LONDON -- It's going to be a long, long time before the nation gets over the tragic demise of everyone's favourite pointy-eared house elf.
Some Harry Potter fans are clearly so dedicated to Dobby's memory that they've even started an unusual trend -- a trend that involves leaving odd socks next to a model Dobby that's part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London.
People have been trying to free Dobby at the WB Studio Tour pic.twitter.com/qTduzDmZvu— Hogwarts Logic (@HogwartsLogic) September 27, 2015
In case your Harry Potter memory is a bit fuzzy (or if you're one of those terrible people that hasn't read all the books at least twice), giving a house elf an item of clothing is the only way to free them from their master's service. Dobby is freed from the Malfoys at the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, after Harry tricks Lucius Malfoy into throwing a sock at Dobby.
Some people have even been posting pictures of themselves freeing the elf.
@HogwartsLogic @jk_rowling pic.twitter.com/BoE2c6bahd— Katie Louise (@katiethekoolies) September 30, 2015
And it looks as though the trend is spreading.
@HogwartsLogic @jk_rowling I did the same in Paris haha !! :-) #freedomforDobby pic.twitter.com/QeuuFFPdJw— Marion (@xCharlie_) September 30, 2015
Sadly we suspect it might take more than a sock or two to get Dobby out of that glass case, but hey -- he almost certainly appreciates the gesture.