Why didn't Dumbledore and Harry bring a house-elf to the Horcrux cave?

Question

Related: Regulus Black and the Horcrux Cave

Why didn't Dumbledore and Harry Potter bring a house elf with them to the Horcrux cave so they could get in and out more easily (given that elves could apparate in and out)? It seems like it would've been safer too, given that they could make a quick getaway.

Harry Potter didn't seem to have known that house-elves could apparate there at the time (because he was baffled by Kreacher's later claim to have apparated out of the same cave, so he apparently didn't know about that until the 7th book), but wouldn't Dumbledore have known that? Why didn't he think of it?

Why didn't the trio summon a house elf when confronting Sirius in the Shrieking Shack? Why didn't Harry summon a house elf in the graveyard? Why didn't the gang summon a house elf in the Department of Mysteries? — TGnat, Mar 30 '17 at 19:36
@TGnat They didn't own an Elf to summon, and it's not like they had time to canvass around for a volunteer in advance. The Horcrux Cave was different because they knew they were going there in advance (plus there were plenty of house elves working for Dumbledore). — EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine, Mar 30 '17 at 19:39
@Tim That was my thought as well - which makes the omission even odder (especially given that Aberforth knew to send Dobby to Malfoy Manner later) — EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine, Mar 30 '17 at 19:50
I guess it's like Tolkien's giant eagles - House Elfs are too powerful. — Tim, Mar 30 '17 at 19:54
Isn't this really the same question? They both basically ask why aren't house elves used to escape from sticky situations? — TGnat, Mar 30 '17 at 20:03
They were going into the unknown. Since what they were facing was a mystery there was no purpose to be served in taking a random tag-along elf along on their top secret excursion. — The Dark Lord, Mar 30 '17 at 21:53
Never mind the fact that the whole operation was supposed to be Top Secret. Dumbledore didn't want anybody except Harry, Ron and Hermione knowing about the Horcruxes, fearing Voldemort would find out and relocate them. — DavidS, Mar 31 '17 at 09:11
They hadn't read the books and didn't know that a house elf's magic could get around the anti-Apparation charm. — EvilSnack, Dec 11 '20 at 23:46

score 13 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 31 '17 at 11:07

13

Dumbledore was already poisoned with the cursed ring (as revealed later in book 7) and knew he was going to die. He was ready to take all the risks himself.
Dumbledore did not know in advance of the protection Voldemort built around the cave. He assumed that only a wizard could breach it.
It was not obvious that a house elf could breach the protection of the cave. Voldemort himself, with his bias of "wizarding supremacy", could not think of such possibility.
Their purpose and destination was top secret. A house elf, no matter how loyal, could be forced or deceived to compromise their mission.

edited Mar 31 '17 at 11:07

The Dark Lord

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answered Mar 31 '17 at 08:59

TimSparrow

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They are also both Good People who would not want to risk an additional innocent life for their own purposes. You don't equip yourself with a house elf. They are people. – keithcurtis Jan 01 '18 at 19:09

Why didn't Dumbledore and Harry bring a house-elf to the Horcrux cave?

1 Answers1