KREACHER

Preliminary Study for Chapter 6, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2002)
Mary GrandPré (American, b. 1954)
Pencil on parchment tracing paper
Signed lower right: Mary GrandPré
16 cm x 14 cm
£4,500 (excl. VAT)

Original preliminary pencil sketch on paper created by Mary GrandPré in 2002 as she prepared the title artwork for Chapter 6 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, titled The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. This expressive early rendering captures Kreacher, the surly and bitter house-elf, muttering to himself as he haunts the corridors of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.

Kreacher, bound by the unbreakable magical servitude of house-elves, remains fiercely loyal to the memory of his late mistress, Walburga Black. Despite now serving Sirius Black—her estranged son—and begrudgingly obeying the members of the Order of the Phoenix, Kreacher seethes with quiet resentment at their occupation of the Black family home. His disdain for Sirius, his reverence for Mrs Black, and his thinly-veiled sympathies toward Voldemort form a complex portrait of inherited loyalty and distorted legacy.

GrandPré’s depiction of Kreacher emphasises his gnarled features and hunched, brooding posture, evoking the character’s internal conflict and sense of displacement. This sketch marks an early visualization of the elf who, though seemingly minor, would later prove pivotal to the unfolding of events in the final volumes of the series.

Condition & Provenance
Excellent condition. Minor signs of wear and faint creasing in places, consistent with the artist’s preparatory process. The work has been professionally conserved since its creation in 2002. Mounted on museum-quality board with archival mats and cover for protection.

Catalogue Reference: Houston & GrandPré D(3)