The Weasleys/Fanfic/Kid's Poll

[Ebony]

No: HPFGUIDX 8675

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Jim Ferer <jferer at y...> wrote:
> 
> --- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Ebony " <ebonyink at h...> wrote:
> 
> > The more I think about it, I'd have to say that I'm definitely the
> > Percy of the family, Hermione at every school I've ever attended, 
a
> > weird cross between Lupin, McGonagall, and Snape as a
> > teacher (hey, at least there's no Binns in me!), and someone
> > else entirely when in the midst of a group of friends.
> 
> Snape? I have a hard time believing that... 

My inner Severus Snape rears his ugly head once in a blue moon, 
usually on the day before an extended vacation or report cards, after 
a sleepless night and a morning when I overslept and didn't have my 
coffee, and when my students have a free dress day (usually they're 
in uniform), there's a dance, and they're on the wild.

I turn from Lupin into McGonagall.  Then one of the vocal ones 
(usually a seventh or eighth grader who sits in the back) 
says, "Dang, Miss Thomas, you're trippin'."  That's when I become 
Snape.  I don't lash out at specific kids, but I come from a long 
line of fiery women with acid tongues... usually I can keep it under 
control, but I've had moments...

Of course, I'm thoroughly embarrassed afterward, and do teacherly 
things to make it up ("instead of spelling review, let's have a brain 
bowl").  Kids are forgiving creatures.

> Where does the "so-and-so is going to turn Dark" stuff get started?
> We've seen speculation about Percy, Gred and Feorge, and 
Dumbledore.  I suspect it comes from post-Vietnam cynicism and from 
TV and movies, where it's used as a  plot device to add punch and 
a "twist" to a weak story.

I agree.  I think JKR has made it clear in her interviews that she 
wants to show what absolute evil is like (that should make the church 
*happy*--years of being in Campus Crusaders/InterVarsity taught me 
the Enemy is (supposedly) relativist thinking and we want people to 
think in absolute terms).  I can't see her suddenly allowing a 
character who is one of the Good Guys turn inexplicably evil.

This is not to say that a good character won't have a Judas moment... 
as a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised.  Perhaps Percy will fit 
the bill, but my money's on a different character.

> How in the world did the Dursleys come up second?  Are kids' homes 
so awful they identify with the life Harry led on Privet Drive? What a
> commentary.

Nah.  I just have students with a weird sense of humor. 

--Ebony