Draco Malfoy and the Gothic Manor - Common Law

[Constance Vigilance]

No: HPFGUIDX 128910

First, an apology to everybody for replying so late to a post. Work,
life, etc. But that is no excuse for not keeping up. I'll iron my
hands later. To business:

--- Steve wrote:
I don't think Kreacher is
> still bonded by anything but general loyalty. As far as magical bonds
> or slavery, he has lost his Master, as well as all other Black
> ascendants and descendants, and is now a free agent. Again, I want to
> emphasize that even though I believe Kreacher is a free agent, he is
> still very loyal and dedicated to the Black family.
> 

Constance Vigilance (me):

I agree with you up to this point. I think Kreachur is not bound to
anybody. But Kreachur is an interesting case. No longer bound, he does
have powerful feelings of loyalty. There are no Blacks (unless you
count the sisters and Draco), but I think there may be one new one
that may inspire Kreachur's loyalty. I'm referring to Hermione. I
think her Christmas gift to him may affect him deeply. Let's think
about Dobby for a minute. In CoS, Harry speaks gently to him and Dobby
is overwhelmed. Harry and Ron give him Christmas gifts and Dobby is
thrilled. It is even a gift (of clothing) that breaks his bonds.
Kindness and generosity are powerful things in the House Elf world. We
do not know how similar Kreachur might be to Dobby. But I do think
that Hermione's kindness and generosity will rebound in a good way
with Kreachur.

Steve:

> In truth, sad as it is, and hard as it is to accept, I think Kreacher
> is dead. Dumbledore, benevolent as he is, simply could not allow a
> dangerous and unstable liability like Kreacher to continue, especially
> now that here was nothing to fully bind him to the House of Black.
> With nothing and no one to fully contain and control Kreacher, he was
> just too dangerous. It was the life of one very mad and deranged
> house-elf weighed against the lives of many many others.

While I think that Dumbledore can be ruthless when necessary, I just
don't see this happening in this case. I think Kreachur can be turned
with kindness. The Headmaster has sort of said that when he kept
telling Sirius to treat Kreachur with kindness.

I think that not only is Kreachur alive, but that he will be a
critical ally in the coming war. Maybe not right away. Kreachur is in
a position of great personal conflict. And we know that House Elves
are predisposed to angst. It will be interesting.

~Constance Vigilance