12

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione are hiding from Voldemort's supporters in Deathly Hallows, they keep complaining that they have no food, and that Hermione sucks at cooking. Harry even bemoans the fact that, on the night they go on the run, Kreacher was making shepherd's pie that night for dinner. Why didn't Harry simply call Kreacher, as it's shown throughout the books that house elves can instantly Apparate to their masters wherever they are? Seems a waste to leave your house elf all alone when he could just travel with you.

Rand al'Thor
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Himarm
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    You might find your answers at http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/80689/why-didnt-harry-call-kreacher-to-help-when-in-the-trio-was-captured-in-malfoy-m which discusses a later incident, but is relevant. – FuzzyBoots Jan 08 '16 at 19:55
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    Why do you think they're called *house* elves? ;-) – Rand al'Thor Jan 08 '16 at 20:06
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    @randal'thor dobby was a house elf, but frequently apparated around to visit harry well outside of the malfoy house. not sure what your point is. – user428517 Jan 08 '16 at 21:30
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    @sgroves "Why do you think they're called house elves? *WINKY-FACE*" (emphasis mine) – Digital Chris Jan 08 '16 at 21:51
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    @DigitalChris winky face can also mean smugness. ahh the internet – user428517 Jan 08 '16 at 22:15
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    @sgroves but winky is a house elf :P – Himarm Jan 08 '16 at 22:16
  • oh haha. good one @DigitalChris – user428517 Jan 08 '16 at 22:21
  • @DigitalChris Love the pun (It's even better because it derives from an emoticon rather than words). But who doesn't love puns? Interestingly many don't... and I feel sorry for them. (Actually I don't and iirc that line is only in the film which of course I thus hate) – Pryftan Oct 26 '17 at 18:31

2 Answers2

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This is answered in chapter 14 of HP and the Deathly Hallows, shortly after they've realised Grimmauld Place is now out of bounds (emphasis mine):

Harry wanted to believe that Kreacher had changed toward him in the past month, that he would be loyal now, but who knew what would happen? What if the Death Eaters tortured the elf? Sick images swarmed into Harry’s head and he tried to push these away too, for there was nothing he could do for Kreacher. He and Hermione had already decided against trying to summon him; what if someone from the Ministry came too? They could not count on elfish Apparition being free from the same flaw that had taken Yaxley to Grimmauld Place on the hem of Hermione's sleeve.

HP and the Deathly Hallows, chpater 14, The Thief

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Rand al'Thor
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  • well my version didnt have this, what version is that – Himarm Jan 08 '16 at 20:06
  • @Himarm Not sure what version; I found it on the internet. See here: https://www.wattpad.com/55595354-lel-2-chapter-14/page/5 I'll check my hardcopy in a minute. – Rand al'Thor Jan 08 '16 at 20:08
  • Every hard copy is the same, I have rad about 4-5 versions, never found anything missing in ether. Just look bit more carefully I'm sure you will find it – Vanja Vasiljevic Jan 08 '16 at 20:16
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    @VanjaVasiljevic no the UK, and US hard copys are different, the US Scholastic version has more lines then the UK versions, their are a few added paragraphs in each book. – Himarm Jan 08 '16 at 20:17
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    @VanjaVasiljevic nope. – Rand al'Thor Jan 08 '16 at 20:20
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    oh its in scholastic's US version, i literally skipped over this page while reading. Im reading it at work on my pc, and on my phone during lunch, so i went to the wrong page after lunch haha. – Himarm Jan 08 '16 at 20:22
  • @ rand al'thor I need to check out that little bit more :D Thanks :) – Vanja Vasiljevic Jan 08 '16 at 20:28
  • I think this is in the UK edition: it is in my son’s copy, which I think must be the UK edition as it is a 2007 Bloomsbury edition (though it was bought at Venlo railway station in the Netherlands). On page 229, 2nd new paragraph: “His scar was starting to prickle again. …”, though there is a colon for a full stop: “… for Kreacher: he and Hermione…”. – PJTraill Sep 14 '16 at 10:50
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This is answered in the Deathly Hallows when Harry and Hermione agree calling him from a Death-Eater-infested Grimmauld Place is too dangerous - they don't know if the magic of the house-elves would prevent them from holding on and being dragged to their hiding place.

Rand al'Thor
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