Looking for books on house elves for Herminie after an especially long S.P.E.W. related badgering session, Harry finds a book that details the "forgotten" history of the slave race…

During the time of the founders, it was considered a status symbol for a wizard to take an Imp, a lower form of demon, as a servant. Imps, like today's House Elves, were servants by nature but their personalities were drastically different. They tended to be cheeky, mischievous, and vindictive creatures who would only bind themselves to and serve those who impressed them, and only then in exchange for some kind of payment or to repay a debt…

The beginning of the House Elves started when someone figured out a way to forcefully bind an imp, but unfortunately, while they liked being servants to impressive and powerful wizards, they rather resented being slaves to any pissant witch or warlock with enough money to have them summoned and bound… this both affected their service as while they had to obey their orders, they could interprete them as they wished, and if they ever got their hands on clothes, their vengeance was rather terrible to behold…

This, mixed with a growing disdain for all things Dark, which imps being demons were very much, lead to some rather nasty breeding/chimeric experiments to make imps more "manageable" and less "dark", which lead to the eventual creation of a slave race of magically and psychologically stunted Imps… the House Elves.

The Book Harry finds was actually one of the original texts that detailed both the nature of Imps, and how to turn them into house elves… it also shows how to reverse the process…

He ends up using it on a eager and ready Dobby who's more than happy to volunteer… ending in a new dobby who's mind and powers are finally and totally free… he becomes more surly, sarcastic, mischievous, and infinitely more vindictive along with a new and in-depth instinctive knowledge of and ability to use the Dark Arts…

He's still loyal to Harry, in fact if anything he's more so, and swears himself to Harry as his loyal assistant… but he's no house elf to say the least and makes it his mission to help Harry grow into being the best wizard possible… from his new dark and slightly demented point of view…

The main physical difference between an imp and house elf is that imps tend to be a bit physically stronger (think athletic, for a house elf), with a reddish cast to their skin, and small horns…

Rules:
* Harry finds the book on house elves
* Harry uses the magic in it on Dobby, turning him into a true imp
* Dobby becomes Harry's willing servant
* Dobby does his damnedist to make Harry into a "proper wizard" (read as dark, intelligent, and powerful lord)
* Dobby's new hobby is making Draco Malfoy's life a living nightmare (Note, I said Vindictive and Vengeful)
* Dobby and Harry formulate plans to truly liberate the House Elf race…
* This can be combined with any other Independent, Dark, or Dark but still Lightside Harry idea or challenge as long as the above concepts are met

 

Dude, this is one awesome challenge. I take my hat off to you. I can't wait to see what some people do with this.

 

Great idea!

I don't like having Dobby gain instinctive knowledge of dark arts - instinct can tell you how to take a piss; spellwork should require little more practice...

But anyway, I'd like Harry "freeing" Dobby (and only him, coz the elf has to be 'free' to be de-enchanted) and then these two training and practicing together... Maybe Dobby's new magic-visor could see bonds on Harry's magic, so he wouldn't be such a pansy anymore...

It'd also be interesting to see Hermione's and Ron's reaction to the whole freeing process - the creatures DO gain freedom, but they also DO become dark and vindictive little bastards... Dumbledore should be firmly against it, what with his whole status-quo politics...

Anyway, enough rambling. Like the idea a lot. I just hope some good author takes it and turns it into a great story it deserves...

 

Guess I stated that the wrong way...

I don't mean he becomes a natural encyclopedia, but IMHO it just seems that House Elves have some inate powers... he gets afew more that tend to be more... dark... in nature as well as knack for understanding anything Dark Arts related...

 

If you write it i will read.

 

So, is anyone going to take the Challange, or is this another "Wow, great idea!" that never goes anywhere?

 

Why don't you write it PsyckoSama?

You presented the idea in probably 500 words there that were coherent and interesting. Give it a shot.

 

Because I'm already working on an idea, and if I was really set on writing it I'd have done it rather than posting the challange...

Though I may in the future.

 

*Ups thread in the hope that someone will take this challenge*