Percy (and some Ron and some Hermione thoughts too)

[Demelza]

No: HPFGUIDX 16447

In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer <pennylin at s...> 

wrote:
> Hi --
> 
> Demelza wrote:
> 
> > I can't argue that people deal with stress differently. However, 

that
> > passage was my response to the assertion that Percy has been
> > supportive to his family. This is an example of Percy's lack of
> > familial support.
> 
> What if they made it clear that they didn't want him with them?  It
> might not be so clear-cut as Percy shutting himself off from them.
> Someone else today made a good point about the fact that his 

brothers
> haven't exactly been nice & welcoming to Percy.  Percy may have 

built up
> defense mechanisms over a period of years.

Regardless of the reason, Percy was not supportive of his brothers 
during this trying time. Again, a statement was made that Percy has 
been loyal and supportive of his family. This was an example to the 
contrary.

> > Demelza: Hermione's assessment of Crouch, Sr. was based on his 

harsh
> > treatment> > of Winky.
> > >
> > > Me: Yes, but it goes deeper than that.  As Sirius said, to get 

the
> > measure of a man, look at how he treats his subordinates.  Sirius
> > thinks
> > > Hermione has used a good tool for discerning Crouch Sr.'s true
> > > character.
> > >
> >
> > Demelza: Who a person views as his inferior is not confined to
> > co-workers. Hermione cannot see how Percy treats his family. 

Perhaps
> > this is due to her concrete thinking: Percy is a Weasley, ergo, 

there
> > is no
> > possibility that he could turn on his family.
> 
> Well, Hermione knows Percy better than lots of other people.  

Somewhere
> in GoF is a comment to the effect that Hermione had always gotten on
> better with Percy than any of his brothers.  They are alot alike and
> have been shown chatting.  I would wager she's basing her assessment 

on
> more than just "He's a Weasley; therefore, there's no possibility he
> could turn on his family."
> 

Yes, it is made in GoF. But Hermione's close identification with Percy 
can cloud her objectivity. Hermione can very well be projecting her 
own characteristics onto Percy, due to their similar personalities. 
Granted, HERMIONE might never turn her family to the Dementors, but 
that doesn't necessarily mean Percy will not, even though they are 
'cut from the same cloth'. As I stated in other messages, I'm a 
reformed Hermione and I can easily identify with her and project my 
own characteristics upon her and rationalize all her actions. But if I 
were to do that, my assessment of Hermione would be tainted, because I 
won't be assessing Hermione I will be assessing me. That's why I have 
a tendency to take Hermione's opinion of Percy with a grain of salt. I 
can't be 50% sure that she is assessing herself, assessing herself and 
Percy, or assessing solely Percy. 

> > If Crouch were the horrible man as Hermione makes him out to be, 

why
> > should he feel guilt? Most heart-less characters in literature are
> > incapable of feeling guilt/remorse. Based upon Hermione's 

portrayal,
> > Crouch Sr. is a cold, cruel, heart-less individual. Winky's 

pleadings
> > should not have made difference at all.
> 
> It's not just Hermione who portrays him this way.  Sirius has some 

very
> harsh judgments to pass on Crouch, Sr.   He thinks Crouch Sr. did a
> lousy job as a father.  He thinks Crouch was rigid & abused his 

position
> as head of the Magical Law Council (he was the one responsible for
> ordering Sirius be taken to Azkaban with no trial).  Hermione's 

judgment
> was initially based on his treatment of Winky, yes.  But, her 

judgment
> turned out to mesh with that of Sirius in any case.
> 


And how objective is Sirius? Didn't Crouch, Sr. sentence Sirius to 
Azkaban without a trial? Didn't Sirius hear Crouch Jr, crying every 
night? As the books show, Sirius can hold a grudge (ie Snape). . I 
can't be sure if his assessment of Crouch Sr is objective.


> > "Normal" (maybe "instinctive" is a better term?) cat behavior 

dictates
> >
> > that cats are predators of rats and rodents among other things.
> > Therefore, is it the responsible action of a cat owner to allow 

cat to
> >
> > be near a pet rat and pooh-pooh the fears of the rat owner that 

the
> > cat is after the pet rat? It's rather telling of the regard 

Hermione
> > has for Ron and his possessions.
> 
> Ah well ... since that *is* an argument against R/H, I'll leave it 

be.


I'm not shipper, but in light of Hermione's sensitivity for a 
"friend's" feelings (I hate to see how she would treat a mere 
acquaintance). I agree with you. Ron doesn't deserve Hermione: he 
deserves much better. On second thought, Harry does too.

Demelza