Kreacher the Plot Device Elf

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 161791

bboyminn wrote:
> <snip>

> Dobby's actions 'against' the Malfoy's is similar to 
> Kreacher betrayal of Sirius, but there is a difference.
> Dobby acted to save someone and did so in a way the 
> wasn't really detrimental to his master. Note that I 
> said 'in a way' not detrimental. It certainly did 
> attempt to foul Malfoy's plan, but did not attempt or 
> intend to cause direct harm to the Malfoys.
> 
> Kreacher on the other hand would seem to have known 
> quite well that /harm/ would come as a result of his
> actions. Dobby operated within the limits of himself
> as a house-elf. Kreacher on the other hand acted in
> clear and malicious betrayal of his master. Again, the 
> action of the two elves in this one instance are
> similar, but I see Kreacher's betrayal as greater and
> more vicious. <snip>

Carol responds:
But Kreacher wasn't betraying his master. He was revealing information
about *Harry* to the Malfoys and therefore to Voldemort. The
information that Harry cared about Sirius Black enough to attempt to
rescue him was used to lure *Harry* to the DoM. Neither Black nor the
other Order members was supposed to be there. Kreacher lies to Harry
saying that "Master won't return from the Ministry," but Master is
actually upstairs tending the injured Buckbeak. Granted, those actions
aren't exactly a mark of loyalty and obedience to Black, but he's not
being betrayed. If he had stayed in 12 GP as intended, he would have
survived. It's Harry who was supposed to die (after taking down the
Prophecy orb and giving it to Lucius Malfoy) as a result of the plot.

bboymin:
> Kreacher on the other hand, I believe, is too far 'round
> the bend to ever be a fully functional house-elf. True
> under better circumstances he may be able to find some
> family who would take him in and tolerate him until he
> finally died, but I think his level of service would be
> marginal at best. <snip>

Carol:
Do we know that? He certainly still has his magic and can Apparate or
whatever it's called with house-elves. I don't see why he couldn't
magically cook or clean if he chose to. He doesn't seem to be at the
point where he'd need to be beheaded for inability to work if he were
working for the Blacks. Granted, he mutters to himself, but he's aware
of what's going on around him, even to the extent of knowing that
Hermione is a "Mudblood" (how does he know that?) and that Lupin is a
werewolf. He also mutters about "traitors"--not "blood traitors," just
"traitors. I wonder if he means Snape.

However, I don't think that Kreacher will prove useful as a house
servant. I think he's going to prove invaluable as a source of
information about Regulus Black and the locket Horcrux.

bboymin: 
> Further, I have always wondered if Elves can read and
> write. In the Old South it was actually against the law
> to teach slaves to read and write. I sort of have the
> same sense about Elves, and once again through a long
> complicated series of events, I have picture Harry
> opening a school to teach Elves to read and write, and
> do basic arithmatic. Of course, this all occurs in the
> future far beyond the scope of the existing series. 

Carol:
Kreacher knows that Tonks's mother has been burned off the tapestry.
that suggests but admittedly doesn't prove that he can read. And
wouldn't house-elves have prepared the magical menus that Dumbledore
and the others ordered from at the Yule Ball? And Dobby must have some
basic concept of arithmetic if he uses Wizarding money to buy clothes.
He can certainly count.

Carol, wishing that Harry would order Kreacher to wear a clean tea
towel and wash or replace that loincloth