Kreacher, Buckbeak and Harry's Brain

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 97582

I've looked at posts that have touched on this topic, but I still have some=
 questions in 
need of informed opinions.  I've been wondering about the nature of this me=
ntal link 
between Harry and LV - and the timing of Kreacher's injury to Buckbeak.

I've noticed that others have also wondered how Kreacher knew when to injur=
e Beaky (for 
example Carol, post 91202, Shirley, Annemehr and grannygoodwitch around # 8=
3866 – 
that was Halloween, BTW).  I can come up with a few scenarios, in order of =
parsimony:

1) LV knew exactly when Harry would have the vision, because LV is in total=
 control of this, 
it was a long-standing plan, and the Malfoy's informed Kreacher of the prec=
ise date and 
time during one of his (at least 2) absences from Grim-old-place.

I suppose this is possible.  It was my impression that LV could supplant fe=
elings and 
images into Harry's mind when it was most vulnerable, such as when he was a=
sleep.  But, 
it seems clear that LV has limited control over this – and was repeatedly t=
hwarted by 
firecrackers, Ron's snoring, 
 (LV, in high pitched voice: "doh!"), even by=
 Harry beginning 
to fight these intrusions.  

Alternatively:
2) LV planned, apriori, approximately when Harry would probably have the vi=
sion, Kreacher 
was warned in advance, and then they just crossed their long, thin, evil fi=
ngers.  

I doubt LV expected Harry to fall asleep in his History of Magic OWL exam? =
 Can he make 
Harry fall asleep?  If this second alternative was the plan, I think that H=
arry was actually a 
bit early.  It seems reasonable that Voldy may have been plotting that Harr=
y's most 
extreme mental exhaustion – and vulnerability - would occur just after his =
last exam.

Or,
3) That LV can't control when Harry will have a vision - but can tell when =
he has had a 
vision that upsets him greatly – just as Harry can tell when LV is feeling =
strong emotions.  
He thus knew precisely when Harry had had the vision, and Kreacher was aler=
ted.  But how 
would they alert Kreacher from outside Grimmauld Place?  

And of course, 4) Professor Tofty told his dear friend Tiberious Ogden and =
Madam 
Marchbanks, who alerted the subversive goblins who told Kreacher.  Or it wa=
s Snape!

I have considered the third (and fourth) option for several weeks, wonderin=
g what is 
reasonable.  I suppose there are many ways it * could * be explained – a pr=
otean charm on 
a black family heirloom, ala Hermione's gold galleons. Maybe Bellatrix's ph=
oto 
communicates with Kreature.  Certainly there are some Kreacher-specific det=
ails we might 
be suspicious of.  

But, this scenario strikes me as relatively unlikely as compared to the sec=
ond one above.  
(Maybe the clue to really support it is too obscure for me.)  Kreacher's in=
volvement is a key 
clue, IMO, to the nature and degree of Voldemort's influence over Harry's t=
houghts – 
simply because it suggest the ability to control rather than merely the abi=
lity to react.  In 
other words, because it is less likely that the Malfoys have some instant w=
ay of 
communicating with Kreacher, his involvement might suggest a pre-arranged s=
chedule. 

The reasons I have spent so much time on this third one, include that the o=
ther two have 
such disturbing implications for Harry.  The inside of his head is no longe=
r safe, even at 
Hogwarts?  Just how unsafe are Harry's thoughts and feelings?  Can Voldemor=
t distort his 
mind in more subtle ways when he is not extremely exhausted or upset?  Ther=
e is 
absolutely no indication that this will stop – although we do get the re-as=
surance that 
Voldemort will have difficulty in possessing Harry.  Can't something be don=
e about this?  
Who insisted on leaving that scar there anyway 
 

Caesian - who must remember not to press enter before typing in the post