A journey "into the thickets of wildest guesswork."

[Beatrice23]

No: HPFGUIDX 161639

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "rapid_white_wolf" 
<rapid_white_wolf at ...> wrote:
>
> Beatrice Wrote
> 
> >Suppose that DD indicates in his letter to
> > Petunia that there is a house elf who will enter into the service
> >of the family, if Petunia desires it. As Harry's Guardian
> > Petunia will command the house elf until Harry reaches the age of
> > majority (17, although Petunia thinks it is 18 like Dudley as we 
see
> > in HBP).
> 
> 
> How did Petunia react to Kreacher?  IIRC correctly Vernon showed
> surprise, but I don't recall if Petunia did.  If she had not showen
> surprise that might back up your theory, as she would have been use 
to
> house elves.
> 
> One problem I can see with your theory is that why would Petunia
> inherit the house elf, instead of Harry.  We know Harry can inherit
> house elves, as shown by Kreacher.
> 
> White_Wolf

Beatrice:  All it says in HBP is that "Aunt Petunia let out a hair-
raising shriek; nothing this filthy had entered her house in living 
memory" (51). Although "Uncle Vernon bellowed, 'What the hell is 
that?" (51).  
My only thought about why Harry didn't inherit the elf directly is 
that the Potter's will stipulated that his "guardian" would have 
control of the estate as Harry was young.  Sirius's will would 
unlikely have any stipulation of the kind as Harry is atleast close 
to being of age.
>