Neville's Potential/Wizardly Cheating (was:Teacher vs. student help on tasks

[foxmoth at qnet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27689

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Babs Elf AKA Barb" <blpurdom at y...>  
There seems to be a tradition not only of cheating 
> in the wizarding world, but of turning a blind eye to it, as though 
> the people who did not cheat (or win) wish they had the nerve 
to do this, and so cannot in good conscience penalize those who 
had the chutzpah to actually do it.

   I think a tacit acceptance of cheating comes with the pointed 
hat:   a certain degree of low cunning is as much a part of  
traditional/literary wizarding as the long grey beard. Merlin 
deceives Gorlois, and even Gandalf, who is a much nobler order 
of being than Merlin or anyone in the Potterverse, pulls a fast one 
now and then. He tricks the trolls to keep them arguing till 
sunrise, for example. So it makes sense that a competition to 
determine the best wizard would allow for a bit of fiddle.
   
  And of course, Rowling is satirizing the Olympics and other 
manifestations of the sports cult and pointing out their
shortcomings.

Pippin