Sirius revisited--emotional maturity

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 104350

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "anthyroserain" 
<anthyroserain at y...> wrote:
> Valky:
> 
> > However, and although I thoroughly agree with the statement made 
> by 
> > others that Sirius' hotheaded and temperamental behaviour in OOP 
> > headquarters seemed entirely logical and not uncharacteristic at 
> > all, I still feel very strongly in favour of the 'Kreacher feeds 
> > Sirius a befuddlement draught' supposition, I don't know why it 
> just 
> > makes an sinister amount of sense.
> 
> 
> Katie: 
> 
> Hmm... Sirius doesn't really seem befuddled to me. Not that I'd 
put 
> it past Kreacher to slip him a potion (wouldn't put anything past 
> Kreacher) but why do you think so? 
> 
> -Katie

Valky:
Its not so much that it fits per se, in the context of the story, 
except that the symptoms are extraordinarily familiar, but as the 
way the indicators are flagged in canon. Its all in the order they 
appear.

I am assuming probably more than I should here. so I'll start from 
the beginning.

Some time ago it was supposed that Kreacher was implementing a plot 
to get rid of Sirius a long time before he left Grimmauld Place to 
the Malfoy residence. The canon that supports this is in congruent 
elements scattered through OOtP.
 
They are:
1 Sirius becomes some alarming bit more cheerful when Kreacher 
disappears at Christmas.

2 Although it fits nicely with the probability that Sirius is 
unhappy to be losing his guests at the end of Christmas, it also 
fits, curiously, that he becomes once again hotheaded and recklessly 
behaved when Kreacher returns.

3 We are treated to, in a previous chapter, an insight into the uses 
of scurvy grass, lovage and sneezewort, which I will quote for you:

"These plantes are efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and 
are therefore much used in Confusing and befuddlement Draughts, 
where the wizard is desirous of producing hot-headedness and 
recklessness ...." 
This is in Dumbledores Army, OOtP page 340 in my version.

Now I cannot take credit for this exemplary sleuthing I am afraid, 
but I do have plenty to offer in support of the theory.

For example, as there was much talk in Grimmauld Place, by Molly 
Lupin et al, that recklessness would get Sirius killed, it is quite 
likely that when chanced upon, it would be of a temptation to 
Kreacher to encourage along some recklessness, in his much loathed 
master.  

Secondly and if you'll imagine with me for a moment that Kreacher is 
blurting to his much beloved Bella:
 
"I have been feeding the young traitor scurvy grass in hope that he 
would do something foolish and get himself and all his mutant, 
mudblood, half breed, etc etc.... friends, thankfully, destroyed. 
But he is resisting it so !  I fear I shall be in his treacherous 
keep forever... oh for shame poor Kreacher.. boo hoo etc.."

Bella then goes to discuss with LV this and the other information we 
already know she gave him and of course LV decides it will help his 
new plan along if Kreacher continues to do so.

So much against the House Elfs desire to not return to Sirius, ever, 
he does... and immediately, to begin the scurvy grass, or what have 
you, lacing of Sirius' food again, because Harry, who is at 
Grimmauld Place right now, must firmly believe that Sirius has lost 
the plot and misplaced the blueprints.

In the post I previously replied to, Katie did make note of how 
excuses for bad behaviour of characters has been made by members of 
HP fandom, ranging from childhood abuse to magical control over that 
characters mind.
And I say again to Katie, though I agree, absolutely ;), that much 
of this speculation is, to the point, absolutist in dividing who is 
good and bad in the books, I am afraid that this is the one case 
that I simply cannot let go. 

I could go on, now, about how JKR must know how guilty she is of 
allowing Kreacher to steal most of our last moments with Sirius from 
us. 

And that SAD DENIAL has a right to a SIRIUS RESSURRECTION because we 
were never given more than a few fleeting moments with the REAL 
him.  

Oops I did go on with it didn't I.

Valky