It seems after the burial of Dobby, Harry becomes as powerful as he has ever been. He becomes smarter, braver, bolder. At one point, Harry notices that the place he chose to bury Dobby was perhaps the most beautiful place on the site – that one day flowers would sprout up over his gravesite. Could Rowling be saying at this point that the only way to find true peace is through the course of nature, not by means of magic or human interference?
It is a struggle Harry has faced since he learned he was a wizard: choose between using magic or his wits to solve his problems. At Hogwarts, magic was an option, although not always the most advisable. But with the Durselys, use of magic led to punishment and discipline. Harry, unlike other wizards his age, had to find means other than magic to solve some of his problems.
The death of Dobby made that more clear than ever. Harry became bold enough to strike a deal with a goblin to steal one of the Horcruxes. Harry became brave enough to sneak in and rob Gringotts. He became smart enough to question Ollivander about the Elder Wand. He became patient enough to change his focus from Hallows to Horcruxes after Dobby died.
Dobby’s death tore Harry up inside more than any other character’s death. That includes Dumbledore, Sirius and his parents. The death of Dumbledore led Harry to confusion and frustration. The death of Sirius led him to rage and vengeance. The death of his parents led to hope and despair. But Dobby’s death led to someplace unexpected. It led to courage and foolhardiness. Harry exhibited cleverness and caution. He dared the impossible and ignored the obvious. Dobby’s death made Harry’s character gain great depth, even though it tore Harry apart to get there.
Dobby’s death appears to be the catalyst for this transformation. But why? Dobby, aside from being a fan of Harry Potter, had few ties to Harry. Why would his death lead to Harry’s evolution into a complete and powerful wizard? It seems an odd choice. Seeing Ginny or Ron die would have been a greater motivator in the transformation. Even Luna would have made more sense.
Dobby was more irritating than helpful to Harry throughout the books. Granted, without Dobby, Harry, Ron, Hermione, et al., would have died in Malfoy Manor, but Dobby was an unusual choice to shatter Harry’s inner wizard. Unlike his wand and the Horcruxes, Harry was able to put the pieces of his soul back together. It made him a stronger wizard, but not necessarily a better wizard. Having Dobby die was a strange choice – unexpected and unlikely.