Who versus who

[feumindra]

No: HPFGUIDX 46363

If I may, I'd like to suggest my own theory of at least one person 
who would 'face off'...

Sylversong, you were wondering who Hermione would face off with, I 
would submit to you that it is possible that Hermione may find 
herself confronting DRACO...and I base this on the Egyptian mythology 
model.  In Egyptian mythos, it is the cat, BAST, who defeats the 
serpent monster Apophis, and does so routinely.  Hermione's familiar 
is Crookshanks, a cat.  NO familiar has been introduced for Draco, 
other than his eagle owl, but as he is the 'ringleader' of the House 
of Slytherin, whose emblem is the serpent, it is conceivable in my 
mind that we may see Hermione confront/defeat/deflect any effort on 
Draco's part in the future.

I refer you to Prisoner of Azkaban where, after Draco has been 
particularly vile towards Hagrid, Hermione takes the initiative to 
soundly slap the boy in the face...and what is his reaction?  After 2-
3 years of harassing Harry, the Boy Who Defeated Voldemort, an 
extremely powerful wizard, AND after exhibiting such racism towards 
someone he thinks is incapable of defending herself, Draco TURNS TAIL 
AND RUNS without further ado!  Cat defeats serpent.

Later, and it is only in passing acknowledgement, Hermione tells 
Harry and Ron that the reason why she fell asleep on her books was 
because she had been thinking about Malfoy.

A cat can be just as cunning as any serpent is thought to be, and the 
fact that Hermione, with her known characteristics of constant 
analysis, is actually putting Draco through the processes is NOT a 
good sign for Draco...whatever the implications may be.  Both of them 
are very intelligent and clever, both of them could be equals on the 
battlefield.

This, of course, leads me to observe that in GoF, Draco acts just as 
oddly towards Harry, Ron and Hermione in the most traumatic event of 
their young lives, seeing Deatheaters return to use Muggles as 
playthings...and WARNS OFF the trio.  I have several scenarios in 
mind of why he would choose NOT to hand over Harry and Hermione over 
to the deatheaters that instant, but I am hoping (desperately...what 
was it y'all were saying about wanting characters we like to 
succeed/survive???)

I am rambling though.  If you couldn't tell, Draco is my favorite 
character.  

For the phoenix theme, y'all will now be subjected to yet another 
Egyptophile, that land that was called Kemet (black earth) or KMT.  
Y'all may have already covered this, but as I am still playing catch-
up, I will stick my neck out and throw in my own observations about 
my favorite ancient culture (I have a degree in anthropology).  

Actually, the Phoenix is a Grecian myth about an Egyptian God that 
has some Persian roots.  The Egyptians actually worshipped the Bennu 
Bird, a heron like species.  In my own amateurish meanderings through 
ancient Egyptian cultures, glyphs and stories, I have seen listed 
SEVERAL glyphs for several kinds of birds, BUT!  there is only ONE 
special glyp attributed to the Bennu bird, depicted as a rather 
splendid heron with a great deal of detail.  There is some 
speculation that the species of heron that the bennu was from 
actually existed, but died out long before the recording of history.  
My thoughts are that it could have been a brightly colored heron, 
something we are not used to seeing, as we are more familiar with the 
Great Blue Heron that exists today (which by the way is also a very 
splendid creature.  My heart thrills every time I see one!)  It is 
possible that Persian elements enters here as a bird of firey gold 
and red and beautiful plummage, but I am only making wild guesses 
now. 

I believe it was Herodotus who related the mythology of the Egyptian 
bennu bird to the Greeks and refered to it as the Phoenix, a creature 
that could recreate itself from ashes after a long life.  In Egyptian 
mythology, anthropologists/archaeologists hypothesize that this could 
be a reference to the heron's morning habits of taking flight at 
daybreak...or even to the appearance of the Morning Star, Venus.  

It has been awhile since I have picked up those books, but I thought 
these things were interesting to share.  Hope y'all don't mind me 
reiteriating what you already know!

As for Molly Weasley not working, I do hope the cold vacuum of 
cyberspace does not lead y'all to take umbrage with my next offer, 
but as a stay at home mother, I *do* feel the need to point this out: 
it *is* possible that Molly stays at home BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO.  I 
realize there are quite a few other mothers in this list, and I do 
not in any way wish to make an issue of whether or not you SHOULD or 
SHOULD NOT work.  I can only speak from my perspective as someone who 
CHOOSES not to pursue a career and simply be someone to whom my 
daughter can come home to after school.  

I cringe at the modern day assumption many have that if a woman is 
NOT out being SUPERwoman in career and motherhood and life etc, she 
is not complete or worse, NOT a REAL WOMAN.  Molly is the hub of the 
wheel that is the Weasley family...all Weasley life seems to derive 
its motion from her presence.  Choosing to stay at home because she 
is HAPPY there should not be out of the realm of consideration.  Are 
women so inured to the possibility of homelife as fulfilling as a 
highpowered career that the idea that someone would WANT to stay home 
is virtually impossible????  

I'll get off my soap box now.  Everyone I have read has had SO MANY 
insightful, intelligent remarks and thoughts, I dont think I will 
ever catch up.  thank you for letting me join in!

best regards to everyone,
Sharon Ferguson