to leave, with Dobby finally getting revenge on his former cruel master.[5]
The last time Lucius saw Dobby was in 1998, when Dobby came to Malfoy Manor to rescue Harry Potter and his friends. Dobby was eventually killed by Bellatrix Lestrange.[2] It is unknown how the Malfoys reacted when they learned of it.
Ron Weasley[]
- Dobby: "Sir is very kind!... Dobby knew sir must be a great wizard, for he is Harry Potter's greatest friend, but Dobby did not know that he was also as generous of spirit, as noble, as selfless —"
- Ron Weasley: "They're only socks..."
- — Dobby thanking a modest Ron for his Christmas present[src]
Dobby first met Ron Weasley in 1994 in the Hogwarts kitchens, where Dobby worked. When Dobby talked with Harry and Ron about his life as a free elf, Ron started to like Dobby, and offered him a maroon sweater his mother had made, making the house-elf excited.[7] When Ron was used as a "hostage" for the Triwizard Tournament, Dobby who had learned of the Second Task from the fake Mad-Eye Moody, became fearful of Harry losing his "Wheezy" (Dobby's name for Ron) to the merpeople and was manipulated by the fake Moody into stealing Gillyweed for Harry.[9][21]
Ron and Dobby met again three years later, in 1997, when both Harry and Ron were at the hospital wing; Harry wanted Dobby to spy on Draco Malfoy because he believed he was a Death Eater. However, Ron didn't agree with this.[12] In 1998, Harry, Ron, Hermione Granger and others were imprisoned at Malfoy Manor and Dobby came for their rescue. However, he was killed during the battle by Bellatrix Lestrange.[2] Ron then respected Dobby very much and thanked him for saving his life. He also gave Dobby his shoes and socks to be buried in.[22]
His death seemed to finally drive home to Ron the sorry life that house-elves lived, as during the Battle of Hogwarts, Ron voiced the opinion that they should evacuate the house-elves, or else risk another death like Dobby's. Dobby, as an inadvertent result, thus helped Ron and Hermione begin their relationship. Overcome by his thoughtfulness towards elves, Hermione kissed Ron for the first time.[30]
Hermione Granger[]
Hermione Granger also met Dobby for the first time at the Hogwarts kitchens, where the latter worked. Hermione appeared to like Dobby, because he loved his freedom and because he wanted to make the other house-elves want freedom too.[7] During her fifth year at Hogwarts, Hermione spent most of her time making clothes and hiding them in many places of the Gryffindor Common Tower. However, the house-elves stopped cleaning those places once they found the first of the clothes, as they didn't want to take them. Thus, Dobby cleaned Gryffindor Tower by himself, taking and wearing all of Hermione's knitted clothes.[10]
Dobby and Hermione didn't meet again until 1997, when Harry had sent Dobby to spy on Draco Malfoy. When Dobby came to the Malfoy Manor to rescue them, Hermione was being tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange. Dobby then brought them to Shell Cottage but was killed by Bellatrix by her throwing a knife and stabbing Dobby during the Apparition.[2]
Winky[]
Dobby was first seen with Winky, a female house-elf, in 1994. Earlier that same year, Harry had mistaken Winky for Dobby at the Quidditch World Cup. Winky excitedly told Harry that she knew Dobby, too; they evidently were friends previous to 1994 even though their relationship was only first displayed that year. It is likely that they met in the company of their masters, as Winky's master Barty Crouch was a high-ranking ministry official and Dobby's former masters the Malfoy family were well-connected and influential socialites.[19]
Unlike Dobby, who loved his freedom, Winky was depressed and thought she was useless. When Dobby expressed his opinion that his life as a free elf was better than as a servant, he made her believe that he was a "bad house-elf". So, Dobby tried in vain to convince her that she could live without serving the Crouch family by finding them both jobs at Hogwarts.[7] It is known that Winky eventually managed to get over the fact that she was fired, although Dobby had died by then. He was remembered by her as a good friend whom she missed over a decade later, even though Winky still considered him a bad elf due to his beliefs on freedom.[25]
Kreacher[]
- "Kreacher will not insult Harry Potter in front of Dobby, no he won't, or Dobby will shut Kreacher's mouth for him!"
- — Dobby threatening Kreacher with violence after he spoke ill of Harry[src]
Dobby presumably met Kreacher, another house-elf, in late 1996 when Harry sent Kreacher to work in the kitchens of Hogwarts, and they did not have a good relationship. Firstly, Kreacher strongly disliked Harry because he was a friend of many Muggle-borns and “blood-traitors" and because Harry initially wasn't very nice to Kreacher. Dobby loved and respected Harry very much for a variety of reasons; these differing viewpoints on Dobby's hero/best friend was mostly the reason why the two house-elves often fought with each other.[12]
In 1996, they fought in the hospital wing because Kreacher had badmouthed Harry. Harry attempted to make them stop, but then Peeves appeared and encouraged them to hit each other. During the scuffle, Dobby managed to hit Kreacher in the mouth hard enough to knock out half his teeth – it is unknown how Kreacher grew them back or if he ever did. Furthermore, Harry told both Dobby and Kreacher to go and spy on Draco Malfoy; even then, they argued: When they reappeared to give a report, Dobby was angry that Kreacher hadn't informed him that he was going to Harry. Dobby didn't want it to seem like he hadn't been helping, as Kreacher was trying to make it out.[31]
However, Kreacher later started to respect Harry and be less prejudiced in general. It is possible that, since Kreacher had contact with the Hogwarts kitchen house-elves, he had contact with Dobby, too, and their common ground caused a release of the bad blood, but it is unknown. Dobby might not have learned about Kreacher's change before he was killed in 1998. Kreacher looked like Dobby in appearance, but was angry and antagonistic in character.
