Kreacher (was Re: Ch Disc: Ch 4 No. Twelve, Grimmauld Place)

[Shirley]

No: HPFGUIDX 83802

<<large snip>>
Paula: 
> Finally, one last thing about Kreacher that's been driving me 
nuts.  Near the end of OotP, DD tells Harry that Kreacher injured 
Buckbeak, the hippogriff (Remember Kreacher's bandaged hands when he 
spoke to Harry in the fireplace)?  Why did he injure Buckbeak? Will 
Buckbeak be OK?  What could he have been trying to do?  Any ideas or 
hints from canon?
> 
> Paula "Griff" Gaon

Shirley responds:  
Kreacher injured Buckbeak so that Sirius would have to tend to 
Buckbeak's wounds, which would keep Sirius out of the way when Harry 
floo-powdered into the kitchen fireplace to check on him (Sirius).  
In other words, injuring Buckbeak got Sirius out of the way so 
Kreacher could lie and say he wasn't around (sorry, don't have my 
book with me, so I can't quote anything directly); which would then 
make Harry think Sirius really *was* in trouble with LV.  And, I 
think that Kreacher's hands are bandaged because he punished himself 
after injuring Buckbeak (a la Dobby, when he ironed his fingers for 
doing something he knew his master wouldn't approve of).

At least, that's what I concluded when I read (and re-read) it.... ;-)

Shirley, slipping back into lurkdom.....