Kreacher the Plot Device Elf - Madness, Magic, and Honor

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 161819

---  "horridporrid03" <horridporrid03 at ...> wrote:

> > >>bboyminn:
> > <snip>
> > Again, his [Kreacher's] efforts may rise to the level
> > of maginally acceptable, but I really don't see them
> > rising above that. He body is old, bent, and weak, 
> > and his mind just barely grips reality.   
> > ...
> > <snip>
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> But since Kreacher didn't *want* to serve tea to any
> of Sirius's guests, I think there was a method to his
> "madness". 

bboyminn:

No, I think there is just madness, but that's just my
opinion.

Keep in mind that what Kreacher thought of Sirius didn't
change that fact that Sirius was the one true last 
decendant heir to the Black Estate. Yes, there are 
peripheral Blacks lurking about, mostly female, and 
mostly members of other branches of the Black Family 
tree. But being female, while Blacks by birth, they are
now bound to the House of the husbands. Narcissa is now
a member of the House of Malfoy. That's quite different
than Sirius. I emphasize again that Sirius was the last
direct-line hier, and I have to believe that carries 
some weight even if Sirius was disowned.

Now I can understand Kreacher reluctance and resistance
to serving Harry. In this case, he is bound by the
commitments of his ancestors and Sirius's will. But 
regardless of Sirius's status in the family, he is the 
last true Black, and I believe Kreacher would and should
honor that. 

He would and should but he's mad as a hatter.

> Betsy Hp:
> Also, I think it's important to remember that a house-elf
> uses *magic* to do much of their work.  So what's 
> drudgery to you or me is a snap ... to a house-elf.  ...

bboyminn:

This ties back to my theory that house-elves can only us
the magic that wizards have specifically allowed them to 
use. For example, when Harry visits Dobby in the kitchens,
a group of house-elves struggle to physically carry a tea
tray over to Harry and Dobby. The elves can transport tons
of food up through the kitchen ceiling to the House tables
above, but they can't do it across the kitchen? 

Why didn't the levitate it? Why didn't they transport it? 
Why, because they didn't have specific permission to do 
so, though it is clear they certainly have the ability to
do so. 

This also happens when the Elves have a big bundle of 
food for Harry to give to Sirius. A group of Elves 
struggle to physically carry the heavy bundle over to 
Harry. Again...why? 

Much like the lack of education, this limit on the use 
of magic is one of the ways wizards keep Elves subjugated.
Personally, I'm not sure I buy all the 'enslavement' talk
regarding house-elves. For those who have been around a
while, I have repeatedly speculated that it is Elfin
Honor that holds Elves to wizards. Elves would rather
die that break their solumn oath of loyalty to their
masters, and their Elfin decendants hold just as firmly
to the honorable oath of their ancestor. It is a matter 
of Elvin pride. Though Wizards come to the deal with far
less honor and loyalty. Their honor and loyalty only 
extends as far as it suit them. 

Can't prove that, but I think it fits.

Steve/bboyminn