In Defense of Fleur? (WAS Gryffindors - MWPP ages - SWMNBN - HP )

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 28473

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Cindy C." <cynthiaanncoe at h...> wrote:
> Why does everyone think Fleur is so bad at magic?  Well, the 
biggest 
> reason is that she "lost" the tournament.  Of the two tasks we know 
> about in which there wasn't significant tampering, Fleur turns in 
> middling performances.  

Yes, but you have to put it in context.  Besides all the stuff you 
and Amy have written, in Task 1 and 2, I think that Krum and Fleur 
were only as good as their respective heads of school - and Harry 
would have totally failed both Tasks 1 and 2, particularly the 
latter, if he hadn't had help.

However, what is more important is the context of the Champions being 
chosen itself.  Fleur was the best candidate Beauxbaton had to 
offer.  Now, I have always thought that Beauxbaton was the premier 
wizarding school in Meditteranean and Central Europe.  Fleur is 
shortlisted for the chance to enter, so is obviously one of the Creme 
de la Creme of the school and therefore one of the best young witches 
on the Continent, unless she used her Veela charms to become 
shortlisted.  However, the Goblet of Fire, which is supposedly 
completely impartial, chose her above everyone else.  Why?  She must 
be a talented witch, which leads me to believe that she has qualities 
which are so far unseen.

I have to say that I initially disliked Fleur, because Hermione did 
and does, but I changed my opinion.  I think she's a prime example of 
someone who looks very one-dimensional to start with, and turns out 
to be just the reverse.

Catherine