I agree. Either Orion or Walburga (both being Blacks) would have inherited Kreacher (my money's on Walburga), and after their deaths, he would have passed to one of their heirs, who would then become his master. I don't think that it necessarily has to do with last names, either. If Sirius had a married sister, she would be an heir of Orion and Walburga as well.


Regarding Tonks, I think her actual placement on the family tree isn't as important as the fact that her mother was disowned before she was born. Her mother was no longer considered a Black by the Black family, so no Blacks would consider Andromeda's children to be Blacks. I agree that possibly presence on the family tree is more of an honor than it is a presence on a legal document of inheritance, which would explain why Sirius was able to inherit the house and Kreacher (who thusly would consider him to be his master) even though he had been removed from the family tree.


Actually, I think the reason they seek to see if Kreacher would take orders from Harry was not to see if Kreacher came with the house (I think that was a given), but whether Sirius had successfully willed the house to Harry. If Kreacher had not obeyed Harry's orders, then they would have concluded that Sirius did not follow all of the needed steps to will the house to Harry, and therefore Harry would not have inherited Kreacher or the house. (This was a concern to them at the time because they needed to see if the Order could still use 12GP as headquarters.)



I have to agree with harrydavid here. Sirius is clearly calling Kreacher. This is how charcters throughout the series summon house elves -- they call out their name. In DH, Harry calls out Kreacher's name and Kreacher appears instantly at 12 GP. Do you really think Kreacher wanted to obey the "Potter brat"? But he does. If house elves could use the loophole of, I thought my master was just saying my name, not summoning me, then every house elf in creation could simply choose if they wanted to obey a summons from their master or not.


In this last instance at least, I have to disagree. I don't really think that Kreacher is delaying his obedience; he doesn't wait a time and then obey Sirius' summons, Sirius finds him "lurking in the attic". That's not obeying a summons as I see it.

I agree. Either Orion or Walburga (both being Blacks) would have inherited Kreacher (my money's on Walburga), and after their deaths, he would have passed to one of their heirs, who would then become his master. I don't think that it necessarily has to do with last names, either. If Sirius had a married sister, she would be an heir of Orion and Walburga as well.

Regarding Tonks, I think her actual placement on the family tree isn't as important as the fact that her mother was disowned before she was born. Her mother was no longer considered a Black by the Black family, so no Blacks would consider Andromeda's children to be Blacks. I agree that possibly presence on the family tree is more of an honor than it is a presence on a legal document of inheritance, which would explain why Sirius was able to inherit the house and Kreacher (who thusly would consider him to be his master) even though he had been removed from the family tree.

Actually, I think the reason they seek to see if Kreacher would take orders from Harry was not to see if Kreacher came with the house (I think that was a given), but whether Sirius had successfully willed the house to Harry. If Kreacher had not obeyed Harry's orders, then they would have concluded that Sirius did not follow all of the needed steps to will the house to Harry, and therefore Harry would not have inherited Kreacher or the house. (This was a concern to them at the time because they needed to see if the Order could still use 12GP as headquarters.)

In this last instance at least, I have to disagree. I don't really think that Kreacher is delaying his obedience; he doesn't wait a time and then obey Sirius' summons, Sirius finds him "lurking in the attic". That's not obeying a summons as I see it.

Harry thought of A History of Magic; the graveyard was supposed to be haunted; what if --? But then he heard a rustle and saw a little eddy of dislodged snow in the bush to which Hermione had pointed. Ghosts could not move snow.

So, ghosts can't move material objects. That makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that in CoS we see Moaning Myrtle do just that. We see her dive into the toilet and make a splash more than once. And she also turns on all the taps and floods the bathroom. How could she do that if ghosts can't move physical objects?

Ghosts can move gases and liquids. Strictly speaking Myrtle couldn't turn on all the taps without the help of Peeves, but she might be able to alter the pressure inside the taps enough to force them on, and there is certainly enough water in the bathroom for her to use to flood it.

Where from the text do you get the idea that ghosts can move gases and liquids? I must have missed that part. If they can move liquids then they can use the liquid to move solid objects, too.

And there is no mention of Peeves helping Myrtle turn the taps.

Yes, they can move solid objects, given suitably placed liquids and suitably light objects (a diary for instance). Also I didn't say I got the idea from the text, I actually got it from the WOMBATs.

And there is no mention that he didn't (where is the taps reference anyway, I couldn't find it on a quick glance through?). Also, did anyone actually see Myrtle turning on the taps or is it just someone making that assumption given Myrtle's frequent attempts to flood that room?

Incidentally, strictly speaking Myrtle can't turn on all the taps because we know that one tap has never worked.

Yes, they can move solid objects, given suitably placed liquids and suitably light objects (a diary for instance). Also I didn't say I got the idea from the text, I actually got it from the WOMBATs.
And there is no mention that he didn't (where is the taps reference anyway, I couldn't find it on a quick glance through?). Also, did anyone actually see Myrtle turning on the taps or is it just someone making that assumption given Myrtle's frequent attempts to flood that room?

Incidentally, strictly speaking Myrtle can't turn on all the taps because we know that one tap has never worked.

But with that kind of logicyou could argue that DD turned on the taps for Myrtle - I mean it never said he didn't do it.