Kreacher, Buckbeak and Harry's Brain

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 97616

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "caesian" <caesian at y...> wrote:
> 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.
<snip>

> 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?  

Annemehr:
Ah, yes, I recognise my preferred explanation!  Nice and flexible.  I
also like how it incorporates Voldemort learning to sense Harry's
emotions and use them against him -- a juicy plot element!  But why
assume alerting Kreacher would be difficult?  The Protean Charm, which
you bring up yourself, seems ideal to me; after all, they  would only
need a prearranged signal, nothing complicated. Then Kreacher only
need keep his phoney knut (waste not, want not) in his filthy
loincloth and wait for it to go off.

When Harry used the Floo network to ask Sirius about Snape's Worst
Memory, Lupin said Sirius was looking for Kreacher because he seemed
to be "hiding in the attic again."  I think it's a safe bet that this
is another time (since the first one at Christmas) that Kreacher was
visiting Narcissa.  It's quite possible there were other times as
well.  Certainly, Voldemort would be making good use of him.

On a tangeant here, I'm also wary of the fact that Sirius seems to be
much happier whenever Kreacher's not around.  There's no hint of
surliness or depression about him as he explains Snape's pensieve
memory to Harry.

Caesian: 

> 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

Annemehr:

Yeah, I've pressed "enter" after typing in the subject line, too.  It
just feels right, doesn't it?

Anyway, despite the fact that I favor your third explanation, I don't
think Harry's head is safe.  I think he has only a temporary reprieve
since Voldemort was dispossessed of him.  I'm hoping for some
deliciously creepy invasions into Harry's thoughts in the beginning of
book six.  JKR has been building up this scar connection steadily all
along; it has to be crucial.

Can something be done about it?  I think something will -- Harry will
be taught to live with it somehow (I'll guess not by Occlumency), but
the permanent solution won't happen until the defeat of Voldemort.

Nice post, BTW.  I wish I hadn't snipped that reference to
firecrackers and snores waking Harry up, and Voldemort saying "doh!" 
-- that was priceless.

Annemehr