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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy. |
- Ron Weasley: "Hang on a moment! We've forgotten someone! The house-elves, they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?"
- Harry Potter: "You mean we ought to get them fighting?"
- Ron Weasley: "No, I mean we should tell them to get out. We don’t want anymore Dobbies, do we? We can’t order them to die for us–"
- — The house-elves during the Battle of Hogwarts[src]
A veritable legion of house-elves were enlisted by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They worked in the kitchens, preparing feasts for the entire school but have been known serving such to students who managed to stumble their way there. The elves also moved trunks and baggage to and from rooms, cleaned dormitories, and presumably other areas of the castle as well. They wore togas made of tea-towels bearing the Hogwarts crest.[1] When asked nicely, they would accommodate the dietary requests of vegetarian students.[3]
History[]
Helga Hufflepuff[]
Helga Hufflepuff brought the house-elves to work in the Hogwarts kitchens as a way of ensuring they could work and not be abused.[4]
12th–19th century[]
In the 12th century, the famous house-elf Wooby started cooking in the kitchens. He was the first of at least five generations of his family to work there.[5] By 1890, an amount of barrels were provided for the elves as their residential quarters.
The house-elf Deek became friends with the student Matilda Weasley during her second year. After Matilda became the Deputy Headmistress, she worked with Deek, and together they introduced the Room of Requirement to the new fifth-year student in 1890.[6] Deek often stayed in the room to assist the student with various affairs.[7]
1994[]
- "At least a hundred little elves were standing around the kitchen, bowing and curtseying as Dobby led Harry past them."
- — The house-elves in 1994[src]
The trio visiting house-elves in the Hogwarts kitchens
In 1994, Dobby, a house-elf, was hired by Albus Dumbledore to work in the kitchens for a Galleon a week. Another house-elf named Winky, took up work at Hogwarts as well, but during her time there she had turned into a heavy drinker. They soon became titled as Hogwarts house-elves although the other House Elves were disconcerted by them.[1]
Tea towel, commonly used as clothing
In the same year, Hermione Granger set up the organisation S.P.E.W., she started coming to the kitchens in order to persuade them to be set free. This did not earn her any popularity, as most believe that house-elves enjoy their work; indeed, even the house-elves did not like her campaigning. She started knitting hats and socks, which she left lying around Gryffindor Tower, hoping to free some unsuspecting elf who picked them up while cleaning the common room, so as to grant them freedom.
The house-elves did not appreciate this gesture; on the contrary, they took it for insult and refused to clean the Gryffindor common room, with the exception of Dobby. They became angry with Hermione Granger as she made these attempts to free them.[1]
1998[]
- "The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed into the entrance hall, screaming and waving carving knives and cleaver, and at their head, the locket of Regulus Black bouncing on his chest, was Kreacher, his bullfrog's voice audible even above this din: "Fight! Fight! Fight for my Master, defender of house-elves! Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!""
- — Kreacher leading the house-elves during the Battle of Hogwarts[src]
Hogwarts house-elves participating in the Battle of Hogwarts
They participated in the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998 in an unusually bold move for their kind, although this may have been a manifestation of their extreme loyalty to their "masters". Kreacher led the house-elves into the fray, shouting for the elves to fight in the name of Harry Potter and Regulus Black. They fought with knives and cleavers, hacking at the shins of Death Eaters.[2]
The house-elves were also present for Harry's final defeat of Lord Voldemort, thus witnessing the end of the Second Wizarding War.
21st century[]
Wigby worked in the kitchens during this century and was the fifth generation of his family to do so.[5] He earned the title of "Dessert Master" and would often prepare delicious desserts for students.[8] Two house-elves, Cooky[9] and Ringkull,[10] could be seen in the kitchens along with Wigby.[5]
Known Hogwarts house-elves[]
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Wonderbook: Book of Potions
- Pottermore
- Wizarding World
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
- Hogwarts Legacy
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 21 (The House-Elf Liberation Front)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Plan)
- ↑ 2000 Interview with JK Rowling
- ↑ J.K. Rowling PotterCast Interview - "Yeah, it's a complicated issue. I would say that Hufflepuff gave — Hufflepuff did what was the most moral thing to do at that time, and we are talking about over a thousand years ago. So that would be to give them good conditions of work."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (see this image)
- ↑ Hogwarts Legacy, Main Quest "The Room of Requirement"
- ↑ Hogwarts Legacy
- ↑ Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
- ↑ Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (see this image)
- ↑ Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (see this image)
