A plot parallel: Playing dirty

[clicketykeys <clicketykeys@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 47925

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Porphyria <porphyria at m...> 
wrote:

> 
> Yes, blackmailing. Am I wrong, or is that exactly what Hermione does by 
> telling Rita she'll narc her out to the Ministry if she publishes another 
> article within a year? "Rita Skeeter isn't going to be writing anything at 
> all for a while. Not unless she wants me to spill the beans on her."

I don't think this is blackmail. This is saying, 'look, I'll let you 
go THIS time, but if you cause more problems, I'll tell.' No, this is 
mercy, actually. Rita DESERVES to get in trouble for being an 
unregistered animagus, but Hermione is giving her a chance to avoid 
that trouble.

And really, what good would going to her supervisor do? Clearly the 
powers-that-be at the Prophet don't mind what Rita's scribbling, 
because they continued to print it.
 
> <GoF>
> "- that's blackmail, that is, we could get into a lot of trouble for that-"
> 
> "- we've tried being polite; it's time to play dirty, like him. He wouldn'
> t like the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did -"
> 
> "I'm telling you, if you put that in writing, it's blackmail!"
> </GoF>
> 
> Well, maybe Hermione hasn't put anything in writing, but I'd say it's 
> close enough.
> 

Blackmail can be from spoken threats as well, but that's neither here 
nor there. ;)

CK