JKR, Harry, and the nature of House-Elves: (Was: "Morality" and "tolerance"

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 178986


> a_svirn;
> No. you said upthread that they are fighting for their *right* not to 
> be abused. If Kreacher think he has the *right* not to be abused and 
> tortured, why then he tortures himself? Perhaps he would not 
> understand my logic, but then, I don't think he understands the 
> concept of his "rights".

Pippin:
Kreacher tortures himself because he is compelled to by enchantments.
He is not fighting for those enchantments to be lifted. No one is, 
presumably because they have no idea how it can be done. He is
fighting for the kind of treatment he believes a house-elf should 
receive from a worthy master.  Whether it's a legal right or a right 
recognized by custom has nothing to do with him. 

> 
> > > a_svirn:
> > > Oh, yes. He was an unhappy and rebellious slave and now he is 
happy and loyal one, because Harry finally started to behave as a
responsible owner. A change indeed. But it is Harry who changed his 
attitude, not Kreacher. Kreacher *always* wanted a good master. It 
was Harry who didn't want a happy and loyal slave at first.

Pippin:
Ah. But Kreacher didn't believe that a halfblood who associated with
freaks, monsters and mudbloods could *be* a good master. That's
why he wished he could be Draco's slave instead.

Pippin