[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione's a liberal: was re: Moody -- "Types"--Where Are the Bleeding Hearts?

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 125473

--- finwitch <finwitch at yahoo.com> wrote:

> But the thing about underestimating elf-ability to make choices -- 
> this is a fault Dumbledore shares. You make a valid point - 
> especially kind, ignore the faults etc. just because he's a
> house-elf?

Dumbledore did not instruct Sirius to treat Kreacher with kindness
because he underestimated the house elf.  As he says in Chapter 37:
"I warned Sirius when we adopted 12GP as our HQ that Kreacher must be
treated with kindness and respect.  I also told him that Kreacher
could be dangerous to us."

Those are not the words of a man who shares Hermione's unrealistic
view of house elves.  It's because Dumbledore knows that Kreacher
does have some wiggle-room within the confines of his bond with the
house that he wants him treated carefully.


> Finwitch:
> Harry&Sirius - they see individuality and ability to make choices 
> within the elves. Sirius was kind to elves in general - just not 
> Kreacher. I'd say they *both* consider the elves as equal to
> wizards in that regard. Kreacher may be unable to disobey a direct 
> order (not  much different for lower-ranking members of an army, 
> is it?) but I'd say that his lying to Harry (unless someone TOLD 
> him to, which I doubt) *is* Kreacher's fault.

When did Sirius view house elves as having "individuality and ability
to make choices"?  He was surprised and disconcerted at Christmas
time when Kreacher disappeared (to the Malfoys, as we find out later)
and Harry corrected him that house elves can leave the premises if
they're determined to and cited Dobby as an example.  Sirius who was
raised with house elves around knew less about what they were capable
of than Harry with his muggle-bound childhood and his limited contact
with Dobby.

As for being kind to abstract, not-in-his-immediate-vicinity house
elves, he probably was.  But these house elves were not a danger to
him and to the Order while the single one that was both present and
vital to Order secrecy was treated poorly.  

Sirius could have done better.  Nothing would have converted or
changed Kreacher's attitude but deliberately antagonizing the elf by
throwing away heirlooms and ignoring hints like the shrine to
Bellatrix in his hidey-hole meant that everyone was unprepared when
Kreacher did strike.  No one ever expects a slave rebellion.

Magda


	
		
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