Magical notions of prejudice (was Chapter 27 Padfoot Returns)

[Amy]

No: HPFGUIDX 10603

I think we see the wizarding world's equivalent of racism not only in 
the prejudice against Muggle-borns but in people's attitude toward 
werewolves & giants, which Hermione rightly labels "just bigotry."  
She sees it with a clarity that Ron lacks because of her outsider's 
perspective on the wizarding world, and of course her budding social 
conscience.  And at that point we all know and love a werewolf and a 
half-giant, so JKR's message is very clear:  the wizard assumption 
that those creatures are hateful is unfair.

Ron's "get away from me, werewolf!" in the Shrieking Shack is a very 
painful moment IMO.  He's in agony and he thinks Lupin has betrayed 
and is about to kill them all, so it's very understandable, but it 
shows a bigotry that is disturbing just the same.  (To his credit, he 
doesn't hold Hagrid's background against him at all.)

Amy Z

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 "We could all have been killed--or worse, expelled."
           --Hermione, HP and the Philosopher's Stone 
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