"House-elves were originally called 'housing elves'. They attached themselves to a wizard's dwelling and exchanged labor for food."
"This led to them becoming deeply involved in wizarding life, marking their transition from magical beings to magical creatures, positioning them somewhere between the two."
"If you have ever visited the Ministry of Magic, you will have seen the Fountain of Magical Brethren. You know that centaurs, goblins, house-elves, and even giants played a significant role in human historical events. That is a step further into 'wizarding fairy-tale life'."
Chapter 18