Rule-breaking/Father-figures

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 38072

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "finwitch" <finwitch at y...> wrote:
> When Harry's rule-breaking..., it's

> 2) Hogsmeade: Harry tries to gain the required permission from diff. 
> people: Dursleys, Minister of Magic and McGonagall.
> Truth is, none of them qualifies as his guardian. Not in a way that 
> it counts; Harry had moved away and lived on his own for a while.
> In this, it is not fair and just for him not being able to go to 
> Hogsmeade when *all* others of his grade do - just because he
doesn't 
> *have* a valid guardian to sign the note. Lupin is a father-figure - 
> one who would be valid - but he lacks the status for it. It's not 
> about Harry being excempt for his safety, it's about buraucracy, and 
> while there is a reason, well...

While I'm with you on all the other examples, I have to disagree on
this one.  Just because Harry has understandable emotional reasons for
wanting to go to Hogsmeade, doesn't mean he's entitled to blow off the
rules and go.  "I tried to get permission, couldn't, and went anyway"
is not an excuse. McGonagall (and Dumbledore, on whose authority she's
acting) is more than qualified to set and enforce the rules for what
the students in her house get to do, and to decide what needs to be
done to protect a 13-year-old boy who's in her care.  It *is* about
Harry being exempt for his safety -- and not just his own safety,
either; as far as the adults knew, he was being targeted by a powerful
Dark Wizard who has already demonstrated a willingness to kill large
numbers of innocent bystanders.  Yes, the situation was painful and
unfair for Harry.  But there are times when saying "it's not fair, so
I'll just do what I want" is not the appropriate response, and this
was one of those times.  Even Lupin recognized that, despite his
sympathy for Harry.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com