Secrets (Long)

[Joywitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 1041

I just want to say that I loved Peg s thoughtful essay on secrets, 
although I do also have to add that from a completely selfish point 
of view I would really prefer it if Peg would stop thinking about 
Harry Potter, get off the Internet, quit her job, and give away her 
children so that she would have time to write a sequel to Emerald 
House Rising.

I did also have some specific comments.  One is about Rita Skeeter.  
I do not see her as being a member of the other team (the Voldies?). 
I know Peg has explained that she was not really saying this, but I 
want to also put forth my belief that when the time comes for picking 
sides, Rita will actually choose the right team (The Dumblies?).  
However, Peg s depiction of her bevavior is accurate; I agree that 
one of the characteristics of the Bad Guys, as well as the Badly 
Behaved But Deep In Their Hearts Good Guys (Snape, Crouch Sr., 
Skeeter, Bagman) is their inability to judge how, who and when to 
trust others.

> > Another thought: what do you make of the fact that Hagrid, though 
on Our Team,
> > doesn't seema as capable of keeping secrets?  Remember, he was 
the one who
> > spilled the beans about Fluffy in PS/SS.  Do you think that will 
be important
> > later too?
> 
> Now that hadn't occurred to me, but you're right; good point.  
Hagrid has . . .
> how to say this . . . sort of a problem with proportion.  He 
doesn't always read
> social cues correctly.  That is why Dumbledore will trust him to 
some extent (I'm
> pretty sure he's being sent as an emissary to the Giants, with 
Madame Maxine) but
> he's not one of the inner core who Dumbledore trusted enought to 
learn in the
> hospital wing about Sirius' true identity at the end of GoF.

I saw the fact that Hagrid was excluded more as a reflection of the 
fact that he is not a fully certified wizard, and therefore can only 
play a limited role in the upcoming battle.  After all, you dont 
invite the privates to the strategy sessions with the generals.

In a related vein, did anyone else find the scene in the hospital 
room at the end of GoF a little odd?  Didnt Dumbledore seem to be 
including the kids in on some very grownup matters?  This is one of 
the few significant scenes in GoF that we have not analyzed to shreds 
but it seems to me that it has some interesting implications.