Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts

[suehpfan]

No: HPFGUIDX 93159

> Alshain:
> > I disagree with the theory that Kreacher is slipping Sirius 
> > Befuddlement Draughts. 
> <snip>
> > So in short, I don't think Sirius's hotheadedness is magically 
> > induced, just plain frustration with a horrible situation he 
can't 
> > escape. Harry's thoughts when taken in context are the kind of 
> > freewheeling associations your brain comes up with before falling 
> > asleep. 
> 
> 
> I think JKR emphasised the paragraph about confusing and 
befuddlement 
> draughts way to much to be just freewheeling associations - it was 
> repeated over and over- and then, after Harry falls asleep reading 
> this paragraph, what wakes him up but a house elf!  Dobby is there 
> bringing Hedwig back to him.  
> 
> And the way Sirius' mood coincided with Kreacher's absence/presence 
> is too much too ignore.  It's clear that house-elves can *stretch* 
> the rules a bit when they really want to.  Maybe Kreacher just left 
> the herbs used for these draughts lying around the house or 
something 
> and they had a similar effect.  
> 
> How else do you explain Sirius' seriously altered mood and out of 
> character behavior in OoTP?
> 
> I respectfully disagree--there's just too much to suggest something 
> like this was going on...
> 
> Jenjar


Sue's two cents:
This is a very interesting argument.  I  would also add that we know 
from CoS that Malfoy keeps a few "embarassing" items in his "manor". 
We know from what DD said that Kreacher had been taking orders from 
two owners for months and that he left Grimmauld place at Christmas.  
What if he left before that?  He did not respond when called before 
Christmas IIRC.  Interesting, maybe it's in the water at Grimauld 
Place and Neri's theory about how to take over the WW in three weeks 
has merrit after all!