Sirius says

[Shaunette Reid]

No: HPFGUIDX 174700

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "littleleahstill" <leahstill at ...> wrote:


> "Well, times like that (ie the first rise of Voldemort) bring out the 
> best in some people and the worst in others.  Crouch's principles 
> might've been good in the beginning...he started ordering very harsh 
> measures against Voldemort's supporters. ...Crouch fought violence with 
> violence, and authorised the use of the Unforgiveable Curses against 
> suspects.  I would say he became as ruthless and cruel as many on the 
> Dark Side"  Sirius in 'Padfoot Returns', GOF (UK) 457.  

Shaunette:

Sorry to butt in on the Unforgivables debate, but this quote made me think of something 
else Sirius said in that hideout which has bothered me. 
Same scene as above: Ron and Hermione begin to argue about house elves again, and 
Sirius cuts in, siding with Hermione. He says Hermione's disgust in Crouch is wise because 
"if you want the measure of a man, look at how he treats his inferiors, not his 
equals" (paraphrasing heavily). 
Now, assuming I've quoted the right person (I've been known to have a completely wonky 
memory for this sort of thing), does anyone else see the problem with this? Dumbledore 
and Hermione both go on to criticize Sirius for his treatment of Kreacher in OotP. And we 
are shown, in DH, that Kreacher is really quite nice if you treat him nicely. So...am I 
supposed to conclude that Sirius is a bit of a hypocrite? 
Somehow, I think he really meant what he said. It certainly stuck with me as one of the 
great lines in the series! 
any ideas at all on this discrepancy? 

-Shaunette