I think the enchantment is on the elf race as a whole, but can be broken in specific cases.
"Dobby remembers how it was when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at the height of his powers, sir! We house-elves were treated like vermin, sir!" (p177-78, US edition)
Ah, I'd forgotten this. That does make it clearer, thanks.
But why would elves have been treated more poorly during Voldemort's reign? How do they fit into V's worldview? Now I'm starting to wonder if the history between elves and wizards is even longer and more bitter than I'd imagined. What would move the wizards to enslave a whole species? Just an amoral desire for creatures to serve them, or did the elves somehow give them cause for fear?
no subject
"Dobby remembers how it was when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was at the height of his powers, sir! We house-elves were treated like vermin, sir!" (p177-78, US edition)
Ah, I'd forgotten this. That does make it clearer, thanks.
But why would elves have been treated more poorly during Voldemort's reign? How do they fit into V's worldview? Now I'm starting to wonder if the history between elves and wizards is even longer and more bitter than I'd imagined. What would move the wizards to enslave a whole species? Just an amoral desire for creatures to serve them, or did the elves somehow give them cause for fear?
Hm.