Hogwarts kitchens house-elves[]
Dobby started his work at the Hogwarts Kitchens in 1994, a year after he was freed by Harry Potter. He loved his life as a free elf, something that the other house-elves who worked at the kitchens did not. They believed Dobby was mad and there was a great difference between their ideology and Dobby's, about a house-elf's life.[7] Thus, he didn't have such a good relationship with his co-workers, as they believed that a house-elf should not have any personal life when they had to work and serve their masters.[7][10]
However, their opinion about Dobby might have changed during their later years at Hogwarts. During the Battle of Hogwarts all the house-elves, with Kreacher as a leader, fought against the Death Eaters, without anyone ordering them to do so.[24] This indicates that they learned a house-elf can have a personal opinion, and that they should have as many rights as the humans. Unfortunately, Dobby had died by then.
Albus Dumbledore[]
- "Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets and our silence for him."
- — Dobby's opinion of Dumbledore[src]
Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was considered by many people (including Dobby) as the greatest wizard of all time. Dobby always admired Dumbledore, because he was kind to everyone, even to the house-elves, and because he opposed Lord Voldemort and was against things such as forced labour, cruelty and making someone do something against their will, which Dobby had suffered from all his time working for the Malfoys.[7] Dumbledore met Dobby in 1993, when he was still the servant of the Malfoy family.[5] In 1994, Dobby asked Dumbledore for a job at the Hogwarts Kitchens and the headmaster gave him the job, offering a much higher salary than Dobby expected and gaining the house-elf's respect, but Dobby refused and requested a much lower wage and much less time off, as he still bore some nature of a house-elf, such as valuing work, finding the idea of so much money and free time, either repulsive or frightening.
He also permitted Dobby to call him as he wanted (such as "a barmy old codger"). Dobby was very fond of Dumbledore and knew he would never insult him, but he was awed by Dumbledore's gift of freedom of speech.[7] Dumbledore died in 1997; it is unknown how Dobby reacted, or whether he attended his funeral, but he was likely very upset by his death and would remember him as the best and kindest "master", for lack of a better term (really more as a boss/supervisor than master, but House Elves referred to those as masters) he had and would ever have.
Aberforth Dumbledore[]
- "I’m sorry to hear it. I liked that elf."
- — Aberforth's sadness after hearing about Dobby's death[src]
Over the course of his employment at Hogwarts, Dobby became close friends with Aberforth Dumbledore, and spent much time at Aberforth's home in Hogsmeade, getting to and from the school through a secret tunnel. As Aberforth was an old and grumpy person, he didn't have a good relationship with many people. However, Dobby offered friendship and someone to talk too. Aberforth himself stated that he liked Dobby.
In 1998, Harry Potter and his friends were captured by Snatchers and imprisoned at the Malfoy Manor cellar. Harry asked for help while looking at a two-way mirror; Aberforth had the other mirror. He sent Dobby to rescue them; the house-elf did so, stating that "he would always be there for Harry Potter", but was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. After that, Aberforth told Harry, Ron and Hermione that he was really sorry, as he liked Dobby.[13]
Luna Lovegood[]
- "Thank you so much, Dobby, for rescuing me from that cellar. It's so unfair that you had to die, when you were so good and so brave. I'll always remember what you did for us. I hope you're happy now."
- — Luna Lovegood at Dobby's funeral[src]
In 1998, Dobby saved Luna Lovegood, along with Garrick Ollivander and Griphook, from Malfoy Manor.[2] She attended his funeral later at Shell Cottage, where she expressed much gratitude for him saving her life.[22]
Etymology[]
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a "dobby" is an old English word for a benevolent elf that would perform household tasks secretly in the night, like the elves in tales of the elves and the shoemaker. However, just as those elves disappeared when the shoemaker made them shoes, so the dobbies were said to disappear when offered clothing. Also called a Brownie. A dobby is also a small mechanical part in a loom that enables the weaver to create small geometric patterns.
Behind the scenes[]
- Dobby appears in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,[32] being voiced by Toby Jones in both films.[33][34]
- Dobby's favourite article of clothing appears to be socks. This may be because Dobby was freed when Harry tricked Lucius Malfoy into giving Dobby a sock.
- The magic Dobby used to fend off Lucius Malfoy to protect Harry resembles the Knockback Jinx.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, it appears that instead of a rock to mark Dobby's grave, there is a more conventionally-shaped tombstone.
