Dobby the House Elf

Dobby is a house-elf, who, unlike most other house-elves, wanted to be freed. He has three fingers and one opposable thumb. Dobby was the abused and tormented slave of the Malfoys before the events of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In his first appearance in the series in Chamber of Secrets, Dobby knew of Lucius Malfoy's plans to re-open the Chamber of Secrets using Tom Riddle's school diary for months before it happened.

As an attempt to discourage Harry from returning to Hogwarts, Dobby begins to intercept the letters that Harry's friends sent him. Dobby then appears at Privet Drive to warn Harry and tell him of the danger of returning to Hogwarts, and attempts to persuade him to stay away so he would be safe from harm. When Dobby's attempts fail to persuade Harry, he smashes a pudding in the Dursley family's kitchen. Being caught in the kitchen with the wreckage, and receiving a warning letter for illegal use of magic, Harry is locked up by the Dursleys, who insist that he would not return to Hogwarts, but Ron, Fred and George Weasley are able to rescue Harry in their father's flying Ford Anglia. Dobby later tries to keep Harry away from Hogwarts by magically sealing off the hidden entrance to Platform 9¾, but Harry and Ron foil that plot by piloting the flying car back to school. During a Quidditch match of Gryffindor vs Slytherin, Dobby enchants a Bludger to chase after only Harry; it manages to break his arm. When Harry – having just returned from the Chamber of Secrets – discovers that Dobby's master was Lucius, Harry tricks Malfoy into setting Dobby free – a feat that secures him the house-elf's undying loyalty.

Dobby reappears in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He has been demanding payment for his services, which makes it difficult for him to find any employment at all. He later obtains a post at Hogwarts, and is the only paid house-elf on the staff (Dumbledore being probably the only employer who would even think of paying a house-elf). In this book, Dobby gives Harry the gillyweed he needs to survive the Second Triwizard Task. Dobby is also the only house-elf who cleans Gryffindor Tower since Hermione begins trying to set the house-elves free, because the house-elves find the clothes insulting. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dobby shows Harry the hidden Room of Requirement, which Harry uses for his Dumbledore's Army meetings. When Professor Umbridge finds out about the meetings later, Dobby enters the room to warn the group to leave. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry entrusts Dobby to help watch Kreacher when he orders him to work in the Hogwarts kitchens with the other house-elves. When Harry needs somebody to follow Draco Malfoy, he is helped by Dobby and Kreacher. When they report back, Kreacher tells Harry only mundane things, such as Malfoy's class schedule, while Dobby cuts to the chase and tells Harry about Malfoy's visits to the Room of Requirement.

Dobby makes his last appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when Aberforth Dumbledore sends Dobby to rescue Harry, Ron, and Hermione from the cellar of Malfoy Manor. Dobby helps Harry and Ron escape their prison and gets Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, and Mr Ollivander out of the manor, then helps Harry and Ron free Hermione and Griphook from torture at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange. While he succeeds in his task, Bellatrix throws a knife at Harry, but the knife hits Dobby instead, who dies before he can be healed. Harry physically digs the grave without using magic, and writes upon the stone: "Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf".

Dobby was voiced by Toby Jones in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and is confirmed to return for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Some suggest the makers of the Harry Potter films modelled Dobby's appearance after Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the Comic Relief spoof, Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan, he is played by Basil Brush.