Hermione's Hypocrisy?(long)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 129175

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
> 
> > 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? 

a_svirn:

Indeed, it does! But I am not sure that you can really distinguish 
between "presence" and "feelings". Sirius may have many faults but 
he wouldn't vent his frustration on any elf available (even if they 
were obnoxious). Nor would he use any elf as a substitute for those 
of his foes who are out of reach. He clearly has his very own issues 
with Kreacher and their hostilities go back a good deal of years. 

Pippin:
> 
> 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>)
>  
a_svirn:

here, here!