- In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, the player (as Jacob's sibling) can have meals with Dobby in the Great Hall any time they want, but this would be impossible in canon, since Dobby was not a Hogwarts employee during the 1980s.
- In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Dobby throws Harry's school books in the bin, because he thinks this will prevent Harry from returning to Hogwarts.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dobby's eyes are bright green. However, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Dobby's eyes appear to be darker blue-green.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Dobby is still wearing his pillow case instead of the clothes he wears in the books but he is also wearing shoes.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Dobby speaks in first person, even though he and Kreacher had always spoken in the third person.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, during the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor, Dobby snaps his fingers and disarms Narcissa Malfoy.
- Dobby's death and burial scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 were filmed on Freshwater West beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
- Many fans have visited the beach to lay painted rocks, several crosses, and socks in Dobby’s memorial. However, as the memorabilia has had a negative effect on the environment, the beach asks that visitors just interact with the site by taking photos.[35]
- In the second book, Harry asks Dobby to promise to not save his life again, but 5 books later Dobby does because he is the last hope of getting out of Malfoy Manor. He loses his life by doing so because of Bellatrix Lestrange throwing a knife into his chest. According to Harry, Dobby also saved his life with the Gillyweed.
- The first and last thing Dobby ever said to Harry was, "Harry Potter." In the film they expanded this line, but still making "Harry Potter" the last words said.
- Dobby appears in five of the books but only appeared in two of the films.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Dobby appears with Kreacher when he is bringing Mundungus Fletcher to the trio, something he doesn't do in the book.
- In the the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dobby is wrinkled and is barefoot, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, he looks smooth and wears brown shoes on his feet (instead of the bunches of mismatched clothing he is described to wear in the novels).
- Series author J. K. Rowling owned a model of Dobby as he appears in the Harry Potter films. She gifted it to the Marcliffe at Pitfodels in October of 2013, along with a personalised letter, as a thank-you present for the service they had provided her during the several months she stayed in the hotel while her father was undergoing treatment at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.[36]
- On Pottermore, there was a feature: "5 friendship lessons we learned from Dobby".
- Series author J. K. Rowling has hinted that she picked Dobby's birthday date to match with her sister's, Dianne Rowling, who is fond of the character.[37]
- Dobby is possibly one of the few characters known to be killed with a non-magical item, as the knife Bellatrix Lestrange threw at him was not known to have any magical properties.
- In the TV series Blindspot, recurring antagonist Rich Dotcom pretends that his lover has recently died when trying to convince the protagonists in the FBI to save him from an assassin, but his lie is seen through as the death scene Dotcom described was copied from Dobby's demise, prompting his lover to express disbelief at Rich's choice of lie when the FBI reveal how they uncovered the truth.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the way Harry tricks Lucius into freeing Dobby is slightly different. Unlike how Harry stored the diary in the sock, which Lucius threw to Dobby after removing the diary, Harry instead stores the sock inside the diary. Lucius then gives the diary to Dobby, who opens it on Harry's command, revealing the sock.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin was claimed to be the model for Dobby in the films.[38]
- In the 2022 film Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers', Dobby is seen on a poster, having become a model for Gucci after the Harry Potter films wrapped up.[citation needed]
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Not in home console version)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Possible appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Pottermore
- Harry Potter (website)
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- LEGO Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
- LEGO Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- LEGO Dimensions
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
- Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
- The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac
Notes and references[]
- ↑ J.K.Rowling - Official Site Timeline
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 23 (Malfoy Manor)
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2 (Dobby's Warning)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2 (Dobby's Warning) - "The little creature on the bed had large, bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls."
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18 (Dobby's Reward)
- ↑ LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 21 (The House-Elf Liberation Front)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 10 (The Rogue Bludger)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 26 (The Second Task)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 18 (Dumbledore's Army)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 27 (The Centaur and the Sneak)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 19 (Elf Tails)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 28 (The Missing Mirror)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18 (Dobby's Reward) - "Harry took off one of his shoes, pulled off his slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it."
- ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 2, "MEET THE MALFOYS" Achievement
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3 (The Burrow)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5 (The Whomping Willow)
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 8 (The Quidditch World Cup)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 28 (The Madness of Mr Crouch)
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35 (Veritaserum)
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 24 (The Wandmaker)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 25 (Shell Cottage)
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Plan)
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened - 2022 Dobby birthday special event
- ↑ Harry Potter: Wizards Unite - Brilliant Event: Dumbledore's Army
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 21 (The House-Elf Liberation Front) - "He looked almost exactly as Harry remembered him; the pencil-shaped nose, the batlike ears, the long fingers and feet —"
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23 (The Yule Ball)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 27 (Padfoot Returns)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 21 (The Unknowable Room)
- ↑ Dobby comes back for the Deathly Hallows
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0295297/fullcredits#cast
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0926084/fullcredits
- ↑ Real-Life Harry Potter Dobby Memorial Will Be Left Up After Review - Screenrant
- ↑ Harry Potter elf Dobby staying at Aberdeen hotel - Evening Express
- ↑ J.K. Rowling via Twitter, 28 June 2016
- ↑ E.g., https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/jan/30/harrypotter.news