Hermione's Hypocrisy?(long)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 129162


> a_svirn:
> 
> Yes, I know. But I'm afraid DD is either not completely truthful or 
> not quite aware. Sirius might not really hate Kreacher (*hatred* is 
> indeed a bit too strong a word, better be reserved to the likes of 
> Snape), but he certainly dislikes him extremely. And the closer the 
> end of OotP is the more it looks like a real revulsion. 
It is  certainly doesn't bespeak of indifference when a grown man
–  and one  we've been told who is generally kind to elves— never
misses an  opportunity to taunt and bully the poor broken creature 
Kreacher. 

Pippin:
Dumbledore meant that Sirius was indifferent to Kreacher's feelings, 
not his presence, IMO.  The people Sirius hated-- Snape, Crouch, 
Pettigrew  and dear old Mum-- were out of reach , so he taunted and 
bullied Kreacher, who had done nothing worse than be rude to 
Sirius and his  friends and fail to pay attention or complete his 
assignments --hmmm, that sounds familiar, doesn't it? 

Hermione's mistake is thinking  that the House Elves have to be  weak 
and innocent or they aren't deserving. But she should understand that
equal rights are not a form of charity. It's not easy to maintain that 
Kreacher should have been given his freedom when he so obviously 
intended to abuse it. But that is what equality demands.

Dumbledore sees what Hermione doesn't, that true equality would mean
that House Elves have as much right to be black sheep as wizards do.
After all, Sirius was the most notorious Death Eater ever taken
alive, but he wasn't deprived of the right to own property. Marietta was 
branded as a sneak and memory charmed when it was feared she 
might give away secrets -- not imprisoned  for life. Draco shows far 
more  sign of going to the Dark Side than Kreacher did, but we'd be 
shocked if  the good guys took away his wand and sentenced him to a 
lifetime of  menial labor on that account  (although I can't help thinking 
that it might be good for him<g>)
 
Pippin