CHAPDISC: DH10, Kreacher's Tale

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 180113

> > a_svirn:
> > No, he doesn't. He treats Kreacher with kindness, yes. But it is 
> > impossible to treat your own slave with respect. The fact that 
you 
> > own him or her is already somewhat disrespectful, wouldn't you 
say? 
> 
> Pippin:
> I can't answer for Mike, obviously, but...
> Disrespectful of what? Kreacher's godgiven right to be a free being?
> But it wasn't Harry who robbed Kreacher of his ability to exercise 
that
> right. Kreacher is no more capable of being his own master than the
> Longbottoms. He, like them, can have the respect of not being 
despised
> for his condition, which he did not choose. 

a_svirn:
Is that what you usually mean when you say that X treats Y with 
respect? That X refrain from despising Y for something Y can't help? 
I'd say it is somewhat convoluted. 

Also, the Longbottoms, as far as we could see *are* treated with 
respect. No one owns them, makes fun of them or uses them. 


> > a_svirn:
> > Out of all of the above only three count as decent, though. 
> > Definitely not enough to redeem the House. I mean, Sodom and 
Gomorrah 
> > could probably boast a couple of righteous people between them. 
But 
> > it simply wasn't enough. (And I am not sure that Slughorn Snape 
and 
> > Regulus Black could count as righteous. Repentant sinners, more 
> > like.) 
> 
> Pippin:
> The repentant sinner *is* a righteous person in Western thought
> and more to be valued than one who never strayed.

a_svirn:
Was Lot a repentant sinner then? There was that dubious business with 
his daughters, but it happened after he left Sodom, and I am not sure 
he repented anyway. 

> Pippin:
> But Harry disliked Slytherins as a class and canon tells us so -- he
> considers it his duty to hate Blaise Zabini on sight for no other 
reason.

a_svirn:
There is a big difference between considering hating all Slytherins 
as a duty and really hating them. Harry only really hated or 
distrusted people for personal reasons, not because of any principle.