Killing wizards - Going Seekerless - Classifying by "blood," hair color, and vis

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 30519

Cindy wrote:

>There are a lot of ways to kill humans, but precious few ways to kill 
>wizards (that we've actually seen so far, anyway).

JKR is revealing them in dribs and drabs.  We didn't learn about AK until 
Goblet of Fire, even though we had a hint of it way back in PS/SS 2.  If she 
can wait that long to tell us what the green light is all about, she can 
have other horrors hiding up her sleeve, and undoubtedly does.  I'm also 
sure she has known from the beginning whether Voldemort will meet his end, 
and if yes, how.

(Side note:  wizards are human and, IMHO, can be killed in the usual ways, 
e.g. by being knocked off a broomstick.  They just have more defenses than 
Muggles.)

>Cindy (secretly hoping Voldemort will meet his maker at the tentacles of 
>the giant squid)

YES!  Love it!  And there's even foreshadowing in CS, when Ron speculates 
that Tom Riddle's accomplishment might have been to save a teacher from the 
giant squid . . . no?  No takers?

Joanne wrote:

>the team
>that catches the snitch doesn't necessarily win the game.

You are right, of course.  Back to Q Strategy for the Strategically Clueless 
for me.

Megan wrote:

>Harry, is most definitely (IMNSHO) a pureblood, being born to two
>full-blown wizards.  So would a half-blood and a pureblood make
>quater-blood?  Does anyone know the rules for this sort of thing?

and Luke wrote:

>Since there is no conflicting evidence and one piece of consistent
>(though not strictly corroboratory) evidence, I recommend we take
>Riddle's statement at face value and assume Harry is a half-blood.

We are deep into the insane logic of racism here.  There are no rules; there 
are only thin justifications for the racism of V and followers.  The math 
doesn't work like real-life fractions, or else the fact that Harry and 
Riddle both had the same number of Muggle and magical grandparents (2 and 2) 
would mean that they are both halfblood; but in fact both of Harry's parents 
were magical and only one of Voldemort's was.  1/4 plus 1/4 does not equal 
1/2.  And just the same, Harry can be dismissed as a halfblood if a DE type 
is inclined that way, as Riddle is.

Phil boldly suggested:

>If I may be so bold as to suggest it, the question that should be asked is 
>not "is this
>character half-blood or pureblood?" but "what's the significance of asking 
>such a question in
>the first place?"  That is, why does Rowling have certain characters care 
>about magical
>parentage, when other characters do not care in the least?  What 
>assumptions lie behind this
>concern over purebloods, half-bloods and "mudbloods"?

Exactly!  IMO, the lack of consistency in the use of terms like "blood," 
"halfblood," "pureblood," etc. points up the essential illogic of the 
so-called science of racial classification.

Who pays the most attention to these classifications, and when and why?  
Mostly Voldemort and supporters (including Draco), as Rita said, but also 
those who abhor this logic:

-Voldemort and his supporters (including Draco), in attempts to classify 
others as inferior

-Hagrid in GF 24, as quoted earlier:  "Yeh know what I'd love, Harry?  I'd 
love yeh ter win, I really would.  It'd show 'em all . . . yeh don' have ter 
be pure-blood ter do it."  At a time when he's particularly sensitive about 
his own mixed parentage, he's eager to prove what he and the Trio already 
know (after all, Neville can hardly stand a cauldron right way up, and they 
haven't invented a spell our Hermione can't do)

-Harry, in response to Riddle in CS 17: "'But I know why you couldn't *kill* 
me.  Because my mother died to save me.  My common *Muggle-born* mother,' he 
added, shaking with suppressed rage."  Like Hagrid in the above quote, he's 
seizing on the racists' logic to turn it against them.

As Hagrid says, "Dumbledore's the one who's got it righ', lettin' anyone in 
as long as they can do magic" (GF 24).  Magic is magic, regardless of one's 
origins.  Riddle is trying to fool himself (or psych Harry out) if he thinks 
Harry's abilities are lessened by his having Muggle grandparents.

John wrote:

>Ron has red hair and is ergo, Q.E.D., evil. ::vbeg::

I see a new splinter group in the offing:  Redheads Are People, Too, and 
REally Aren't Death-Eaters Regardless of Slander (RAPT READERS).  No 
non-redheads need apply.  Those who attempt to infiltrate our ranks with a 
dye job will be detected with a "Henna Revelare!"

Rita wrote:

>someone suggested that . . . all the characters with eyeglasses are 
>Gryffindors. I
>haven't checked on the latter statement.

Gryffindors with glasses:  Harry, James, Dumbledore, Percy, Arthur

Unknowns with glasses:  Myrtle, Mr. Borgin, McGonagall, Rita Skeeter

Did I miss anyone?

I would just like to note that red and auburn hair crops up in Gryffindor 
quite often. <g>

Amy Z

----------------------------------------------
Harry liked this clock.  It was completely
useless if you wanted to know the time, but
otherwise very informative.
                  -HP and the Goblet of Fire
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