Dumbledore's Hypocrisy

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 129272


> a_svirn:
> > What do you mean by "prejudice against house elves"? Sirius was a
> > proud owner of a house-elf (a slave in effect) and didn't 
hesitate to
> > make use of him. Does it or does it not qualify as a prejudice?
> 

Laura:
> To call Sirius a "proud owner" of a house-elf is entirely false.  
For 
> good or for bad, Sirius would have set Kreacher free if he'd had 
his 
> way.  As it was, however, Sirius was *forced* to keep the little 
git 
> around because he knew too much about the Order.

a_svirn:

We don't know it. And I don't believe it. Also I'd like to point out 
that had he freed Kreacher before his house was chosen for the 
Headquarters, Kreacher wouldn't even been aware about the Order's 
existing. 

Laura:
> 
> I can actually only think of *one* instance in which Sirius 
attempted 
> to "make use" of Kreacher, and, not to criticize Jo, but I think 
the 
> only reason it was written that way was to make a point of the 
fact 
> that Kreacher had left the house.  Throughout the rest of the 
book, 
> however, cooking and cleaning is conspicuously left up to the 
witches 
> and wizards.   Most importantly, it should be noted that Sirius 
*never* 
> made Kreacher help purge the house of his Mistress's belongings, 
> although this would have been entirely in keeping with the normal 
> Master/House-Elf relationship.

a_svirn:

Ah, but that's because Kreacher was continually obstructing Sirius's 
orders, not because Sirius refrained from giving them. Sirius was 
forever asking where "this blasted elf" was and what he was about 
and Kreacher was forever giving false assurances. "Kreacher was 
cleaning". He'd probably poisoned their food had he been allowed 
near kitchen. It's only Sirius that Kreacher can't harm because of 
the magic binding after all; the others are not in the clear. And 
don't you remember how Sirius was annoyed that Kreacher refused to 
take orders from Tonks? As for his bulling and verbal abuse of 
Kreacher (and probably physical too; he did throw him out bodily on 
one occasion), I'd say it's "entirely in keeping" with the 
normal "Bad Wizard"/House-elf relationship. Quite possibly entirely 
in keeping with the family tradition, in fact.

Laura:
> 
> Now, I'm not arguing that Sirius treated Kreacher with any respect 
or 
> kindness.  But I think it's clear that, at the very least, he was 
not 
> interested in owning a House-Elf.  Furthermore, I think one can 
infer 
> from his discussion with HRH in GoF that, again, at the very 
*least*, 
> he does not support House-Elf enslavement or mistreatment.  If 
*only* 
> because he associates it with his family.

a_svirn:
It is not clear in the least. If you mean the piece of wisdom how 
one should treat one's inferiors, just think what does the 
word "inferior" mean: (1)"lower in rank, standing or degree" 
2) "lower in quality or value". I think Sirius referred to the both 
of these meanings. How does it follow that he did not support house-
elves enslavement? 

a_svirn